THIS AFTERNOON'S SITTING.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 146, 17 December 1897, Page 6

THIS AFTERNOON'S SITTING.

ANOTHER RUMPUS ABOUT THE HOROWHENUA MATTER. On the House resuming at 2.30, Mr. Itolleston asked what course the Premier intended to take regarding the order of the House to hear Sir Walter Suller and Major Kemp at the Bar of the •■ House at 2.30 to-day. The Premier said the Bill now before the House was a very important one. and he was glad to hear that the deadlock on it was likely •to be removed. He proposed to postpone ' the interpretation clause, and when progress '. ivas made he would move to report progress on it. There was another very important ! Bill before the Committee — the Native Land Laws Act Amendment Bill— which , they could get through by 5.30. On resum- . ing at 7.30 the Public Works debate would ' be taken. Regarding Sir Walter Buller and , Major Kemp, it would be seen that they could not be heard through their counsel at the Bar of the House to-day. If Mr. Rolleston repeated bis question next sitting 1 day, he would say what course be intended 1 to take regarding that. 111 1

Mr, Rolleston said that if he had understood the Premier correctly be would have to conclude his renrrks with a motion. They should suveiy observe the ordinary rules of courtesy to the gentlemen summoned to the Bar of the House, and he would move to report progress in order that the order of tho House of the previous eveniug should be carried out. This was ruled out of order, as there was a motion to report progress already before the House. Mr. ltolleston said the course proposed by the Premier vtas grossly bad manners. The Premier rose to a point of order, and the Chairman ordered the viords to be withdrawn. Mr. Rolleston did not know that he was a judge of manners, and therefore ho withdrew the remark. He had thought it was probably the opinion of the House. The Premier said it seemed to him that the whole business of the House was to be subordinated to Sir Walter Buller. Mr. Pirani — That is what the Government has been doing. The Premier (continuing) contended that it wa.° more import-ant to go on with the Bills now before the Committee than to hear counsel for Sir Walter Buller at the Bar of the House. They should go on with the business. (Cries of " No.") Well, it would not do any good to come out of Committee, because the order of the Honse was that counsel for the parties mentioned should be heard at the Bar of the House vext sitting day, and the- House had not risen since then. Captain Russell said the question was whether, as the House yesterday decided that certain persons should be heard at the Bar of the House at 2.30 to-day, that decision should be departed from or not. The position was plain, and it was most important that they should carry out the order of the House. The Premier said it was quite true that on a snatch division the motion was carried by a majority of one. It could not be said that this was the will of the Honse. However, he would not proceed with the Bill without giving Sir Walter Buller and Major Kemp the opportunity of being heard at the Bar. After further discussion, The motion to report progress was lost by 35 to 20. A few minutes later, on the Premier's own motion, progress was reported on the Technical Education Bill, aud the Native Land Laws Amendment Bill was then taken.