GOVERNMENT TACTICS.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 49, 26 August 1905, Page 5

GOVERNMENT TACTICS.

TALKING IT OUT. MR. HALL-JONES IN TROUBLE. Not th,e least, interesting feature of the debate on the Colonial Bank yesterday afternoon was the effort made by the Government to prevent a vote being taken on the subject, and to ensure that the principal exponent of the subject, Mr. Herdman, should not; have a chance of replying. Mr, Herdman's desireWo speak Was very apparent, but the Minister for Public Works felt it incumbent on him to take his full half-hour, and, not satisfied with that, he even went so far as to risk being "named" for breach of tho Standing Orders. \ "You are quibbling," said Mr. Herdman to the Minister in the course of the latter's speech. "That's only what obtains in the legal profession," was the Ministerial retoit. Mr. Herdman: "You wouldn't have made a living at it." Tho Minister: "No, and I thank God for it." ; Mr. Baume complained of the Minister casting a reflection on an honourable profession to which some members of the House belonged, and the Speaker ca_ljed on the Minister to withdraw the remark. 1 To the surprise of members, Mr. Hall-Jones, who appeared to be decidedly heated, said he did not know thatihp would withdraw. At this stage the Premier entered, and, though his ignorance of the position was manifest, he "took a hand" at once, and suggested that what the Minister had' said had not been said offensively. Mr. Speaker, of course, pointed out that he had already ruled, and the Minister had replied that he did not know whether he would withdraw or not. He called upon the Minister to say whether he would withdraw. Otherwise (and Mr. Speaker made the remark with emphasis) it would be his duty to take the necessary couise. The Minister, still evidently somewhat perturbed, said that in deference to Mr. Speaker's wishes he would withdraw anything that might have been considered offensive in his remarks, but he submitted that he was subject to great provocation, because Mr. Herdman had said that he was quibbling. He found that t\e expression was un-Parliamentary. However, he withdrew his remark unreservedly, but he submitted that Mr. Herdman ought to withdiaw the remark he had made. Mr. 1 Speaker pointed out that the word "quibbling" had on previous occasions been ruled to be out of order, but the Minister did not take exception to it when it was made. Pc must, however, call upon Air. Herdman to withdraw. Mr. Herdman : Certainly, Mr. Speaker, 1 will do so without wasting the timo of the House in the way the Minister for Public Works is doing. I take no exception to the remarks he made. I think he knows no better. (Laughter.) The Premier again came to the defence of his colleague, and urged that Mr. Herdman ought to withdraw that romark. Mr. Speaker: The expression is ceritainly un-Parliamentary. Mr. Herdman (innocently) : If it is un-Parliamentary I will withdraw it. I didn't know. Then the episode ended, and by a series of ;, "personal explanations," and by putting up Mr. R. M'Kenzie to speak the Government succeeded in having the question "talked out." The third anniversary concert of the King's Coronation Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was hold in the Druids' Hall last night. There was a crowded attendance, and Mr. A. B. Thompson presided. The numerous items on a longthy programme were well received, tho contributors being Mesdnmes M'Ewon and Rait,, Misses Dormer and Newnham, Messrs. C. Gray, J. Wilkinson, D. M'William, J. Hunt, D. Robertson, W. M'Ewan, H. Sawtell, P. Riddiough, Kerr, and A.' Dryden. An orchestra was led by Mr. A. Livermore, and the lnttur shnred the accompaniments with Mr. A. Carver. Parlour games were also indulged in, and refreshments woro provided. Mr. A. Dryden was tho Secretary of iht Entertainment Committee. An address on telepathy, or thoughtreading, is to be given before the Women's Social Club next Monday evening by Mr. J, W. Poynton, at the Goisha tea-rooms. At the Y.M.O.A. rooms in Harris-street last evening, in connection with the Literary Society, Dr. North— one o! India's medical missionaries — gave a leoture on India. The looiurcr deal with the ■Indian races, their customs, religions, and also with the caste question in an interesting and instinctive manner. The lfccturer touched upon tho esteem with which Lord Curzon, the retiring Viceroy, was held, and of the advances India had made under his governshjp. Many questions relative to India wer* answered by the speaker, and the meeting closed with a heaily volt ol thank*. Tho meeting of St. Peter's-^Glub," held on Thursday night, was chiefly devoted to criticising the club magazine, just published. After much disciraion. on the various articles appearing in its pages, a henrty vote of thanks was accorded Messrs. A. S. Gyles, R. Low, and their assistant, L. Tingey, for tho assistance rendered by tho/So gentlemen in connection with tho production. Messrs. Macdonald. Wilson and Co. advortiso that they will soil at thoir rooms, on Wodncsday next, on account of whom it may concorn, & numbor of boxes of Inaian toa. It is notified In another column that during the tomporary absence through illn?*l,at.,¥n ?*1, at .,¥ v ,' L - Johnstono, Miss M? Mitchell will havo charge of tho business of jUossrs. Johnstono and Co., booksellers and stationors, tw^™' iSido3r>i Sid03r> M ? och « nd Oo - <"lvorti S o that they have reopived instructions to bqII on the premises, T. G. Insurance Cd., Lambton-quay, on Monday, 28th, at 3 p.m. sharp, on account of Cooper v. Watt and Smith v. Walt, office furniture of all descriptions, also one Royal Barlock typewriter, only in .use for a fow months. Tho b.s. Duohoss will run special excursions to Day's Bay to-morrow at 10.15 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. Full timo-lablo appears in another oolumn. Two properties' for Balo or exohange and a . 10 , n £, list oi oN'Pr properties are advor- ' tiscd for privato salo by Messrs. W. H. Morrah and Co. Mr. J. W. Brnithwailo announces a, sale of pigs, horses, drays, uto., the property of Mr. F. N. M'Vicor, to be held on tho premises, Pnparaugi Settlement, Johnsonville, next Wednesday, at 1.30 o'olock. Solomon's Solution, a romedy that hn3 beon on sale for many yoara pnsl, is guaranteed by tho proprietors na a posilivo ouro for cuts, sprains, olc. Testimonials from several horse-owners and racing men, tostify to its merits. Messre. C. Fletcher, chemist, and AVyoherly and Sons, saddlers, are tho local agents. Messr* Pcnn-Bradly and Co., Empire Chambers, have for sale tho proprietary righU of a well-known patent medicine, Tho firm also invites attention by adyer- , tisemont to tho feos for all advice ruling; , al thoir office. 1 On -Monday, tho Chief Justice will take up hearing of the rasas of Dwan Brothers v, v atrick 'Maloney, and of William George- Crawford v. Annie Crawford, a euib lor specific' performance.