POLITICAL NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2491, 28 June 1888, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES

(by TULKCIiAI'II—OWN COItKUSI'ONIiKNT.) Wullingtok, Wednesday. FREE TRADE VICTORY. The only victory that h;is been secured by the Free traders on the tariff proposals took place this afternoon on the question of admitting electric l ipfitiiif? machinery free of duty. Mr Witiiy, the member for Newton, raised the question, and the Premier said it was proposed to put a duty of 5 per cent on the machinery. A lengthy discussion then arose over the whole subject of electric lighting, during which Sir John Hall, Mr Allen and Mr Bruce and other members deprecated putting duty on machinery of this description, which would undoubtedly prove the motive power of the future. Sir Harry Atkinson eventually said that as gas engines were taxed, he thought it only fair that electric lighting machinery should pay duty to which Mr Withy replied, that the gas engine for many years past had enjoyed large monopolies. He then moved to amend his motion by substituting electric machinery and appliances, and it was carried by 43 to 35. The result of the first win scored by Hie Freetraders was received with cheers by the party, THE NATIVE POLICY. I hear a meeting of both supporters and opponents of the Native Land Bills introduced by the Government is to be held on Saturday, so as to arrive at some definite plan of action with respect to those measures. Mr Ballance is to attend the meeting. Rumour has it that the late Native Minister is somewhat inclined to moderate the extreme views he formerly held with respect to native land settlement. A THREATENED CRISIS. It has transpired that there was considerable danger yesterday of a Ministerial crisis over the tea duty, ami there is little doubt that but for the Premier making it a distinct party question as he did, Ministers would either have been defeated or they would probably have carried the barest majority. Several of the Free trade supporters of the Government who were opposed to the tea duty were evidently unwilling to face tiie consequences of a Ministerial defeat, as neither Mr Rhodes or Mr Carroll voced at all, and Dr. Hodgkinson, Mr MeKen/.ie (Clutha), and Mr Pratt supported the Government, mainly, it is considered, for the purpose of averting defeat. THE RETRENCHMENT COMMITTEE. Several members in the economical party in the -House are opposed to the retrenchment committee, now sitting to consider reductions. They consider that no practical good can result from the labours of a committee of this description, who cannot possibly be acquainted with the routine of the various departments. It is stated that the Retrenchment Committee have so far agreed to propose reductions amounting in the aggregate to about £40,000, these are comprised in the following departments, Legislature, Colonial Secreiary, Treasury, Justice, Postal and Telegraphic, Customs and Marines, Stamps and Deeds, Education and Native Affairs. The committee think that the native schools might be taken away fn-.ni the control of the General Government and placed under the existing Education Hoards as by this means, £7000 a year miu-ht be saved.