Political Notes and Comments

Southland Times, Issue 13481, 15 June 1896, Page 2

Political Notes and Comments

(By Telegraph.) (from our own correspondent.) Wellington, Juae 14. The sentence in the Governor 1 !! speech, that "steps should be taken to remedy certain defects" in the banking legislation to ensure the interests of the colony being properly safeguarded is stated on good authority to mean that control is to be given to the Government over certain high officials. Lobby gossip is altogether confined to the probable outcome of Monday's caucus, but except that the Treasurer arrived to-day nothing is known of probable developments, though there is a certainty that tbo Canterbury members are aolid against Mr Ward'n retention of office. As to the northern members several are in the same position and one very Btaunch supporter states that if Mr Ward retains a seat on the Ministerial benches he will at once renounce his allegiance. As to his successor the Premier is said to have had the greatest share in the work for the last twelve months and to have thus qualified himself for the position if ■ difficulty arose. The Post, which is now assuming a democratic line in politics, declares to-night is. favor of Sir R. Stout as leader of tba'j party, and expresses a hope to Bee him ak the head of affairs shortly. There i 3 a growing parly of disaffected Ministerialists whom it is believed a caucun will not affect, while 6ome, such as " Riccarton " Russell, do not attempt to disguise the fact that they will vote against Mr Sod don holding a position for the German mining syndicate or Me Ward retaining any poitfolio. Mr Ward is to be here to. morrow, and will probably attend the caucus. Sir R. Stout's meeting on Friday night wmh greatly interfered with by roughs, one of whom the police had to remove. Thero | was little new in his speech, which waa advertised as a "Reply to the Premier's tnis- | statements." Alluding to tho Premier's fault-finding with the Stout- Vogel Government Sir Robert said it was strange that M r Seddon should so slight the memory of two of his dead colleagues, Ballance and Buckley ; and with respect to other members pointed out that Sir J. Yogel had been made financial agent in London ; Mr Tole, Crown Solicitor at Auckland, Mr Lirnaoh owed hia aeat to the Ministry, while he (Sir R. Stout) had been offered a place in the Government by Mr Seddon. He quoted a number of measures for whrch the Premier now claimed credit that he had originally opposed. He said there was no act of importance that Mr Seddon had originated and that Mr Ballance's policy had been entirely departed from, and wound up by declaring that the present Ministry was the most impure that ever occupied the benches in New Zealand, and, answering a question, said he would do his best to turn them out of office.

A return showing the working of the Advances to Settlers Act discloses a lofil of L 31.159, but this is only to 31st Maroh, «nd another L 22.500, due on Ist April for in- °

tcrest, has to be added, which brings the total deficiency up co L 53.659.

[Per Press Association.]

The Premier authorises the Press Association to deny that he has received a round robin signed by any section of bhe Ministerial party requesting that Mr Ward should be asked to withdraw from the Government otherwise they would withhold their Bap* port. [This hag reference to a telegram sent to northern papers by their correspondent. ]