Political Notes and Comments.

Southland Times, Issue 13288, 15 August 1895, Page 2

Political Notes and Comments.

(By Telegraph.) (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, Aug. 14. Mr Pirani wishes the House to express its disapproval of the discontinuance of the grant and free pisses hitherto given to fire brigades. He also wants the Minister of Railways to allow holders of single tickets for distances over 100 miles to break their journeys in the same manner as holders of return tickets. There is nothing new about the ; vacant judgeship. The Premier avers that be has no information to give on the subject, but opinion still concentrates itself on Sir Patrick Buckley as the man who will re ceive the appointment. It is alleged to-day that the sole reason for Sir Patrick’s nob being on the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company Committee is the fact that he is solicitor to the bank.

The Premier acted with ill-advised precipitancy this afternoon when he accepted Captain Russell’s notice of motion as a direct vote of want of confidence. It has resulted in showing the country that the Government has h id to alter its tariffat the instance of the Opposition. The general opinion is that th re was no neces ity to take Captain Russell’s motion as the Premier took it, especially as it was understood from the first thac there should practically be a free hand all round, with regard to the tariff, and the Government’s supporters themselves had said, in other words, as much as Captain Russell did in his proposition. The Premier in reality foregd on a small crisis, in the course of which they made concessions which presumably they would not- have thought of but for Captain Russell’ action. Their proposal to admit flannellette shirtings free and reduce the 20per cent, on flannelette to cent, ad valorem was a concession that Captain Russell’s motion was in the public interest, which, though correct, was a curious confession for Ministers to make, while at the s une time they treated the proposal as being hostile to themselves as a Government. As the House went into committee on the Government’s proposal there were further developments. Mr T. Mackenzie moved that all flannelettes should be placed on the free list. He said it impossible to discriminate in the commodity, and that the workers, would suffer most from the tax, which he had voted against on the Tariff Commission, The Treasurer hoped the Ho :se would oppose > he motion asthe concession already granted meant L3OOO to the

workers.—Mr T. Mackenzie retorted that the concession which the Opposition had forced from the Government in favour of the workers was worth at least LIO,OOO a year, for the Treasurer had said that the 20 per cent, duty would yield L 30.000 a year and that had been reduced by half and flannelette shirtings admitted free. An effort is to be made to close the Budget debate to-night as the Government are desirous of setting up the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company Committee to-morrow and considerable discussion is expected in connection with it.