Political Notes & Notions

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 35, 14 May 1881, Page 376

Political Notes & Notions

Among recent post-sessional speakers Mr Ormoncl is perhaps the most important. He was Superintendent of Hawke's Bay, lias been Minister o f Public Works, and is a politician of long experience in the Colony. He is also remarkable from the position he took up in the House last session when forcing on the Ministry the retrenchment policy for which Major Atkinson now claims great credit. He (Mr. Ormoncl) was a friend and supporter, and when he told them, in his own cold Avay, that friend though lie was he would insist on their taking back the Estimates and reducing them l.y £250,000, the intimation fell like a bombshell on the Ministerial benches. "Do it yourself " was the petulant ejaculation of the Premier, relying, as Ministers always did, on the feeling of a large number of their supporters to put up with them on any terms rather than let in Sir George Grey. But they were mistaken in this case. The wish of the House was so plainly manifested that Ministers were glad to get out of the mess by calling a caucus of their party and arranging with Mr. Saunders to bring up the miserable Ten per Cent, all-round arrangement which has worked such hardship by its inequality.