POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 14526, 30 November 1910, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Ocn Paeuamentaus Reporter.] WELLINGTON. November' 22. While the Mining Bill was Under consideration last night Mr Scott drew attention to the almost criminal waste of arable lands in certain park of Otago owing to dredging operations, and asked that ex- ' tended power should be given to the wardens to deal with this matter. Mr William Fraser said it would never do to make the power mandatory. The Minister said he had much sympathy with tho objection of tho member for Tuapeka, but there were wardens and wardens. These officers could in the majority of cases be depended on to exercise a wise discretion. It would be all right if there was only one warden and only one district affected. Mr Anderson sail that some miners in Otago were quite willing that legislation . should oblige them to preserve the strippings of soil an-1 place them back on the top of tho tailings. True, the latter gave a fine crop of clover in some places, but the land eonld never be brought back to its original value. • Shortly after midnight there was a mild flare-up, due to Pahiatua rising and hinting at sinister influences being at work to defeat tho will of the people. It was no use himself or the member for Ohinemuri trying to protect tho interests of the miners wlum the representatives of big mining companies were on the floor or in the lobbies trying to influence the Minister.—Mr T. E. Taylor: To whom libel is what King Charles’s head was to Mr Dick. —Mr Ross next hinted at some mysterious personages floating about the lobbies in the interests of wealthy newspaper syndicates, but ho was brought to book by the Chairman. There were cries of “Go on with the business” and demands for more light, hut Pahiatua refused to be drawn. The outstanding features of last mg Vs dchat; were Mr T. E. Taylor’s alien'); to fasten on the Opposition the .ffia'ge c?‘passive V promoting the infamous attack . u ■Sir .1 G. Ward throngj ifie notor.-uis pampldet which has k«n circulated di rough - out the Dominion for some months pa.4, and Mr Massey’s threat to expose Mr Taylor’s true relations with the Opposition whi’c the Taylor-Scddon tria’ was in progress in 1905. While that duel lasted the atmosphere was electrical, and but lac tno (Speaker's firmness might have developed into a most unpleasant business. Sir J G. Waid imparted i nduc heat into his speech, bes’dcs making too nmea .bo deed man incident. I lie Hon. R. McKenzie iiplai ned somewhat hazily tliat the Opposition wore endeavoring to secure Air M'Calliim, of Blenheim, as their candidate for Waikato. Mr Russell dragged in the ■ wretched past by showing that the party of purity, were a remnant of those who, under the Atkinson regime, disgracefully whitewashed die Hon. J. B. Whyte, a Legislative Councillor, beside whoso land-scrip transactions the Flaxbcurnc basinets, even if 'une, was a mere ciicumstaiice. The * Dominion ’ quotes Sir J. G. Ward on duty 17, 1896, when for jxilitica] purposes he thought fit to hold the dead open to attack, but to-day it suits him to take an exactly opposite view, and thinks the country will not be so easily fooled. Tho Hons. J. E. Jenkinson and H. F. Wigram will make a. strong attack on the Tramways Bill in the Council this afternoon. Prorogation is now looked for on Frii dap? and Mr Arnold and other Southern members will leave by Friday’s boat. As the Hino affair is to be fought to a finish, the whole of to-day's sitting will ho occupied therewith. Sir Joseph Ward, who means to make another deliverance, will conclude by moving a vote of censure on Mr Kaihau. who will itcign in order to test the feelings of his constituenls.