POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7655, 4 July 1888, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, July 3.

The Retrenchment Agitation.

Another interview took place this afternoon between the Premier and Messrs Goldie, Withy, and Hobbs, the representatives of the Retrenchment Committee. The result of the interview was that the Premier promised to accept the following resolution if it were passed by the House:—"That, in the opinion of this House, the Government should (if possible) during the recess make still further reductions in the annual public expenditure to the extent of LIOO.OOO." The words "if possible" were insisted on, and it was understood from Sir Harry that, if the motion were carried into effect, salaries below Ll5O, as well as those above that amount, would have to be dealt with. Tho resolution has been entrusted to Mr Withy, who will take the first opportunity of moving it. The members of the Committee are now lobbying for support for it. Mr Monk's Amendment. Credit has been persistently given to the Retrenchment Committee for the amendment moved by Mr Monk on the motion to go into Committee of Supply last Friday night. Mr Marchant referred to the statement to-night, and denied that the Committee had any connection with the resolution. He said that Mr Monk moved entirely on his own responsibility as a private member. The object of Mr Monk's amendment is of course to enable the House to deal with the salaries in these departments. The Freetrade Section. The Freetrade party held a caucus this morning, eighteen members attending and Mr Bectham presiding. The proceedings were kept secret, but 1 understand that no decision was come to as to the course of procedure to be adopted. The probabilities are that the wholeof the Freetrade party will walk out of the Chamber when the vote for going into Committee of Supply is moved. Therj is no warrant for the statement that it was decided that the Freetraders should give a vote hostile to the Government in the event of an amendment to going into Supply being moved ; on the contrary, as I advised you yesterday, they intend with four exceptions, to give a general support to the policy of thi Government, in order to prevent the advent of the Opposition to power. The Why and Wherefore. It has already been stated that the Government only succeeded in carrying tho increased tea duty in consequence of having made it a Ministerial question. Dr Hodgkinson to-night said that he had reoently on several occasions had reason to vote against his convictions, and he gave the tea duty as a case in point. " Then why did you do it ?" inquired Mr Taylor, which drew from the member for Wallace the rejoinder : " So as to keep such as you off the Treasury benches." The House evidently enjoyed Mr Taylor's discomfiture, which was the effect of the straightforward reply tendered. The Railway Department. A strong point was made by Mr Hutchison tonight of the prolific field for saving which the Railway Department furnishes. He spoke strongly in denunciation of the rail: way system, and raised a laugh by the application of the phrase "leather-headed, officious fatuity which distinguishes the management," and the "glorified .v.jbledom " that ruled over the department. A Want of Common Sense. Dr Hodgkinson raised ironical cheers by declaring that there had been no common sense in the colony for the past eighteen years. When quietness was restored he explained that what he meant was that with a display of greater prudence and sense in the management of our public affairs the colony would not have got so deeply ioto debt. An Erroneous RulingSir M. O'Rorke this evening made a graceful correction of a ruling which he had found on reflection to be erroneous. In the debate on Friday night, after Mr Monk had moved his amendment to the Premier's motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr Moss began to address himself to the original question, when the Speaker interrupted him and ruled that his remarks must be confined to the amendment. On the House meeting to-night, the Speaker eaid that he had cqme to the conclusion that their was an error in his ruling. Generally speaking, any amendment upon the formal motion to go Into Committee of Supply practically became the main question before Hie House, but as in this instance the Premier had made a speeoh in moving the original motion, it was only fair that members should have an opportunity of oritioising his remarks. In making this correction, he hoped to be able to give Mr Moss an opportunity of speaking at a later stage of the debate. The acknowledgment was received with cheers, and Mr Moss formally thanked Sir Maurice for his courtesy. New Zealandera In Victoria.

Mr Moss tells me that he has a private letter from Victoria from whioh he learns that a number of New Zealanders in Melbourne have formed themselves into a New Zealand Association, chiefly for social purposes, but also with the idea of helping everyone coming from New Zealand: in

search of work; also to keep files of the papers of New Zealand, for the use of their countrymen. His letter says that there is quite a colony of New Zealanders now in Victoria, and all who have trades are doing well, but clerical work is at great discount. Minister of Railway*. The intention to create a new portfolio of Minister of Railways is looked on by the ' Post' as an indication that we are not to have a Railway Board. It says that tho management would be dominated by Mr Maxwell, and proceeds: "We have no hesitation in saying that the difference between Mr Maxwell's management at LI,OOO a year, and that of a properly-constituted Board at L 6.500, would be a benefit to the Treasury of at least L 50,000, by reductions of the expenditure and increase of the traffic. It is significant that although a Railway Board has been proposed for many years past, no Ministry ever ventured to attempt to carry the scheme through Parliament until it chanced that Mr Maxwell was absent from the colony. Then members waxed valiant, and the Bill was passed, Now, however, that Mr Maxwell has returned, their courage has oozed out of their finger ends, and so we are to have instead of a Board a Minister who will be a puppet in Mr Maxwell's hands." Telegraphing to Members. In asking the other day whether greater facility would be afforded members in telegraphing to their constituents on publio business, Dr Fitchett mentioned that himself and others had been so flooded with messages regarding the Tariff that they had been constrained to make their replies " collect." The Premier, in replying, said that, without the distinctly expressed opinion of the House, the Government were unprepared to grant further telegraphic concessions to members.