PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 289, 13 December 1897, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

The fate of the Old Age Pension Bill hangs in the balance. The debate on Mr Kelly's intercepting motion affirming the right of the Legislative Council to amend money bills will have to be disposed of before the adjourned debate on the second reading of the Pensions Bill is proceeded with. It is stated in well-informed circles that a careful count of noses has been made, and that though there are two or three members, like the Hon. Scotland, whose vote on any question is always a matter of conjecture until it has been actually recorded, tbe voting will be so close that the question will have to be decided by the Speaker's casting vote. HOROWHENUA CASE. In spite of tho hope very generally expressed that the Government will not proceed any further at this late period of the session with that vexed question, the Horowhenua Block Bill, it is said that Mr Mckenzie is resolved to fight the quarrel out to the death ; indeed it is whispered in Opposition circles that he was so set upon carrying this measure that not even the risk of dissension in the Cabinet could move him from his purpose. The Bill has been before the Native Affairs Committee, which is expected to report to-day, though many members, including a few Ministerial supporters, devoutly hoped that when it was referred to the Committee it was decently dead and buried for this session. NATIVE LAND COURTS. The Native Land Courts Amendment Act is before the Joint Statutes Revision Committee, and a new clause which it is proposed to insert in the Bill is opposed by the members of the Upper House. It proposes to give Wi Pere another opportunity of extricating himself from the clutches of a certain bank, and to place his affairs on a better footing. HON. G. F. RICHARDSON. Referring to a statement in to-day's "Times" copied from the Dunedin "Times" that tho Hon. G. F. Richardson will resign his seat at the close of the session, he states that the above statement is made without his authority.