POLITICAL GOSSIP.,

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9086, 19 May 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

* — CURRENT RUMOURS IN WELLINGTON. • PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. . A Puess Association telegram states that the Governmont will not take any action in reference to the P«blic Trußt Office until the full report of the Commission has been received. It will probably be ready in about a fortnight. REPORT OF NEW PARTY FORMING. There is a report in Wellington, says the correspondent of the N. Z. Herald, that an attempt was to be made to resuscitate the Middle Party, or Young New Zealand Paity, but there is no foundation for the rumours, for the present at all events. Tho party is, to use the phrase of a former member of it, "as dead as a door nail." The fact is, -the Opposition as a whole^ is making no more whatever. Its chief* movers, are not going to address their constituents before the opening of Parliament. Some of the principal members of tha Opposition are in Australia, and will not return before the House meets ; others have undertaken business which will occupy them to the second week of the session. PROBABLE DISSOLUTION. There is a good deal of speculation of a possible or probable dissolution. It is said by one of the Wellington papers that the Government are shaping their course upon the prospect of such an event. It is alleged that Ministers have consulted a number oE gentlemen in various constituencies jis " to whether they would be prepared to stand, against members of the Opposition, in the event of a dissolution taking place. This is certainly making political hay while the sun shines, if the statement be true However, not much reliance is to bo placed upon it. OPINIONS OF OPPOSITION MEMBERS. ' The opinions among members of the Opposition as to the course of events in the coming session are very wide apart. One gentleman affirms that the Governmont must go out, or juck the Upper House. Another gentleman sees nothing to hurt the Government, oxcept what they may bring upon themselves during the session. If it be said that the Government will be beaten on their Bill to reform the Legislative Council, that would not.affect their position, for it would not involve any question of confidence, either between the Government and tho House of Representatives or between the • Government and the country. This may be accepted as a governing fact that during the term of the current 'Parliament the party now in power have no desire to appeal to the country. If they should be defeated upon the Legislative Council Reform Bill, it is the ■ general opinion that Ministers will ask the Governor to call other gentlemen to the Upper Chamber. The number for whom such an honor is intended is said to be from eight to eleven, but His Excellency might ref use on the ground^ that no less than Bix new " lords " have been made in the last days, of the Atkinson Government, to which the Premier might very well reply that in the first days of the new Government afc least as many new " lords" would be necessary'to balance the account. Taking all the circumstances into consideration it is not anticipated that His Excellency will refuse. The whole aspect of public affairs just now turns upon the possibilities arising out of the new legislation that is announced, and the relations of political men or parties. I LABOUR CONFERENCE. It is stated that a conference of delegates from the labour councils o in' the colony will assemble in Wellington* during the session, to discuss the fortunes of the several labour bills during th&ir passage through the Legislature. ANOTHER PORTFOLIO. * * The announcement by the Premier that the.Government intended adding another Ministerial portfolio to those now autho vised by law is not to bo understood as meaning the appointment of another paid Minister. The Government's intention is to establish another department, the portfolio of which will be held by one of the existing Ministers, in addition to his present portfolios.