POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 136, 10 June 1891, Page 5

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Wellington, this day. AN EXPLANATION.

Mr Cadman informs me that a wrong impression has been caused by the reports of Hon. J. McKenzie's speech on the purchase of large estates for land settlement. lb has been concluded that tho scheme would admit of jobbery, but tho Government intend to submit each proposal to Parliament with the valuations, and allow the House to decide each purchase on its merits. THE CHAIRMANSHIP. Nothing definite has been decided about the Chairmanship of Committees, but Mr Hamlin seems most likely, and Captain Russell will probably assume the leadership of the Opposition. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The Address-in-Reply to the Governor' 3 speech will be moved by Mr McGuire* seconded by Mr Buick, in the House of Representatives. The Colonial Secretary has found a difficulty to get anyone to acfc in this capacity in the Legislative Council, and so far has been unsuccessful. The debate on tbe Addres;3-in-Reply promises to extend well into next week. Mr G. F. Richardson is undersood to be preparing a reply to fche Hon. Mr McKenzie'3 speech to be delivered in the course of the debate. THE GOVERNMENT POLICY. Notwithstanding the depression, fche Financial Statemenb to be brought) down on Friday week is expected to be of an encouraging character and will show a small bona fide surplus. The Government will stand or fall by their taxation proposals, involving tha abolition of the property tax and the adoption of land and income tax. The exact nature of the proposals has nofc yeb been divulged, but I have good reason to believe there will be an all-round exemption considerably less than the property tax exemption, and a substantial recognition of improvements. Thero will be a large amount of legislation dealing with the coal industry, bub it is improbable the Government will this session move in the direction of Sir George Grey's proposed nationalisation of the coal mines. , VAILE'S SYSTEM. Mr Rees has promised to introduce a Bill requiring the Railway Commissioners to give Vaile's scheme a trial on a section of the Auckland railways. lam inclined to believe the proposal will be more favourably received than hitherto. THAMES-TE AROHA RAILWAY. Foremost amongsb fche public works likely to be undertaken in Auckland is the completion of the Thames—Te Aroha railway, the prospects derivable from the opening up of new coal and timber lands being considered very encouraging. DUMMYISM. Provision will be made in the Land Bill making dummyism punishable by imprisonment, and throwing the onus of prosecution on the Land Boards. MR WTGLEY'S SEAT. Being satisfied that his seat has become vacant in the Council, Mr Wigley has written the Government urging reasons for his reappointment, chiefly on the ground that his absences were rather his misfortune than his fault. TRUST COMMISSION. The evidence taken by the Public Trust Commission is far stronger than anything yet published would indicate. I am assured that the reporb will show thab changes in the higher officers of the Trust Office are absolutely demanded. Mr Hamerton, Public Trustee, has applied for, and received, three mouths' leave. The Government are retiring Mr. De Castro, chief clerk, and Mr Wilson, solicitor. Mr Warburton will be asked to recommend an officer from the Civil Service for the chief clerkship. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. The Governor's speech will be somewhab lengthy, and will outline the policy of the Government as already pretty fully indicated by Ministerial utterances, touching very lightly on the taxation proposals, upon which most of the session will no doubt eventuate. It may be taken for granted that the speech will contain very little new, but will pub in a concise form the intentions of the Government, and will give rise to a prolonged debate.