LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1813, 18 July 1891, Page 3

LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

[Br Telegeaph.J (From our Special Correspondent.) Wellington July 17th. The Latest Sensation is the debate on Mr Jackson Palmer's motion to repeal the Act appointing the Railway Commissioners. No one ever dreamt that the matter would take the turn, it did. The motion was looked upon by the majority of members as intended by the enemies of the Commissioners in the House to provide another opportunity for slating those muchabused gentlemen. It was expected that the Government had a hand in preparing the little programme, and that after the malcontents had a good inningß, Mr Seddon would chip in with one of his usual denunciations of the Commissioners and wind-up by advising patience until their tenure of office expired. But he did nothing of the kind. The House could hardly believe the evidence of their own senses when they saw the Hon .Mr Seddon Taking Off His Coat, and laying all-round him for the Commissioners. It surprised the Opposition; but it startled the labour members, who are sworn to exterminate the Commissioners. So palpable a somersault has not been witnessed in the House for some time. Mr Fish arose in a wrathful mood and divided his attention between Mr Seddon and the Commissioners. He Warned The Goyernment against treating their followers in the contemptuous manner they were doing. He very pertinently asked why they had not communicated with the mover of the motion, and indicated what their intention was. He was disgusted at this Ministerial Dissimulation and Trickery, and said that in. future he would not be surprised at anything the Government might do. He spoke strongly, but not more so than the occasion demanded. Most of the labour members quietly fell into line, and, while expressing their hostility to the Railway Commissioners, followed, the Ministerial lead in the most lamb-like fashion. The adjournment of the debate was in the end moved by Mr Pinkerton under pressure from the Goyernment ; and this simply means that the motion will be no more heard of this session. What Does It AH Mean? is the question one hears very frequently in the lobbies. Many explanations are given to account for the course followed by the Government. But the most reliable communicated to me on the best authority is that there was a split among Ministers themselves on the subject ; and it was only at the last moment that an understanding was arrived at. This probably accounts for the fact that Mr Palmer was completely Left in the Dark regarding the intentions of Ministers. The offshoot of the affair has caused a good deal of discontent among the ex treme element in the House, and may yet lead to serious results. The New Land Bill is sure to meet with a considerable amount of criticism, although it is mainly a consolidating measure. It contains many serious points of altera-

tion from the existing land laws. For instance, although the choice of tenure is apparently still left to the selector, the real power is practicatly placed in the hands of the Minister of Lands for the time being. He will be able to Override the Selector's Decision, j inasmuch as he seeks power to place the land on the market on any terms he thinks fit. Within the scope of the Act selectors, no doubt, will be pleased, however, to learn, that it is proposed to reduce the rate of interest on the perpetual leases from 4to 5 per cent. But against this there is The Very Objectionable Feature that the right of ultimately obtaining the freehold of the land is to be done away with. To compensate for this to some extent, the term of lease is to be increased from thirty to fifty years. It will be interesting to the mining community to hear that the second reading of The Mining Bill was passed the other night without much comment. The Bill is going before the Mines Committee for their consideration, and doubtless, when it comes down for committal, more will be said upon the subject. The measure is mainly of a consolidating nature ; but there are Some Important Alterations in the existing law. Rents of claim are proposed to be reduced to 10s per acre instead of, iv many cases, as at present, 20s per acre. This may interfere in some I instances with the revenue of the local j bodies ; and how this is to be got over I have not yet learned. ' The Wellington Knights of Labour j have dealt ' A Nasty Blow at the Government over their taxation proposals. At a meeting of the Execu- J tive on Wednesday night, they passed a ' resolution to be forwarded to all Liberal , and labour members objecting to the i penny postage, to thq taxing of improve- I ments, to any exemptions at all in the ' land tax, to the graduated scale instead of a simple uniform rate, to the pro- , posals under the Land for Settlement ' Bill. It will be curious to watch the _ effect of such a bombshell thrown ' amongst the ranks of the labour mom- ' bers. ! The Private Schools Bill \ ! was before the House last night, the second reading being defeated by 8.3 to ' 18 — a majority of 15 agaiust the measure. A great many speeches were delivered in favour of it, as well as against it ; but the result is a great disappointment to the denomiuationalists as it does not compare favourably with the division on Mr Pyke's bill in 1889. The Taxation Bills. ! The Bills iv connection with the Financial Statement, the Premier announced this afternoon, in reply to Mr Bryce, are to be brought down on Tuesday or Wednesday next. , The Minister of Lands in his True Colours. I On Wednesday Mr Valentine moved : "That all Parliamentary papers, etc.,-. bearing on agrcultural and pastoral matters and copies of Hansard ' as published, ■ be forwarded to all farmers' clubs and similar public institutions throughout j the colony." The Hon. John M'Kenzie strongly and bitterly Opposed the Motion, ' and asked the House to reject it on the plea of expense,which caused the House to laugh at the absurdity of his objection. The motion was again reached yesterday afternoon, and when a division was likely to be take"n the great so-called advocate of the farmers was seen to rise and converse with Mr H. S. Fish. That gentleman at once rose and Pooh-Poohed the Idea of the cpuntry being put to the expense of j supplying farmers with papers bearing j on agricultural matters. Mr Fish soon • after rose and I Beg<in a Stonewal at the instigation of the Minister of Lands, and talked until the adjournment, which practically killed the motion. Contrast such treatment of the farmers with the \ Servile Crawling of the Ministry towards the labour unions. All measures affecting their interests are submitted to them, and their slightest wish receives the most respectful consideration, while any representations made on behalf of farmers are treated with The Greatest Contempt. Just before the half hour adjournment was reached, time was called out. Mr Fishsat down when Mr Scobie M'Kenzie, perceiving that half a minute was still available, m*ged that the motion be put. At this Mr Fish again rose and declared that he was not done, and thus prevented a division being taken, which would have secured the carrying of the motion.