Wellington Notes.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1842, 12 November 1897, Page 5

Wellington Notes.

(from oub own cobbespondknt.) The first all-night sitting of the House this session came off on the occasion of the Estimates being tackled, and if the proceedings are a fair sample of what is to follow, there will be many such another before the ‘little list* is got through. Members talked during three hours on. the Parliamentary Vote, the discussion centreing chiefly icund the appointment (some time, Back) of the Chief Messenger. ’ The Hon 1 the Messenger,’ as he was alluded to by Mr Crowther, courageously sat out the whole debate in hia corner of the Chamber—a very muoh-talked-of man. The upshot of it all will probably be that the appointment of the minor officials of the House will be re-invested in Mr Speaker. The Registrar of Friendly Societies Office next came iu for- some plain criticisim, after which - certain items in the Colonial Treasurer’s Departmental Vote were hotly challenged, exception being taken to increases in some of the big salaries. Despite all the wordy warfare the whole of the Estimates mentioned passed unaltered by big majorities, the Government team pulling well together. The chief critic of the sitting was not unnaturally, that forceful and assertive young ‘ man—Christchurch Taylor. Various attempts were made during the night to adjburb, hut the Government were determined : that if members would talk, the time Should come out of their sleeping hours. ' An amusing incident occurred in the ‘ wee • sma’ oor*,’ Hone Heke arose languidly, and to the amusement of the Honse, proceeded to speak in Maori, instead of his 'usual fluent English. He was however ‘‘ Boon pulled up by the chairman, and an interpreter procured. This official then gravely announced to the House that the Kothern Maori member felt very weary and yearned for bed. Members caught on to the little joke, namely that Heke was too tired to inform the House of the fact himself, and had to obtain the services of someone to do it for him. Result: laugbt- r, loud and long, and a general waking up. ; At 4 -a ,m, the Parliamentary charwomen put'-in an appearance and much to their surprise found themselves in good company. -, This drew, forth an indignant: 'ls it customary for members of Parliament to work in company with charwomen,’ from ‘t'owd man’ Crowther. But all things mast have an end. and oar j>decl lejshtore went home to bed shortly aft-r 6 a.m. 1 may say that the opinion is very generally expressed th>it intelligent and, i necessary, lengthy debate on the E-timates, la highly desirable. As a set off however both the Address in R*ply and Financial Debates should be a boll-bed or atrcllv , curtailed. The Premier took matters very philosophically during the long siti in.' chronicled, no, attempt being made to drive the Honse. The Parliamentary week nnder review opened with a question of privilege raised by Left WingpKani, The story may be told as fi llows The senior member foi Christchurch, Mr Lewis, during the course of bis speech in the Financial Debate reads to the House a bogus letter from the Premier to the Shipping Coup mies, offering th&m his services as adviser (a skit on the Anglo-Continental) and containing othet alleged humorous matter. When the next number of Hansard appears the Premier ■ observes that tbe eputie is inserted without explanation of its bogus nature. He seeks out Lewis, and as a result of the ■ confab two pages of that Hansard are torn out before members and the public arc supplied. Lewis then, feeling the pangs of ■ regret, for vanished jokes, finds a grievance. The Speaker he says was not consulted In ' the matter as he understood from the Premier. Result: Much lobby korcro among the agitating claw, and ‘ privilege ’ raised by Palmerston North. The Premier making explanation says he learns the matter would not have been heard of had not ‘ that ferret Pirani 1 got hold of it. Mr Speaker decrees the withdrawal of the graphic expression. More talk follows, and finally the matter drops. Moral : Let it be considered beneath the dignity of Parliament to import any such epistolary skits into serious debate. The diviaon on Mr Rolleston’a amendment the other diy is regarded as having strengthened and solidified the Liberal Party as a whole. The Opposition, however, evidently don’t intend to leave alone the syndicate question. They have, with no little astuteness, devised a way of bringing on another debate on the subject. After the Minister for Mines bad forma 1 ly moved tbe second reading of the Mining Bill, in order that it might be referred to the Goldfields Committee, Mr Sc ,bie Mackenzie save notice of the following motion : * Ti at it be an instruction to the Committee that it has power to make the necessary provisions by which the Minister for Mines, or any other Minister of the Crown shall be debarred from occupying paid positions on mining syndicates, or companies operating in the colony.’ Mr Cadman at once gave the Houso to understand that if the motion was carried he ’ would resign bis portfolios. In spite of • Scobie's ’ ingenious statement that M r Cadman-was not attacked personally, the Government clearly have no other resource (under the Cabinet system) than to treat, the motion as one of want of confidence. It will of course share the fate of Mr Rolleslon’s * little boom,’ the position being practically identical. As the Premier remarked, 4 the motion was aimed at the whole of them ’ (the Ministry). A pretty bother took place in the Legislative Council over the alleged Statement of Premier Seddon to a Maori, deputation, that a member of the ‘ Mangling Chamber ’ bad got one word inseited in a hand bill last year, on the ground that it Was merely a technical amendment, with the result that the Natives lost 30,000 acres •f land. The Hon, Mr Bowen moved— That the Government be asked whet her the report was correct or not, as such a statement reflected on the honour of the Council. The Premier affirms that his remarks on the matter were twisted in the papers, and several of the Lords also took this view, handling the reporting fraternity in a most libellous fashion, insinuating vivid imagination, “to. Meanwhile the Journal which first reported the deputation backs up its representative with no uncertain sound. The practical outcome of the incident is that Mr Carroll has introduced a Bill to amend tbe mischievous Act, Also the fact remain? that the little word with the big effect was concocted and .. + administered in the precincts of the Upper -t* House. I have just had a chat with Hon. Mr Larnach and find that there is very little fresh to report this week in connection with matters specially affecting the Tnaelectorate; It is extremely unlikely that the Public Works Statement will be brought down until the Estimate is disposed of* The intentions of the Governs Bent with regard to a loan policy are being kept very tight, and your member cannot yet give any information as to the treatment the Otago Central Railway is likely «o receive at the hands of the Minister of Public Works, Mr Lamacb is still firmly of opinion that the county is ripe for a vigorous railway extension policy bn some lines, and emphasises the fact that with money at 3 per cent, many lines would now pay interest on construction, which in the past days o£ high interest could not be looked at. Mr Larnach expresses disapv pointment at the powers that be not taking op the question of water conservation on ito domt

in last year's Budget. He does not think much solid business will be done this session, owing chiefly to the obstructive tactics of the Opposition, and the general flow of talk. This opinion was well verified to-day, when the Opposition took the opportunity presented by a formal Imprest Supply Bill to start a wrangle which occupied the whole afternoon. As showing how slowly the political machine is moving it may be noted that several of the Sessional Committees are even now not set up. Lobby gossip still tells the tale that the Premier is getting tired of his arduous leadership, and will take the earliest convenient opportunity to possess , himselt of the Agent-generalship, or even migrate to the empire’s metropolis on private business bent. But as these rumours mainly emanate from Opposition circles, they must be taken with a very large allowance of salt. The Premier himself repudiates the idea of an early retirement, which indeed, cousidering the mooted resignation early next year of the .-Minister for Lands does not bear much likelihood about it. On the other hand a radical re-construction of the Cabinet in the no distant future, may be taken as probable, judging by the signs of the times. But whatever the composition of the coming Cabinet it is clear that there is no man atlprescnt in the Honse, barrng Mr Seddon, who coifld take the. leadership, and hold it for any length of time.