PARLIAMENTARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3175, 1 September 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE SPEAICIIIR TJ EXPLANATION. The Speaker, immediately after prayers, said he felt it due to the House to state that he found-he had committed an error on the two last sitting days. If members would refer to Orders 51 and 71, they would find it was his duty to direct that the orders of the day should be called on at 7.30, no matter what motion was bsfore the House. That rule he would enforce in future. STONEWALLING. Mr Collins immediately moved the adjournment'of the House, saying he had entered the House simply to support the present Ministry, believing them to be honest Conservative Liberals who would stick to their colors and friends. He had even voted for them in cases when he knew they were unmistakably wrong. Now, however, he could no longer support them. They had deserted their friends and their principles. He had hitherto taken no active part in the obstruction because he still hoped for some amicable settlement. Now, however, this was hopeless, and he felt bound to oppose in every way a Ministry which, having abandoned its friends, was content to live at the will of its enemies. Sir George Grey asked that the adjournment should be agreed to, and that they should be allowed till 7.30 to consider the ruling laid down by the Speaker, after which an opportunity should be given for debating that ruling. In reply to Mr Bryce, the Speaker said it was competent for members to discuss his ruling, and, if possible, to show cause why it should not be acted upon. Mr Hursthouse announced his intention of finally severing his connection with tbe Government party, and that for the future he would be free to range himself on whatever side he might see fit. Sir George Grey contended that the ruling laid down by the Speaker was tinjustfiiable. If the House had become unmanageable and the Government desired to punish it for its refractory conduct he challenged them to dissolve Parliament and allow the point to be decided by the country. The standing orders, he said, ought not to be interpreted by the Speaker for the coercion of the House. The Speaker's attention was called to Sir George Grey's remark. Sir George Grey said he did not intend to impute improper motives to the Speaker. All he desired was to prevent tho Speaker being placed in a position which would Countenance the impression that he was using his authority to coerce the House. _ Mr Gisborne said he took a similar view of the Speaker's ruling. He contended that the real question before the House was whether or not an important step should be taken until the matter, was relegated to the electors for their consideration. Sir William Fox said that there was nothing noble in the conduct of the Nelson members. They were simply fighting for their seats. The coercion proposed was not for the purpose of stifling a fair expression of opinion, but to curb superfluous and unnecessary verbiage. Mr Macandrew counselled the Nelson members to give way and allow the business to proceed. Mr Sheehan said he had not yet taken an active part in the stonewalling, but he had some bricks and mortar on hand, and when the proper time came he intended giving his Nelson friends a hand in strengthening their barricade. He reminded Mr Macandrew and Sir William Fox that they had both, when the occasion suited them, taken part in stonewalling or similar proceedings, although they professed so much virtuous indignation against those now so engaged. Mr Andrews quoted from the Timaru Herald an " own correspondent's " telegram setting forth that he had gone in opposition to the interest of Christchurch upon this bill. He denied that statement, expressing surprise that anyone could have so grossly misconstrued his actions. He had very clearly laid down his views on a previous occasion, and he still adhered to them. Mr Wakefield spoke in support of the Speaker's ruling, and complained that the action of tbe Nelson members in stonewalling by means of motions to adjourn precluded members from discussing the real point at issue. Mr Hall also upheld the Speaker's ruling. Mr Baliance was speaking against it when he was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. REPRESENTATION BILL. When the Speaker ordered the orders of the day to be called on, Mr Reeves got up and said : Sir, I have a case of privilege. The Clerk, however, read the order for going into committee on the Bill, and the Speaker left the chair without taking any notice of Mr Reeves. In committee Mr Seddon moved a new clause providing for the abolition of all electoral qualifications except the residential one. Mr Reeves moved that progress be reported, as he had been improperly debarred from bringing a case of privilege seriously affecting himself before tbe House. He had desired to move for a committee of that House to consider certain honorarium transactions with members of the Council, and which Council had appointed a committee on. Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan supported the motion to report progress. Mr Hall thought it would be time enough to deal with the privilege case after they got the bill through. After a long discussion the motion to report progress was lost on a division by 42 to 21. After further remarks on the bill, Sir George Grey urged that it should be altered to distribute representation on a purely population basis, and give each elector only one vote in the colony. If this was clone he would support it. Mr Speight spoke at length against double voting and the double franchise. Mr Reeves spoke from 11.30 to 1 on a variety of topics. A motion that the Chairman leaves the chair was then lost by 25 to 4. A motion by Mr Sheehan to report progress was also lost by the same members, and another by Mr Taiaroa, that the Chairman leave the chair, was lost by 22 to 4. Mr Reeves was speaking, quoting largely from books, and about two-thirds of the members were sound asleep, when at 2.23 two distinct and smart shocks of earthquake were felt, causing the building to shake severely. The effect was perfectly magical. The sleeping members jumped to their feet, and all, headed by Mr Reeves, rushed frantically to the doors, where they remained for a minute or two watching the effect on the lantern dome over the chamber. As everything appeared safe, they returned to their places, and Mr Reeves resumed speaking, saying the occurrence was no doubt a dispensation sent in respect of tho froward paths into which Parliament was straying, and he therefore moved to report progress, bat the motion was lost by 22 to 3. Mr Sheehan also improved the occasion, and moved that the Chairman leave the chair, but this was lost by 22 to 4. At 3 o'clock Mr Bryce relieved tho Chairman. Mr Reeves, after speaking some time, moved to report progress. Ayeß, 4 ; Noes, 21 Between 4 and 6 o'clock fire similar divisions took place. At 6.56, when Mr Shepherd relieved Mr Reeves, only 23 members were present, and mOBt of them were asleep. Later on Mr Lundon was called to order by the Chairman for alluding to the schedules of the bill, when tho motion was that the Chairman leave the chair. This ruling was disputed by Mr Sheehan, who said that Mr Seymour had ruled that the whole policy of the bill could be traversed on that motion.

The Acting Chairman, however, refused to alter his ruling. On a division n motion to leave the chair was lost by 20 to 0. Mr Pibfc next took a, turn, and moved that progress be reported. He spoke for an hour and a half, dealing with almost all the items on the order paper, in order to show why progress should be reported. He concluded by stating that, if the reasons he had given were insufficient, he would be happy to give further reasons on another occasion. During his remarks a quorum had to be rung up on about fourteen occasions. Division was taken at 1.30 on the question for reporting progress. Ayes, 7 ; Noes, 28. Mr Seddon then moved that the chairman do leave the chair, observing that he could give good and sufficient reasons for the motion. He contended that if it came to fighting or bloodshed they had quite enough power on the West Coast to whop both Otago and Canterbury. If those who were seeking to deprive them of their rights had no scruple of conscience in using every means to enforce this injustice, they need have no scruples about using every means to protect their rights. He then began to go over the Hokitika electoral roll name by name, to show how the property qualification would affect each man. In the course of his remarks Mr Seddon accused the Government of buying four Auckland votes two years ago. The Premier said that, if it was worth while doing so, he could give that statement a complete denial. Mr Seddon said the Premier could not possibly do so, as he (Seddon) knew his handwriting, and had seen it attached to a certain document. Mr Seddon then continued to read the Hokitika electoral roll, when Mr Oliver rose to a point of order as to whether it wa3 competent for him to do so. Several other members also called attention to the matter, but the Chairman ruled that Mr Seddon was in order. Mr Seddon continued to go through the roll amidst frequent interruptions. The Premier and Mr Macandrew spoke warmly against the scandalous waste of time that was now taking place in the House. _ Mr Macandrew said he should not raise any further point of order, as he fonnd it was a mistake, and that it was better to leave the obstructionists to themselves. Mr Seddon ended after a three and a half hour's speech at 1.10. Mr Levestam is now speaking.