POLITICAL NEWS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 6515, 5 December 1887, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

(IT TELEGRAM.) (FEOU OB* OWN CORRESPONDENT )

Wellington, December 4. As time goes on the Opposition party seems to grow "small by degrees and beautifully less," and the Government now have everything their own way. It is not that Mejor Atkinsen is loved more, but Sir J. Vogel less. At the commencement of the session Major Atkinson bad a far smaller personal following thsja Sir X Vogel, but the frequent indiscretions of the iattet have resulted In alienating frienbs and hardening the Government section. Tbe divisions which took place

oh Friday night and Saturday morning showed how hopsleisly in the minority wera tbe Opposition. The figures almost invariably showed 50 and upwards in favor of every olause of the meaiares dUcneied, and only 14 or 16 ia opposition. Sir J. Vogel appears to have thrown tway every chance, aad it is generally considered doubtful if he will regain his lost prestige.

His great soheme for the regeneration o1o 1

the colony is looked upon as a pitiful exhibition of foolishness, and Is received with derisive laughter. There may, of course, be comething deeper in it than meets tbe eye, but then the natural query is, Why docs ho not bring it before tha House and the country with that spirit o/ boldneis that bas hitherto characterised him?

The ecsiion, I am told, is te end in a

fortnight, and few will be sorry when it is over. So f»r It has been sny thing but creditable to the new Parliament. Com-

ing up to Wellington, overflowing with patriotism whioh was to take the form of self sacrifice of the most rigid charaoter, : burning with a desire *o put «n end to the shocking extravagances of tbe past— what hive the members done ? Simply wasted in squabbling and useless talk thousands of pounds for which the country his received no equivalent. Let ns go into figures. The only three policy measures which have gone through the Lower House have been the Governor's Salary and Allowances Bill, the Members Honorarium Bill, and the Ministers Salary and Allowances Bill. Tbe effect of these measures is to save about LI2OO a year, or would be if the Governor's Salary Bill came into force immediately, whioh it cannot do, as it can ODly affect any future Governor. Now, aceerding to a statement of the Minister of Education, eaoh day's sitting of Par-

liament costs the conn try L4OO, and each day's delay In giving effect to the Government's policy prevents them from saving L6OO in departmental expenditure. Now Parliament has sat for 80 days, whioh means a cost of L12,G00; but it has been in session 58 days, whioh, if Mr Fisher's statement is to be accepted as correct, means an additional loss of L 34,800 in the savings to be effected. We have thus a loss of L 46.800 as against a saving of about L 12.000, or a total loss of L 34.800. Of course something may be deducted from this, because the session had to be held, saving or no saving, but on the whole the coat has far exceeded any saving effeoted, and in this respect the session has been a miserable failure.

When the estimate! come down the Government will propose to reduoe each department by a lump turn, but tbe House will have to take it en trust how these economies are to be effected, and it is pousible that tbe method of procedure will not be ac satisfactory as oould be desired. However, aa I have remarked, the Government have it all their own way, and will carry things as they like. There will be aome late sitting* during the remainder of the session, as Major Atkinson is determined to force business on the House, willing or unwilling. This may irritate the Opposition into adopting obstructive tactics, bat my belief is that after obstruction is tried for a short time the Opposition will see the utter hopless* ness of their ease, and collapse altogether. It was vtry amusing on Friday night te notice tha action of several members of the Opposition, led by Mr Seddon, who is now derisively referred to by the Govern* ment party as the leader of that paxty. They protested against Ministers reducing their own silaries. The Government were placed in the somewhat painful position of appealing to their friends to prevent their enemies thrusting on them more pay that it was proposed to accept. Their friends helped them to the leiaer turn.

For continuation of Wan, tee paga 4.)