PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 225, 28 September 1897, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day. PEESS GATHERING. On the invitation of the staff of the "Post" about thirty members of the Fourth Estate, including- the local and visiting journalists, met yesterday afternoon for tea, cigars and ! social intercourse. After an enjoyS able half hour, Mr Morrison Chairman , ; of the Press Gallery, moved a vote oi thanks to the initiators of the meetin t, which was heartily accorded. Mr" Gresley Lukin, editor of the "Post," responded in a felicitous ' speech There are more visiting correspondents in Wellington this session than has been the case for many years. PRESSMAN AND MINISTER. In the absence of political news, considerable interest has been evoked by a "open letter to the Hon. John McKenzie," signed by James Wilkie, and published as an advertisement in the evening paper. The writer takes exception to the Minister's statement made at the Ward banquet two weeks ! ago to the effect that "there was a j man in Wellington employed at a i liberal salary to invent lies about the ! Liberal party." This, Wilkie says, can ! onlyrefer to him, and as Parliamentary i refer to him, and, as Parliamentary ' privilege shields the Minister from a j libel action, he challenges Mr McKeni zie to a test of veracity, with the i Press Gallery as judge and jury. | The Minister is invited to make a selection of alleged "lies" or "inveni tions," exhibit it in the Press Room. iat Parliament, and leave the Press 1 representatives of all colours to de- ! cide as to Ihe truth of the statement. ! The large amount of purely partisan 1 matter imported into the open letter ! indicates that the Minister's speech I has been made a peg whereon to i hang an Opposition manifest. TILLET'S ENGAGEMENT. I The report that Ben Tillett has i been engaged by the labour organia- | tors of New Zealand as organising i lecturer has given rise to some surj prise, and the sum of £ 400 a year is | looked upon as very liberal remunerj ation. In course of conversation a j Labour member of the South exJ pressed the opinion that the arrange- ; ment could not prove permanent, as the financial drain upon the Unions would prove unbearable. He quesI tions the wisdom of the engagement, | which he considers unnecessary, as ! the workers of the colony require no instruction in the principles of ; Socialism, and have sufficient know- '■ ledge to use their political power mii telligently. j THE INDEPENDENT LIBERALS. • In view of a possible sharp trial of ! strength between parties in the House i there has already been some specula- ! tion as to the strength and probable | action of the Independent Liberals, I who used to be known as the left ! wing of the Government party. An ; independent member, with whom I ! conversed on the subject, inclines to j think that the left wing has no pro- ; spect of again occupying the com- ! manding position that it did prior to i the deplorable "debacle" which overi took it when organised under the ! leadership of Mr G. W. Russell. The 1 general election, he admits, weakened I the corner party, but all hope of co- | hesion among its members was de- ! stroyed prior to that date. The In- | dependents will, in his opinion, J befound playing the candid friend to j the Government, biit uniformly supi porting it, when a crucial division is taken. There are as, a matter of. fact only four members of the left wing whose independence is not largely a sham. Such members, however, as Messrs Montgomery. Graham, Carncross. Crowther, Joyce, Tanner, and R. Thompson might raise the strength of the Independent vote to eight or ten in a division in svich matters as Mr Ward's status, upon which most of those named feel rather strongly. Now, as the Government majority in the House is i only fourteen, it is evident that the defection of eight from the party would mean defeat. My informant is convinced ,' however, that the assurances and explanations of Ministers | on the eve of an important division : will suffice to preserve the party ■ allegiance of all save three or four , Liberals such as the "ii-reconcilable" : member for Invereargill, and Messrs . Pirani, Smith and Taylor. In the , absence of Mr McGowan, and in the | face of the probability that the \ vacant Dunedin seat will be gained Iby the Liberal party, it will be the aim of the Opposition to obtain a trial of strength at the earliest oppor- ; tunity j JOTTINGS. | The Auckland members who atten- ; ded the Opposition caucus yesterday were Messrs Bollard, Crowther, Herries and Monk. Mr Lang was not present, being adverse to a position of dependence. : Mr Lawry states that several Auckland members have been telegraphed to for copies of the Mining Bill, which is not yet distributed. When it is ample copies will be forwarded. Major Steward's Elective Executive Bill is on the same lines as the Bill introduced in the last Parliament, but will not find as many supporters as the former one. Major Steward intends to call a meeting to discuss it : shortly.