POLITICAL NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2669, 20 August 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES

(BV TELEGRAPH. —OWN COK RESPONDENT.)

Wkxunoton, Monday. A SENSIBLE MOVE;

The Property Assessment Bill, which caused bo much trouble for the last week or two, is now well down on the order paper, and there is every probability that it will not come up again this session. Ministers have decided on this step.owing to their desire t'i make some progress with other business, and also in consequence of the vexatious umendnicnts that threatened to lie moved on the Bill, which most assuredly, if given elfect, would kill it in committee after wasting another week or two over it. _ The Premier, I understand, intends making a statement to the effect that the amendments which he has introduced in the Property Assessment Bill, exempting machinery, etc. were made with the view of relieving the tax-payers, as far as possible, from the operation of the Act, and that the Opposition are, therefore, responsible for t'lis relief being refused. Sir Harry having given Mr Harkness a promise that he should have an opportunity ' f blinking his Land and Income Tax proposals before tho House, will no doubt agree that the matter be dis3u-sed latter on in tho session. MR ALLEN'S GRIEVANCE. There has been some little misunderstanding between Mr Allen and tho Government over the telegrams received by the member for Dunedin East urging him to vote for the Government on the NocintidcnCQ motion. It appears Mr Allen was under tho impression that tho telegrams in question really emanated from Ministers in Wellington and were sent at their suggestion in order to put political pressure ou Mr Allen in tho late crisis, and he was a little sore against them in consequence. The Premier, however, to-day assured him that no member of the Ministry had communicated with Mr Allen's constituents on the subject, nor as far as he was aware had any friends of the

(rovernment done .so, and this assurance was frankly accepted by Mr Allen. MINISTERIAL CIIANGUS. I have been requested to contradict the report that has been so prevalent during tho last day or two that Air Fergus was about to resign his portfolio in the Cabinet at the end of the session. There is 110 doubt that the Minister of Justice did intond taking such a step very shortly, but the necessity for his doing so has now been obviated. It is quite on the cards, however, that if the deafness from which Sir F. Whitaker has unfortunately been Kuffeiing. increases before next session he may find it necessiry to tender' his resignation aud in that .'case, another Minister .vo-.iid have to bo appointed to conduct the business of the Legislative Council of whicn the Attorney-General is the leader. At present Sir Frederick has some difficulty in hearing what is siid in the Council owing to the infirmity alluded to. THE OTAGO OK XT UAL BILL. There is no intention as far as I can gather of making the Otago Central Railway Bill a Ministeral measure, and its chance of passing this session is said to be very slender. S nne of the Government

supporters consider there is no absolute necessity fur passing the Bill this year as tlift stun of £10,000 appears in the Public Works Estimates for extension of the lint', but strong elfort will be made to pass the Bill during the present session. A USELESS HOUSE. Some of the more expenen c&'i members of the Mouse are quite in despair of any useful work being done by the present Parliament, and it is frequently stated that there h never been a House in which the feeling of responsibility in legislation has been less felt than the present one. Members complain, also, that most serious public questions are treated in the House and the lobbies with an extraordinary flippancy, and a larrikin spirit, wfiich has been printed out by the Premier, the other night as greatly to be deplored. This state of things is very noticeable on the Opposition side of the House, .Messrs Ballance, Walker,

Liitico and other Opposition loaders, apparently having no. control whatever of their paity. In this respect the wish 13 fervently expressed by the older members that the next Paaliiunent may bo of a different stamp, and that the reduction of members to 70 will have a salutary effect. SIR O. GRUY'S HOBBY. I understand that Sir George Grey's amendment to the ..-Property Assessment iiill with reference to tixing the foreign bond-holders will, if moved, be ruled out of older by the Chairman of Committers on the ground that such amendments cannot l>u in ived by a private member of the House. Sir U. Grey, in that case, will probably move that the Speaker be called in to decide the point of order, and it may be quite taken for granted that the quaint old knight will, with stereotyped phrase, \ 11'jje that it is one of the greatest questions that has ever come before the Parliament of this colony. I 1 ROP I'jLITY-TAX EXEMPTION. .Mr Ijallance intends moving m coin-; iniltee 011 the Property Assessment lii'.l, if lie gets an opportunity, that all agricultural improvements up to £2000 be exempt from taxation. W A R1) - CIIRISTIIC CASE. .Judge Ward was examined before the .-elect committee of the Legislative Council (."-day with reference toChiistie's bankrupt ease and the correspondence between the Judge and the Colonial Secretary. It was decided to summon the clerk of the court lit O.imaru to give evidence before the committee i) connection with the case.