POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 10767, 31 October 1898, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

*flfrawykoj uiMjrliiniyi i r j v :■< wi ' " f ; •;■? WBtWNOTON, Oa»»w Sfc *i' IMW Teleejrasau I have the authority of the Premier lor •ajnjngthat no iach telegram a* that tent from Doaedin to-day, and said to have been addressed by him in answer to a telegram asking his advice as to the Tuapeka seat, wu ever despatched by him. He adds that after Mr S-m's -retirement he merely sent one telegram, which was addressed to a Lawrence resident, and stated that he declined, in view of their position, to give any advice whatever. The message published to-night he declares he never saw till he read it In the evening paper. Unless it happens to have been seat by some colleague of the Premier it must have been a concoction. . . October 31. "Noiaeka" Prepared to Explala. . The Motneka seat trouble 'is virtually ended. A statement will be made to the House that Mr M'Kenzie is willing to mike an explanation to the effect that he misunderstood the Standing Order regarding wotds being 'aten down, and that hj was while he was under the mistaken impression that it was within the province of any member to demand that words be taken down that he had been guilty, of defying the Ohair. He will farther be prepared to express contrition for bia wrong-doing. Under these circumstances, the oenstfrmg resolution will be rescinded, and the member for Motneka will be readmitted. Thereat of to-night's sitting will be taken np with local Bills. Ih Haste to Get Away. | There is every reason to believe that, the work of the session will be finished this week, though to ensure that end there must be a further sacrifice of much important legislation. Mr Batehlsoß's Charges. The reports from both the Public Accounts Committee on the stores transfer~question and the Patea Allegations Committee will be brought down in the course of a day or twoj and it is rumored that so far as Mr Hutchison's charges against the Premier are concerned they have been disproved. Public Works. The latest appropriations authorised by the Cabinet inolude £2,000 for the Midland Railway (Springfield end), and £l,lOO for submarine works at Auckland. The Speaker's Action. The Premier's resolution for rescinding the suspension of the member for Motueka will probably be adopted to-night, but there will be some plain talk on the part of the Opposition as to the extraordinary action i f the Bpeaker in returning unopened to a messenger the letter whioh he admittedly knew oontained Mr M'Kenzie's resignation as a member of the House. Electioneering Tactics.

Thus this morning'd Ministerial organ on Opposition tactics: gram sent from Dunedin on Saturday, which credits the Premier with 'son e most extraordinary statea.ejta regarding the Tuapeke. election, its probable result, and the Ministerial attitude in the matter, seems to be a gross fabriction—an electioneering lie, circulated with a view of affeoting the contest—and it is a mystery how the Presa Association oame to be .imposed upon with regard to the alleged message from Mr Seddon." The Otngo Central. The tender of Mr James Fowler is accepted for the supply of girders for the Otago Central. ▲ Reconstruction or the Cabinet Promised. It will be recollected that there was some talk from the Left Wing of tabling a motion of want of confidence in the Ministry as at present constituted simultaneously with bringing down the Police Commission report. This would, of course, be directed against the administration of Mr Thompson, the Minister of Defenoe. The motion was, however, abandoned, and nothing more was beard of the matter till this morning, when one or two Government supporters were sounded as to supporting suoh a proicsition, and their assent was promised. Then the secret leaked out, and the Premier, on being informed of the position, allowed ihe members of his party to be officially advited that it was his intention to reconstruct be Cabinet during the recess. Assurance was further given that Mr Thompson was willing to retire to appease the desires of a certain section of the House. Possibly other members of the Cabinet may also seek the seclusion of private life when the promised reconstruction takes place. The Premier Not Bun Tack. Several Chinese were examined before the Allegations Committee this forenoon. Tneir evidence went, it is understood, in the direction of showing that Mr Seddon only acquired Sum Turn's interest in tho trust, as the member named, belonging to the Bun Tuok Company, was about to pay a visit to his native land. They also gave evidence that Bun Tuck was in no way identical with the Premier. Mr Hutchison's Opinion. Mr G. Hutchison, who is regarded as an authority on constitutional law, says that Sir Maurice O'Rorke'a action regarding Mr M'f>enzie'd letter is wholly indefensible, and that there is a vacancy at the present moment. Labor Bills. By 19 to 13 the Council decided to insist on its amendments to the Wages Protection Bill. The Legislative Council to-day recommitted the Worken>' Compensation Bill, struck out "negl>genoe" (inserted previously in clause 4), and read the Bill a third time. The effect is to make mere negligence on the part of a worker no bar to compensation.