POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE. (BY TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

North Otago Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 776, 19 July 1890, Page 2

POLITICA L INTELLIGENCE. (BY TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, July 18. To-night, Mr Tanner, on the motion that tho Speaker leavo tho chair and tho Houso go into Committee of Supply, being brought on, moved as nn amondtnent, "That it is not dos.rablo that a general cloction should nottako place until after tho next census in taken, and that the Government bo requested to bring in a Bill to give expression to this resolution." Tho Government declined to accept tho amendment, and a division was c tiled for tho amendment. Thero was general excitement, of course. Tho lion and the Limb lay down together ; that is, tho Opposition and the Government parties went all together into one lobby, only six members voting for the amendment, and three were the Maori representatives. The House then went into Committee of Supply, and thoroupon Mr John M'Kenzie moved that the salary of tho Clerk U> tho Executive Council and Secretary to the Cabinet (L 500) should bo reduced by L5O. A. long discussion onsued, and on a division being called tho reduction was carried by 4'J to 21. On the next item, six private secretaries at L 237 each, Mr W. P. Roevos moved a reduction of L 257, an intimation that as Ministers were to be reducod with the reduction of mombers, tho number of private secretaries should also be roduccd. Tho reduction was negatived on tho voices. Messengers and office kocpors, total vote LI 1300. -—Mr Fish movod a reduction of L 279, tho exact amount of tho proposed incroa.se in tho rote. Adivision was taken, when the voting was even, 31 for aud 31 against tho reduction. Tho Chairman gave his vote wit/i the " uo«s." Mr Rhodes then moved that tho voLo be reduced by L 5. Carried on a division by 31 to 30. The Committee is now (10 o'clock) diseasing the vote for the Electoral Department. NOTES AND INCIDENTS. Tho Legislative Council adjourned this aftornoon out of respect for the memory of Mr Turubull. * Id is probable Uu\fc the Public Works Statement will be presented to tho Houso next week, perhaps on Tuesday. hi tho House this aftornoon Mr Lar* nacli load a letter from the daughters of the late Mr Macandrew in regard to tho L2OOO which the HoUhO voted to them, last session in recognition of tho eminent public services of their father. Tho writers, while thanking Mr Larnach himself for what ho had done in tho matter, especially desired him to convey their thanks to the House fqr its generosity. ' Having obtained permission to read tho 1 letter Mr Larnach moved that it should be entered in the journals of the House, and this was agreed to. The Houso lias at last settled down in dead earnest to the consideration of tho 1 Estimates, and yet to jndge by to-night's proceedings it will be a caso of making haste slowly, AL.any rate it took tho Committee of Siwly a gqod hour to get through with tho nrat item to-night. Of course, it may bo said, " Look at tho result "—a reduction of LOO in a salary of L5OO, Mr Smith is to ask tho Government if they |intend to provide for giving tho usual subsidies to local bodies for tho present financial year, Mr Scobio Mackenzie is to ask the Minister of Lands if )m attention hai been drawn to tho scarcity of land for settlement in the neighborhoods of tho Cambrians, St. Bathanans, and Blackstono Hill, and if he will take the necessary stops to opon up a sufficient area. Mr R. Ileovos is to movo fiat, in tho opinion of this Houso, tho conduct of tho Riilway Commissioners in making a charge for tho transmission of stnglo newspapers is vexations and injurious to tho best interests of tho colony.