POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2648, 2 July 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(ISY TKLKGHAL'H. —OWN OOUUKSt'ONUiI.N"!'.) Wrcu.r.wroN', Monday. THE MINISTERIAL POSITION. The chief talk «f Liu: lobbies just now is tho impending struggle on tlio Propertytax question, and members are seriously f;icin™ the position wliich will be: forced upon them in case of tho defeat of tho Government, on this most cardinal point of their policy. As might be expected, the Opposition arc giving it out that the division will be a very close thing;.so close indeed that Ministers will scarcely be able to cany on without resigning or going to the country. Then again, we hour that at least three of the regular Opposition will most certainly vote on this issue with the Government, which, of course, would be equivalent to six votes in a party division. 1 hear to-day on excellent authority that Ministers would win on a direct No-Confidence motion by no less than thirteen votes, whilst on the Pmpnrtytax question, pure and simple, their majority is expected to bo much smaller, probably from five to eight. A NEW IDEA. The lalesfc development »f the position has arisen from a suggestion made by an opponent of tho Property-tax to the effect that if the Premier gives a distinct promise to come down with fresh taxation proposals next year, the Property-tax should not lie interfered with this session ; the idea being that as Parliament expires next year, this country can then have a decided voice in determining what form of taxation is to be carried out in tho future. The proposal is to be submitted to Sir Harry Atkinson, but it is very doubtful whether having given a definite pledge last session to afford an opportunity for discussing the whole question this year, he will agree to the alternative proposal. Meanwhile, both sides are pretty confident of .success in the coming division. PUIiLIO WORKS NTATKMKNT. I understand tho Public Works Statement is nearly computer!. Mr Mitehelson stated that he intended bringing it down on l-'riday next, only that the debate on the. Propertytax is lixed for that evening. The Statement will probably be made early next week. KOTO RITA RAILWAY. Ministers intend submitting proposals for extending the Rotorua railway to within twelve miles'of Ohineinntu. The proposal will be embodied in the Public Works Statement. NORTH ISLAND TRUNK LINK. The Auckland and Taranaki members held a meeting this morning in connec'.ioii with the North Island Trunk Railway, Sir (Jou. Grey was in tho chair, and after considorah!o"discnssioti the meeting passed a resolution to the. elf-ct that all expenditure should cease for the present on the Marton end uf the railway, and that another section be completed between Poro ;..-tmau tunnel, and the head of the Mokaii River. A deputation was appointed to wait on the Premier, and iiiiuTsciit I" him the views of the meeting. The fnllowio" wore, tliiiiiviinbev.-i present, Sir < '■ Orey, Messrs March.mt, Smiii-il, Whyte, M.oss, I'Viis.'r, Jackson, Oaduiau, Thompson (L , ), Golclie, Withy, Moat, Kellv, Monk, and L-utiii.'. LAl'.-)l r R SKTI'LKMKNTS. ■V deputation of members interested in the in-..iii..ti..n of labour settlement will wait on the Premier ln-morro-.v to ascertain the views of the Government on the project. THK WHLi'ri'.RS IX. Dr. Fitchett and Mr I'ereival were regu-lu-ly appointed this morniiijr the Opposition' whi|')s for the session. Mr MoGivgor and M-ijor Jackson are again acting this year as Government whips. Latkh. NO SURRKNDKR. The C.il)inot doiiiiitely iv.<olved this afternoon to ask for a dissolution if they are defeated on the Pr iperty-tax.

MR PyivK'S FACK'f [OUSNKSS. li\ discussing tho. sa'ary, ti/JOO, of I)!■. Mar;:regor, Inspector of Lunatic A-ylums, Mr FiMi objected to any olfioial receiving a larger salary than the Premier nf the cliiiiv, and said ho considered tin; ollieor in question was wi-li |>:iid at, £1000 a year. Ilij spuUo at some length against tin) pi"-pii-al t'i pivu Dr. Mac'rojzor a salary "f twelve hundred pounds, and, as usual, was es-irumnly forcible in his argument*. Mr Pyko then rose and said, god humourodly. that if members know nothing about lunatics hitherto the speech of the member fur DunoJin South must have greatly enlightened them on that point. This brought Mr 'LVnbu.ll indignantly to his feat, and he protested against such imputations being made on ;my hmi. member. Mr l'.yko innocently asked what he had said to provoke the anger of the member fi>v Timaru. Mr Turubull, who had previously moved to reduce Mr Mrliirgnr'.-i salary to one thousand pounds, said the member for Dnustan had inferred that, the member for D'inedin Koiil.li was a lunatic. Mr I'yke, in the blandest of tones, denied the solt impeachnvuit, and said he had cert duly dune .v.ih,n" of th" sort. Mr TnrnlMiU persisted th.il. he" liad inferred it, and ".bile hot!i lion, "enllemon were on their lout, MY Imsli (who had loft the House previ,.u-ly) re-entered the Chamber in tim>. to hear Mr Tiinibnll warmly urging the member for Dnnstan t> withdraw his words. Mr I'yke Ihm, wiMi :m air of mock solemnity, said, '-Then, Mr ilamlin. f shall say tintalter the extremely roiiMinalilo speech made by tin; lion, member fur Dnncdin South, and he didcecded t-> defend l)r Mei.ireg.,r from the attack made-m him by Messrs lnsh and 'Pnrnbnll. ILe said he altogether objected to the pi.ipensity of so.-ne lion, members to cat down l!hs salaries of deserving ollieers, and pointing to the vacant chair of the Servant at-Arms, said that by cutting down that. gentleman's salary last year they had driven away an oilier wbi.se loss would be felt by the whole c.lony. Tl> is statement was received s owhat incredulously, and with cries of "Oil"' by a few members in Mr I'yke's vicinity, and lie (('lickly turned round and said, amidst prrtsat laughter, that perhaps n,,ne of those pirsmt had ever pissed through the hands of tlie, Sorgoant-at-Arms as he had done. Ho bore testimony to the <;.'utlemanly manner in which Captain I'lorne had" laid his hand on his shoulder on one memorable occasion, and said if ~ne of the. Home messengers had done so he should have kicked him down the stairs The incident alluded to by the member! >r Dunstaii happened several years ago, Mr I'yke having in the small hours of the uiornin", from pure cussoduess, taken up his position in the Press gallery, which, of course, was a broach of the privileges of the House. Ca.pt. Home was thereupon sent up by the Speaker to request Mr I'yke to retire.