OUR PARLIAMENTARY LETTER

Dunstan Times, Issue 1368, 1 June 1888, Page 3

OUR PARLIAMENTARY LETTER

(From Odr Own Coeeestondsnt),

Wellington, May 18. Parliament has now been a week in session and is to be congratulated on the amount of work already disposed of. That this result is due to the silent tactics of the Opposition none need dispute, for there might easily have been a week's debate on the Address in Reply, on the Chinese Re strictiou Bill and on the Loan Bill, ail of which are now practically cleared out of the way. lam not. however, disposed to award the Opprsition too much praise Their action in refusing to debate auy of the above-named questions was due not so much to a laudable desire to rave the time of the country in the speedy transaction of the public business, as to a very manifest intention to pass the first questions sub (.fitted in order to disposs of all the busi ness Government had been able to ret ready and expose their unpreparedness to meet Parliament. This was very evident on Tuesday last when the Chinese Restriction Bill was allowed to go almost by the hoard, and the Government, having no further measures ready, were compelled to ask the House to adjourn quite early in the afternoon. It was expected that the Electoral Bill would be the next business introduced by the Government but owing to pressure which is being brought on Ministers, the Bill has been relegated to the cabinet room for further consideration and it may be some time before it makes its appearance. On the other hand it may be introduced at almost auy moment. It is understood that there is likely to lie a good deal of opposition to the Bill especi ally by country members who naturally desire that there may he some finality in electoral registration and who object to experimenting such as will probably he contemplated by the new Bill in the pro pnsal to entirely alter our present system of representation. More prominence than might have been anticipated has been given to the question of taxing the totalisator earnings for the benefit of the charitable institutions of the Colony and two days have been spent in discussing the subject on various motions by different members. So far the House has decided by a large majority to place a tax of two per cent, on the earnings of the “machine ’ Many think this is insufficient and that the tax should he at least five per cent.; others, again, are agitating for the abolition of the machine. Whatever may be the ultimate result, it is clear that both in Parliament and the country there is a strong feeling against the totalisator. and it requires no prophet to foretell that the day is not far distant when it will not he regarded as a necessary adjunct to the “ king of sports.” Beyond the matters referred to, the success of Mr Vincent Pyke in carrying the second reading of the Otago Central Rail way Bill has been the only important bus! ness tran acted since my last communication. As you are aware the Bill which was introduced last session proposes the further construction of the Otago Railway by a syndicate on the land grant system. To this there is of course, much objection. Sir Robert Stout the ox Premier who is at present in Wellington has been writing to the papers in opposition to the Bill ; and Mr Vincent Pyko has been quick to answer the ex-1 render's letters. Sir Robert Stout declaims against the proposals of the Bill on principle, urging that it is wrong to part with the crown lands of the Colony in this way. In this matter Sir Robert is hardly consistent, for it was his Government that completed the negotiations for the con struction of tho Midland Railway on exactly similar terms to those proposed by Mr Pyke for the construction of the Otago Central.

The Opposition patty have not yet elected a leader. For the present 'the heads of the party will act as a kind of vigilance committee to watch the measures and acts of tho Government. It is rumored however that something definite us to tho leadership will ho decided upon tho arrival of Sir George Grey in Wellington. The Loan Bill may now bo said to have passed both Houses ; the third reading of the Bill being but a formal matter. It is

the iutention of the Government to push on the flual formalities in oouneotion with the Bill idorder that it may be potted to-mor-row to catch the 'Frisco mall for England, to enable the inevitable loan to be raised without delay. The Premier has discovered that ho was somewhat premature in supposing that he had « majority of the House in favor of his now Procedure Rules, and it it understood shat there is very little chance of their being agreed to except in a very modified form. Before they can be introduced for the consideration of the House at all there must be two-thirds of the members present. The first step - that of the introduction of the rules—was defeated to day by a general clearance of members, the Opposition walking out almost in a body When therefore. the Premier saw there was not a quorum present to consider the question of amending or suspending the Standing Orders ho was compelled to ask the House to allow consideration of hi* resolutions till Tuesday next Unless the proposed rules are considerably modified in the meantime, it is probable that Sir Harry will bo met by a similar repulse on Tuesday next. ■ i May 25. Since my communication of a week ago there has been little done of an actually legislative character ; in fact I think I shall be correct in saying that nothing has been dona. When I dispatched my last letter the Loan Bill was passing through the Legislative .Council, but the Attorney General had not then made the statement which has since so electrified the Colony and sown such a deep feeling of distrust everywhere; a feeling which cannot, bo allayed until after tho Treasurer has de

livered Ida Budget Speech aud fully disclosed the exact position of the Colony. Tho statement I refer to was made by Sir Frederick Whitaker in moving the second reading of the Loan Bill in tho Council. It will be romemberfed that in order to get the Loan Bill passed at one sitting so that it might be ready for transmission to England by the Frisco Mail which left here on Saturday, tho Standing Orders wore suspended in Lower House. The same course the same speed, was attempted in the Council, hat some slight opposition manifesting itself, Sir Frederick Whitaker, speaking, no duuht, under some irritation declared that unless the Loan Bill were

passed within 24 hours “ we should have to file our schedule.” Such a remark fall ng from the lips of a man who is rightly perhaps regarded as the Nestor of our pollticians together with the haste shown by Government in their desire to get the Bill passed through all its stages, naturally caused great excitement, anxiety, and, in many [daces indignation. I need not weary you with a recapitulation of all that has been said on the subject. Suffice it to say that on the next sitting day the Government were asked what foundation there was for the remark made by the Attorney General, that they quibbled out of the position in a by no means graceful manner and that the matter has been the engrossing topic of conversation amongst politicians ever since. As I said before there is still grave anxiety felt here by many and confidence cannot he entirely restored until after the delivery of the Financial Statement

When the Budget is to be delivered is doubtful. Many expect it to be brought down to-night, bat I am assured that is not likely, and that Sir Harry Atkinson cannot possib y get the Statemen ready before Tuesday. Probably, therefore the Statement will be delivered on the evening ol that day, but it is the unexpected that happens in polities as in everything else and it would be a huge sell especially to the importers if the Budget.• proposing increased Customs duties on stocks now in bond, were sprung upon the House tonight. It is not known, of course, in what direction the tariff is to be revised but it is popularly believed that sugar and tea will come in for heavier duties This is freely asserted and equally freely denied. However, whatever proposals the Budget may contain, it is certain that the Financial Statement of ISBB is most anxionsly awaited by the community at largo, and that no statement ever delivered in this Colony has been so strictly scrutinised and criticised as will be that of the pre sent measure for this year. In addition to the talk about the Loan Bill, the only excitement wc have had arose from a rumor to the effect that the Government had received a cable message from the Secretary of State for the Colo nies to the effect that the Imperial Government feared that an European war was imminent, and giving certain instructions in the’event of a sudden outbreak ot hostilities. The news soon spread and groups of members might he seen here and there gravely discussing the possibilities of an attack on the Empire City by a Russian cruiser and the kidnapping of some of their number as hostages of war. Visions of solitary confinement in the lead mines of Siberia so worked upon the nervous threads of some members compositions that the excitement became intense and at last questions had-to be asked in the House to relieve the general anxiety. Of course Ministers denied that there was any truth in the rumor. It is wonderful what little faith anyone acquainted with politics puts in the professions or denials of Ministers. They are bound to deny all rumors. And honco many people, notwithstanding the several denials that have been officially made, believe that some such intimation as that referred to has been sent by the Coins nial Office to this Colony, either to His Excellency the Governor or the Govern ment

The Opposition do not intend to let the Government transact much business until they are satisfied as to the proposals of the Financial Statement Hence on Tuesday all the Government Policy Bills wore postponed, and the House adjourned early ; on Wednesday private Bills were alone dealt with ; Thursday we kept high holiday in honor of Her Most Gracious Majesty ; and to day nothing of any importance has yet engaged the House. This evening the Electoral and Mining Bills may bo slightly advanced, but I am quite sure the House will not work until the Financial State ment shall have been delivered