PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 146, 20 June 1903, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS

THE SPEAKERSHiI'

OPPOSITION AWAKENING,

(By Telegraph.—Own CorresDohdent.)

RUMOURED RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION.

WHO WILL LEAD?

WELLINGTON, this day

Though the Premier and the Hon.

Walker were as close as oysters when questioned on the subject, I have good reasons for believing the Minister for Education is about to tender his resignation on the ground of ill-health. If this is so, it is probable his successor will not be appointed till after the meeting of Parliament, the duties being temporarily discharged by another Minister. Cabinet has decided* that Messrs Rutherford, of Hurunui, and Major, of Hawera, will move and second the Address-in-Reply in the Lower House. The Legislative Council arrangement is not yet decided.

Ministers having gone fully into the question of the Speakership, have come to a decision that the claims of Mr Guinness to the position are paramount. Though the intentions of the Opposition in the new Parliament are at present wrapped in mystery, it is well known that conferences among the party, have been held, and, so it is alleged, a plan of campaign actually settled. The rank and file arc, however, not in accord as to who should be their leader.- Some think Mr Duthie is not popular enough, a remark which applies in a smaller degree to Mr J. Allan. Talking the matter over with two new Opposition members, they gave me to understand that it would be a tactical blunder to have either Mr Duthie or Mr Allan leading the party, and Mr Massey would be a better selection.

It has been given out from an inspired source that the easy-going attitude adopted by the Opposition for some years past' will be replaced by an amount of vigour and watchfulness which has not of late characterised its Parliamentary action

One thing is pretty cavtain, that several Ministerialists will raise a "hulhibuloo" over the late Parliamentary excursion, on the ground that it involved a needless waste of money, which could have been better expended in the construction of roads and bridges in districts where-, tha settlers are hampered by want of decent communication and easier access to their homesteads. The story goes that a leading member of the Opposition, who hails from a Southern constituency, threatens to roast the Hon. Mr Mills for his alleged bad generalship during the picnic. The member for Nelson, Mr J. Graham, is reported to have very strong opinions on the subject of this excursion.