POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 182, 14 August 1888, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

MORE STONEWALLING ANTICIPATED. MR CARROLL IN OPPOSITION. A COMPACT OF OBSTRUCTIONISTS. [standard SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Willington, last night. The first order of the day was the resumption in Committee of the Native Bills which Government intend to push through before taking any further business. It is generally stated that stonewalling will recommence to-morrow, in consequence of amendments made in the Native Lands Bill, which the natives state is even worse than the original Bill. Sydney Taiwhanga states, in reference to his pledge to the Premier on Friday night, that his promise not to further obstruct only applied to the Native Land Bill which has gone through, and that he is quite free to oppose tbe Native Land Court Bill, which he considers to be even more objectionable than the Native Land Bill. Taipua, it is understood, will assist him, and Mr Carroll also objects very strongly to some of the amendments made in the Native Land Bill, but he will not take part in obstruction.

Very probably the natives will have the assistance of some of the West Coast members, with whom, rumor has it, a compact has been made that, in return tor their cooperation, the natives will help them to stonewall the Crown and Native Land Bating Act Repeal Bill. With there huge obstructions looming up in tbe future it is impossible to conjecture when the session may come to an end, and ideas of an indefinite period are becoming prevalent. It is thought, however, that the outcome of the stonewalling of this session will almost Certainly be the introduction of cloture rules ilke those so successfully adopted by the House of Commons in England. Mr Taipua has presented a petition largely signed by natives, praying that the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court may be removed from his position in consequence of went of knowledge of the Maori language and Maori customs and usages, and that another person, duly qualified in these respects, may be appointed in his stead ; they also ask that the control of the Native Land Court may be vested wholly in the Judges and Assessors, and that it may be made quite independent Of the Government; but that in the event of Any application for a rehearing being refused by ths Chief Judge there may be a right of appeal to the Supreme Court and Perlis, mant. The suggestion put forward that ths pre. tent and late Ministers of Public Works ■hould be appointed Railway Commissioners, has been received with such general disfavor that it is never likely to be formally made. It ia rumored that Mr Maxwell, General Manager of Railways, has resigned, and a question to that effect has been placed on the Order Paper. The Post says there is no truth in the report, and adds, 11 Wo should be surprised if it was true."