POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9185, 12 September 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLIN GTON.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. Saturday, September 12. —The debate on the Public Works Statement took place last evening in going into Committee of Supply. The Opposition members had the floor all to themselves, as not one of the Government supporters uttered a word on the subject. Mr Mitchelson's speech was a very poor one. He made no points, and sat down without any applause, and Mr Seddon in reply repudiated all the assertions that had been made to the effect that the money was to be spent where the Ministers' supporters were the strongest. COMING EVENTS, ETC. On two or three occasions recently the Premier has removed Mr Fish into the Chair on going into Committee of the Whole. On tho principle that groat events from little causes sometimes spring, the quid nuncs aro beginning to wonder whether Mr Ballance's action is a preliminary step towards making the member for Dunedin the permanent Chairman of Committee, vice Mr Perceval. SAVING IN DEFENCE VOTE. The net saving in the defence vote during the year ia £2202, or seventeen per cent, on the total amount voted. The outstanding liabilities at the 31st March were £5581. RATHER A STRANGE PROCEEDING. The speeches of the Premier and Messrs J. McKenzie and Seddon during the Financial and Land Bill debates have been published in pamphlet form with a map of Sir John Hall's property, and sixty thousand copies have boon printed, and are being distributed throughout the colony uost free.