POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 9832, 22 October 1895, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our PABiaAxtfitasr Rjetobteb.) WELLINGTON, Octobbr 22. The 'Hansard* Revolt. A perusal of the documents laid before the Reporting and Debates-Committee concerning the * Hansard' ssaf£ trouble fails to bear out the statement that one of the Reporters wrote in disrespectful terms' of Mr Barron, his chief, though some of the correspondence is a trifle sultry. But the relations between certain members of the staff are now very much strained. The Banking Agreement.

The validity of the banking agreement is to be challenged by Mr Bell, who, on Wednesday, will move the following sweeping resolution: —"That this House dissents from the contract made between the Bank of New Zealand arid the Colonial Bank upon the. grounds: (1) That the contract is not such as is required by section 36 of the Bpnk of New Zealand and Banking Act} (2) that sufficient information is not contained in the contract or supplied to the House to enable it to determine whether, the contract mil be advantageous to the Bank of New Zealand or to the colony; (3) that the House is not informed whether any, and if so, what part of the agreed price is estimated for goodwill j (4) that the contract itself discloses matters which apparently make it undesirable that the House should endorse its terms."

The Works' EsilnintcS.

Among the votes of general: importance in the Public Works Estimates Will be found the following:—Midland Railway, arbitration, £3,700; prospecting deep levels, £7,000; thirty knots single core cab!ej £5,000; completion of the Government Printing Office, £2,000; Christchurch library for the Law Society, £1,300; Cape KidnapSm lighthouse lantern, £2,400; Cape alliser building and lantern, £3,500; purchase of Martini-Henri rifles, £5,000.

Among local votes I find the following : Ravensbourne, £850; and Cargill street, Caversham, £IOO. Bridge over the Ciutha at Miller Flat (subsidy £ for £), £1,000; Waipori-Berwick Gorge road, £600; Dunedin Gaol, £6,000 (with £4,109 liability on March 31); courthouses at Milton, £750; do St. Bathans, £400; do Arrowtown, £400; post office at Queenstown, £600; Seacliff Lunatic Asylum, £2,500 (with liabilities £1,409 at March 31) ', house and office for agricultural purposes a: Palmerston South,. £400; Water of Leith protective workr, Maori Hill Borough, £100; Port Chalmers Wharf improvements, £6,000. Advances to Settlers. The Council considered the Government Advances to Settlers Bill in. committee yesterday, when Dr Grace moved to strike out the clause which allows suburban lands held or occupied for farming, dairying, or market gardening purposes to receive advances.— Mr Ormond suggested that a proviso should be inserted to the effect that the Board should not make an advance upon fictitious valuations of such suburban lands, but upon their mere value as country lands.—The Hon. Mr Montgomery at this stage moved to report progress with leave to sit again, which was agreed to.

Second Conference.—Close Voting.—A Double Tie.

The unusual spectacle of a tie on the question whether a branch of the Legislature should insist upon its amendments in a Bill was witnessed in the Council last night This was iu connection with the Land for Settlements Bill, fifteen members voting either way, and Speaker Miller gave his vote against the motion in order to allow the matter to be further considered. Messrs T. Kelly, W. C. Walker, and E. Richardson were then appointed managers in a conference with the Lower Chamber. The point in dispute is whether a person outside the Civil Service shall be appointed an additional member of the Board under the Bill.

The report oh the Liquor Bill was presented to both branches of the Legislature yesterday. In the Council the report was submitted by Mr Ormond, and was to the effect that the Conference was unable to agree. The main points upon which there was difference of opinion were those referring to total Prohibition, whiqb, the representatives of the Council insisted, should be treated in a siparate Bill, and which was an interference with the liberty of the subject, and those relating to clubs and Bellamy's, in both of which the same principle of interference with the liberty of the subject wts conoerned. The representatives of the Council offered to concede the abandonment of the amendments made by the Council in the provision that half the voters must vote, and in that of allowing only one proposal to be voted upon. The bald statement that the managers had been unable to agree was all that was contained in the report presented to the Bouse, and in moving that it do lie on the table the Premier said that ; when he asked for a conference he felt sura that on the. owe for the representatives of the people being made out the Council would accede to the unanimous wish of the House of Representatives that the Bill as sent from that Chamber should pass; but he had been disappointed. He still felt that the pr jper course had been adopted in drawing up reasons and having a conference, because they thus knew the position in which they were placed. Having detailed the results of the Conference (as already published in your columns), Mr Seddon said that there were four material points on which the Conference could not agree. The Council's managers were very firm in refusing to concede National Option being extended to the people, and refusing to allow club 3 to be brought under the control of the people or being closed at the same hours as licensed houses. They were, however, prepared to give way on the question of a half - vote being necessary to making a poll valid and on allowing two votes to be cast on the three issues remaining after National Option had been struck out. As a representative of the House, he (Mr Seddon) would have allowed National Option to stand over, but was of opinion that the people must have the direct control of the liquor traffic whether as regarded licensed houses or clubs. Nothing more could be done this session. Of that he was satisfied, but probably before next year public opinion might have its effect on the Legislative Council. The Premier having been "rupg off" under the time limit Sir R. Stout expressed the opinion that as there were really only two points in dispute—National Option and clubs' control—they should accept the rest ! of the Bill and let those two disputed points stand over till next session. By adopting that course they would be taking an enormous step forward. He moved as an amendrr.eit —"That a Message be sent to the Legislative Council stating that if the Council waive its amendments to the Bill save the National Option vote and the clubs and the new clause as to inspectors, this House will consent to accept the amendments."—The amendment having been seconded by Mr Earnshaw (who held that if the matter were left over till next year nothing would then be done), the Premier urged that ii would be a most dangerous thing to concede the question of clubs in the face of the statements made as to gambling and wholesale consumption of liquor going on in those, clubs. It would never do to surrender their control. It was hiß intention to bring down the Bill next session in the form in which it was sent to the Council, and if unsuccessful then he would reintroduce it in the following session.—ln a spiritless discussion which ensued Mr George Hutchison contended that club control was a matter of secondary importance compared with National Option. —Dr Newman supported the amendment with a view to having another conference, while Mr Meredith (wbo had taken part in the Conference) gave it as his opinion that the House managers ought to have accepted the compromise offered by the Council's representatives. —On a division being taken a tie was announced, the ayes being 32 and noes a like number. The Speaker, according to constitutional usage, gave his casting vote against the adoption of the report, in order to give an opportunity for further consideration. The following was the division list:—

(Ayes. Messrs Buick, CadmaD, Carncross, Carroll, Collins; Crowther, Duncan, Graham, Hall-Jones, Harris, W. Hutchison, J. W. Kelly, W. Kelly, Lawry, Maslin, M'Gowan, J. M'Kenzie, It. M'Kenzie, M'Lachlan, M'Nab, Millar, Mills, Farata, Pinkerton, Reeves, Seddori, G. J. Smith, Stevens, Te Ao, T. Thompson, Ward, Willis. slo{s.—Messrs Allen, Bell, Buchanan, Buddp

Son, Ifdntgomgfy, KoWion, fejbnga, OTBensy Steward, Stoat; Tenner; B. TJmmknC WHson. Pairs.-Ayes: M«h» VJEBmgL IfateeH; Houston. Vo3: On the amendment tort a a iabitanfive motion, Mr T»aer jMjjia HiAfrin its then form it wn objecliftiable'; and tooted fa as S tfessage be sent to the Council requesting another coftfeptnce,and that the House's ininager* he Measft Sanndero, Bell, 6. W. Rnsseß, *sd | Tatfler."-Thfe Prettier Intimated that be : would not object to the proposal, even fate* evenly dividM itAte of the House, but fee opposed the constitution of themanager!, all of whom would,- lie' aasertod.be wuW to surrender the rights of the Honae ah 3 | accept unconditionally the terms offered .by the Council; He moved to «ab-' j stitnte the names of Messrs Hall-Jones and I W. Hutchison for those of Messfr Kbliell ( and Tanner; tat Mr Bell eipressedV willingness to retire la favor of '.".fee m&a.' bar for Avon, and thU WW cbmptißd wiuL— Ooa division, Sir Russell was rejected in favor of Mr Hall-Jones by 35 to 21—On Mr W. Hatahnfon's name being submitted, Mt R. Thompson pointed oht that the menibet for Dtmedin bad throughout opposed the conference, and he pat it td that gentleman thai he ..ought . not now agree to his name being submitted as a manager,* but Mr HutcbJson gave no indication of assent or dissent, and so the Premier stepped into the breach oti his behalf and asked the Home topees hi* nomination.—Thereupon Mr Bell moved to substitute Mr Lang lor Mr Hatehpon, which was rejected by 38 to26.—Mr Thomas Mackenzie then expree>e£ his regtet at Mr Hutchison's inclusion. His demands were so extreme that unless he nude eneneoted concessions there would not be the sbgbtest possibility of any arrangement being arrived at between himself and the Upper House.— (MrG. W. Russell: That is why he is put there.)—Mr Flatman moved to add Me M'Nab's name to the list of managers.— Speaking with warmth, Mr Fraser said that the House Was being humbugged. -By the Speaker's casting vote it bad been determined to bold another, conference, with a view to preserving as much of the Bill as possible, bat the Premier was advocating as managers members, who were absolutely determined to bate no comSromise whatever, but to have the~whoie ill or nothing at aIL The Premier retorted that the huiftbugging came from members of the Opposition, who wished to Eut the Government into a corner. They ad that night made the matter a party question, when the Government from beginning to end*had said that it should not be a party question.—This speech brought Sir R. Stent to his feet with a declaration that the party whips had been sent round to get votes in favor of the Preauer's motion for the adoption of the report ArMr M'Nab had expressed himself adverse to any compromise, he should move the snbatitntioß of the name of 'Mr Meredith for that of the member for Mataura.—lt was evident that there was a split in the temperance camp, and this was accentuated when Mr Earnshaw and Mr G. W. Russell also announced their intention of voting against the hon. gentleman who had been entrusted with the care of the Temperance Alliance's Bill—Mr M'Nab's name was, however, retained by. 32 to 24, and the House managers consequently comprised Messrs Saunders, Tanner, Hall-Jones, W. Hutchison, and M'Nab. It is not expected that a compromise will be arrived at Bay Sittings. After midnight the Premier asked the House to sit for another hour. It was too late to permit of new business being taken without the unanimous consent of the House, but two or three voices were heard in opposition. Then the Premier moved that the House do adjourn till 11 a. m. Objection was immediately taken to this proposal on the ground that several important committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, who had to consider their draft report on a subject which has occupied them for twenty days, had been summoned for that morning. —Mr Allen inquired the meaning of the motion. If it meant that* the House was to complete its business by the end of this week he should support it; if not, he would vote against sitting before half-past two.—"On behalf of the M to L Committee," Mr Meredith appealed to the Premier to delay his motion for morning sittings till Wednesday, and Captain Russell also asked for a respite.—The Premier then withdrew bis motion, and gave notice that he would that day move that, from Wednesday, the House would meet at eleveu o'clock in the monu ing. Jottings. The Council has agreed to the plans Jo* the proposed additions to the Legislative Council Buildings, at a cost of £I,BOO, and will request the Government to carry there out.

Captain Ruwell: "ThePremier'!copdoot throughout the Licensing Bill has been that of a wolf in sheep's clothing. Throughout he has not been genuine in his derin to pass it." A conference is to be held over the disputed points in the Chattels Transfer Act Amendment Bill.

"We have sufficient licensing legislation already. What we really require is honest and careful administration of the licensing laws." Thus Mr Carncross.

" This licensing question should show the country the necessity of something being done with the Legislative Council, either in the way of ending or mending it."—Mr W. Hutchison.

The parliamentary cricket team were badly worsted yesterday afternoon in a match with St. Patrick's College. The Public Petitions Committee have appointed a sub-committee to draw up a report on the petitions received in favor of the introduction of the Irish Scripture text books into the public schools. The Minister of Lands has introduced a Lime Land Acquisition and Reservation Bill. Members generally arc dissatisfied with the paucity of the votes for roads and bridges in the Public Works Estimates, and marmurings loud and deep are heard. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson will lead off to-night. I'tuitoral Tenant*' Keller. The Pastoral Tenants' Relief Bill has run the gauntlet of the Waste Lands Committee, whose solitary amendment is that the Land Board on holding an inquiry on each application "for relief may require the tenant to supply such particulars of his financial position as the Board may deem necessary. This is in place of the application disclosing the financial position of the tenant. Criminal Appeals. Mr Milh's Criminal Code Bill, to allow Chemis or any other convicted person to apply for a new trial, was introduced this afternoon, and by 33 to 30 set down as the first order for Friday. Dnnedltt's Loabs. The Conference on the Dunedin Loan Consolidation Bill has adjourned till tomorrow without coming to a settlement. The House managers are divided on the question of giving way on the sinking fund.