NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 13

NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS.

CALLS TO THE COUNCIL. SYDNEY, April 7. The Cabinet discussed the appointments which the Lieutenant-governor will be advised to make to the Legislative Council, but the names of those chosen have been kept secret so far. They are to be gazetted to-day. It is understood about 13 names have been submitted by the Government for appointment to the Legislative Council. Until the nominees acquiesced the selection of names is not allowed to transpire. The Premier makes an important speech tomorrow night. Fully 20 nominees would be required to give the Government a working majority, but such a number would be tantamount to swamping the Council and against the dictum laid down by the Secretary of State in the New Zealand case.

April 9. The following 12 have been gazetted as members of the Legislative Council : — Messrs Clarke (who resigned in favour of Mr Barton), Gould (ex-Minister for Justice), Millen (who was defeated for the Bourke 6eat), Hawken, Green, and Colonel Holborrow (ex-parliamentarians), Messrs Samuel M'Caughey (the Wool King), Jones (wool merchant), Wilson, Dizacoot, Hepher, and Estell (officials of various trades organisations in the colony).

Mr Reid, the Premier, speaking at a banquet at Belmont last* night, announced that the revenue for the nine months exceeded the corresponding period of last year by over £200,000. The railways also showed an increase of £190.000 for the same period. He said it was notorious that the Council had paralysed the Government over the federal amendments. He did not care to take the extreme course of swamping the Chamber before he pursued a medium course. It .had been said he made a mistake in selecting men connected with the working classes, but it was time the working masses had a chance of making their voices felt in the Council. At preBent there were members of the Council who could not be touched except in one place, the pocket, and they had been tooth and nail against the Government because of their land and income taxation. He hoped wiser counsels would prevail and that the Council would let the Federal Bill go untrammelled to the electors.

Mr Reid, the Premier, expects that the parliamentary session to deal with the Federal Enabling Bill will last only a few days.

April 10. The Daily Telegraph says that the Premier's attempt to swamp the Legislative Council has failed, as the preponderance of voting power is still against the Federal Bill. The appointment of Labour representatives is a desperate attempt to inveigle the Labour party to follow him.