PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 259, 8 November 1897, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

THE POLICE INQUIRY.

The Minister of Defence explains that the Royal Commission on Police is to be set up to inquire into charges against the police administration: generally and not into individual cases. BILLS BLOCKED. The Premier on Saturday told a deputation i from .the Pharmaceutical Society, which iwaited on him to press on the Pharmacy Bill, that owing to the blocking of/business during the past three or four weeks /he has little hopes of passing the Bill into law this session. i A LIBERAL CAUCUS. A caucus of the Liberal party called by the Premier for to-morrow at eleven. It is surmised the object of the caucus is to arrange a solid vote on the question of the appointment of a committee to confer with a cojnmittee of the Upper House on the Native-Lands Laws Act Amendment Bill as against the proposal made by tlie Opposition to substitute Messrs Kelly and Pirani on the Committee for Messrs Wi Pere and It. McKenzie. Probably the caucus will also decide on what bills shall be pushed through in view of the ;fact that the prorogation is expected within five weeks. A TUG-OF-WAR. It is expected a tug-of-war will take place to-morrow night, when the Government will make .a strong effort to push through the estimates, which the Opposition threaten to fight item by item, it is rumoured they intend to come provided with blankets and pillows. No doubt the Opposition fear that if the estimates are once passed Ministers will be masters of the situation, and that if they persist in obstructive tactics the Premier may terminate the session, leaving the obstructionists to bear the odium of a barren session.

The Opposition and the left wing are by no means a happy family. The latter are disgusted with the lack of energy °n t<ne part of the straight opposition in helping them to stonewall the estimates last Tuesday night, and they say this time they will make the Opposition do their share of obstruction, holding the fort themselves up to midnight, and then leaving the Opposition to continue the tight.