WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11593, 20 July 1900, Page 2

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

[FROM OUR SPKCUI« CORRESPONDENT.] [nT TMiKGnATH.] Wellington, Thursday. AN EXTRAORDINARY POSITION. A most peculiar combination of circumstances occurred in the House Una afternoon. When the House met there was scarcely a quorum present, owing probably to the fact that the Government caucus did not conclude till nearly half* pact 1 o'clock, and also due to a good many members being engaged in attending the various conferences now being held in Wellington, The Speaker called in the uaual way for petitions, notices of motion, reports of committees, &c, but strange to say there was not a single response from anybody except Mr Ell, who gavo notice to move certain amendments in the Totalisator Abolition Bill, and later on an unimportant notico of motion from Mr Allen. There were three bills down for introduction, two in Mr Saddon's name and ono in Mr Napier'n (Auokland), but as neither of theso gentlemen were present the bills could not be introduced. The nexl business on the paper was the consideration of the report of the Reporting Debates Committee and the cnse of Mr Orattan Gray, bufc here again the Premier's absence prevented its being called on. Mr (Jarroll moved its postponement in order to proceed with the local bills. The first bill, however, happened to be in Mr J. A. Millar's olmrge, and as the member for Dunedin wbb absent from the Chamber, there was nobody to pilot the bill throngh committee. Another deadlook was therefore imminent, when Mr James Allen (Bruce) and Mr A. Morrison (Caversham) both said they would take charge of the measure, which affected the Dunedin tramways. Both those gentlemen had aotually reached the committee table for the purpose of furthering the bill, when Mr Millar entered the Chamber hurriedly, amidst laughter and cries of "Time, time." The Chairman of Committees then uttered the usual preliminary " The House is in Committee on the Dunedin City and Suburban Tramways BUI," and the bill proceeded without further interruption. GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. The meeting of the Government party to-day was of a lengthy and very wordy charaoter. Members are, of course, extremely reticent in stating whatocourred, but it had transpired that, after a long discussion tho Ministers' Salaries Bill was adopted with certain modifications, such as I have already Bent you. I understand that the party virtually agreed to the proposed increase in members' honorariums to .£3OO a year, instead of .£240, the amount paid at present. Those who attended the caucus, however, allege that nothing was really done except that a lengthy disoussion took place on the whole business. THE GEEY CASE. The Premier to-night in moving the adoption of the Reporting and Debates Committee on Mr Grattan Grey's case, said he had no personal feeling in the matter at all, and that the sole reason why he adopted the committee's recommendation was because Mr Grey had defied Parliament, not owing to the nature of his writings, Mr John Hutoheson quoted the Premier's letter to Mr Grey, offering him the appointment of ohief reporter to the Hansard staff at .£4OO a year, and stating that he (Mr Grey) was at liberty to write for the Press when Parliament was not in session. He denied that Mr Grey had defied Parliament, and said that the issue had never been put to him that he Bhould either have ceaßed to write political artioles in the receßS or resign his position on the Hansard staff. Mr Camoross, aa a member of the Reporting and Debates Committee said that the finding of the committee was unanimous. After Mr Grey bad given his evidence they found no fault at all with the matter of Mr Grey's writings, but they did find fault with the defiant tone he adopted before the committee, and he gave them no loop* hole at all of escape. Mr James Allen pointed out that the Opposition had no reason to find fault with Mr Grey's dismissal. On the contrary, they bad opposed the appointment in the strongest terms. He (Mr Allen) did not in the least agree with Mr Grey's writings, or his opinions, but the fact of the matter was Mr Grey was about to be sacrificed for political exigencies, and he did not envy the Premier's feelings when he had to dismiss an officer, whom he had himself appointed, owing to the fact that he (the Premier) felt the lash of Mr Grey's criticisms on the Ministerial polioy. He (Mr Allen) would not vote for Mr Grey's dismißßal beoause of his writings, or because he had set the House at defiance as stated by the Premier, but because he had disapproved of Mr Grey's appointment from the first, believing that Buoh appointments should rest with the Speaker and not with the Premier. A lengthy debate ensued on the whole question, several speakers taking part in it. CAPTAIN RUSSELL'S DEFENCE. The member for Napier (Mr Fraser) has been warmly congratulated to-day for his spirited and manly defence of Captain Russell from the uncalled-for attack made on him last night by the member for Riccarton. The bill trader discussion at the time was one to remove disabilities from women, and it was in oharge of Mr G. W. Busaell. Several members ridiouled the measure, and Captain Russell, when speaking on it, stigmatised it as farcical and opposed to the wishes of the women of the colony. The member for Ricoarton, later on in thedebate, made a bitterly personal attack on the member for Hawke's Bay, and stated that he (Mr Russell) had defeated the Hon. Mr Rolleston, who was a better man in the opinion of the country and the party than Captain Russell ever could be. Mr Fraser ( Napier) strongly resented the attack made on Captain Russell. He once more reiterated his contempt for the bill under discussion, and- in doing so he regretted that the recrimination of the past was again about to be revived. He reminded the member for Riccarton that whatever Captain Russell's political views might be, that hon. gentleman, after 25 years of honorable service in Parliament, was held in the highest esteem by the House and the country. He (Mr Fraser) said he would tell the member for Biocarton that when that honorable gentleman possessed the esteem of his constituents, sooially and politically, in the same way as Captain Russell did, he (Mr G. W. Russell) would not occupy the invidious position of securing his eleotion by the " skin of his teeth." (" Hear, hear," all round the Houbo). The force of Mr Fraser's remarks will be understood when it is remembered that Mr G. W. Russell at the last election defeated Mr Bolleston, by only one vote.