PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 132, 7 June 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(From our Special Eeporter.) j Wellington, June 6. J Smuggling, It is said that a large amount of t | smuggling is going' on in Auckland, Otago, and elsewhere, and that it is carried on most extensively at Kaipara. Mr Goldie is bringing the matter under the attention of the Governmeat, and it is very probable that further steps will be taken to put a stop to the praotice. • Attitude of the Free Lances. . It is highly improbable that those Free- I traders •who | formerly belonged to the Ministerial section and are known as the Middle Party will vote with Mr W. G. Smith in his amendment to the Customs Duties Bill, but will- more likely walk out of the Chamber when the division bell is rung. The amendment is entirely in accord with their views, but they naturally resent following the lead of one to whom they have been opposed during the.whole ; of his political career. But it is pointed out that in the present juncture of affairs this would seemingly be in keeping with the position of matters. Had the Government put up Mr Smith to move his amendment their tactics could not have proved more successful. The seoeders certainly lost an opportunity •by allowing themselves to be forestalled by a Freetrader from the other side of the House. FUETHEE RBTEBNCHMBNT. It is the opinion of a section of members that while the Government have been very severe in the application of their retrenchment to Civil Servants in receipt of small salaries, those pffioials drawing from £400 to £1200 per annum have been very leniently dealt with, Arrangements are therefore being made by Mr Goldie and others for a meeting to be held at an early date to go through the Estimates with the object of agreeing upon further reductions which they think should be made in the large salaries, and testing the feeling of the House when the Estimates are under consideration. A Freeteade Argument. Mr McArthur stated this afternoon as an instance of the effect of the new tariff that a Company within, his knowledge were now importing plant to the value of £22,000 upon whioh duty would be payable to the extent of £5000. This, he said, could not be called encouragement of local industries, as it would seriously cripple the Company's business. He could not understand how four- Freetraders in the Cabinet remained in office in face of suoh a tariff. Pobging a Roll. Several miners having complained that their names have been improperly struck' on the electoral roll of the Lake County, the Petitions Committee report that inasmuch as a remedy for this grievance appears to be provided under section 68 of the Counties Aot, 1886, they have no recommendation to make.

PBoXBonoNtST Unity. Arrangements are being made by Dr Fit. ohett and Mir Goldie for a meeting of representative Protectionists for the purpose of going oaref ully into the items of the tariff and coming to arrangements concerning each, so as to avoid diversity of feeling amongst the party relative to tbe flame imports, and it j'b , thought desirable to arrive at thorough unanimity on each item before they come to vote. Failing such unity, there is little doubt that the Freetraders would carry their point in many instances. It is proposed to appoint twi members for eaoh district, and meetings will be held forthwith. Jottingß. The Freetraders will vote en bloc against all tbe Protective items in the tariff.— Mr Pyke raised a laugh to-night by saying that fruit growing was a native industry, which especially wantß protecting.— The galleries of the House were again crowded tonight when the financial debate was resumed.— Mr Hutchison said the Minister for Education has turned a oomplete somersault in regard to his former Freetrade ideas.— lf the duty on spirits is raised Mr Pyke thinks that illicit distillation will largely inorease and men will get poisoned by the horrible stdff manufactured.— -The Hon. Mr Oliver left to. day to attend the Chinese Confereooe whioh meets at Sydney next week. -The Post is very severe to-night on what it calls Sir George Grey's speeoh to the gallery on the Chinese question.— Mr Beddon is very much disgusted with the Opposition., and he is working against them at the present time. — Mr W. P. Beeves convulsed the House tonight by saying that the only man who dared to speak up for Sir H. Atkinson at the last eleotion had to go to a doctor and get a certificate that he was not a lunatic— Mr K. Thompson is moving that it is desirable to give immediate effect to the proposal to abolish the Works and Land Departments. — Mr Tanner is moving to raise the minimum school age to seven. - Mr Guinness is asking leave of absence to Mr J. C. Brown for a fortnight on account of illness. — Mr MoArtbur is asking the Government if they will invite the House *to consider the proposed new concessions to the Midland Bail way tariff. — The Nelson Foreshore Bill has passed the : Looal Bills Committee,