PARLIAMENTARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8001, 20 October 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON. (TELKGBAPHED BY OUR COBHHBPONDENTO TACTICS OF THE OPPOSITION. Thursday, October 19.— 1t is said that when Parliament meets agaia the Opposition will put up a nominal leader with a view to catching votes of members who do not care to follow Sir Julius Yogel though they are in opposition Io the present Government. Who the member will bo is a question for the future. THE POLITICAL TARGET. Mr. Ballance is considered out of the question, many members having a distinct objection to him. Mr. W. 0. Walker, the Government whip in the last Parliament, has been mentioned, and no doubt the man whoever he is, will be one of that class. Mr. Walker, however, tips, I believe, declined the honor, being pledged to follow Sir Julius Yogel. VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE. It is almost certain that tho Government will be met by an adverse moliou whun they bring down their policy. 'FRISCO MAIL TO BE STOPPED. I hear that Government will propose not to renew the San Francisco mail contract, and will propose some alteration in the : tariff. CONVEYANCE OF CATTLE BY RAIL. A difference has arisen between the settlers in the Manawatu district and the Manawatu Railway Company. The settlers are dissatisfied partly with the rates and partly with the accommodation given for cattle on the line, and ar© driving their cattle down along the line in preference to sending them by rail. Very extensive preparations are being made, I believe, for transporting cattle in this way. DIVERSION OF MAIN TRUNK LINE. It is very unlikely that tho attempt to get the Stratford routo adopted for the Main Trunk Line will be successful. THE ADVENTURES OF AN AUCKMSMBEEI. What may happen to a member of the Legislature was fully i lustrated by an incident which occuved on Saturday night. One of the Auckland membera by a fortuitui's combination o£ circumbtances — that's what hj called it hiui3elf — found himso'i £in possession of " the key of the street." After cavorting around his hotel fruitlessly at the witching hour, he made o£E to Parliament building, and sacceeded in gaining admission to th© whips' rooms, where he lay down on a sofa and slept the sleep of tho just. In the early morn the castodians heard unwonted sounds proceeding from the apartment, and going thither to ascertain the cause found " the intelligent vagrant." After gotting a bath at Bellamy's, and otherwise rejuvenating himself, he turned up at his hotel in the morning as fresh as paint. The moral of the etory it turned out is this ; When legislators go to an evening party in their best bib and tucker they should take the precaution to transfer the latch key to their go-to-meeting clothes. OUR FOREST RESOURCES. In the Forest Department in the Government Buildings Professor Kirk has a polished slab of the timber of the common fuchsia. It is to be found in any forests three feet iv girth, being distributed from the North Cape to Stewart's Jsland. His object in having the slab cut and polished is to show the adaptability of this apeoiee of timbor for venoering, picture frames, and the solid and light articles of furniture. Professor Kirk considers we have not yet discovered half the wealth of our forest resources. NATIONALISATION OF RESERVES. A party of the House are satisfied that there can be no complete and satisfactory financial reform until the charitable and educational endowments, reserves, etc., are nationalised, and the vaiious endowments to religious bodies brought strictly to account, and the trusts enforced to the letter, or the reserves resumed by the Crown. This is one of the coming reforms, though there will be a free scrimmago before it is accomplished. THE WORK OF RETRENCHMENT. Among the reductions suggested are the reduction of the number of members by one-third, honorarium one-half. In tho case of the Legislative Council, it is proposed that payment should be abolished or confined to the bare necessary expenses incurred; curtailing of Hansard reports, verbatim reporting in case only of Ministers and the leader of the Opposition; the establishment of one central industrial and training school, and the putting a stop to the preparation and printing of costly returns rarely read. THE LOBBIES DESERTED. Members are off on a furlough, and tho lobbies now present quite a gloomy appearance. Some ha^e repaired to their homes, others aro inspecting Mr. Ballance'a Village Settlements in tho Wellington Province, while a. goodly number proceed to Napier under Mr. Carroll's charge. THE MINISTERIAL RESIDENCES. Though the Cabinet have not yet considered tho question of dispensing with Ministerial residences, two of them are adverse to continuing these costly institutions and will advocate their immediate disposal. Probably the Premier's residence in Tinakori Road will be continuod, but the others are likely to go. MINISTERIAL SECLUSION. Ministers are determined not to be vorried or interruptod during the ensuing fi-rt ii ;ht, and have given members and B[)c, Lit <,orreßpondents alike io uuderstand thai, they will not be " at home" to anyone. MR. SEED'S RETIRING ALLOWANCE. Much was made during the elections of a retiring allowance having been mado to Mr. Seed, :md throe other men employed to do his work. Tho uieu who are doing his work wore ulrca-ly in the Government service, an-l they got a slight advance in pay, while tho extra clerk, at £200, is also employed. When these sums are added to the retiring allowauce of £G156, tho whole amount bliowsh saving of about £75 per annum on £1,000 n-year which was paid, and tho ultimate saving wiion the pension lias expired will be considerable. REDUCTION OF MEMBERS. It is certain that endeavours will be made this s.b-iou to have tho number of uicmbeis of tho Lower Hortso reduced fmm tho period of the oxpiry of thu present Ptti-linuiont. It k umieretood that tl«e Ministers intend in ond o£ their policy bills to propose n reel action to seventyfivp, while a bill a?, which Colonel Frasor haß given notico reduces tho number to sixty. The passage of a bill roducing tho number of mombora from expiry of the present Parliament would prevent members from taking any action* which would onaure a dissolution as tho so doing would undoubtedly onauro tho happy despatch of oomo of thorn.