EVENING SITTING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 175, 26 July 1907, Page 5

EVENING SITTING.

Tlie House resumed at 7.30 p.m. In the absence of Sir William STEWARD, who was in the chair in the afternoon, Mr BUDDO took the chair. The Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee. " Art- amendment that Auckland should be included in the operations of the Bill, which occupied the attention of Members during almost the whole of the afternoon, was further debated. Ultimately the clause as amended was agreed to. Mr HEKE (Northern Maori) moved a further amendment, to limit the operations of the Bill to,the land districts of Nelson and Auckland city. A

At 11.15 p.m. Mr NGATA (Eastern 1 Maori) moved to report progress. He said that the Maori Members did not desire'to block, the business, but they objected to the'j--il before the House. Progress was reported. The Hon. Mr CARROLL moved the adjournment. ALLEGED BLOCKING TACTICS. ! Mr HOGG (Mjasterton) said that he was sorry to opposel the motion. , He I rose to say that he had seen tactics adopted that day which he had never before witnessed in, that House. No great object was served, beyond prei venting the reading of two Bills which ihe brought before the House—the Abolition of Plural Voting BiH and the Flour Duty Abolition Bill. Mr FLATMAN (Geraldine) raised a point of order as to whether Mr Hogg could speak on matters down still to be placed before the House! Mr SPEAKER ruled that Mr Hogg was in order in mentioning the-mea-sures, but could not speak on them.. Mr HOGG went on to criticise the actions of Members of the House during the afternoon sitting of the Committee, particularly mentioning Messrs Flatman and Izard. Mr FLATMAN. . protested that he was not present during the afternoon —he only spoke at night; and if he was guilty of delaying tne business of the House so was Mr Hogg, who had also spoken on the Bill. ; Mr HALL (Waipawa) said that there seemed to be a collusion between both sides of the House to keep the debate proceeding. He characterised the speeches as "rot" and "rubbish"; but when called to order withdrew the statement. Mr MASSEY (Franklin) said that there had been no collusion on his part; the other side of the House could speak for itself. Mr HOGG said he would leave it to the House whether it should proceed with his measures, which he characterised as being of great importance to the whole Colony, and which, sooner or later, must be brought forward. Other Members spoke, and denied that they were guilty of alleged stonewalling. The House adjourned at 11.30 p.m.