POLITICAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4871, 17 June 1890, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

{Press Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 15. According to tho proiont arrangements tho Address m Reply to tlio speech will bo moved by Mr T. Tanner, M.11.H. for Waipawa, who, I understand, has been aeked, and lifts consented to undertake that duty. A southern member has been asko'l to second tho addreea, but his definite reply has not yet been receivod, and it would not bo propor to diecloso his name unless ha should coneenl. 1 mentioned m my last telegram that Mr Ballanco's intention to movo a want of confidence motion directly iiffccr Parliament meets had been announced, and that it was understood that he would either attack somo point m the speech through tho medium of an amendment to the Address in-Roply, or else should this afford no convonient pbint of altock, (hat ho would table a direct motion of no confldoncs, his alleged object being to fores nn immediate dissolution. It appears, liowovor. that tho Opposition ore jubilant at tho apparent certainty of Sir Horrf Atkinson's early resignation, and regard tho Ministerial ro-arrangc-ment which must necessarily onsup thereop as offering a highly favourable oponing for a damaging attack, which, if it effect no other result I,':1 ,' : may probably impair tho ]>ret/iffo nnd influence of the roconßtrucleii Ministry, just before tho gonornl oleotion. There are Bonio, however, who look on it as uiiganerous to take advantage of tho misfortune of Sir 11. Atkinson's illnojß. Nevertheless the prevalent feeling sootns to bo that all is fair m war, and so it is unlikely that any question of sentimont will bn allowed Ministerial benches. So far as can at prosont be eetimnted, tlicv.i is no probability- of itn ndverso majority boing obtained, although the dcaire of a second aession may porhapn sway ono or two votes m cases where tho momber expects to securo his ro-elootioii. Tho Speech and Financial Statement are both, ready, and liavfl boon agroed upon m Cabinet. Ho far &i is Iknown, thoro ia no prooedent m Parliamentary hjstorf for this oxtromo cnrlinosi of prrpurations. I viTrlorottincl that tho speeoh is of tho usual character, anrl that .it will only givo a gonetal forcshndoyving of Iho policy without laying down any very preoifio or definilo lino of action, as it is i (lenircd not to ibow Uio Miniatorial hand if it ' can bo liclpod until tho budget is presented,

when a clean breast will he made of Ministerial intentions for t!;o session. Uulean Mr Ballunco moves hia omendmont to the Address in-Reply, or eonio otlior motnbora similarly check progress, the Financial Statement will be delivered on Tuesday ovening, tho 24th instant, as I informed you some weeks back. If, however, there should bo a lengthened debnto on tho address, or upon any amendment to tho address, manifestly this course will bo impracticable, and tho Budget may bo indoGuitely dolayed. Had it beon feasible, the Government would have liked to go on on Thursday ovening, but as this would involve a suspension of Standing Orders, which requires a large quorum of members, it is not likely this will bo done, a considerable proportion of the total strength of the House being usually absent until it has been some days m session ; and m any case notico will be given m both houses of tho Sessional Committees, and of a numbor of Bills which Ministers aro anxious to have introduced with all possible despatch.