POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2894, 31 January 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(tiv iKi.K-.i:.'.rii— srueiAL coiikkspontikxt). Wki.i.ington, Lust Night. CLOSIXG TIIR SKSSIOX.

Till-: decision of tlv Government to prorogue to-morrow appr::rs to have been andi«'nlv arrived i>ts, ;is only tv' i > or three aK'Jthe Premier stated tlmfc anticipated the business would bo lir.Mied by the end of next week. Tho fact i« that Ministers expected a very prolonged debate on the and they aWo. J understand, were under tho impression that the Opposition would use every effort t > Inrras the new Ministry before allowing tliem lour months' len-e of office, and this was perhaps not unreasonable, when one remombers the obstructive tactics of the Opposition ttlie present Government party) last session, especially during tho period of the unfortunate labour strikes. The determination to close the present session at once appears to be satisfactory to members generally, as all recognise that it is imprabable that any business can be carried on till next session.

MR \V. li. RKKS. It is .still persistently reported liere that Mr Kces is to be appointed Agent-General for the colony on the retirement of fair Dillon Poll in October next. 1 have Rood reason for believing that there is tin foundation for the report, although people believe that Mr Kees would make a fairly L-ood representative for the colony in hnpland, provided he could turn his undoubted abilities to a more practical use than tie lias hitherto obtained credit for. One thing is pretty certain, that if the Uullanco Government remains in power the present AgentGeneral is not likely to have a renewal of his term of office. PURITY OF PARLIAMENT. The Bill inttoducol hy Mr Fergus for maintaining the purity of Parliament is to receive a now clause from Mr 1' ish, who cavo notice this afternoon that when Mr Fergus' Purity of Parliament Hill, comes before the Hon?.; ho intends moving the addition of a clause providing that any Ministry who .shall either collectively llr .' , y ono of its individual members offer a bribe to a member of cither House, either of a seat in the Legislative Council or any other position of profit for the purpose of securing such Ministry in office shall bo guilty of an illegal and corrupt practice and bo forthwith expelled from the Legislature and that members of sucli Ministry togethor with a person who accepts such a bribe shall be made ineligible for a neat in Parliament for the rest of their lives. Mr I'ereu* today endeavoured to move tlio first reading of tlio Bill, but the Premier objected, on the ground that the Government hail decided not to proceed with any business this session. Mr Fergus then stated that he was determined to have tho l>ill fully circulated in the country and amongst the members of the House during the recess. PARLIAMENTARY AMENTfIKS. , A little passage-at-arms occurred this ; afternoon between tho late Minister for Lands and tho present holder of the otnee. The former, Mr G. F. Richardson, in a few neat words, and with the best possible intp.ntion. took occasion to compliment the Government for having placed Mt Mckenzic in charge of the Lands Department at he felt sure that that Hon. Gentleman would do his utmost to 'Administer his department in the interest of the colonv. To the surprise of everybody Mr MoKr.n/.ie.although thanking Mr Richardson tor his ltinnly expressions, went on to refer to Jie duimnyis.n that he felt had been going ;m for the last few years, and ostentatiously told the House that ho intended making full enquiry into the working oi the Lands Department. and it ho found that any persons had been m illegal "ecupation of lands their leases should bo cancelled. This wholesale reflection oil his predecessor's land administration was 111 such excessively bad taste that it was altogether too much for Mr Richardson to near, and lie quietly rose and said that he was quite unprepared for such an attack aftei the compliments ho had paid to his successor in office. Mr McKenzie, however, was apparently quite unconcerned, and took uo trouble to withdraw a single word he had uttered respecting his predecessor s administration. The omission was ail the more marked, seeing that the late Minister for Lands had no more bitter opponent in the House for the last three years than the present Minister.