POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 338, 15 August 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE LATEST FROM THE HOUSE. [raoM oun own cobbesvondbnt.] Wellington, Tuesday. In the House let evening the debate on the second reading ot the Property Assessment Bill was resumed by Mr Ballance, wbo supported Mr Moss' amendment because he opposed ths Property Tax on the present basis, though with some modification he thought the tsx might be continued. Referring to the land question, he said the Government policy had been offering large areas to wealthy men, and shutting out small settlers. Mr Saunders found much fault with ths Government, but would not vote to turn them out. Mr Verrell suggested the establishment of a State Bank, which would obviate the necessity of further borrowing, Wbllinoton, Yesterday. Yesterday the debate was resumed fey Mr Hodgkinson, who warm’-y supported the Government, but oondemnsd the Property Tax. ' He was followed by Mr Cowan, on the same side, and by Mr Taylor on the Opposition side, The Premier spoke, replying principally to the remark of Mr Ballance, and concluding by declaring that Government would not accent Mr Moss' gmepdment, and if carried the usual consequences mu'st-follqw. Messrs Walker and Ward then spoke in support of the amendment, and the debate adjourned, "In the Council last evening the Represen. tation Bill was read a second time after much adverse criticism. There is every probability of the one man one vote clause being out in Commit. ®. Wellington, last night. It if. believed the Government will have a majority of seven against Mr Moss' amendment, The Government are still making inquiries in the direction of verifying sl) a statements of Hairs te Peri, in hia confession prit.’ tq execution for the Ponk murders. In the House this afternoon, the debate on the Property Assessment Bill wsa sontlnuad.,

and seems likely to last a couple ot days more, Mr Graham is making an active stir in native matters. He seems, with tha assistance of Mr Harris, and the representations made from Gisborne, to have succeeded to a great extent in getting members to take a rational view of the questions at issue. But things are in such a disorganised state that many men arc beginning to despair of anything good being done thia session. It opened well, )ut the clouds have thickly gathered, and the political atmosphere has the same tendency as tha enervating feeling on a close summer’s day. If the clouds would only burst and cleanse the demoralising elements from the face of our politics, there would be some hope of progress being made in the public business. As things are, it would bs a compliment to many of our legislators to compare them to those useful birds that provide us with quills. However, I believe that the country's lose will be Mr Graham’s opportunity, provided that members do not want to aoamper off homo in indecent haste directly they get over this preliminary humbug. Thera is plenty of time to (outside the House) clear up doubts in the minds of members whose opinions are undecided. Wbat I fear most is that too much may bo attempted, and lead to unsatisfaoiory results. The Government, I understand, intend taking up the Bill giving powers to deal with the Poututu case.