POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1651, 25 October 1887, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

The Wellington correspondent of the I Press telegraphed on Sunday The im-, presfcion exists among many members that in preparing hui scheme of retrenchment, Major Atkinson is simply altering and. reducing the figures in the estimates. Some of bis present supporter* say freely that this will not meet their view*, and that they are not prepared to vote for any scheme which doss not reform and reorganise the whole system of Government and piece it on a simpler basis. It is scarcely reasonable to sxpect that each a scheme of policy as this could be formulated, matured, and presented to the Bouse in a fortnight. One ef tbe reports current in the lobby with respect to the debates on the financial policy of the Government, is that Sir J. Vogel will traverse M. j r Atkinson's statement with one of his own, which it is ■aid he has already prepared. The debate is certain to be a very long one, many members intending to give tiieir views on possible retrenchment very fully. Chief Judge Macdonald, of the Native Land Courts, has arrived in Wellington, tbe purpose of his miaaion being to draft a meagre for the amendment of tbe Native Land Administration Act.

Sydney Taiwhanga has just returned from his trip to Pmihaka. He says that bis object was to convince To Whiti and Tohoof the advisability of conforming to [European law, umd he had pointed out to them that unless they obeyed the English laws they could not reasonably claim the protection of tbe.QoverumenU

He confidently expresses the hope that the Maori leaders will come round.

The Wellington correspondent of the Guardian, telegraphing yesterday, says : The rumor regarding the probable reconstruction o r the Cabinet is attain revived, but must be tak*n cumgrano sails It is to the effect that if the Ministiy exists at the close of the session, Mr Mitchelson will retire from the Cabinet, and that Mr Fergus will then take the portfolio of Public Works. Another rumor, which found currency some d?ys ago, to the effect that Government is experiencing difficulty in proposing a scheme of retienchmeut. finds strength this morning, and one member, who is inclined to support the Government, expiesmd the opinion to me that the Ministry is completely and wholly staggered over the retrenchment proposals and that the result fill I fall far short of the expectations of the general election. Anotner opinion is that the Government will prop ise considerable reductions, but will stave off the present difficulty by pointing out that no scheme can give practical sesuits all at once ; that it will take a year (o develope the scheme, and will ask for time, and the session to close almost immediately.

It is further stated that Government can see no way oat of the difficulty without further taxation to the extent of £200,000-