PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1935, 17 August 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

[Our Special Wire]. Parliament Buildings, Aug 14. The scene in the llonse last night was almost without parallel, when the Representation Bill, introduced by the Premier was thrown out by the votes of three ministers. The two ministerial whips also voted auaiDSt this important Government Bill. One of the Government whips it is only fair to say, Mr McKenzie denied that it" was he lobbied energetically agaiust the Bill. Thsse facts called forth strong denunciations from Major Atkins son and Messrs Bryo and Kolleston. But there is a suspicion that the virtuous indignation of these gentlemen is not altogether of a disinterested character. All through the evening whipping had been gotrig on very hard. When the div sion took place there was great confusion, cheers being given when any p-eminent man walked into the lobby, und when Mr Richardson, Minister far Public Works, separated from his chief anrl walked iu’o i he “ Noes ” lobby, the ell'.ct was a storm of cheers. When the Speaker gave out the figures cheers and hisses mingled with the general confusion, which had not sab sided when Major Atkinson rose to sp“ak to the ques ion that Mi Macandrew’s amendment be agreed to. Tno leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition denounced the want of backbone exhibited by the Premier with much bitterness. Cries of ‘ order ” resounded on all sides, and it was with difficulty that Mr Guinness could obtain a hearing, when lie rose to object to the reference made by Maj ;r Atkiuson to “some by play” on the Government benches latily when the Premier had charged his colleagues with a want c.f discipline. Major Atkioscn was called to cider hut went on to deliver a most severe denunciation of the Premier who, lie said, was not the Premior and never had been. Mr Robes on was also very seveie, and told the Premier his only constitutional course was to resign. This was received with loud cheers, howls and 'jeers, and groans, but was met by Sir J. Vogel, who said all this indignation was result of their hopes of office being blasted. Amid much laughter S-.r J. Vogel went on to say that Maj ,r Atkinson’s continual appeal to the Premier had been “Take me,oh, take me, lain willing to come.” The uproar subsided after tlieleaders had spoken and the Premier’s promise to introduce a Bill next session and make it a party question has evidently satisfied most people, for the fir has quite cleared this morning. The business of the session is now so near completion that it is expected that the prorogation will take place on 1 uesday. The House will sit to-day. and the principal business will be Mr Macandrew’s motion on which the Premier yestirday said he thought it could be brought up to-day, and the supplementary estimates. The ordinary Supplementary Estimates issued late last night, contain an item of L2OOO for a new Parliamentary Library, to be built in brick, and to c ,st in all LSOOO, also votes amounting to L27JO for Tarawera sufferers, including L 370 for Haszard. Sir William Fox, for services as West Coast Comshsioner, L2OOO, six months appropriations in connection with the resumption by the Government of the control of -the Insurance Department, amounting to L 27,552. In reply to Dr Newman this afternoon, Sir Julius Vogel stated that the Government would ask Sir Dillon Bell to accept a farther term of office as Agent-General for two years, Rumor has been busy late'y with regard to the Agent-Gener Jship, and the question was probably prompted by lobby gossip. In some quarters it is stated that Vogel or Larnach will succeed Bell, and in others that Atkinson ia to be the next Agent-General, It is well known that Sir Dillon Bell is anxious to retire, at least I have it on good authority that he has expressed such a wish. Qt course, Sir J. Vogel's reply means anything youjlike to construe from it. The privilege question was before the House again this afternoon. Sir It Stout, as Chairman of tlie conference of the Managers of the two Chambers on the Local Bo lies Loan Bill, stated that the conference was unable tocome to att amicable arrangement, and unless the House liked to drop the Bill, th -y must agree to the amendments made by the Council. This view was very repugnant to thHouse, ami thc-re was at one time an undoubted deaireto drop the Bill,rather than accept the dictation of the Council. Sir R. Stout, however, explained that if the Bill were dropped, Road Boards and other local bodies would be unable t> borrow, and so would not be able to derive any benefit from the Loans to Local Bodies Act. After considerable discussion, therefore, and a decided expression of opinion on the port of Mr Montgomery and l

others that the time was fast approach* ing when the House would have to make a firm stand for its priviiges, and meta. porically sit on the Council.” the amendments made in the Bill by the Council wore agreed to. The must objectionable of these amendments allow* absentees to vote by proxy on the question of the raising of loans. The House is now in Committee of Supply on the Estimates, The vote of LIO.OOO, for the Hinemoa, which was thrown out earlier in the session wjs.after a great deal of discussion, reinstated by a majority of twenty. It is likely that the consideration of the Estimates will occupy the Committee till midnight, after which hour it is improbable business will be taken, even though we have what it termed a Free-thought Ministry to direct business.

1 am informed that all difficulties with the Upper House are now practically over The conferences have all been settled by agreement to the amendments within one or two cases of slight modifications.

The Harbors Bill will be reported diieetly Mr Speaker takes the chair. The Special Powers and Contracts Bill is being considerably mutilated in the Council. Much objection is being taken to the system of lumping together in one Bill a number of subjects that should properly be dealt with iu several local bills. Many of the clauses iu the Bill aro looked upon with suspicion, aad the words “job. bery ” and “ corruption” in the course of the discussiou on this measure are frequent. Emboldened by the success that has attended all previous efforts iu thedireetiou of blocking the business of the House,Lite Legislative Council has just this moment laid aside the Special Powers and Contracts Bill. This, at the present moment appears rather a serious affair, and will probably lead to the relations between the two Chambers, at present rather strained, beiDg much embittered. The House, dur» ing its history, has scarcefy ever been so much badgered by the Council as this session, August 15. There was considerable stonewalling last night ou the different items of the estimates. Tho obstruction was chiefly caused by the West Coast members, but they were quickly brought to bay by tha Premier, who threatened that if obstruo tion was continued the Government would be forced to drop their estimates. As there were a number of votes set down further on for the goldfields, the stand taken by the Government had the desired effect, and the goldfields obstruction col'apsed. There wis a strong opposition shewn to a vote for L2OOO for Sir W. Fox, and eventual'}’ progresi was reported on the vote. The House rose at midnight and meet again to-morrow at eleven o'clock. It is 6aid now that the prorogation will not take place before Thursday, though some northern members will leave to-night and others ge overland tc-mo;vow morning, August ItJ.

As the session only has life for a day or two members are anxious to get matters settled for their constituents, and about a dozen question were asked without notice.

You have heard a good deal lately about the difference of opinion on the Government benches. This morning we had a similar exhibition on the Opposition benches. As 1 informed you on .Saturday the Conference on the Harbors Amendment Bill agreed to the amendments made by the Council, and this niom'ng the amendments were brought down by a m ssage from the Governor. Messrs Bryce, lloilestou and Montgomery all übj.'Ctid to the House being overtid Jell by the Council, and talked a great deal about: maiutioii g the privileges of House, when amid some laughter Maj ir Atkinson got up and said he could not agree with the views of his honora'sls friends] They entirely misapprehended the matter. He then proceeded, atntd cheers from Government supporters to en'ighten the darkness, in which the minds of “ his friends ” were enshrouded, aiid after some little discussion the amendments were agreed to, and after that the matter dropped. The Premier informs me that in his opinion the Council has exceeded its powers in laying asids the Special Powers and Contracts Bill, hut no decision has yet been come to by the Cabinet as to what course shall bo pursued iu relation to the matter. As u.ual with the last days of the session there has been more wrangling today than any day since Parliament: met, The chief subjects raising the iro of members have been a discussion brought about by Mr Moss on the purchase of the Stark property in Auckland, and the vote for L2OOO set down for Sir Win. Fox for services as Wet Coast Commission a year or two ago. In regard to the former matter many members desired the Government to appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into all the circumstances connected with the purchase during tho recess and this the Government intimated they would consider the advisableness of do.ng. Hie w hole tenor of the debate was that there had been a conspiracy somewhere by which the colony was defrauded of a large sum of money, but that the Government were not to blame and were justified in paying the amount they did fur tho property. Regarding tho second nutter after a deal of disenssion the vote to Sir William Fox was agteed to by 25 to 10'. The Council in laying aside the Speeid Powers and Contracts Bill found they had acted illegally, and this afternoon the Bill was considered in Committee where it has been considerably mutilated. A number of members left this afternoon, and more will go by to-nights southern steamer. If the supplementary estimates are disposed of tc-niglit the prorogation vvi’l probably taks plscc on Wednesday,