Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. MONDAY, JULY 19, 1886. Affairs Political.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1859, 19 July 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. MONDAY, JULY 19, 1886. Affairs Political.

Thx present session bus hitherto been very doll and dreary. Already it has extended over a considerable period of time, and to jndge by the enormous mass ol business still on the Order Paper, there is little prospect of (its coming to an end before the middle of Angnst. The debate on theFnblio Works Statement was to commence this (Monday) evening on the occasion of the motion for the second reading of the Loan Bill. There is no doubt that this Bill, which proposes to raise a loan of L 1,500,000, will be carried. Some time back there was talk of amendments being proposed, reducing the proposed loan by either £500,000 or even L 1,000,000 but there would net now be the slightest chance of such reductions being carried. The plain fact is that it would not be possible for the Government to do with less than a loan[of'£ 1,500,000. Already there is a large sum in the shape ol existing liabilities to be set against this loan, so that, alter all, the amount ol money available for expenditure on new works will not be very great. It may therefore be taken for granted that the proposed million and a half loan will be assented to by Parliament, and in due course raised Fortunately, the state of the London money market is at present favorable for raising a loan, so the colony will probably get the money at a low rate of interest.

Hitherto, the Government have had things nearly all their own way during the present session. They have carried the most of their measures, and the Opposition have not been able to do much in the way of resistance. Still, the Government are not quite out of the wood yet. The redistribution of representation question may form the subject of a prolonged debate. Then Sir George Grey has given notice of a series of questions with respect to the district railways scandal, and should he fail to have them answered to his satisfaction, it is probable he will move the adjournment of the House and open up a debate on the whole question, which, in truth, sorely needs a vigorous stirring up. The old Knight of Eawan is rather angry about the business and means mischief. On Wednesday night, when another subject was being debated, Sir George taunted the Government and the House by caustically remarking, “ that on this very night a sum of £IOOO had been allowed to pass into the pocket of a member of tbe Reuse, without a single indignant protest being made against tbe transaction.” Sir George was called to order by the Speaker for referring to a past debate, but pluckily replied, “ I am not referring to a debate, bat to a fact,” and if Major Steward beard the words he must have felt very small indeed, when, remembering how he had “ collared ” that cheque for £1035. We fancy that more will be heard of this District Railways Purchase Scandal. Tbe action of Major Steward and Sir Julius Vogel in the affair is severely condemned by public opinion, while the hushing up of the affair by (the Government is stigmatised as being tricky and dishonorable. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, we should not be surprised to find that this scandalous affair will lead to much further trouble and stirring up of muddy waters.