PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 203, 7 September 1901, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day

There was a smart wordy interchange between the Premier and the member for Selwyn during- the financial debate last evening. Mr. Hardy (Selwyn). speaking of the claim put forward by the present Government of having, conceived and carried out the liberal land policy, said the late Mr. John Ballance had himself acknowledged that the credit of having initiated that policy belonged to Mr. Rolleston. Assuming a humorous tone, he said that while the words "he loved the people" were appropriately inscribed on the base of the statue of the late John Ballance in front of the Parliament buildings, when the time arrived to erect a statue to the present Premier it ought to bear the inscription, "He loved Mmself." The member for Selwyn had more than once, during the course of his speech been challenged by the Premier with reading from a paper,, arid had asj often denied it. Subsequently he was speaking in an apologetic tone of his }acfc of atyUty ? s Ji speaker, when the Premier got home on Selwyn with the interjection, "But you are a good reader," and the House was seized with convulsions of, laughter. He counselled the Premier in' the future to "try and act square." The Premier resented the implication cast upon Ministers, and moved that the words be taken down, but the Acting-Speaker ruled that the words were not unparliamentary. Mr. Hardy, resuming his speech, thanked the Acting-Speaker for his protection, and then went on to insinuate that the Premier wore Masonic emblems in the House, which he condemned as un-Masonic. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. During the discussion in the House to-day on the breach of privilege question the Premier said he knew Mr Cohen to be a thoroughly honourable man, and an enterprising journalist, who held ay one of the tenets of journalism not to disclose the names of persons who furnished information. They might summon Mr Cohen to the bar'of tlie House, or they might imprison him in the Tower, but they would find themselves in just the same position as before. Could any member of the House point to a case where the position of the offender had been changed by bringing him before the bar of the House? Hon. members pretended to be horrified at disclosures in the press of the proceedings of committees, but directly afterwards they went out and gave information to the reporters. The House would have to consider the question whether committee should •be open to the press, or else have the Standing Orders so framed that the consequences of breaches of privilege should be clearly defined, and the dignity of Parliament upheld. VAILE'S ZONE SYSTEM. Mr Vaile appeared before the Sail"vvays Committee to-day, and made a long statement regarding his proposed Zone system. Mr Vaile has certainly scored by getting his scheme put before the committee, and he deserves credit for his perseverance. He will continue his statement before the Committee on Tuesday next. SIR J. G. WARD'S SPEECH. The vigorous and very effective speech delivered' by the Minister of Railways (Sir Joseph Ward) during the debate on the Financial Statement has been much praised in the lobbies. As a vindication of the efficient administration of the departments under his charge it was unanswerable. PAYMENT OF TROOPERS. Mr Allen (Bruce) wants to know why there is still delay in paying the troopers returned from South Africa. HOUR OF ADJOURNMENT. Mr Witheford has renewed his notice of motion, "That this House do not sit after 12 o'clock midnight."