POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 11700, 4 October 1902, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[Fsoh AfTHBttRTM,. frcWfe? 4/ J The following theaters of the IjegMlatjdre fetch Dunedro to-night:—Hofas. A. JM Smith" and D. Pfekertb»> Mfessifc MtfJWj Barclay, Behnfctj .and Jamed Men* M.H.R.S. My Arnold ortwis bh Hobday, Mr Sidev cm WedneSda^

MR OARNdtfoBB. Mr Cafft&o* in%mttAi& thai h* win b6 Unable to visit tB6 Taietl, as he had Wbpfci to db after the Sb&sioH. l?here id a #t«mg belief among tkai ie wiQ bo called t» ttoCottbcil fciVJ madfe id tHat Chamber afterthe elections.

SOt M. O'&OftfcE. Sir M. O'fibrktVs valfedifctwv statentetot in the House that he would nbt decide whether to be a candidate next month is regarded as ah indication that he does libt it.tend to seek re-eleeUoil. Some North Island seats promise t» furnist clotfe t&ratests, bwing td the activity" of Hhj Farmers' Union. The oiily Mittistfcr hi whom seribtid opposition is threatened 18 the Minister tif Customs (the Hoii. Mr MUlb}. DATE- OF" ffl MtMONS. Thbugh it was semi-officially intimated at the Ministerial Caucus oh Tuesday that tho General Election would probably be held on November 15, as this proves to bo a Saturday, and would therefore be an unsuitable day, as it has to Ije observed as a half-holiday (even hotels being compelled by law to close), the probabilities are that the polling day will be till* following Wednesday, November 19. Writs in that caie will be issued at the end of the present month, wheri the campaign begins ih real earnest!. , THE HON. MR WALKER. S A certain amount of Significance has been attached to the gjjecch of the Hoh. Mr Walker in the Legislative Council last night, as there are nofcja few whb regard it as bis valedictory speech as Minister of Education. After thanking members for their invariable courtesy in thb past, the Minister said the charge was sometimes made against the Council that it had no business to do. . The difficulty was to determine what business should be introduced in the Council. First, he did not deny that for calm arid .judicial conssteration of Bills the cdminittee work of the Cotincil could hot be suif asfed. Wit ttbjectioh was ttfteii raised to certain measures brigiriatittg in the Ctiuheil, He; hbwevefi had tried to do his besfc.--HHear, bear.) <3dmihg td his own deparlnleiit, Mr Walker said, that after feadihg sbino df the comments on his adhmiiftraiidhi ne would have Hked to have been" a member bf the Lbw6r House to have had an appoT-tunity' of meeting some of hifi commentators at the gaine; He went on td detail the changes he had brought abofct m®s he took charge ttf the Education Dbparfchieni he had fceSh satisfied to go albng ih a cjttfct, useful ivaj 5 but what hfe was fiibfet ratified with tfas the assistance he hid beeh able to to district Ligh" schools all Bvet the cdtuhv.— (Hear, hear.). He had befell BtHe to eiitablish 'Ja this colony ihe bfeginbihgfe bf a system that had made fScßfdstJtd's edtteatttih system the sUceess it was. He would also like to see Scotland's bursary System ifltroduced ih this ctilbily. iu conclusion, the Minister said h6 could confidently say that education in New Zealfttid had iidt suffered at his haiids since he had held the portfolio.

[Pra ttarari Pafcm Asss&*stok*3 October 4. Parliament has betn N prorogued' by •Gazette' to Ndvember 1&