N. Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1752, 20 June 1885, Page 19

N. Z. PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, Juno 17.

Although the majority of members ara now assembled in Wellington, there is no political news or even gossip of any consequence yet Btirring. I have talked with many leading members, and all seem to agree fully on the improbability of any deliberate attempt being made to oust the present Government, or oven any combined attack on their policy or administration as a whole. All their measures will.be keenly ocrutinised, and some will be sharply criticised in detail, but according to present plans such criticisms will be attacks directed against measures individually, and not against th •> Ministry. Major Atkinson and his party are firmly convinced that the time is not yet rife for any effort to oust the Govern ment, and declare their intention of giving Ministers a fair trial. In fact, some member? of the Opposition party state their efforts will be directed to keep the Government in office, during the present session at all events, ao they consider it would be undesirable to have any change just yet. The Atkinson party are not strong enough alone to compass the overthrow of the Government ; and although rumours have been afloat as to an alliance being impending bstwaen Major Atkinson and Sir G. Grey, I have strong grounds for distrusting such rumours. I fancy neither party desires the union, which would of necessity be a very discordant one. But the favourable idea still is tbat there will be an early reconstruction of parties, and that the outcome will be that Major Atkinson and Sir Julius Vogel will drift together, while Sir G. Grey might accord his patrmage to a new Stout party minus the Vogel element. All this, however, as yet is mere idle gossip, based on the wide differ' ence in political opinion notoriously existing between the member* of the Government. Hitherto the political world has been in a state of chaos, and there is no sign bo far of order being evolved, but of course it will come in due time.

Sir G. Grey made one of bis felicitous speeches to-day, in moving the address to the Queen congratulating her Majesty on Colonial loyalty and offers of military aid. He made several particularly good points, laying especial stress upon the influence the New South Wales action would assuredly have in assisting to weld England and all her Colonies together into one great Empire. In fact, bis whole speech was practically an argument in favour of Imperial Federation. He was much applauded. Mr Stout, who was evidently much embarrassed at having to play second fiddle on an occasion when ha especially ought to have led the House, said the Government would have proposed such a motion bad not Sir George Grey forestalled them. He complained that Sir George Grey had not consulted Ministers before tabling tha motion, and said Sir George Grey ought to have done so, although he admitted be had exeroised bis strict rights as a member in acting independently. But Mr Stout made a capital point by saying that Sir George Grey, by virtue of his distinguished antecedents and of bib having more than once represented the Qaeen, was the fittest man in the House to take the initiative. This was warmlyappla'uded. MrStoufc proceeded to use the opportunity by explaining the action of bis Government when the other Colonies were offering troops. He pointed out that as there was no campaign till the autumn no good end would bo gained by offering, and the question was one on which Parliament ought first to express an opinion. If Parlinment approved, there would have been plenty of time to despatch a force bof ore the beginning of the campaign. Major Atkinson spoke very briefly, and the other speeches were uninteresting. ' As a matter of fact, many disapproved of the tone of the address, but abstained from speaking, in deference to Mr Stout's appeal to the House to carry tbo Address without

dissont, so as not to spoil it by displaying a lack of unanimity. Snmo (:ncluuing Mbssrs Macandrew and Turnbull) hinted plainly they did not like it, and that this silent vote for it must not bo taken as approval of the Soudan cimpaign or of the Colony mixing in such affairs. Mr Fulton presented a petition pointing out that children were sent to hotels to fetch liquors for parents, such a practice tending to encourage drinkiug habits in the children themselves, and praying tho House to prohibit publicans and others from Belling or serving liquor to children under 16 years of age. It is rumoured that one ot tho Government's financial propoa Is will be tho imposition of duty equally on all spirits, whether up to proof standard or under it, instead of allowing a reduction as at present. The recently elected member for Wairuea, which seat was rendered Vacant by the elevation of Mr Shepherd to the Council, v?as insroduced to tha House to-day by the Premier and Mr Leveatam, and took the oa h and his seat. Mr Kerr is a man of masßive proportions — a second " Jimmy M'Donald," in fact. He has not yofc spoken in the House, hut boars the reputation of being a vigorous speaker. After a few preliminary and unimportant matters were disposed of, the House adjourned tor a quarter of an hour for the presentation of the Address-in R^pSy to bis Excellency the Governor. Tlio Speaker was accompanied on hia errand to Government House by all the Ministers, except Sir Julius Vogel, and about 30 members of the House, including, of course, tha mover and seconder of the Address inR«ply.

The proceedings after resuming were dull ; and after Sir George Grey's address was agreed to, several members, immediately threw their former apparent reserve to the winds, and rushr-d off in the opposito direction by wishing the Address sent to all the Governors of tho Australian Colouiea, and ako to the Governor of tho Dominion of Canada. These suggestions were, however, withdrawn. It is understood the feeling against the Address was engendered by th^ vague offers of assistance to the Empire contained in tha Address, and tho expressed desire of the inhabitants of the Colony to place their services at the command of her M»j ?si.y whenever occasion required. This, it v; argued, was supeifluous and unwise, because the Colony was really not in a position to off<:r any assistance to the E'npire. That, on tho other hand, if trouble arose, such aa was recently. impending, tha Colony would have to auk as.sistanca from the Mother Country, The motion for settling tha usual Waste Lands Committee catno on this afternoon, and at> it contained authority for sending before the Committee all bills relating to tho Crown lands of the Colony, is was expected there would be a difficulty with Sir George Grey on the point, such of course being ono of his pet aversions,- as he holds that the House should not deprive itself of itu full privileges in dealing with the lauds ot the Colony. Sir George Grey made out; his case against the proposal, but it was met by the Hon. Mi* Ballance who pointed out that any amendment made by the Committee in tho bills submitted to it must oome befora the House, and that the House would then have the opportunity of rejecting &uch amendments or otLerwise as ifc pleased, and tbo House tak'ng this viaw allowed tha motion to pass aa it 6tood.

In the elight pas^iga of anna between Major Atkinson and the Native Minister, Major Atkinson said strange ruinoure were afloat in his part of tha country as to the recant interview between the Native Minister and Te Whiti, and he wished to know if the Minister would ordor his interpreter to give hi 3 version of the interview in writing to the House, This the 'Native Minister would not promiso, as no notes of tha interview were taken. He would, howgvor, bo glad to giva the House his (the Minister's) version of the matter. Ho added, rrvther significantly, that he had expected thn leader of the Opposition to attack him on this point in the course of the debate on the Ad-dress-in-Reply, and was ready for the attack, but would rQßerve anything he had to say until the hon, gentleman (Major Atkinson) had said what he had to say.

KEPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

Replying to Mr Conolly, as to whether the Government will introduce this session a bill to prevent restrictions on the alienation of land,

The Hon. Mr STOUT paid owing to the large number of bills the Government had to prepare it would be impossible to bring in such a hill this session.

Replying to Mr Hurst, whether the lowering of tho grain rate 3 will result in a direct loss to the revenue*,

The Hon. Mr RICHARDSON said it would greatly depend oil the quantity of grain carried.

Replying to Mr Hurst, if the predecessor of the Minister for Public Works bad not given instructions for tbo preparation of the necessary plans and epcificationa for calling for tenders for the construction of locomotives in the Colony.

Tbo Hon. Mr RICHARDSON said several of bis predecessor hail taken the matter in hand. At the end of last session instructions had beea given with tbi* o'->i<?ct in view.

KIBST BEU.IM

The following bills worn <u;,i educed and read a first time : — The Wellington Corporation Leasehold Bill (Mr Beefchsm). Gladstone Town Improvement Bill (Mr Hatch), Tho Employment of Females and Others Act 1881 Amendment Bill (Mr Brartshaw) ; the Banknotes Security BUI (Mr Dargaville); the Miners' Right Fee Reduction Bill (Mr Guinness) ; the Coroners' Juries Abolition Bill (Mr Guinnens); Timaru Harbour Board Loan Bill (Mr Turnbull).

SECOND HEADINGS.

Tbo Hon. R. STOUT moved the second reading of the Canterbury and Otago Marriage Bill He explained that it was nec9ssary to validate marriages which both parties bad enterod into, believing that they were according to law.

The motion was agreed to, and the bill read a Bpcond time.

The Hon. R. STOUT moved the second reading of the Patentß Act Amendment Bill, and briefly explained its provisions, which were that inventions shown at exhibitions should be protec cd.

Mr PEACOCK, while agreeing with the Premier as to protecting the inventions, thought that the bill went a little too far. Ho thought protection should only be while tha exhibition lasted, not for 12 monchs, as proposed in tha hill •Mr CONOLLY said the protection was intended to be given to articles shown at the exhibition, but the working of tha clause might apply to every sfc-ticle.

— By far the best lonking men in London today are the police. The Boldiom cau'b compare with thorn. The hard times havo evidently induced many farmers' sods and others of superior calibre to enter tbe police force who are persons of education and have excellent manners. Yot a London policeman receives only £1 5b a week. He has % ponsion, though, if he stays on,