THE COMING FIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 207, 30 August 1905, Page 3

THE COMING FIGHT.

;' A IJVELY TIME AHEAD. • j (By Telesrapli.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Indications have pointed to this week being the most strenuous of the present session. The Premier promisesome three weeks ago to bring down the Public Works Estimates and Statement by the iaat week of August; this .being in response to pressure from j most parts of the House. Then there , is the land question, with a 00-eonfi-I dence motion attaching thereto, the j consideration of the Land 'Commission's ; report, and the debate promised by the | Premier for this week. The report, to | Parliament of the Auditor-General on ! his investigations into the Fisher-Sed- : don charges is also expected this week. ! Then, again, as the end of the month I falls within this week, it is necessary | for the Government to pass an Imprest | Supply Bill, on which discussion can ; range within horizon wide limits. The i Imprest Supply Bill was brought down ■ yesterday afternoon by Governors Mes- ] sage, and when the Premier moved i "That the House go into Committee of i Supply" to consider it. the House gen- ; erally, and the Opposition particularly. ! sought *?iis intentions in the matters j mentioned. This led to some three- • quarters of an hour's discussion, during ; which some information was elicited and i some grievances ventilated. The Premier, in reply to a question j by the Leader of the Opposition, said 1 that the Public Works Statement was ! well advanced, was, in fact, in its final I stages, and could have been, if neeesI -sary, brought down that evening. However, members would realise that it ' was advisable, since he bad brought 'down a series of resolutions in connee- : tion with the land question. ! Mr Massey: "Did you say a series oi ! resolutions T I am glad you have found i the word to describe them."' The Premier said that, three amend- | meats had been given notice of. and he I did not know which would be taken first. I Mr Massey: '"Which is the no-ccmfi-I dence motion f' | The Premier remarked that he did i not know whether Mr Taylor had been ! consulted by the Opposition. ' l.aughjter.) He would be willing to a.->k the [ House to make the land question the I first OTder of the day for Thursday. I and as soon as that was out of the ! I way they would ha ye the Public Works | Statement afl d Estimates placed before j j them. ! Mr Duthie asked the Premier's inten- ! j tions as to bringing on the Shops and , i Offices Amendment Bill again for con- < \ siderution, but was put off with a j ! diplomatic reply. Mr Ma.ssey then objected to the c-on-I tinual alteration of the orders of the day —the Premier, in having moved j that the Hou->e go into Committee of Supply, having also moved tp postpone j the first fot;r orders of the day, viz.. | Fisheries Conservation Acts Amendment. Klectotal Bill. Maori Land Councils and Fire Brigades Bill, wbich preceded Committee of Supply on the Order Paper. Mr Massey complained that the first Order Paper issued in the early mornings to members was merely J so much waste paper, an' 1 , was not j opened by 1)0 per cent, of members. Tlie I other Orrter Paper was expected to show niembers what business was to be • taken. If the lYemier had intended to ; go into Committee of Supply, why was not supply at the top of that day's '>rtlcr paper? ; The Premier: "Hear, hear." Mr Massey -aid he would divide the i House on the que-tion. Mr Merries said the first or proof ( Order Paper that day had had Committee of Supply at the top. The Premier must either have altered his mind or ehangpd the (rrder Paper with the deliberate intention of misleading the House about going into supply. Mr Lauren-on supported the Opposition, and said the Order Paper was especially designed to mislead members, j The way in which it was manipulated I w as becoming worse instead of better, j Mr James Allen said the so-c-ailed leader of the House had been directly j challenged, but hail lightiy brushed the challenge a-ide- The land debate was ( delayed, and delayed until when? Parlia- j ment had become a go-as-you-please, j Such procedure was a degrading of our j institutions. j Mr Taylor said the preliminary Order Paper was unadulterated rubbish. It j never indicated what business would be taken, but when members saw the other Order Paper at one o'clock they took it to contain the business tljat would be taken. He did not blame the Premier, because he was in a fix over the promised report on the Voucher. He (Mr Taylor) understood that the Premier had arranged so that it should not come down, because he did not want to give an opportunity ol going into a lengthy discussion on that subject on an imprest Supply Bill. Mr T. Mackenzie said there was a sort j of freedom of action among members when they had seen the grants to their districts. It was then they could criticise the Government freetly. The Public Works Statement should be down just is early as the Budget. Tlie Premier asked the Leader of the Opposition and member-; if had become oblivious of the sanding orders. Had simply been pl.i.ed at the top of ■ he Order Paper when he moved that he House go into Committee of Supply they would have had to go on with the F.stimaces instead of the Imprest Sup. ply Bill. Mr Massey disagreed. "You have 'lone it dozens of tiires," he said to the PremierMr Seddon: I am conforming with the Standing Order.-t. Mr Massey: It is only a quibble. The Premier: I must ask the member to withdraw his words. Mr Speaker: "Quibbling" has been ruled unparliamentary. Mr Massey: I withdraw. Mr .-> nker said that in ruling ihe j word '•qtUbMe' unparliamentary he had gone by the decision of the House of { Commons. Had ;..• ruled according to { his own ideas he would have ruled"dif- | ferently. (Laughter.) The Premier though the House ! should comply with the rulinsr j of Cue House of Commons. In I putting supply where it was en the i revised Order Paper, he had done so i deliberately, to allow of his moving the I motion he had moved, i.e., to go" into ! Committee of Supply on the imprest I Supply Bill. Hon. members knew well I that Supply was coming on that day. \ Opposition members: Xo. ! The Premier said the intimation was : in that morning's paper. "You must read the "N\Z. Times' ," he said. Opposition members: We read it, bat we don't believe. (Laughter). The Premier said he was surprised at Mr Duthie saying that the Premier was j less combative this ;esaio_. "We have I

: ■ . - . ... . . —i., had very little SgirtiDg tins sessjon." hi went on. "Neither party cares about it. They are reserving their strength for later on. I don't want to provoke it (hear, hear), but if you think there is no fight left in nic you make a mistake, j I believe in fighting at -the right time. Mr James Allen: Yes, I am built that I way. I Referring to the no-confidence motion ; ! the Premier asked if it could be moved now- , Mr Massey said he was prepared to move it now if the land question were 1 brought on. *_, never run way." T he con- " eluded. The Premier: Of course, you would move it now because you want to get ' ahead of Mr Tayior. (Laughter.) When \ 'the motions for the land come on I sthall ' -deal with them as I believe to be in the ' : best interests of the colony. ' ! Later on the debate the Premier reI marked that consideration of the bill I providing for the. extension of native I councils would occupy all Wednesday. I and the lands debate would begin on . ! Thursday - Mr Massey: And will take a day. Mr Seddon: I think so. and a few ] I days. I think it will take a week; that jis my opinion. Mr Massey *5 amendment was then J pnt and lost "by 40 to 25. and the House : ! went on with the Imprest Supply Bill. _________________——_•