The Chances of an Attack.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5108, 16 September 1884, Page 2

The Chances of an Attack.

I Saleyardßar Licenses. [Special to the " Stab."] WELLINGTON, Sept. IG. The long-expected Financial Statement is to be delivered at half -past seven this evening, aud it has been arranged that the debate upon it shall be adjourned until Friday evening. The object of this is to give private members their usual fling on the Wednesday and Thursday, and also to allow the general mass of members, and the honourable the public of the Colony, to x^oncler the proposals of the Government in regard to finance, and to digest them thoroughly before the discussion upon them takes place. With regard to the prospects of any attack from the Opposition immediately afterwards, I do not think they are great. If the assault is made, it will mean a complete change of front in one party — the Greyite. If Sir George Grey's followers agreed to throw in their weight with Major Atkinson, they would so alter the balance of power as to give the latter considerable chance of success. But if their adherence to the Stout side of the House is real, the Government need fear no adverse vote that may be brought against them as parties are at present constituted. That their adherence is secure, seems shown by the presence of Mr Tole upon the Ministerial bench ; for it would be very unlikely that the Premier had not made a hard-and-fast agreement with the chief of the party before giving the member for Eden the opportunity of taking his seat. Again, it seems probable that the Financial Statement will be cautious and not terrifying, and that of itself it will do nothing to alienate a sufficient number of members to make Major Atkinson's hope of victory equivalent to surety without the defection of the Grey party to his bide. A day or two will, however, reveal tho secrets. A little matter concerning a large number of people in Canterbury has just been satisfactorily settled. It appears that the temporary bar licenses to such saleyards as Ashburton and Addington, issued for sale days, wore charged at high rates, as if they were similar gatherings to race meetings, thereby causing a good deal of dissatisfaction. Mr W. C. Walker has been interesting himself in the matter, and I understand that a reduction in the charge for such licenses is likely to be brought about very soon.