SNIPING BATTLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 184, 4 August 1913, Page 6

SNIPING BATTLE.

»—I I CHALLENGE AND ACCEPTANCE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) ! WELLINGTON, .Saturday. I 'When, after wallowing in party bitternc'-> for a whole night, the. House came I .suJlicie.ntly to it- senses at eight o'clock j this morning to think of an adjournInient. the beginning of a recapitulation, I with v sU.-picion of Hansarding intentions, threatened to precipitate another I quarrel ano.-s the lloor. The l>rimc I Minister had moved the adjournment, when the nieiriher for Avon rose, and, with -iime heat, began to inform Mr. Speaker that the proceedings of the night had been of a somewhat extraordinary character. "Hon. members of this li'iu-c are completely gagged." raid Mr. Russell, with perfect truth, and ; I lien began to point the linger of accusation at the Prime Minister, whose ru-bi- | cund visage was contemplating him j watchfully from a temporary location I ill the middle benches. Avon was ju.-t i working u-p a good head of indignation j against the ineonsideratene-s and j wicked intentions of the (lo\ eminent Leader, when Mr. Speaker rather mildly intimated that riie hon. member was out of older, and must confine his remarks to the adjournment motion. Mr. Russell acknowledged the reasonableness of the intimation, and straightway plunged into the genesis of the dehate, which hud just wearily concluded. '" Point of order, 'Mr. Speaker." rose from all sides, and again Mr. Russell made a beginning. " Members have been detained here for hours through the obstinacy and incousidcratene.ss. of the Premier." is where he got before being ruled off-side. Nothing dannted. Avon. whose choler was clearly up. made a renewed assault, and not till lie had been pulled up several more limes by Mr. Speaker did he fully announce that he supported the motion to adjourn, but would take the earliest opportunity to express his opinion in the House of the cold-blooded attitude the (lovernment h.i.l exhibited at that fitting to lhe reasonable and proper protests of the Opposition benches against forced legislation. This brought the Prime Minister to his feet. who. however. to the in-len-e relief of jaihd members, contented himself with picking up the g»src thrown down by the member for Avon. "I hope he will do so. .-Mid when lie does. 1 shall reply to (he fullesi possible extent." declared the Hon. Mr. Massey. with the fire of battle in his eye. Bolh opponents glared at one another like warhorsc.s scenting b'ittle. but the ailjounrtent sounded tbe truce. and tho pence of silence reigned in the chamber a fewmoments later, what time, wea.rv Parliamentarians wandered homewards.