POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2665, 10 August 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(l!Y TKLEGUAI'IL —OWN CriIIIIHSI'ONDKNT ) \Vi:u,iN<;roN', Krid-iy. THE AILNJSTER AND TlfH JUDGE. It is to be felt now that tins Ward-Hislop correspondence thnvit'.ns to be almost as intermin-ibln as the Representation Bill, nnd scarcely a day |>»sfs liV I'iit siiiiin reference is inaiio to it. The whole of this aftcrnoon'si t-itting was occupied with a debate on Mr hamuli's motion referring to the di-piitu between ihi , Colr.ni.l Secret α-y and Judgo Waivj. and ilr Wiioi made a very lengthy explanation of the cireumM/uiC'i.s from his point of view, and again n-.<i-rtod that although he might have ac!ed somewhat, indiscreetly in wiitiog to Judge, Ward as ho had done over tho Christie i;ms<>, lie, at tho saimi time, did nothing to interfere with the administration of justice in any way. Mr IVillanco, Air Larnaeh, Mr Walker, and several oilier members c-intended that tho Colonial Secretary's explanation made it more than ever necessary that a committee should he set up to enquire into the uiattor, but the Government absolutely refused to sanction such a tribunal. The Premier st>ted again t i-day that he was ready to meet any motion that the Opposition might make on the question, but he would not agree to refer it to any committee ns tho House was the proper body to judge of the actions of Ministers and not a select committee. VOTING OUT A MINISTER.

There is no doubt at all that a pood many members entertain the conviction that Judge Ward lias been subjected to undue interference at the hands of the Colonial Secretary, and ih is freely stated that if the [talian or Swiss cons'itution were in force in New Zealand, Mr Hislop would bo compelled tn retire from the Cabinet. Under the law of those countries, as your reader.* may be aware, it is quite competent for a vote of censure to bo moved against any particular Minister without involving Uie defeat of the Government, as a whole, and in tho cast) of such a vote being carried by Parliament, tho of Fending Minister simply resigns his portfolio, while the rest of his colleagues continue in ollicp. In tho present case, however, supposing Mr Ballance adopted such a course, the result of the motion, if successful, would lead to the defeat ol the Government and would bo followed by a dissolution which, of course, would be absurd under the circumstances. DISORDERLY VOLUNTEEUK. It is reported that tho two Naval corps which misconducted themselves at the recent Volunteer Encampment held at Hamilton, are to be disbanded by tho Defence Minister, for their conduct on that occasion. A WILY PROCEEDING. If lobby gos-ip i« to bo relied upon, the mist ike that ficciinwl in postponing the debate on the I >fc:igo Central Bill, on Tuesday evonimr, was not duo to forgel fulness on Mr Mitchelson's put. As I have already staled, the Minister for Public Works was tho only representative of t.io Government on the benches at the timo when the motion was carried, and as it was an open secret tha'. Mr Mitchclwin does not really support the Otago Central Bill, although it is a Government men-sure, it is strongly suspected that he was on this occasion "lying down" by allowing the postponement of the Bill for a fortnight to be carried, without a word of remonstrance!. N( )-COX I' , r I)IiiYCE .MOTION. A surprise was sprung in ihu House tonight, which developed into an orthodox " no-cnnlidenco" motion. On resuming after the dinner adjournment, the Premier moved that the House at its rising adjourn lill h.ilf-p.i.st 7 on Monday, for Government business only. Mr .Larnach at once rose, and tratei sod that by moving that it meet I for the purpose of considering whether a j committee should bo appointed to investigate tho Ward-Hislop case. Sir Harry Atkinson then, in ,iu excited speech, s.iid that he should treat this as a " want-of-confidonco" motion, and refused to go on with any other business till it was disposed of. Tho Opposition, ho exclaimed, had been shuMinsj with this question from day to-day, and if the Government were, not lit to be trusted with such a trumpery alFair as the correspondence between Iho Colonial Secretary and the Judge, it was timo they loft the Treasury benches. There were cries of "Oh, Oh," at the expression " trumpery," to which the Premier replied "Yes, a trumpery affair when there is so much important bnsine-s to go on with." Mr Biillmice, who followed tho Premier, denied that there had been any shutlling in the matter, and he fully agreed with the mover of the amendment that a committee should be .set up. Mr Walker also taunted Uig Premier with wearing his "hobnailed boots," by declaring, this a " no-confidence " motion, merely to fiighteu his supporters. After a lively little debate the Premier's motion was carried by 40 j to 3(1. Several members who usually go into tho lobby with Ministers refrained from voting on this occasion. When tka numbers wore declared to fiive a majority of four to the Government, the Opposition set up a loud cheer at the cl'»«eni*s< of the division, and were followed by a few Government supporters near the Ministerial benches.