POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7954, 9 July 1889, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[Frojj Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, Jclt 9. Assisting Mr Lcvestam’s Family. The members of the Lower House are subscribing for the relief of the family of the late Mr Levestam, member for Nelson. So far upwards of LGO have been collected, and before the list closes probably LIOO will be raised. Crown Tenants’ Arrears. Last session, on the defeat of the Fair Rent Bill in the Council, the Government undertook to make inquiries with the view of affording relief to those deferred-payment and perpetual-lease holders of the Crown who were in arrears and could not pay their rents which their holdings stood them in. During the xeceas the Commissioners of Crown Lands and rangers have been making Inquiries with a view to recommending reductions of rents in certain cases; and the Minister of Lands will introduce a Bill, probably'of one operative clause, having for its object the validation of the new valua-

lions. Duty on Machinery. Mr Boss has interviewed the Premier with respeet to getting the duty on some printing machinery being imported by Messrs Conlls and Culling removed. Sir H. Atkinson regrets his inability to comply with the request, saying that if he had any discretionary power he would do so. The Premier won’t Stand Nonsense. It is now rumored that the Government threaten to resign if the country members maintain their unbending attitude with respect to the quota. The rumor arose thus wise : Mr Lance yesterday informed the Premier that the country members intended to insist upon 33A per cent., and the Premier replied: “ Then you’ll have to put another Ministry on the Benches if you do.” Presumably this was an attempt at “ bluff,” but it tends to show bow affairs are drifting over the country and town difficulty.

The Council Reform Bill will bo considered by the Upper House to-day, and Dr Pollen will move that it be read a second time this day six months, If I understand the feelings of the Lords aright, this measure is certain to be thrown out. Removing a Disability. It seems that under existing law auctioneers are prohibited from owing hotel properties. When Mr Samuel’s Auctioneers Bill is in committee Mr Valentine will introduce a clause having for its object the removal of this restriction. The Country Party’s Caucus.

The country members held a further meeting this forenoon, when it was decided to absolutely adopt a no-surrender attitude. As I anticipated, Supply will be placed at the head of the Order Paper to-day, and it will be intercepted, so that not only will the 11 quota ” question but the Hare system of representation also be threshed out on the floor of the House,

A Proper Decision. The Printing Committee decided this morning not to recommend that the FisherAtkinson correspondence be printed. The Boss Greek Reservoir. Mr Allen and Mr Ross waited upon the Minister of Works this morning in reference to the leak in the Ross Creek reservoir. The Minister promised that Mr Hasher, local officer of the Public Works Department, should make a preliminary inspection of the reservoir, and, if he should consider it necessary, a further inspection will be made. Where Is the Misconception? Mr Fish has just given notice of the following motion: —“ That, seeing that dissatisfaction exists among the local bodies with respect to the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill, caused probably through misconception of the policy of the measure, the debate on the second reading be postponed till next session, in order to enable members to confer personally with the local bodies concerning it.” The “ Quota ” Question. It is understood that, with a view to allowing the “quota” question to be raised, the Government have determined to place Supply near the head of to-day ’s Order Paper, so that the motion for going into committee may probably be interfered with by this matter. The country members say that they are in honor bound not to accept less than 33J per cent., this being the concession mutually agreed upon unaer the Act of 1887. A long and bitter struggle over the quota question seems inevitable. The town members resent the uncompromising attitude of the country representatives, and threaten to resist their increased demands to the bitter end. If ever there was a case in which stonewalling was justifiable it is on this matter. Latest, Instead of Supply being put up, it has been decided to continue the Representation Bill debate, which will probably last two days longer : then the second reading of the Bill will be negatived, and the Government will introduce a new measure dealing with the “quota” question. This is just the programme I sketched out at the end of last week.