LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1812, 15 July 1891, Page 3

LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

[By Telegraph.] (Prom our Special Correspondent.) Close of the Financial Debate. Wellington, July 14fcb. As I informed you in my last message, the final speech in the debate on the Financial Statement was made by the Premier on Friday night; "Generally speaking, it is pronounced to be the best speech he has made at - any time in the House ; but, notwithstanding all that, he made No Real Defence to the attacks which have « been made upon his financial proposals. He rather led his followers to believe that he would amend ftem in accordance with their ardent desire.

He admitted the absurdity of taxing improvements, bnt declared boldly tbat when relinquishing this part of his scheme he must increase the graduated tax on land. In fnct, the desire was to arrive at the land ta* pure and simple. Another Form of Taxation. It is rumoured in the lobbies to-day that the Government are making enquiries with the view of imposing a graduated tax on bank cheques and receipts, say, on cheques and receipts for £5, £10, fls, and £20, aud so on. However, the Premier says he is in the bands of the House ; and everyone knows what that means. When a Ministry Desire to Retain Their Seats, any sacrifice must be made, ao some curious developments may be looked for before the financial affairs of the country are finally settled. The Taxation Bills. are, it is said, to be brought down to-morrow ; but I doubt it very much. If they are brought down, they will certaiuly be in a very incomplete form. A very interesting ceremony took place yesterday in the Presentation to Mr J. Gr. Ward, the Postmaster-General, of a very handsome epergne and gold cradle, on the occasion of rlie iiirth of a son during his administration. A grout many were present, including the Premier, the Ministers of Public Works and of Lan'ls, and many officials. Many prominent men doubt the wisdom of Mr Ward accepting the gift;, bnt it certainly shows how popul.tr the hon. gentleman" is with hip useful department. The child is named Gladstone William Ward. " The Great Hnman Race." Sir George Grey is moving that a memorial be sent to the Czar of Russia asking him to extend the full benefit of the laws of his country to the Jews. Breaches of Privilege. Nearly the whole of this afternoon has been taken up discussing cases of breach of privilege. First Sir John Hall charged tho Minister of Lands with furnishing an incomplete return of correspondence of agricultural matters which he asked for, and which the House had ordered to bo furnished. The Minister declared he had supplied all in his possession up to the date of the order, but subsequently admitted thatfurther correspondence had beeu received. The Nice Little Scene I informed you about last week on the subject of tho abstracted correspondence by tho Minister of Public Works, and which I mentioned was sure to crop up ngiin, was brought on the floor of the House this afternoon by the loader of the OpDOsition. He made a distinct motion to the effect that a breach of privilege had been committed by the Government, and denounced the Minister of Public Works for his action. He was followed by Mr Scobie Mackenzie, who delivered another of his forcible lectures on the Standing Orders of the House, and . Roundly Rated Mr Seddon for acting as he had done. The debate, if I can call it such, is still proceeding. A Government supporter hus just told me that he considers the Minister is entirely in the wrong, and is taking up a false position.' Ministers are evidently not hitting it with The Railway Commissioners, who are taking up a very dignified position, and insisting upon upholding their undoubted rights. Ranger Campbell Again. I hear that the Ranger Campbell business is not done with yet.. The Minister of Lands admitted the other evening that Campbell had been a police officer, although the Department could find no trace ot the fact. The Opposition declare he wa9 practically dismissed for ill-treating a prisoner by kicking him in his cell. No doubt more will yet be heard about it.