POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2815, 29 July 1890, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

♦ (IIY TKI.KHIIAI'II.— OWN COIIKKSrONIJENT). Wklunoton, Last Night. OPPOSITION SKINKMXT.S. ' TilK probabilities arising out of the reduc- ,| tion of the Estimates formed the principle ; topic of discussion in the Lobbies to-day, s and tho attitude which the Government l would assume gives rise to all sorts .if rumours. A Cabinet meeting was hold this f morning, when it was expected that some . decision would bo arrived nt over tho Estimates, but the matter, I hear was not . discussed at all, and onlv departmental ( business was transacted, The situation at x present is a most extraordinary one, inasmuch as while the ".skinflints " section of tho House is pledged to economy, and no matter from what quarter it comes, they are, at the same time, deadly opposed to giving the Opposition tho slightest assistance towards turning tho Ministry out of office. Their opinion is, therefore, that the r Government should accept the reductions ; proposed by the Opposition, as they go j much further than the economies they them- t selves asked for, and so throw tho responsibility of the cutting down processs on the Opposition. 1 have good cause for hclicu'ng t that ministers will eventually adopt that t course, and it will undoubtedly be a good card til play in anticipation of the coming I elections. The Opposition of course are anxious that the Government should make > the passage of the Estimates a ministeral ' ' question so that their retrenchment supporters would vote with them rather than < cause, their resignation or dissolution. Tho ( 1 opponents of tho Ministry are fully aware t that it would be extremely unwise and 1 impolitic for the Government at the present | juncture to be forced to appeal to the - country, because they resisted economy, the ' probabilities are therefore that the Go- I verument will allow the opposition, w'. oarc now posing as the most extreme economist, r to cut down the estim ites much mote than Ministers themselves ir.tended, and allow I their opponents to boar all the unpopularity i ' of doing so when they face the electors. I f ■ the Government should decide on this course it will prove a "poser" for MiFish, and other Oppositionists, who so I 1 lightly prate of then-determination to reduce the expenditure by tSU.OOO wilhcil bavinthe slightest responsibility in doing so, besides, the Government recognise that the 1 Opposition have :i constitutional right to deal with appropriations they give to Ministers, and however unpalatable it may r 1 be to the Government to have their E-ti-mates so much reduced, they will probably, ' under the present circumstances, allow this i course to be taken. ' STUMPING THE COUNTRY. Several Opposition members deny the correctness of the rumour to the effect that they intend stumping the country on the question whether six or nine months supplies should bo granted to the Government. The information came from a prominent member of the party, and there is no doubt that it has been seriously discussed, hut certain ■ circumstances may now render it undesirable to put it into practice immediately. The idea seems to have originated with Sir i G. Grey when lie appealed to the House on , Friday to stop all business till the conntiy had pronounced on the proposal to make ' further calls to the Legislative Council. It ■ is not at all likely, however, that the Government would allow " pairs " for those ; nicmbeis of the Opposition who were • anxious to do a little electioneering during I the middle of the so-sion. In any case, I ' understand Sir li. I Jrey will slim tly address ! a public meeting in Wellington on the i political situation.