Political Notes and Comments.

Southland Times, Issue 13494, 30 June 1896, Page 2

Political Notes and Comments.

« (Br Telegraph.) (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, Jnne 29. It seems tbat to punish Mr " Rujcarton " Russell for bis independence last week the Ministry have decided that in future he shall not be invited bo attend any of their caucuses and rumour has it that, like Mr Earnßhaw, he will be requested to> remove his quarters to the Opposition Whip's room. More is leaking out by degrees respecting the caucus of Saturday^nd it is now stated that Mr Montgomery assumed the leadership of the left wing and practically bossed the meeting with this result that the wording of the amendment* to be subsequently submitted to the Boose was left to be agreed on by the Premie;? and tha member for Ellesmere. There were 34 present and 42 said to have been accounted for, bat there was by no means unanimity, especially on the question of raking up affairs as far back as 1886, which will still be strongly opposed. If the Government insist-on the year named it is sta'jed that a great many accounts of their own supporters will be raked over aa well as those of the Opposition. In an article on the caucus the Post tonight, referring to going back with the in* vestigation to 1887, aayn :—" The facts in connection with these transaction!! can have no possible bearing upon the question at issue, which is how the banking legislation came to be initiated and paused into law, but may be made to answer base uses by the Government in the country during the coming general election. This is so obviously the unworthy motive that some of the baser Bort among the Premier's following will not hesitate to boast of their disreputable intent." Further ua it remarks : " The causes that led up t>3 financial collapse of the Bank of New ZsaUnd Here aa sufficiently known in 1894 as now. There was nothing to be gained by exploiting them now that the position is changed. There is evidence disclosed already that justifies a belief that there is covered up in this banking legislation a gigaiitic fraud. This is what has to be reached and dragged to the light of day." In connection with banking affairs it is intereßtingtonotethat the three liquidators of the Colonial Bank arrived here yesterday, but nothing, so far, has come out £>J to their business. Mr Buick's Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill gives the right to ratepayers whose names appear on the defaulters' list to vote at municipal elections if they pay all the rr.tos due before the election. Kespecting the vacant Judgeship, though an offer has not yet beon made officially to Mr Edwards, it is stated on excellent authority that this wiU take place in the course of a few days. In reference to the same matter lobby gotisip lus it that one reason why Judge Ward refused to accept a seat on the Supreme Court Bench was that he has nearly forty years' service for a civil pension, and was not inoliaed to forego this certainty in order to serve five yean to Becure the pension in a higher position. Mr T. Mackenzie informs me than he expects to be absent three years in England and does not take up the duties so much because of Any money to be made ont of !&• position

>g»»WMM>M>IM>MM>MMMWMWM>gj as to get a thorough grasp of the whole , question of markets for colonial produce and ascertain if better arrangements cannot be made respecting freights and charges on imports from this colony. He will represent at least four dairy factories and will also have something to do with the frozen meat industry. The Opposition are not decided as to the action to be taken respecting the Banking Committee, but Captain Russell and Mr Fraser are both opposed to acting on the committee, and there is a desire on the part of some of the other membera to have nothing to do with the enquiry and leave the whole thing to the Ministerialists. A final decision will be arrived at at a meeting to be held at two o'clock to-morrow.