PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume VI, Issue 1099, 24 August 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(by telegraph), (from otjr own correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, August 22.

Tbe Land Bill has passed its third rending in (he House. The bill bas been considerably amended, bnt as it has yeb to pass through the Council mill it is not worth while describing alterations,, for many of them may be disagreed with by the Lords, and still others may be made. I may say, however, that nominated land boards are to be continued only till a month after next session, a bill shall be passed making them elective. There was a strenuous effort made to reduce the price of land in somo parts of the South Island, but was unsuccessful.

The Public Works Statement has been promised for Tuesday evening. Unusual interest centres in it, from the circumstance that there is a general belief' that the Government will propose in it to allocate £150,000 to the commencement of the East and West Coast and Nelson railway, the colony being absolutely committed to the construction of these lines at an expense of two or three' millions. I am informed by a member of the Opposition, who is not given to exaggeration, that if this proposal is made it will certainly lead to a change of Government. AH through tbe session I have thought it unlikely that there will be a change, but if tbe Government really endeavor to fasten on tbe colony snch an enormous liability as that involved in these railways, the House may think it better to take a leap in tbe dark even at this late period of tbe session tban submit to that. Nothing that could happen would be more disastrous than the committal of the colony to these lines. Should it come to a no-confidence motion, it is understood that Mr. Montgomery would be the mover, and I suppose the Atkinson party, without joining him, would use their utmost efforts to pull him through the session. What they want to see is a provisional Government, as it may be termed, a Government which will hold office for a time and enable the formation of a coalition comprising tbe strongest men of all parties. There is a very general feeling that the colony is approaching a crisis of the severest possible nature, even if it has not now entered it, and that the only chance is to put in office strong-minded men from various sections of the House, who will put down their foot to stop, in spite of all local prssure. enormous unprofitable expenditure which is going on all over the colony. It is a startling fact that the colony now has to pay £1,800,000 in interest and permadent charges, entirely exclusive of the cost of governing — a burden which cannot be much further increased without bring about a national bankruptcy,.or taxation which shall be absolutely crushing." If 'a party could be formed to carry out this policy, it wonld not need to take to itself the nondescript. Its objections and purposes would overshadow all the petty party lines' now divide all men. However, an immediate change is contingent on the Government insisting on entering into the liability to which I have referred.