THE RAILWAY BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 224, 21 September 1893, Page 5

THE RAILWAY BILL.

A PROLONGED STONEWALL. A DISORDERLY INCIDENT. (By TELEGRAPH. — PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.) Wellington, this day. The rumour that a stonewall was contemplated in Committee on the Government Railways Bill had doubt thrown upon id when it leaked out that the Opposition had approached the Government) with an ctler of terms of compromise. Thiß was ito the effect that the Minister of Railways should have a eeat on the Railway Board, but with only the samo status as the_ two other Commissioners, and that the Minister should have no casting vote or power of veto, This was promptly rojactad by the Government, and it was then apparent that the original plaD of obstruction would be adhered to. There was a debate of nearly two hours' duration on the motion to go into Committee on the Bill, and when finally it was committed, Mr Rolleston protesting that he meant to offer no obstruction, moved the first of a long series of emendtnenta upon which he and his followers kept up the debates and called for divisions. This amendment was in clause 2, and was to have the eliect ot extending the

TERM OP OFFICE of the presont Commissioners for another year. It was defeated by 54 to 20, tho division list being aa follows :— Ayes (20).— Allen, Buckland, Buchanan, Fergus, Fish, Hall, Harkness, G. Hutchison, Lako, Meredith, Mitchelson, Newman, Rhodes, Rollesion, Russell, Swan, Valentine, Wilson, Wright.

Noes 34.—Blake, Buick, Cadman, Carncross, Carroll, Dawson, Earnshaw, Fraser, Hall-Jones, Hogg, Houston, VV, Hutcbi Bon, Joyce, J. Kelly, W. Kolly, Lawry, McInfcosh, McGuire, McGowan, J. McKenzie, McLean, C. Mills, O'Conor, Palmer, t'inkcrton, Reeves, Sandford, Seddon, Sbora, E. M. Smith, W. C. Smith, T. Thompson, Ward, Willis.

Pairs.—Ayes : Richardson, Saunders, ! Bruce, T. Mackenzie, J. Mills, Dutbie. NOO3 : Duncan, Taylor, Tanner, R. Thompson, Parata, Stout. MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS. On clause 3 appointing the Minister for Railways, tha Opposition called for a division, and the clause was carried by 32 to 20. Speaking on clauso 4, which constitutes the Minister one of tho Cominisgioners, Mr Rolkston objected to the Minister having a deliberate and casting vote, and moved an amendment, " That tho subsection giving cliecb to thai) proposal should bo struck . out," Tho Premier described this as another tcotbod of killing the Liil!. A proposal had boon submitted to the Government for reducing the number of Commissioners to two, but if there were three a casting and deliberate vote for the Minister would bo an absolute necessity. The amendment was lost by 33 to 17.

The question was that the words proposed to be struck out. by Mr Rolloston fctand part of the Bill, and tho division list was as follows : Ayes, 33 : Blako, Buick, Cadmau, Carnrross, Carroll, Dawson, Earnshaw, Fraser, "Flali-Jones, HogCi Houston, \V. Hutchinson, Joyce, W. Keily, Lavvry, Mclntosh, McGowan, J. Mcivenzie, McLoan, Meredith, C. Mills, (J'Conor, Palmer, Parata, I'inkerton, Sandford, Soddon, Shora, K. M. Smith, W. C. Smith, T. Thompson, Ward, Willis. Koi«, 17 : Allen, Buchanan, Bucklami, Fergus, Fish, iiali, Harkneas, Lake, M. J. 8. Mackenzie, Mitcholaon, Moore, Rhodes, Rolloston, Rusedll, Swan, Wilson, Wright. PaIKS. —Ayes : Duncan, Taylor, Tanner, R. Thompson, Roeves.J. Kelly,Stout. Noes: Richardson, Saundevs, Bfuco, T. Mackenzie, J. Mills, Valentino, Duthie. ANOTHER AMENDMENT. Captain Ilussoll moved anothor rtmondniont on this cluuse to deprive the Minister o! a deliberative and casting voto. It was now that the real OBSTRUCTION COMMENCED by Mr Fish moving that tho Chairman leave the chair. The prince of obstructionists advised the Opposition to contest the Bill word by word, und Messrs Fergus and ilcKenzie took the same view. Captain Riiseell mockingly declared he cotiid not consent to a stonewall,' which was wrong in principle Had not tho Premier told them so, and he was the greatest authority on the subject. A solid hour was now spent in talking all Kinds of imaginable nonsense under cover of Mr Fish's inotiou. Ad laet the Premier appealed to members to proceed with business, but this only produced a mock protest from Messrs Duthio and Allen that they were seriously di&cussing most important business. It was shortly after this that a division was taken on Mr Fish's motion, and gave rise to

A STUPID SCENE, which wasted moro than another hour. The casus belli lay between Mr O'Conuor and Mr T. McKonzie. The latter was teller for the noes, and being a little iate in getting to his pO3t, found that Mr O'Connor had boen into the lobby and recorded his vote. Mr McKor.zio insisted lio should go back into the lobby, and on Mr O'Connor refusing, Mr IvicKenzie scored out his vote, and declined to sign the division list. The Chairman of Committees, in order to settle the matter, got Mr O'Connor to declaro how ho voted, as though ho had been in Chamber, and that j having been done, Mr McKenzie was invited to sign the list, but again refused, stating taat he would not do so, though twenty opportunities wore given him. THE " SPEAKER SENT FOR. The Speaker was accordingly sonb for, and Mr McKenzia reported to him as con'.umacious. A discussion of a moro than usually involved and disorderly kind ontjuod. The Premier first moved that Clutha be adjudged guilty of contempt, but withdrew this and substituted another, viz., " That his explanation be received, and that he be requested to sign the division list." Mr McKeuzie, who had been re- ; quested to loavo the Chamber, returned in charge of the Sergeant at-Arms, and, having heard that the House agreed to tho j Premier's motion, signed the division Hot as though it were

A GOOD LARK. At a later stage Mr McKcnsua offered an npology for liiti conduct, and on the motion of the Premier the resolution acainsb him s .j 9 expunged from the journals of the .louse. The Chairman announced that the 1 motion that he should leave the chair w,i? loat by 20 to 18. Tho amendment proposed by Mr Russell was bet by 14 votes to 10, and clause 4 was carried. Ciauso 5 was caniod by 26 votes to 17. SALARY OF' COMMISSIONERS. On clause 6, fixing the salary of Commisfiionera at not exceeding £1,000 each, there I ,r- ia a. discussion of abonb three hour?. ' Eventually the clause was carried. Amendments were proposed, and divisions culied on nearly every succeeding clausr, bub the result was tho ssme in every case, the clauses beino- carried as they stood by majorities of from 6 to 12.

THE VAILE SYSTEM. Sir T. Thompson moved a now claus 6 nrovidihfr that the Comuiissionors migh'1 u ive a trial of Mr Samuel Visile's stage system of passenger fare 3 for one year on tho Auckland lines or on any other section

of railway in the coiony which they might think desirable. Mr Thompson urged that a larfO number of people in Auckland am! elsotvhore were strongly in.favour of that

system having a trial. Tbs Premier opposed the clause, as he thought it would bo right to wait and see the result of a Minister acting as a Commissioner before any further change was introduced. A division was taken on the point when tha amendment was rejected by 23 to 11. The Biii waa reported from Committee, and the Premier rose to movo its third reading, but as the Opposition objected to this course, Mr Guinnesa, acting aa Speaker, in .Major Steward's absence, ruled that- the motion could not be put. The House rose at 5.45 this morning. The third reading will probably be made a first order for to-day, and if obstructed may prevent the Public Works Statement beiug delivored.