POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2893, 29 January 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(in- vi:i.i:i;i;ai'h -simjcial cokkksh'ONdknt). AVr.i.uNuro.v, Last Night. THE VACANT PORTFOLIO. XoTlllN'i: has yet lioen done m the matter uf HlliiiK the vachrit portfolio in the new Ministry. The seat was offered to Mr (;oldin, but lit; nromptly declined to accept it and Mr Ciulumu will probably now ba ch.is'-n, :i's I undorstaud he is regarded by the Auckland meiubeis as the most popular man to represent that district in tlio Ministry. ,: , , Late/. Mr Cadmau lias accepted the seat in tlio Cabinet, and will have the portfolio of Xative Minister.

YOTIXG V,Y BALLOT. Mi- Kuckland this afternoon amidst lui.'liter f,'ave notice of a motion which pro-pos-s to sulvtitutii voting by ballot for open voting in divisions in the 1 rouse.

TUi; AKAIIOA SKAT. Mr McGregor's petition agninut tlie return i<[ Mr Joyce, member fur Akaroa, on the ground that twelvu out of the tliiiteon pollim; booths wi.'re dosed :it Ij o'clock instead of 7, will bo heard mi Friday. Sir Robert Stout will appear for Mr Joyce. The Government have been urged to liniitf in a Bill validatinu the eli-clioii, seeinKthat the mistake in tlio hour of closing was that of the Lletm-iiiiiß OJlieer and not of the candidate. It is unlikely however that such ;l J Jill will be brought in aa the mutter in now before the Supremo Court.

LKXirril OK SKSSIOX. In replyini to a question put by Mr Rolioiton'thii aftern.i.ni the Premier .slid the Government e\poctod to briiiff thfi su-isioii tn a closn bofoi-e the oml of next wit , ,;, bill they intended that Parliament should iiw't ajjam towards li e end of May. Tliera w,ire procedmits. for u U>ng ndjourn-iiii-nl instead of a proriig.itioii, but, si.Hih :idjoHiiiiinMU« wore not ;:uslooi;iry, and tin) (lovi-rnuiont thought they would be acting more, in accord with precedent by proro;,'hiR. Mr IVillance said further, in reply to Mr McAithur, that accurrlinp to law only half the honorarium would lie paid in ri:-

tii Hi.; second session, with the full allowance »f fiO for expenses. The present Oovernmont, lin pointed out, were lint responsible for this se-sinn ; in f:ict, they hud provided against it la«t swimi by brincing about ii spocilio ncreiMiitinttliiil. tin; Atkinson (Joveiniiieiil. should riHirii if defeated at tliß poll, but that course was nnt followed by tliu late Ministry. PROPERTY QITALmC.VTIoN. The (i-uvorniiiuiit ;m: beinK insert by some of tliuir supporters to brint: in a Hill to iibiilisli the property qualification altogether sit elcctiims ; but such a meusui-e. oven is passed by the Lower House, would bo curtain of rejection by the. Council. ECONOMY. A ]',ill is :\bout to be introduced by Mr Bueldand for reducing the Splicer's salary to fIOO, tli:it of the Clerk «f the House to t4()0. :>ntl that of the C!iairiii;in of Committees to f. r io ovur and above his honorarium. .