Wellington Gossip.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 10093, 6 September 1895, Page 3

Wellington Gossip.

\ _. .^ [FROM OUR SPECIAL COERKSPONDENT [BY TELEQRAPH.] Wellington, Thursday. NEW STANDING ORDEKS. I Sir Kobert) Stout to-day, in oppoßiof g the Premier's motion to Uke Wedue=das from privute members, exprea?ed blmsoll strongly v/ith respect to the amended Standing Orders of the preseut Government). He said tbey Imd proved an absolute failure j they bad skipped dla cuasiou when discussion should be allowed, and they hnd (japft a .rt members ia every way. ("Hear, hear," all round the House ) Members, he said, were not able to bring ia any motions at the present ; time, aud tbey had therefore tD pnt qnes- ) lions on the Order Paper, aud then move - the adjournment of the Him so to enable > them to be discussed, As f>r the present ■ aeseion, Wednesday and Thursday bad I been so interfered with that private mcmi bers had had no chance at ull of getting i their bills considered. In the first i instance, the Wednesday had been taken 1 by Ministers for dlscnasinc the Address-In-Keply, then for the Financial State- > ment, and lately for the banking legislation. The fact was that no Parliament in the world had less rights than this Parliament had nnder the new Standing Orders, and there never was a Parliament which had been reduced to such a helpless state of inefficiency. The Premier, in replying, denied that the "g«g" had been applied to members in any w,iy, and he strongly impressed on tho House the necessity of talking less, a remark which created General amusement coming from Mr Seddon, who only last night was referred to as the " Princa of atonfiwallers." CHKISTCfcLUKCfI EXHIBITION. The Canterbury members have been actively lobbying to secure an adjournment of the House for a few days in order to allow member-' to visit) the Christchurch exhibition. Major Steward made another attempt this afternoon, by moving to add to the Premiet's motion with respect) to taking Wednesdays for Government business " That the House at its risiog to-night adjourns till Wednesday next." He said that if his motion were agreed to it would really faci!itat3 the business of the session, as the ColoMul Treasurer had gone South and the Legislative Council bad adjourned till Tuesday. The Speaker ruled that the motion whs Dot in order as an addition to the Premier's proposal, and that Major Steward must give a separate notle>s of motion on the subject), which the Mojt consented to do. A LENGTHY SESSION. The Premier to-day, when moving that Government business should be taken on Wednesdays for the rest of the session, said that as they were now in the eighth week of the session — (several members: " The eleventh week ")— " Well," quickly retorted Mr Seddon, " tho last) three weeks has been a blank." (Mr T. Mackenzie : " A bank, you mean "), which Bet the House off into a peal of laughter. The Premier told tho Houee that it members wished to go home by the Ist of November it was absolutely necessary they shonld give up Wedues days for Government bnsioess. The motion was cariiad by a large majority. FAMILY HOMES. The Minister for Lands brought up the report of the couierence on the Family Homes Protection Bill this afternoon, and it was adopted by the House. The report [ stated that an agieement had been come to with *the Council for an amendment) making the home subject to local rates. There was also a proviso that before tho home can be touched all other property must hove been exhausted, GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. An unusual motion was proposed this afternoun by Mr Snundflrs, Chairman of tbe Public Accounts Committee, to the effect that the nommtbtee huve le'ive to sit during the titling of rlie Honse to inquire into the question of how Brlscae, M'Neil, and Company's contract with the Government wbb carried out. The Premier opposed the motion on the ground that it was only to meet the convenience of one member of the firm, who was olsj represented by couneel. He considered the public convenience was the first consideration and that required his (Mr Seddon's) presence in the House. The Colonial Treasurer was also a member of the committee, and he was absent from Wellington at present. Mr .Tanner, another member of tbe committee, said that there was no urgency whatever for the committee to os-k for such an unusual course as to meet whilst) tbe Honee was eittisg. Mr Guinness said that tbe inquiry had already lasted a fortnight, and some important witnesses were being detained in Wellington who had business elsewhere, and whosf evidence would have beeo taken but far the fact thac tho Banking legislation bad materially interfered with the deliberations of the committee. The House, however, refused to agree to Mr Saunders' motion.