POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3787, 4 September 1883, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. J

[from: our own corrkspoxdknt.J Wkllin&ton, This day

That Major Atkinson inude a grand blunder when ho announced, Avhen tlio session was only a few -weeks old, that ho saw no reason why it should not be brought to a clo.se at the end of August is now apparent. It is well known that when the Hon.se met the Government business was in a more forward state than it had been for years, and yet, with bills already drafted, but little attempt was made to push tho business forward, the result being that there is a regular rush now at tho last moment, and somehow or another we do not seem, able to progress. Yesterday but little was done, much time being wasted over the loan from New Plymouth to the Government to make a railway from the breakwater to the town — a ease of the most favored district in the colony in the receipt of heavy advances and advantages from that Government being in a position to lend money to its own 'bankers. Just imagine a man overdrawn at his bank £10,000 offering to lend that bank £1000. Tho suppositions case and tho real are almost on all fours. Then there was a big discussion over Mr Russell's native land transactions, with, of course, but little result, and to the long list of days wasted, away yesterday may be added.

I had nearly written months ago, but it is a good many weeks since I expressed the opinion that if the honorarium of members of the Council was made loss than that given to the members of the House of Representatives it was not likely to pass through tho Council. At that time I had tho bulk of opinion against me but yesterday justified my remarks. Dr. Pollen said they'might accept the bill as the Ministerial appraisement of the relative constitutional value of the services of the members of the two Chambers, and then moved the previous question, which was carried on tho voices, the consensus of noise being so much against the Premier that he did not even call for a division.

Hasty legislation requires many amendments. " The Judges on Saturday drew attention to the fact that by a recent Act a man charged Avitli larceny, if under the value of forty shillings, could elect to be tried bj r the Supremo Court, while a man charged with larceny over that amount must"be summarily dealt with. Of course it was at once seen that this was exactly the reverse of what was intended, and a bill to amend such an anomalous .state of airairs was at once drafted. When it is borne iti mind that tho clause passed through committee in both Houses it will be seen that tho risks from hurried legislation arc neither few nor imaginary. To-day we are afflicted as usual with a dose of 37 questions of the greatest possible importance to nobody, except that so many names may bo inserted in Hansard. As a sample of the rubbish Mr Duncan asks if the Government will supply the platelayers with shovels. That may mean a few votes to Mr Duncan at the next election, but it will cost the country one way or another at least £10.

Supply, which should have come on yesterday, is expected to be brought on to-day. The supplementary estimates will be brought down before the others are finished, a proceeding which is beyond my limited powers of comprehension. Mr Peacock moves in the Council to-day "That, in the opinion of this Council, it is advisable that all future nominations made by the Government to seats in the Legislative Council should be submitted to tho House of Representatives for approval."