PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 125, 31 May 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP

(BY TELEORAPiI.— PARLIAMENTARY

B.EPOHTKK.)

Wkllinoton, this day. The probabilities of an Opposition vote to the Financial Statement and Estimates appear to be evaporating, and at the present time there does not seem much prospect of an amondment. I am told, however, that there is still the certainty of a sharp debate on the budget, and it is more than likely that when members are wanned upsome ono will make an endeavour to ascertain the feeliugof the House. Thesupposedsurplusof £30,000 will be strongly questioned, while the fact that a sura of £800,000 is left to be scrambled for, and is practically at the disposal of the Government, will be one of the points of the Opposition attack. Nothing Stirring; Things are very quiet in political matters to-day, and there is nothing of special importance stirring.

Instructions have been given to the Constabulary Guard at Assembly Entrance to saluto all members of the House, and some amusing mistakes have been made in consequence. All sorts and conditions of men have participated in the honours, and the well-dressed messengers are repeatedly being honoured with salutes. Some of the members profess to be annoyed at the almost obsequious nature of the order, and say it comes badly from a democratic Govern mont.

Sir Georgo Grey fears that the principle of eloctive justices, which he has bad inserted in tho Justice of the Peace Amendment Bill, will meet with strong opposition before the Bill gets through tho Lower Houso, but he has had numbers of promises of support from membors of the Legislative Council.

Sir Georgo Groy will move his further omondmont to make county councils tho Land Boards next week, but from what I hear, it ia not likely to meet with great sup port. Of tho Civil Service Bill the "Evening 1 Press " says : —"The measure doserves fair consideration at the. hands of tbo Houso, because it is tho first genuine effort that has been made to regulate the public employment on a sound principle. It absolutely abolishes Ministerial patrt>nago, oxcopt in certain departments or in relation to certain offices to which tho system of entrance by examination is not applicable. Some of the provisions of tho bill aro very objectionable, notably the nomination of cadets by members of tho Houeo of Representatives, but thoßo can easily bo got rid of without in any way interfering with the cardinal principlo of übylition of MiriiHtoriul patronage." Otago Central Railway. At tho meeting of Otago members to-day 23 wore proeont, tho Premier boing the only ono nbjont. A resolution was moved by Mr Macandrow, and carried, "That Otago central lino must be puehod on to payublo point—namoly, at least as far as am Taiori Lake, contracts to be lot within eighteen months. Another resolution was carried that no now line should be constructod until linos now unrininhcd woro carried to a a payable point.