POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2666, 13 August 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(nr TKLKGBAPH.—OWN COUHKSI'ONBKST.) Wellington, Monday. THE LATEST TROUBLE. It goes without saying that the WardHislop affair, which last week assumed-such a serious aspect, has now dropped into comparative insignificance, owing to the fresh dangor that threatens the existence of the Governniont over Mr Moss' amendment to the Property Assessment Bill. The Opposition ridicule the idea of the amendment being made a question of no-confidence in Ministers, although they must be well aware that it could not possibly bo regarded in any other light, tending as it does in the direction of upsetting the Government financial policy. The assert that if the question were put. to tho test without involving tho existence of the Ministry, it would be easily carried, which would probably be the case, as several of the Auckland members who support the Government, are opposed to the Propertytax as well as the bulk of the Opposition. It is questionable, however, if some of the opponents of the tax will after all vote against it at the present juncture, as they recognise that as the Property-Tax Department has now got into thorough working order, and it is a cheaply collected impost, and a sudden change in the taxation would mean a heavy loss to the colony. Further, the Auckland men, as a whole, differ so widely from Mr Moss, that they will not lind it very congeninl to follow him into the lobby on this question. EXTENSION OF PARLIAMENT. A proposal has been mooted amongst members to extend the operations of the present Parliament for a year longer than its expiration next year, in order that the new boundaries of the Representation Bill may bo adjusted after the census is taken in 1891. It is generally felt either that this course should be adopted, or that the census should be taken after next session of Parliament. The Colonial Secretary intimated during the debate on the Representation Bill that the House would have an opportunity of considering this question before ohe prorogation. AN IMPORTANT AMENDMENT. I recently wired you that the Otago Central Railway Bill stood in danger of coining to grief owing to the amendment moved by Mr Smith that tho Bill be postponed to enable the Government to consido what other unfinished lines they can include in the measure. It is now stated that a canvass of the House has been taken and that a distinct majority is in favor of tho amendment. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. Referring to Mr Moss amendment, the Post says : "It would bo impossible to frame a more sweeping condemnation, not only of the particular tax impugned, but of the whole fiscal policy of the Ministry who uphold it. The House is not only asked to condemn the tax, but to doclare that the Ministry who advocate it stand in the way of the progress and settlement of the colony, and are pledged to the maintenance of an unsound and unjust system, and one which is harrassing in its effect on the community. There is no equivocal meaning in the words used by Mr Moss. They are not susceptible of any misinterpretation, and they raise a direct question, which cannot be evaded, and on the verdict on which must depend the existanceof the Ministry, They must stand or fall by the lax, on the maintenance of which their whole policy is based, and if beaten they must, if sincere in their conviction, appeal to the country." The article concludes by saying, " we are not in a position to predict on which side the victory will re«t, because there may be a few weakminded members who will fear to vote, as their consciences and tho interests of their constituents depend. They may prefer to risk the indignation of their constituents rather than incur the displeasure of members. We hope, however, that there will bo very few, if any, who will thus fail to screw their courage to the sticking point, and if all vote honestly and straight on the issue raised, the Ministry and its pet tax will alike stand condemued by a considerable majority. PARLIAMENTARY RIFLE MATCH. The match, to which I previously referred, between members of the Parliaments' of Victoria, New South Wales. Now Zealand, South Australia, and Queensland, takes place on the 2()th mst. Tho New Zealand team consists of the following members:—Messrs Hamlin, Anderson, Bruce, Carroll, A r errall, Rhodes and Duncan.

INTERESTING DEBATE. The debate tonight was of the most common-place character, and certainly did not convey the impression that the fate of the Government hung on the vote that is to follow it. Mr Ballance led off the discussion in a full House, but lie was very far shoit of his usu il form, and spoke as if ho was under some restraint when criticising the policy of the Government. Ho was followed by Mr Saunders, who, as might be expected, attacked the unfortunate Civil Servants, who, he alleged, were the cause of all t'io extravagance that prevailed under sncce.-.sive Governments, and warmly stated that if half the Civil Servants were abolished to-morrow there would be plenty of mon left to perform the work of the country. Mr Kerr interrupted to ask why he did not turn out the Government which he so strongly condemned, to which Mr Saunders replied that he preferred the devil he knew to the one ho did not know, and Mr Ballance's speech had not only convinced him that he would support the present Government in their borrowing policy, but would borrow still further. He created a little diversion by stating that when he first know Sir Harry Atkinson he was an honest man, but this lone habit of preparing financial statements to make the colony appear to be itioro in advance than it was, had corrupt id him. The only other speaker to-night was the eccentric Mr Verrall, who told the House for about the fiftieth time the Government need not borrow another penny if they only established a State Bank, which he considered as good as the Bank of England.