POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 12308, 24 September 1904, Page 5

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[Feom Oca Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 24. FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS. Opportunity -vvas taken of the introduction of an Imprest Supply Bill last evening by Mr Massey to again refer to the following Press cable message, which appeared in last Saturday's newspapers : —"New Zealand has placed £320X00 4 per cents., with a currencv of five years and £85,000 and £99,C00 at par." Complaint was made by the Leader of the Opposition that, while the Premier had told the House that he knew nothing of the matter, and that ho had given no instructions to place any such loan, he had subsequently told a Press interviewer that the loan agents had authority to place on the London market the balance of last year's million loan, and were probably taking advantage of that authority. Was Mr Seddon concealing from the House information he had in his possession, and which he had given to a member of the Pi ess? Neither the House nor the conntry, said Mr Massey, were satisfied with the mystery connected with the financial operations of the Government.—The Premier said he had nothing to add to what he had stated to the Houso on Wednesday, and he refused positively to be called on to explain or refute paragraphs appearing in the newspapers regarding the colony's financial transactions. Bringing such matters up on the floor of the Houso was calculated to injure the colony's credit, He had stated that, to his mind, what was referred to in the cable had nothing to do with the colony's loans.—Mr Massey : " You did not say so in'the House."—The Premier said that if the hon. member, did not know the difference between loans and renewals it was not his (Mr Seddon's) fault. The message probably referred to renewals, and not to a loan or the floating of a loan.—Mr Massey said that the Premier was reported to havo stated to an interviewer that the loan agents had authority to place the balance of the million loan of last year on the London market when it was favorable.—The Premier stated that, so far as instructions to the AgentGeneral went, they were given months ago.—Considerable debate followed as to impressions conveyed to readers of tho London ' Times' by a misleading cable sent by their New Zealand correspondent. —Sir Joseph Ward stated that Saturday's cable undoubtedly referred to renewals of short-dated debentures, and not to a loan transaction. IMPREST. An Imprest Supply Bill for £656,000 passed through all stages in the House last night It provoked tie usual financial discussion. Referring to tlie criticisms of the Opposition, the Premier said that Mr Ma-s----sey and his supporters would never find their way to the Treasury benches by discrediting the colony or' by repeated attempts to injure its finances.—Mr Herdman retorted that it was the right hon. genleman himself who was damaging the injury of the colony, by refusing to supply information demanded by tho Opposition, in regard to financial matters. SCHOOLS OF MINES. Mr Millar yesterday presented to tho House a petition from Otago Universiy students in favor of the retention of the School of Minea LAST YEAR'S SNOWSTORM. Mr Herdman wants the Minister of Lauds to make such arrangements as will enable those settlers in Central Otago who suffered loss by the snowstorms of last year, and who are not in a position to pay their expenses to Wellington, to give evidence regarding their individual losses before, say, two members of the Otago Land Board hi Otago. COMPLIMENTARY. Before the Houso rose lost evening the Premier said that he intended to proceed to the West. Coast on Monday to be present with his constituents on the occasion of the "silver wedding" of his entry into political life. The Leader of the Opposition gracefully remarked that he hoped the Premier would " have a good time."