THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15861, 26 February 1912, Page 8

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

[From Our CouBBsrosJJiNT.J WELLINGTON, February 25

The short session of 1912, whatever may bo its issue politically,, will be more closely associated with tho province of Auckland than even the most ardent northern patriot could desire. Tho " commercial and industrial centre of Now Zealand " has certainly maintained its position in the limelight, but the play is tragedy, not comedy, this time. A more or less quiet week has been ca.pped with a gale of invective and '• graft " charges by and against Auckland members that should shako the northern province to its foundations. Of that rcoro anon. Tho week had more interesting features than the quarrels of disgruntled members, and on these it is profitable to ponder, leaving out of consideration the undercurrents of rumour on tho state of parties and the fate of Governments.

There are really two weeks to chronicle, for the first week-end, while formal and ornamental, gave the House and the country the Governor's Speech, a cornucopia of progressive promises that was received with as many opinions as there woro members of tho House. If a skirmish was expected on the election of a Speaker, the war correspondents were disappointed. The Opposition, apparently, were not in favour of frontal attack, and reserved their fire, even a.t the risk of having their powder damped in the interval. The Friday was not marked alone by the Governor's Speech. The Prime Minister took the opportunity of laying before Parliament the details of the five million loan, the cost, by the way, being only a third of the amount estimated by Opposition candidates in their election speeches. This left tho way clear for a trial of strength between Government and Opposition parties as to which should occupy the Treasury benches, and the gauntlet was thrown down by Mr Massey in a simple motion to tho effect that the House had no confidence in the Ministry. But tho parties sparred wanly for wind. There is a good deal of ring-craft in ix>litics. It is necessary, for instance, that a leader should speak to crowded galleries, and by judiciously timing an afternoon debate on the overcrowded state of the House and tho whispering and comments of the fair sex, Mr Massev m oA lago *° have tho floc r at ml a * inie at whicn the political afflatus is most marked. Never had J arhament seen such crowds of spectators. The ladies lined the floor of the Jrtouse, and the portly Mr Russell was hard n>ut to it to squeeze his way round to his back bench. Distinguished visitors crowded even the lobby sacred to members, and invaded the"" Aye" 8" d "No" doors.' Tt reminded one of Mr. Massey's meeting in the Choral i-lall, when moro tickets wew issued than there wore seats, and the latecomers insisted on getting in, if only to gaze at the principals to "the duel. It was an uninspiring debate. Mr Massey rleelined to discuss the Government's policy, a tactical error that drew the censure of Labour members at a later stage. Neither did he discuss a policy or his own, except to claim the paternity of one or two measures given or promised by tho Liberal Party. Mr Massey's speech in tabloid form was something like this:—"Great increases of taxation; I was the first to suggest advances to workers; big surplusses are taken from the pockets of the people; I need hardly refer to the Mokau case; the public service is kept back by . an unscrupulous Government " ; and so on. Sir Joseph Ward followed the bad example of his adversary to a cortain extent; but his was a righting speech, with his back to the wall, and when he announce! that he would enter the rank and file rather than see the Liberal Party injured by the hattlecry "Down with Ward"' *he ■ was never more truly the leader of his partv. and his promise to " stand by " in defiance of Conservatism was a fitting climax to a stirring speech. Mr James Allen spun out an hour on finance, and was followed on Wednesday by the Hon J. A. Millar, who was put off his speech by organised interjections, but managed to drive home many facts. Tlie third and virtually last Opposition speaker iwas Mr Herdman, who, weighted heavily with a speech meant to be humorous, laid himself bare to a severe cudgelling by Mr G. W. Russell, who laid a wide Ewathe in the Opposition ranks. Mr Millar, by the way, also "offered to tender his 1 resignation from the Ministry if it would help his party, but his'party is not likely to seize on the offer. The still, small voice of Mr T. K. Sidey fluctuated through the House on Thursdav, followed by the resounding bass of Mr Macdonald, Junior Government Whip, who has improved out of all knowledgo as a public speaker. Then Mr J. Payne broke the silence of Labour members with a very clear declaration of political conviotion in favour of the Liberal Party, a rebuke to the Opposition for its silence on policy matters while new members were seeking for light; a ..passing laugh at the rumour, communicated to him by Mr Massey, that he had been bribed to alter his vote, and an assurance that he would not be influenced by specious argument. Mr Hindmarsh followed. He also is a Labour member, but lacks ballast. He appeared also to be rudderless, and arter a whirlwind speech that condemned the Government and most of its works, he came into port with an announcement that he would vote for Sir Joseph Ward because Mr Massoy was " too retrograde." A speech by Mr L. M. Isitt enlivened the House for the greater nart of an hour op Friday. He was in his best form and moved even the leader of the Opposition to broad smiles. When he resumed his seat, Mr W. A. Veitcb, the cryptic Labour member for Wangnnui, and Mr J. Dickson, "the man who beat Sir John Findlay," rose together. What Mr Veitch had intended to say will probably be a mystery for ever." Mr Dickson caught the Speaker's eye first, and then followed a painful recital and discussion of prc-scs-sional rumour and allegation that occupied the House till midnight, and ended with the carrying of a breach of privilege motion relative to the copy of a letter read by the leader of the Opposition, in which the writer alleged that tho member for Grey Lynn had been "squared" with a thousand pounds to vote for Sir Joseph Ward. One would have thought that the floor of the House was the last place for tho dissection of election i rumours, and one might have- forgiven ' Mr Dickson for his indiscretion in reviving a talo that a fellow-member had . been offered a thousand pounds to alter his vote. This was bad enough until the leader of the Opposition stepped, fell or was pushed into the imbroglio in an attempt to help his supporter out of an ugly situation. However, it is all to como up before a committee of privilege. A good deal of ink has been spilt over it, and it is already reckoned to have cost Mr Massey the occupancy of tho Treasury benches, as it antagonised the Labour members. Mr G. W. Russell gave the prevailing impression elegant expression when ho likened Mr Massey to a cow—(dramatic pause)— which, having stood meekly while the pail was filled with milk, "let fly" at tho last moment and sent the whole result of its patience to "smithereens." "That is absolutely incorrect,'' was Mr Massey's angry retort, his desire being to express the extreme in parliamentary language. It was a time for laughter, and the House duly laughed. T* ,v as n painful reflection when the whole unseemly business was over that the commencem«4it oi hostilities had

I followed on tho heels cf a plea from Mr L. M. Isitt for a little more chivalry in the conduct of party politics, and a frank acknowledgment that charges of bribery and robbery circu- . lated outside the Housa were not given I credence inside it.