IN THE HOUSE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12588, 24 August 1901, Page 7

IN THE HOUSE.

[From Our Cokhesi’ondent.J WELLINGTON August 25. In the afternoon the House got to- Supply unexpectedly early. An Imprest Stop-ply having dropped in for negotiation, the House took, the opportunity, as usual, to review all grievances, and it speedily appeared that the Ministry has more grievances than all the rest put together. Sir Joseph Ward made the discovery, and made out a tremendous case against the various committees. It was rather clever, but the House had a lurking suspicion that he was “ getting ” at them, and there were solemn cries for “B one,” aVhich he answered smiling, saying that they might accept his assurance that “B one” would be produced as soon as it was ready. Ho went further with another discovery of the House, hud premised that the Mines Report, Lands Report, and Railways Report would soon be produced. Mr Allen, who followed him, said that without those reports he would refuse to discuss the finances of the colony, and he added that the delay in bringing them out was disgraceful. He could not see how the Duke of York’s visit or any other visit had anything to do with it. Everything of this kind that, could bo said and has been said before was said again in the . same words and in the same keys. The Premier said that though the Opposition were determined nob to discuss the Financial Statement, he was determined to put up the Estimates and go right ahead. The outcry for returns, however, and reports and papers continued for some tame. Then, as Rider Haggard puts it, “a strange thing happened,” viz., the House ipioked up the imprest and put it through all stages without more comment thah a bairn uses when he tips over his little barrow on the summer sands, and I believe was just as proud of itself. At all events it made some little progress with the Hospital Nurses Bill. The fullest'-galleries of the . session assembled for the groat financial discussion fixed for this evening. Captain Russell 7 ed <off at eight o’clock, much on the game lines as the beginning of the discussion during the afternoon—no reports, returns, etc., and no possibility of criticism.. But he did criticise, and that very closely, nevertheless. The “Lyttelton Times ” ho brought very much into evidence. He read the “ Times’ ” report of the Premier’s remarks of the now famous West Coast deputation. The Premier, interrupting, explained that he did not admit the accuracy of that report. Mr Pii’ahi interjected “R.J.5.,” and there was much laughter. The Captain wanted “ order,” and the Premier told fiim he could have it if he kept that gentleman behind him in order, which caused more laughter. The Captain again quoted the words used. “ Say, reported in the ‘ Lyttelton Times’ to have been used,” the Premier corrected. Oh, yes; he would correct. He Would substitute for “ words used ” “ words the Premier is reported to have used, and did not take the, trouble to contradict.” The report that there is no retrenchment, but extravagance of expenditure, saddened Captain Russell, -and the certainty of a slump, the some ns in the revenue, gave him the “blues,” and in that state he kept up a vigorous attack. He quoted figures to show, that every department is galloping to a deficit, and when prostrated by deficits, he gave a series of comparisons of debt increases, to show what a wild, extravagant Government wo have now—more debt, less railways, and more general discontent than ever before. He held np the Farmers’ Union, as the . hope, political and otherwise, of the country, and he complimented the concession to the Crown tenants spoken -of in the Financial Statement as the first fruits of the Premier’s appreciation of the fact. Thus let loose, he played with, the Budget references to the great pait this colony is to play in the markets of- the world, and wound up by styling the Premier the political Don Juan of this country. He trembled to think of the,story of the statue of the great -man the real Don Juan had dishonoured. There is a statue hard by of a man dishonoured. What if that statue were to come stumping here, and carry off the Right Hon Don Juan in blue flames and shrieks? The Premier remarked that he would have some weight to carry. Then the Captain said that if there were to be another statue after that, the inscription should be, “He- bribed the people.” Mr Napier followed the Captain. “Lord Randolph Churchill once said, Sir, that every speech made by Lord Salisbury cost the Conservatives ten thousand votes.” “ He seems,” the Captain interjected, “to have a good round budget,” and the House was much amused. Captain Russell, before be ended, got out of his pessimism and galk>p;ng-to-a-deficit vein, of the last ten years,, and -got lightly humorous. Mr Napier made the briskest speech he has made since becoming a member ; a more Parliamentary speech, in fact the first of his in the real parliamentary style, and with more stuff of the practical order than he usually achieves. It is the first speech, the quality of vafcich has justified his ambition. Mr Allen was interrupted by the 10.30 adjournment. Most people thought it a pity he was not allowed to- finish. The Premier only moved the adjournment on the ruling of the ActingSpeaker. He did not believe in it, but bowed, for he thought the arrangement was automatic. There, I think, he was right, and I think Sir Maurice would have suspended automatic action till Mr Allen had finishedi