POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 173, 23 July 1889, Page 5

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

(by telegraph—special reporter.)

Wellington, this day. SUICIDAL POLICY.

Whatever may be the opinions regarding bhe Representation Bill, there can be no doubt as to the harm that Sir H. Atkinson has and is doing himself. The country members, while they want their advantages over the towns increased, are willing to give the Premier their support upon thab question, but are at " variance with him on general matters of policy. In the country party are found some of his bitterest opponeufcs, while in the city ranks are many members who have always been considered his sfcaunchesb supporters. These members feel deeply what they consider the Premier's desertion, and if things go on as they are shaping, Sir Harry Atkinson may wake up some morning to find that on more points than the Representation Bill these hon. gentlemen are opposed to bheir leadei*, and that they are quite prepared to renounce their allegiance to him. While losing their support he willnofc gain the adherence of those country members a.t present found in the ranks of the Opposition, who will be only too glad to hail his downfall.

THE REPRESENTATION BILL.

The debate on this Bill was resumed la 8*5 nighb, bub, contrary to general expecta' tion, ib closed afc the usual hour, half-pa 3" ten.. It will be resumed this evening, who 11 it come 3up on the order of the day.

Mr Tanner, a member of the country party, was the first to speak. He denied that there was any antagonism between town and country, as represented by the cifcy members. After drawing a laughable picture of the difficulties of country candidates, he said it would take an allowance of 50 per cent, to put the country and cities on an equality.

Dr. Newman blamed the Premier for distracting the attention of the House from bhe Financial Statement, while he also staved off the Public Works Statement till the last possible.; stage of this session, so thafc it might be rushed through. Speaking of the Bill before the House, he said such a monstrous increase of the quota as was proposed would not be tolerated elsewhere. If the Bill was passed ifc would awaken fche smouldering embers of antagonism between town and country, and a day of retribution would come to the supporters of the measure.

Mr J. McKenzie, who supported the Bill, said ib gave no real benefit to tho country, bub would deprive those and city constituencies of representation for the benefit of large boroughs. He considered that the Bill needed some radical amendment in Committee.

AUCKLAND PETITIONS,

Yesterday afternoon Mr Goldie presented a petition from W. Kerr and thirteen others, praying for repeal of the Contagious Disease Act; also from J. Summorbon Duke, praying for an inquiry into the reasons why lie was refused employment as an assessor by the Property Tax Department; also cne from Thos. Hall, praying that he may receive compensation for working as a mechanic whilst receiving attendant's scale of pay at the Avondale Lunatic Asylum.

RECEPTION OF IRISH DELEGATES.

A requisition was sent to members of Parliament asking them to attend a public meeting to arrange for the reception of the Irish delegates. The following answer has been sent by one section of the members : — " The questions which will be raised by the public reception of Air Dillon and his colleagues, however important in themselves, have no reference to the public affairs of Now Zealand, and appear to us calculated to introduce amongst ns elements of dissension and party strife from which New Zealand colonists have hitherto boen free. It seems to us undesirable thafc these should be introduced into tho colony. We do not, therefore, feel justified in accepting your invitation." Ifc was signed by the following members of the Lower House : —Sir J. Hall, Messrs Samuel, T. Duncan, J. Kerr, R. Hobbs, Monk, Humphreys, Buchanan, McGregor, Saunders, Tanner, Hodgkinson, Goldie, Lance, and Buxton; and by the following members of the Upper House:—Colonel Whitmore, Dr. Pollen, R. Campbell, J. B. Acland, J. W. Barnicoat, R. Pharazyn, W. S. Peter, and W. Swanson.

GAS COMPANY.

After careful consideration and hearing of the evidence and bjhe arguments of counsel, the Private Bills Committee have come to a decision ovor the Auckland Gas Company's litfcle Bill. This afternoon they will reporb to the Houso thab they find thafc the preamble of the Bill is not proved. This, in plain English, means thafc the Bill catKgo no further; that the action of tho City Council has been successful, and that the Bill is dead. Mr Cotter lefb for Auckland this morning, well pleased, as you can imagine, with the success of his efforts.

LAND SETTLEMENT.

Ib often happens that gumdiggers and others, when travelling about unsettled country, see a piece of land they would liko to make their home, but they are frequently prevented by the circuitous manner in which they have to obtain the land under the present system. This is greatly simplified, bub before the land selected can be acquired, it must be publicly notified as open to selection and purchase. Mr Monk is, this afternoon, to present a petition from the Waitemata County Council, asking tho House to place facilities in the way of settlement by doing away wifch the usual formality of application, so that when a man finds a piece of Crown land that is attractive for settlement he shall be allowed at once to occupy it.

VALUATION OF EXPORTS.

Sir J. Hall is to move for a return showing for the past ten years the prices at which the following articles havo been valued ia the annual statement of the valuation of exports from New Zealand, namely :—Wool, tallow, meat (frozen or otherwise), wheat, oats, barley, and timber.

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

In the Council on Friday afternoon the Hon. Colonel Fraser presented a petition from residents of Dunedin against the Bill authorising sale of liquors at forthcoming Exhibition.

On fche motion for tho second reading of the Dunedin Exhibition Private Streets Closing and Licensing Bill being called on, tho Speaker ruled it a private Bill, and referred it to .the Standing Orders Committee. The Hon. Mr McLean expressed the opinion that such a proceeding was unnecessary, as the Bill really affected the whole of the colony.

ASSEMBLING OF NATIVES,

In moving the second reading of the Native Meetings Bill in the Council on Friday the Attorney-General referred to the danger there was in natives gbing about in large parties armed. Sir George Whitmore supported the second reading, but said he would try in committee to remove certain objectionable clauses. The Hon. Wahawaha said thab if bhe Government bad paid any attention to what he had told them last session, there would have been no disturbance about Te Kooti on tbe East Coast during the recess. He was in favour of the Bill as a whole, but there was one clause he objected to, which, in his opinion, treated offenders and innocent alike. He considered that the Bill should be so clearly defined as to apply only to Te Kooti and his appeal, and not to natives living quietly in their own disi tricts. , Opposibion to the measure was expressed I by Mr Taiaroa, on tho ground that ib iP*«r-

fered with his subjects, who never created disturbances.

The Hon. Mr WHson strongly opposed the Bill, saying that the disturbance lately created by Te Kooti was not of sufficient imporbance for bho inbroduction of such a measure. Had Governmenb been firmin bheir action he held that there would havebeen no row. Dr. Pollen and the Hon W. McLean thought fche Bill would bear good results, and supported the second reading, which was eventually agreed to.