POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 9185, 14 July 1893, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Paruami*t*aby Rktootkb.] WELISpX)N, Sir K. Stents TfiaWCard, Feeling sore at the attempt by. jkoyeminent to " euchre " him in the second read*. ing of his Direct Veto Bill, Sir R. Siout has fiven notice of the int^uctaofl v -bf the licensing Act Amendment Bill. The object of this measure, I learned from Sir Robert, is to give the people greater control in dealing with the issue ot hotel licenses whenever the triennial local option poll is taken. Two additional questions are to be put to tho electors—viz., whether they desire any licenses to be issued, and whether the number of existing licenses are to be reduced. If tho result of the poll is that no licenses are to be issued, none shall be granted for a period of three years. If it be deoided that the number of licenses shall be reduced, then no licenses beyond one to every 750 inhabitants in a licensing district shall be issued. With a view to preventing a recurrence of what took place in Sydenham, when the Licensing Committee's action in shutting up all the houses was upset on the grounds that the members of the Committee had not brought a judicial mind to bear on the applications brought before them, it is expressly stipulated that "no committeeman shall be disqualified, nor shall the decision of any committee be questioned, on thej ground that any committeeman has, prior to* Ids election or prior to the-giving of the decision of the Committee, expressed any special or general opinion as to the policy of granting licenses." It is also provided that there shall be one general triennial polling day for the colony, and that the first such poll shall take place during the month of June next. The present licensing districts are not extended, but all clerks to existing committees are directed to add to the ratepayers' roll of the licensing districts the names of all persons enrolled on the roll of electors for members of the House of Representatives. The Chairmanship or Committees. The nomination of Mr Guinness, the Government candidate for the Chairmanship of Committees, was unanimously accepted by the House. Mr Fish expressed his gratification at learning, through remarks which had been recently made by Mr W. C Smith, that the intrigue that was carried on on the part of certain Government supporters to secure Mr Rees's appointment in 1891 had not been repeated. Mr Guinness, in returning thanks for his election, assured members on both sides of the House that he should endeavor to act impartially and to the best of his judgment and ability. He hoped that in discharging the duties of the office of Chairman of Committees he would have the cordial assistance of members. Xative Bill. Considerable opposition was shown iu the House this afternoon to the Mangatu No. 1 Empowering Bill, the second reading of which was moved by Mr Pratt. The measure provides that a block of 100,000 acres of land in the Gisborne district, at present in the hands of a trust of seven persons appointed by the Land Court, shall revert back to 118 Native owners, who shall elect a committee for the administration of the property, having power to lease for forty years, or to mortgage all. The Hon. Mr Mitcjhelson objected to the Bill, and moved that it be read a second time that day six months. He pointed out that the Natives, who in the past were foolish enough to put their lands into the hands of trustees, lost their all.—Captain Russell and several other members objected to the measure on the ground that it proposed to alter the existing Native land laws of the colony, ami that ought to be done by a public Bill. —The inotiou for the second reading was assented to on the voices, and the measure referred to the Private Bills < 'onimittee. The Aiuemle. On Friday last Mr Fish asserted in the House that the ' Taieri Advocate,' which is owned by the member for the Taieri, a Government supporter, had been made a medium of Government advertising for bankruptcy in the Dunedin district, and had been paid for such advertising. Yesterday afternoon the member for Dunedin explained that he had misunderstood the information given to him. What was really doue was this: The Government had instructed the Official Assignee to publish advertisements* relating to bankruptcy matters occurring in the Dunedin district in the ' Otago Daily Times,' the ' Globe,' and the ' Taieri Advocate' only. He had been incorrect in saying that the ' Advocate ' had actually been paid for such advertisements. He had that day moved for a copy of the instructions given to the Assignee, and he hoped that the Government would offer no objection to laying the same on the table.— Mr Carncross said he had no desire to split hairs with the member for Dunedin. He was not aware when the matter was mentioned in the House last week of any instructions as to the advertising of bankruptcy notices having been sent to the Assignee. Olago Petitions. The petition of the Coal Creek fruitgrowers—that the importation of fruit and fruit trees from Australia might be prohibited, owing to the introduction of insect pests —has been referred by the Petitions Committee to the Government for consideration.

The Jutland Flat Gold Mining Company recently petitioned the House, alleging that they were the holders of a "special claim" situated on the Waipori River, comprising 240 acres or thereabouts; that they have purchased an extensive plant of dredging machinery for working the river for yold ; that the Mining Act, 1886, regulation 242 requires that a company owning £3,000 worth of machinery should employ eighteen men; that the petitioners' plant cost over .t'5,000, and that not more than eight or ten men, workingday and night, can bo profitably employed ; they therefore ask for an amendment of the Act, to meet the special circumstances of their case. The Goldfields Committee yesterday reported that the petition should be referred to the Government for favorable consideration, as the ground will not permit of a larger number of men being employed than are now engaged, and if the company are compelled to abandon the claim it is most likely to remain unworked. Tbe Law of Libel. Under the Resident Magistrates' Courts Bill, a Government measure, provision is sought for allowing resident magistrates to have jurisdiction in libel cases, and to award damages up to £2OO. Pressmen here object decidedly to the proposal to deprive defendants in actions for libel of the right to ask for the verdict of a jury, and the probabilities are that/ a meeting of the Journalists' Institute will be convened to consider the matter. Tbe Financial Debate. Weariness and dejection of spirit characterised yesterday's proceedings, for had we not hanging-over us Mr Backhand's terrible threat of a three hours' speech ? The prospect threw an air of depression over the House and a resignation hardly Christian. But first there was a lively hour's debate over a private Bill, introduced by Mr Parata, one of the Maori members. It affected the trusteeship of a block of Native land, and roused the ire of Mr Mitchelson, who wished to shelve it. He fo'ind support from Mr Richardson, Captain Russell, Mr Bucklaud, and a variety <>f others; but there was an impassioned speech from Sir Robert Stout and one of Mr Carroll's persuasive little addresses on the other side, and after an hour's talk Mr Pratt got his second reading. Then came the appointment of Mr Guinness as Chairman of Committees, with an acknowledgment of the honor from him, and a sardonic reference by Mr Fish to the disclosures of the intrigue appertaining to the last appointment, as set out by Mr W. C. Smith in his attack on Mr Rees. This brought Mr Seddon to his feet with a disclaimer of any responsibility on the part of the Government for the intrigue. Then came- the tribulation. For two hours did Mr Buckland damn the Government and all appertaining to them—lock, stock, and barrel. There is one thing that is refreshing about Mr Buckland, and that is his thoroughness. He never does things by halves. This time was- no exception, as he damned everything that the Government had done, might, would, should, or could do. There was, as there always is in his speeches, cleverness; but it was lost in a maze of abusive rhetoric, It was eight

o'clock before we heard: the last of that scoldingvoice, andth.eß.MtG. HutohisQnjnade one of ni» oaref uMjwudied, and insidious speeches. ,Jt WW not loflg, bu.t it was always dangerous, and Bomatimes ■doadly. His eomew-bat affected studied utterance are speedily pfcttpfflm in the polish of Ua their rapier point: Every thrust went home, and (every flash" of wit or irony ;?«©mment and applause < With a sardonic smile'he oftUert'the eetiftk of Sir R. Stout to the House as the natural successor of Mi: Ballance,, and he commiserated with Ministers on their disintegration. "The presenco here, of the member for Inangahna," he said, as he pointed dramatically at the Treasury benches, comprehending them in a wave of hi? hand, " simply dwarfs everyone else on those benches. Sir, the late Premier had a brilliant, latent, and resourceful taot. Unless it was that these great qualities concealed similar qualities in others of his colleagues, his were the qualities that sustained that Ministry. If there are suoh qualities amongst his colleagues it is at present a profound secret," and he added after an effective pause, " and oue that is likely to be kept." His peroration was skilfully calculated to create or widen any possible difference between Sir R. Stout and Mr Seddon. Turning to the former, who sat behind him, he said: "It was for those hon. gentlemen to ask him whether he was going to give us fair and Bquare the policy of John Ballance —the policy of, which, in this colony, he is the guardian." Then he sat down, while his Opposition friends clapped and cheered him. After that we had a few hours of Mr Hogg, and everyone who knows Parliament knows what that is. Mr Hogg attacked everyone who was against the Government, and talked of settlers' wrongs and roads and bridges over the supper adjournment. Before Mr Hogg the Opposition always vanish like chaff before the whirlwind, and so when he finished brown leather was more apparent than pot hats on the Opposition side. But Mr Earnshaw followed him, and it so speedily became evident that he was making a notable speech that members trooped in till there was soon a full House. His speech was so remarkable that I have sent you a special report of it. As I notified you recently thero is very great friction just now amongst the Government party from a variety of causes, ami Mr Earnshaw was. evidently determined to "go the whole hog." He spoke amidst a fire of interruptions; but, after appealing time and again to the Speaker, he turned on his tormentors and fairly startled them with his violence. The usually irrepressible Mr Taylor was fairly silenced, while at Mr Fish were hurled brickbats of invective ; but the unfortunate Minister of Labor was perhaps the most roughly used of all. He happened to be lying stretched out on the Premier's bench, in Mr Seddoivs absence from the House, and was right under Mr Eamshaw's hand. He is something of an irritant at any time, and the member for the Peninsula was taking no irritants just then. So when the Minister began making *o(to rovt comments, Mr Earnshaw fiercely pointed down at the prostrate figure, and dared him to interrupt again. "If Mr Reeves attempts any more of his mumbling interruptions I will tell him and the House some unpleasant truths that will effectually teach him a lesson." Mr Fish, who had already had the member for Peninsula repeatedly pulled up by the Speaker for attacks on himself, now interfered to protect the Minister, but with little avail, and he very soon found it judicious to remain silent and leave alone the blizzard that had crossed their track, lest they should be taken upand landed in unpleasant quarters by a whirlwind of uncompromising invective. Yet the speech of the member for Peninsula was not in its main features an abusive one, and though it fairly palpi tated with passion, the passion, except when the interruptions came, was suppressed. The member for Peninsula WR3 evidently sitting right on the safety valve of his own superheated boiler. Once when Mr Fish told him that he was no politician he rapped, out: "I would be sorry to be one of your stamp. I would rather fall for ever'out of the political arena." j.' And fall you will," retorted Mr Fish. No speech delivered at so late an hour this session has attracted so much attention, and it is safe to say that no speech of the session will be more canvassed. It was nearly 12.30 when itwasfinished; and even then members did not leave the chamber, but when the House rose they gathered in knots on the floor of the chamber and leaned over the benches to talk it over. Mr Earnshaw at once found that he had become famous, and, what is more, his remarks as to the various matters treated subsequent to his philippic were sensible as well as sound. Jotting*. Mr R. Thompson presented a petition to the House bearing a number of signatures in favor of the Direct Veto.

Mr Swan presented a large petition from the employers and employe's of Napier in favor of fixing Saturday as the half-holiday. The petition -of the Women's Christian Temperance Mission in favor of the raising of the age of consent to eighteen years has been referred to the Government for consideration.

Sir John Hall says that Mr H. D. Bell's letter to the Premier on the subject of Government treatment of the municipal Association is the most scathing, most deserved, and most unanswerable indictment of the Government yet written.

Dr Newman is asking for the issue oi tourist maps and pictures of the scenery and topography of the proposed national park.

Sir R. Stout reappeared in the House on Wednesday afternoon. A policy of " shunt " is what Sir John Hall calls the policy of the Financial Statement, which proposes to hold over so many important questions. Mr Blake is of opinion that the Railway Commissioners must have been pretty independent, or we would not have heard so many attacks on them. No questions are being asked while the Financial Debate is proceeding. Pirihana Tunga and ten other Porirua Natives are petitioning the House to prevent the taking of a portion of the Takapuahia block for the Porirua Lunatic Asylum. They claim that this is the only land remaining to them, their ancestors having sold theirs to the Queen, and that they require it, and will not agree to part with it. The A to L Petition Committee recommend to the consideration of the Government the petitions for the prevention of an influx of Austrians to the Auckland gumfields.

A return was laid on the table to-day showing the reductions of rates made by the Railway Commissioners. Mr Rhodes has presented a petition from a number of Waitoki farmers in favor of the Direct Veto.

S. W. Brown, timber dealer, of the Great Barrier, is petitioning for redress for the dispossession of his timber rights in the Little Barrier on account of its being reserved by the Government.