PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 253, 1 November 1897, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegraph.-Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

ANOTHER QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.

Leading Oppositionists say they intend to strongly resist several items on the Estimates. It is becoming increasingly apparent that not much beneficial legislation will be passed this session. The House is threatened with another privilege matter to-morrow. In the course of the Address-in-Reply debate Mr Lewis read a bogus letter covering an application to a shipping company for a position in which Mr Beddon's connection with the Anglo Mining Syndicate was alluded to as evidence of the applicant's fitness for the position. When the last number of Hansard was issued it was immediately called in, and the last page (containing this letter) was torn out. MiLewis is understood to have consented to that course, acting under a misapprehension at the instigation of the Premier. The point of privilege which Pirani will raise is this—Can the Premier order passages to be excised from members' speeches, or is not that a question entirely for the consideration of the Reporting Debates Committee. RECONSTRUCTION RUMOURS. Opinion seems to be gaining ground amongst Opposition members, that Mr Seddon will reconstruct Cabinet during the recess and will himself go Home as Agent-General, with probability Mr Reeves standing for Westlaml, and if elected joining the Ministry. THE ESTIMATES. The estimates will be proceeded with tomorrow evening, the standing orders providing on Tuesday, the House may go into Committee of Supply without any intercepting amendment, otherwise Mr Eolleston intended to move an amendment expressing disapproval of the appointments made to the Upper House, and Mr Kelly another condemning the proposed reduction of the rate of interest on deposits in the Post Office Savings Banks. MR MONTGOMERY INCENSED. Mr Montgomery is incensed at being stigmatised by two leading members of the Cabinet as "the tory member for Ellesmere," and is likely to go permanently into the Opposition ranks. He declares that he has generally supported the policy of the Government except as to bank legislation, dealing with the sinking funds, and the Premier's connection with the Anglocontinental Syndicate.