Tuesday, May 24. THE SITUATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1853, 27 May 1887, Page 16

Tuesday, May 24. THE SITUATION.

There has been' an entire absence of gossip to-day, due to the fact that nearly all the members are out of town or away enjoying themselves. Active preparations are being made for the fray on the financial proposals of the Government, which begins to-morrow. The rumours as to who is to move in the matter have been conflicting, and so they were no doubt intended to be ; but there is very little doubt that from the time Mr Gamck refused to come forward it has all along been intended that Major Atkinson, leader of the Opposition, should take the responsibility of Kis position and move the motion' himself. To-morrow afternoon, therefore, as soon as the presentation of petitions is over, he will announce that on the second reading of the Customs Tariff Bill he will move that the financial proposals of the Government are unsatisfactory to the House. The debate will not commence till the evening. The adoption vt this course — that is, the giving notice of his intention — is undoubtedly a clever move. Its meaning appears to be this : If the Opposition waited until the Treasurer moved the second reading, Sir J. Vogel, it is believed, would announce that he was prepared to accept amendments to his tariff proposals and modify them so far as bhey eon* cern the iron trade and the duty on leather and boots. By so doing the support of some waverers might be obtained and defeat averted. If he now adopts that course it will appear that he does so in consequence of the notice from the Opposition side. The Treasurer has / clearly shown that he is prepared to give way to a considerable" extent ; but to do so in the face of an adverse motion can hardly have been contemplated. As to how the division on Major Atkinson's motion will result, the Government still claim a majority, and appear to be fairly confident. The fact that their whips have scarcely done anything in the way of lobbying apparently confirms their statement that they are quite prepared. On the other hand,' it may be taken to mean that in view of the recent defections they have lost all hope, and are practically prepared to "throw up the sponge." The Opposition are confident that the majority is with them, and I believe that they are right, and that the motion will be carried. The possible defeat of the Ministry has given rise to any amount of conjecture and plenty of rumours. On the one side it is said they have a dissolution in their pockets and will at once act on it, going to the country under the present Representation Act ; and many believe they will resign on being defeated, in the hope that the various sections of the Opposition will disagree when Ministers are chosen, and that they will return to office stronger than ever. Others

talk of a coalition between Sir R.. Stout and Major Atkinson as quite possible, in which case Sir Julius Vogel would be made permanent Commissioner of Customs or Receiver, or take the position of head of the Government Insurance department. All these matt9rs have merely to be enumerated to prove that' they have little foundation in fact. The talk of the Government having a dissolution in their pocket is ridiculous, nor is it at all likely that they would be granted one until the Representation Bill is passed. They may of- course resign, in which case no doubt the position would be a very critical one; but it may be taken for grarted that members who have given in their adhesion at the present time to the Opposition will hardly care, in face of an early meeting with their constituents, to change their minds suddenly and bring^ about complications which will result in additional expense to the country. No doubt the Opposition leader has studied the whole matter and is prepared to take the responsibility to the fullest extent of the course of action he has determined on. ' ■

NEW BILLS.

The New River Harbour Board Loan Bill | introduced by Mr Hatch, proposes to give that body power to borrow up to £25,000, at a rate not exceeding 6 per cent., to pay off the bank overdraft, to purchase dredge and plant for £3150, and for dredging the channel and planting the sandhills with grass, and other improvements, £19,350. Ratepayers whose valuation does not exceed £50 shall have one vote ; over £50 but under £100, two votes; over £100 but under £150, three votes; over £150 but less than £350, four votes ; £350 and upwards, five vows. When a poll is taken as to whether a ioan shall be raised a resolution shall be deemed to be carried when more that half the number of votes which can be exercised have been declared in its favour.