THE FIRST DEBATE.

Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 116, 19 May 1886, Page 2

THE FIRST DEBATE.

The fir6t debate of tho session, that on the Ao\dross-in-Beply, was a remarkably poor ojie, Mr, Bevan always speaks fluently and pteasg^tly, and nervousness is not his fault. Last liigtfc fee made qtite as good a speech as was possible with such a subject. As for the seconder, tbfs n^yi member for Sydeuham, his ideas &> 80£ seem to have travelled as rapidly e« fci« body. The latter is in Wellington, while the former have not yet travelled beyond Canterbury. Every excuse is, however, to be made for a ney member placed in his 1 position, and whiJo'Mr. Taylor is not likely

him to soeak on the occasion. Judging by the anxiety of Messrs. Wakefield and Thomson to interpret what he meant on this subject, tho leader of the Opposition did not succeed in making his meaning very clear to the House. With regard to other matters Major Atkinson was mUd to the very verge of being complimentary to the Government. Even in his demand for a redistribution of representation ho roared as gently as a sucking dove. The Premier, of course, replied to his predecessor. Unlike the latter, he had domething to say and he said it. Nothing could have been plainer or more straightforward than Mr Stout's intimation that the Ministry had agreed amongst themselves as to the policy they intended to submit to the Houbo, and intended to stick to. The idea that they were fishing for a policy* or that they would submit to be kept in while their measures were thrown out_, was very distinctly repudiated, and in his condemnation of excessive legislation the Premier evidently had the entire sympathy of the House. His rej-^r to Major Atkinson's allusion to the redistribution of representation question was satisfactory. With the speeches from the two leaders of the House the debate might well have ended, but Mr. Wakefield watf prompt to assert his well understood position as the leader of a selfcontained party, and so he got up and after volunteering to interpret Major Atkinson's meaning, he began to compliment that gentleman in warm terms, extended his eulogium to the mover and seconder of tho Address, and actually slobbered over the Premier. Had the member for Selwyn entered the House with a placard announcing, "To let, for the session, on reasonable terms, a compact party of one," he could not have made his meaning clearer. Evidently the Government can have the undivided support of Jhe party if they think it worth making the slightest concessions to obtain it. Wo doubt, however, whether they will think it worth while to swerve a hair's breadth from their already determined programme, in order te obtain the member for Selwyn's vote. Mr. Thomson succeeded Mr. Wakefield, and ho tried to be funny. We know of nothing in Parliament so grim and lugubrious as the member for Clutha in a jocular mood. Mr. Turnbull was in haste to prove that time hath not Btated his infinite capacity for boring tho Houso. Mr. Moss re-appeared with great success in his woll-known role of Cassandra, but his dismal prognostications excited no more attention than usual. ,Tbe brothers Buckland, Mr. Levestam, and Mr. Joyce also spoke, and the Native Minister entered on a scarcely necesbary defence of his administration and policy. After this the Address was agreed to with the usual formalities, and the way was left clear for the House to proceed at its next sitting with the regular business of the session.