NOTES.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIV, Issue 1223, 10 December 1897, Page 5

NOTES.

recent visitor from England says definitely that Mr Reeves told him he would be a I candidate at the next general election in New Zealand. The refusal of the Premier to say when he would bring down the Public Works State' ment led to Tuesday's sittings being absolutely wasted. Before the Old Age Pension Bill was read a third time the hon. Mr Larnach moved its re-committal, which the Premier opposed. The motion was only lost by three votes. But for two members having made a mistake in voting the Premier . would have been defeated. On Tuesday night the Premier charged Ouptain Eusssll with blocking the business and altering the Hansard proofs. These charges were resented by Captain Bussell, and the Premier was obliged to withdraw them, . .

1 Here is an example of the replies given by the Premier to requests for informr.tu n : " If the lion, gentleman begins to scold me I feel inclined to tell him I will see him (p.iu c) a long way before I will give him the information." On Wednesday the Premier brought down the ' Government Fire Insurance Bill, which caused gveat laughter throughout the building. It at once appeared that the measure would be strongly resisted, when the Premier announced that it was not intended to proceed with it this .session. At a cacus of the Opposition on Wednesday, it was decided not to oppose the Government Loan Bill, but after that to offer a strenuous opposition to proceeding with any further business until the Public Works Statement is brought down. The Premier had a meeting of his supporters, on Wednesday, when the business for the remainder of the session was decided on. The Premier afterwards explained in the House the bills to bo withdrawn and those to be proceeded with. Mr James Smith, of Greenfield, petitioned that legislation te passed to enable him to complete his title to certain Native lands, part of Puketarata. The petition was referred to the Native Affairs Committee, but no recommendation was made by the committee. The Minister for Lands stated that the reason the Public Works Statement was not brought down was that if it were brought down before the Loan Bill for L 250,000 was passed, those who did not get sufficient appropriations would vote against the Loan Bill. This is an admission that Ministers know that the loyalty of their following is based purely on mercenary considerations. The Premier says he will now consider whether he will in .future answer any questions put by the Opposition. To Captain Bussell and ihase associated with him he said: " Take up your negative position, but I shall not answer you. I tell you that you are in a minority, and I am quite prepared to go to the country as soon as you like." This challenge provoked cheers from the Opposition benches, and the Premier was asked to give the country an opportunity of deciding between him and the Opposition. In the House on Tuesday night, the hen. Mr M'Kenzie had a. fling at the chambers of commerce, which, he said, were simply branches of the National Association — National Asses, li 2 called them. "Take the Dunedin crowd, for instance," he said, " wilh 1 Ifr Begg one of their members, who hated I him and his policy and everything in connection with him — a leader of dummies. This was the man who sat in judgment on the Minister for Lands. Then there was a Mr Gale, of Wellington, who admitted at one of his (Mr John M'Kenzie's) meetings that ho was a hireling. He belonged to the Weliington Chamber of Commerce." The whole of them, he reiterated, were simply branches of the National Ass. These statements wcro resented by Mr Crowthor, who pointed out ! that the Chambers of Commerce could scarcely be branches o£ the association, seeing that seme of them were established 40 years before the association was thought of.