POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8003, 22 October 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON.

EVERYONE AWAY. | Friday, October 21.—The exodus of members has been general, and Parliamentary Buildings present tho same appearance rs they are wont to possess out of session. There is very little stirring, and Ministers are unapproachable. Most of the specials belonging to the papers have left on a tour for Taranaki and Napier. TARIFF NOT TO BE ALTERED. Some of the Government supporters have been exerting themselves in the hope of having a revision of the tariff effpeted this session, but it is stated authoritatively nothing that will be done till tho rcces*, and in view of a long session to discuss tho whole matter next year, Parliament will be called together in May. The Post is not of this opinion, as it says: "It is rumoured that Government having gauged the feeling of the House, will, during the fortnight's recess, consider the question of altering tho tariff ia the direction of aiding local industries. If they bring down proposals of this kind, thpre is certain to be a split in both camps and parties will be considerably mixed." EDUCATION BOARDS. Pressure has been brought to bear upon Ministers, but by their own supporters, to dissuade them from the reported intention of abolishing Boards of Education. It ie represented that the services of gentlemen on oiich Board are given gratuitously, and that the supervision of the system hi ex penditure is much better at present than would be if a Central Board of Education were reverted to. HOW MINISTERS ARE PREPARING THEIR POLICY. The Post gravely assures its readers thnt Ministers are said to be busily employed in collecting, perusing, and collating all the election speeches of the gentlemen who now form the House o£ Representatives. NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAIL WAY.! So far as ein be learned at present, it is very improbable that the proposal to reopen the question of the North Island Trunk Railway routp, with the vi:\v of adopting theStratfoid route, will be agreed to by the House. GREY'S BILLS. Two of Sir George Grey's Bills have been circulated —one providing for the repeal of Ihe " Contagious Diseases Act, 1869," and the other that no elector shall vote in rsspoctof more than one electorate at an election for a member of the House of Representatives. The latter measure also provides tbat electors shall be asked the question by the Returning Officer: "'Have you already voted at the present election in any electoral district?" and that unless the elector answers in the negative ho shall not be permitted to vote. LEADERSHIP OF THE OPPOSITION. _ A rumour now current in political circles, and apparently pretty woll authenticated, is that when Parliament meets again a change will be made in the leader ship of the Opposition. A number of members in opposition consider that they cannot follow Sir Julius Yogel consistently with their election pledges, though they are in opposition to the present Government; and the idea is that the party would be strengthened if some nominal leader were appointed other than Sir Julius Yogel. The position was similar in 1884, when Sir George Grey and Mr. Montgomery being out of the question for much the same reason as Sir Julius Yogel is now objected to, Mr. W. J. Steward was put up to move a no-confidence motion, which was carried by the combined strength of members of various shades of opinion who were opposed to the Government of the day. In the present case it is doubtful who will bo the chosen of the Opposition, Mr. Ballance being considered to be undesirable on the ground that very few would follow him. Whoever the leader may be, however, it is almost certain that tho Government will bo met by an adverse motion when they bring their policy before the Honse. RETRENCHMENT. The old rumour is revived that Ministers will propose, among other economics, the non-renewal of the San Francisco mail contract at its expiration. This may be in contemplation, but, if so, it will be a very bold step on the part of the new Government, as it will infallibly elicit bitter opposition on the part of Auckland, supplemented possibly by the influence of the Union Steamship Company among Otago members. .Major Atkinson and Mr. ilitchelson have hitherto been strongly againot the abolition of the San Francisco service, and it scarcely seems likoly that their views can have undergone such a complete reversal as to make them now favourable to that course.