LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1811, 11 July 1891, Page 2

LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

[By Telegraph. J (From our Special Correspondent.) The Financial Debate. Wellington, July 10th. The debate quite unexpectedly took an interesting turn on Wednesday night. Mr Duthie's amendment, advocating that the Government surplus should be devoted to reducing taxation on the necessaries of life, brought matters to a crisis. The Opposition disclaimed any intention of intending it as a no-confidence motion, but Mr Ballance declined to take any other view of it, and a vigorous whip-up followed. The Opposition made no effort to bring up their men, and the result was a big majority for the Ministry. The Premier immediately after moved that the House go into Committee of Supply, which gives the debate a fresh start, allowing those who have already spoken the right to speak again. The Candid Friend. Among the speeches towards the close of the first stage of the debate, few excited so much interest as that of Mr Geo. Fisher. It was a most unsparing criticism of the Government proposals, and showed the wea'c points of Mr Ballance's scheme of taxation in a very strong light. I have never heard Sir John Hall speak better. His speech was an indictment of the entire Government policy. He commented in trenchant terms on the Minister of Lands' administration of his department;, and defended himself from some implied charges made against him by the Hon. Mr Mackenzie. He also caused a good deal of laughter at Mr Seddon's expense, and was very severe on the proposal to impose a graduated tax. The Hon. Mr Fergus was in fine form, and made A Vigorous Attack on the Ministerial defences, bringing out some features that had not been touched on by previous speakers. If any doubt before existed as to the superior strength of the Government, it no longer exists after their show of force on Wednesday night. It is now acknowledged that they'have The Ball at Their Feet, and any alterations they make in their Bills will be in deference to the opinions of their own followers. The Opposition will continue to freely exercise their privilege of criticism without, however, resorting to useless obstruction. On Thursday evening, The Great pro-Consul delivered his speech on the Financial Statement, but with the exception of a violent atfcack on tile Legislative Council, which He declared should be abolished, there was nothing remarkable about his addrqaa. In fact, it was very similar tQ scopes of other speeches he has made in the House. Many expected that he would have made an onslaught on the Premier, but nothing of the kind came off, whatever may yet follow. The Hon. Mr Seddon succeeded Sir|George Grey in a three-hours' speech, which was full of Sound and Fury, at the Opposition. It was a great contrast to the dignified style of Sir George. The debate is to close to-night. The Premier rose to apply at about twenty minutes to five, when the adjournment of the House was moved. He will resume at half-past seven. A Nice Little Scene took place this afternoon, which will not add much to the reputation of the Ministry. Some days ago a motion was made that all the correspondence between the Government and the Railway Commissioners, in connection with the subject of obtaining locomotive boilers from England, should be laid before the House. Notice was sent to the Commissioners to furnish the correspondence, which they accordingly did. But when it was actually laid on the table, it was found that two. very Important fetters had been Abstracted, and, of course, no one but the Minister, Mr Seddon, could have done it. The Commissioners drew the attention of the House to the fact. Hence " the little breeze' this after noon. The leader of the Opposition compelled the Minister to a.drait having taken t them, but he declared he had laid them on tho tahle by themselves. No one seemed to know 1 about this having been done, and certainly it looks very suspicious work on the part of the Government. The two letters have a very important bearing on the whole subject, and bear materially on some remarks made at Auckland by Mr Seddon. Mr Bryce has given notice to bring the matter up again. The whole business looks bad, and may have a serious effect upon the reputation of the Government. The Minister of L^nas Refused Mr Valentine's Request this afternoon to supply farmers' clubs, etc., with papers relating to agricultural matters ; but I understand the member fo.r Tuapeka intends to make a formal motion with the object of stm procuring them. The Postal Reductions. The Government have decisively given their followers to understand that they have no intention of dropping the postal reduction from their proposals, and the amusing spectacle,

will now be witnessed o£ several members who spoke against it during the debate voting for it on a division. This proves what I previously wired you of the Postmaster-General's determination not to be turned from his par--T>ose by pressure from any quarter.