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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 821, 28 June 1879, Page 2

This latest from Wellington anent the coming session is that the measures Which have been discussed in Cabinet for the acceptance of the Assembly are, a Bedistribution of Seats Bill, an Income and Property Tax, a Koyal Commission to enquire into Native

complaints re the Confiscated Lands, a Chinese Immigration Bill, a Bill for the more satisfactory rendering of Charitable Aid, a Bill to amend the Counties Act, and finally that -of a Bill asking "Parliament to sanction the raising of a loan for the completion of a belt of railway of about eight hundred miles. If unable to carry the more important measures, to be introduced, then the Government will demand a dissohition, which it is more than probable will be allowed. The report, says a well % informed contemporary, which is insisted upon with most appearance of authority, is that Sit William Fox will lead the assault on the Government position, and that the offensive will be taken very early, before the Government can bring down any measures upon which they might claim the right of appeal to the country. The address in reply and the election of Speaker have been both spoken of as subjects of attack. There are, however, many obstacles in the way of any concerted movement such as that indicated. In the first place, although we believe the Government will meet a House in which a strong. Opposition party exists, there will, at the beginning of the session, be a want of organisation, and strong differences respecting the leadership and the future apportionment Of portfolios in tRe event of the Government being defeated and a dissolution refused. Sir William Fox would not be acceptable to a very large number of those who have constituted the back bone of the Opposition party. He is not a popular man in the House, and is the object of a good deal of mistrust and jealousy. An attack on the position of the Cabinet immediately after the assembling of Parliament, therefore, although having much to recommend it to ambitious officeseeking political leaders, is not a policy that commends itself to the judgment of those who desire to aot with any degree of independence in the House, and we very much doubt, therefore, whether it will receive support enough to encourage any section even to make the attempt. There is every indication that a strong Opposition will, be formed early in the session, and though the address in reply is not likely to be the subject of attack, it will ventilate the opinions of members and indicate the strength of parties.. The resignation of Mr. Stout at the present critical juncture of political affairs will be felt a great blow to Ministers; for, beyond a doubt Mr. Stout is a very able, farseeing man, and possessed the confidence of a large seotion of the popular representatives. Mr. Whi-, taker, may, it is just possible, fill the vacant portfolio. He is an able and experienced politician \ Jbut he ig held to be shifty and not to be trusted. There is more than one black mark against his name by those who are sticklers for honest legislation. Such sticklers are certainly on the minority in an Assembly, the members of which ignore their constituencies, in seeking to further their own personal interests.. The general opinion appears to be, that the present Ministry will not hold together very long after the assembling of the session. A coalition would be out of the question, if it was bargained that Sir George Grey should be admitted to form part of it, for he is a man who, whether in or out of power, will exhibit such an amount of arrogance and despotism that there are few able men of independent mind and thought who would be found willing to work with him. The end of next month will probably indicate in what direction events will turn.