THE COMPACT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 194, 18 August 1890, Page 2

THE COMPACT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION.

THE BILLS TO BE GONE ON WITH. (From our own Correspondent.) Wellington, August 18. The negotiations between Messrs Bryce and Ball.nee as regards the conduct of business have been so far satisfactory that a modus vivendi has been arrived at, and it is confidently anticipated that the session will terminate in about three weeks' time. The understanding arrived at is that the eleotions shall be held with as little delay as possible, probably in November, and the new Parliament be called together for the despatch of business on the second Thursday in April. A pledge in that direction was offered by the acting Premier in the no confidence debate on the 14th July when he stated that the Government would insist on full supplies, but would call Parliament together again in the first week in April. The other conditions of the compact may be thus stated : — That the House shall have a free hand with regard to the Estimates and the moving of amendments as to any partiolar votes Bhould they think fit, but on the part of the Opposition it is arranged that there shall be no obstruction, and no talking against time; that tha Bill dealing with Judge Edwards' appointment shall not be pressed this session, but that it shall be left to the new Parliament

:_____.__._i___-.._ r _ r . r , | mmmiimiMjuin'ii^jUjii'lifd h'i__i ._, mmni to deal with the mattei 1 , Though no. stated, the meaning of this is that Hi. Honour 'a salary shall in tho meantime be paid out of " unauthorised expenditure^" It is further provided that any Bills which which are likely to raect with serious opposition are to be dropped, but several Government measures are to bo gone on with, and that a clause i . to be added to the Ap-.ropriat.ci. Act suspending Ih. operatic ■ of tha provision in the Publio Revenues Act which enables Ministers to carry on after tho 31st March next. In anticipation that supplies w.ll be granted them for that purpose a Bobedule of the Bills named in the compact has been drawn up between the Government nnd Opposition aa those to ba gone on with this session. The Opposition, however, give 3no pledge as to how they will be dealt with. They are : " Truck " "Coal Mines," "Employers Liability'" " ahipping aud Seamen's, " " Educational Reserves Leasing," "Domain," "Land Grant, " " Industrial Sohoola, " «» Mining Companies," "Childrens Protection" "Oathß," " Census, " •• Sheep. " " Dentists, " " Fao« tories and Shops, " " Law of Libel, " "Native Land Laws," "Horomana Faatu Land Grant, " "Education Reserves, " "Electoral Law.,' 5 "Mercantile Agents," anel " Westport-Ngakawhau Railway Extension " Bills. To these there may be some additions if the other measures can be shown to be urgently needed. Amongst the unimportant Bills whose fate is already sealed are those relating to licenses, prohibition, Civil Service classification, mining laws, arbitration, bankruptcy, and hospitals and charitable aid system. Ministers in their written compact with the Opposition undertake that in the event of the elections going decidedly against them, they will resign immediately, without waiting for Parliament to assemble.