POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2956, 25 June 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[itY TKMSI'.IIAPH— SI'KI.'IAL HKI'OKI'KH. 1 Wku.ing rov, Lut Night. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. Thk debato on tho l'"in =inci:il Statement is to bo resumed to-night, Mi Scolue McKenzio leadincr off oti the (IpposiLion side. He is expected to milce a very exhaustive speech. Tlie speeches, so fur, hive been able deliverance*, especially th >-e '>f Mr liryce, Mr Macartlmr, and Mr W.'rd, I'ostniaster-Ueneral. Thorn is 110 dntibt that Mr Macartlmr scr.ivd heavily against tho Government when he showe I that th«y did their utmost tci deprive Sir Harry Atkinson of the credit of 11 h;in(j«■ >1110 surplus. They paid tho subsidies to local bodies, for example, with unwonted celerity, much to the astonishment of the local bodies ; the object was, of course, to try to reduce the wm plus in thin connec-li-jr. It is pointed out that a circular was i-sned to all thu heads of departments giving orders that everything must be paid right up to tho end of the financial your— quite an unusual course, but the intention was .self-evident. Mr Reeves la-t night tried to make out that his Government doserved nil the credit for the surplus. If this were so, why did tliey make such extraordinary attempts to reduce the amount of .surplus. CAPTAIN ERAS UK'S DEATH. Sir John Hall in the Hoiii-e this afternoon paid a very high tribute to tho memory of Hon. Capt. Fraser, one of the oldest members ot the Legislative Council who expired to-day. The Premier fully concurred with Si;' John Hall's remarks and stated that he proposed to ask the House 11 adjourn tomorrow from 2.30 till 7.30 out of respect to Ciptain Fraser's memory. ELECTION ADDRESSES. Mr Saunders is desirous of effecting an improvement in the present system of elections in some particulars although ho does not wish to return to the open system ot nomination. Mr S.tnnder is of opinion that candidates for pailiamentary honours ought to bo called together for the purpose of addressing the electors and submitting to bo catechised. He will therefore propose, whilst the Electoral Bill is in committee, that returning officers shall call a meeting for this purpose in some convenient building at 7 p.m. three days before the day of polling.