The Coming Session.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6893, 14 June 1892, Page 3

The Coming Session.

SIR JOHN HALL'S OPINIONS. In an interview at Auckland the following passed between Sir John Hall and a Herald reporter:— " There seems to be a general consensus of opinion that the proceedings of Parliament will be unusually stormy ?" 14 1 think it is not unlikely." " Have the Opposition decided upon any definite line of action in regard to the principal proposals of the Government?" 41 So far as I know nothing will be decided ;is to the Opposition's line of conduct until the members meet in Wellington. Speaking for myself only, I think the platform orations of Ministers during the recess will form abundant material for criticism. For my own part I think the colony should have a taste of the practical working of the Ministerial policy and their taxation system before it is called upon to pronounce an opinion at a new election. The financial policy in operation up to the present time has been really that of the late Government, while great expectations have been raised by the promise of changes to be introduced by the Ministers now in office. So far, however, while the voice has been the voice of Ballance the hand has been tho hand of Atkinsoa." 44 You think the colony should have some experience of the Government's policy V "If the risk is not too great. It might be well that the country should taste the sweets of tho income tax and realise the inequality of sacrifice involved in the proposed tax upon land before any general expression of opinion is called for from the electors— that, in fact, it would be wise to keep the Ministers in and to keep out any further developments of their policy in the way of land nationalisation, single tax, and so on." "You probably noticed that some difference lately took place between Sir Geo. Grey and Mr Bnllance, through the medium of a Herald interviewer V 44 Yes, and it seems to me that Sir Geo. hits the nail on the head when he says — as he is reported to have sad—t hat the policy of the Ministry amounted to an invitation to two-thirds of the community to plunder the other third." 4 * A Wellington paper states that the Ministry would not ask the new Government to make any appointment to the Legislative Council until the Council again rejects some of the Ministerial policy measures. If the Council does this the Government will ask for the appointment of a batch of new Councillors, and if the Governor does not comply demand an appeal to the country." " I can hardly believe it to be true that the Ministers would appeal to the country on a point in dispute between tho Governor and themselves. The Ministers, so long as they are Ministers, are responsible for the Governor's actions, and are bound to defend them. If they cannot do so their duty is to give place to others \eho can and will. That, I think, is a correct constitutional principle." •'You cousider the Legislative Council a necessary part of the constitution ?" "I think it is necessary and of very great importance. Every constitution, even that of the most democratic country, provides for a second chamber, and to abolish our Council, or to make it the mere mouthpiece of the Prime Minister of the day, would be a very unstatesmanlike and dangerous proceeding, one which, I am confident, the people of New Zealand would not endorse."

A farmer at Aruro (S.A.) .shot himself dead with a pea rifle. He had lost his crop and 15 horses through the drought, which preyed on his mind. An excited meeting of the North Sydney Municipal Council was held the other night, and terminated in Alderman G. T. Clarke pulling Alderman Urquhart's nose.