DETERMINED STONEWALLING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 159, 25 July 1889, Page 3

DETERMINED STONEWALLING.

i'ilk; ' > WbiiUngton, July 24. THBpfcB^BBBatoATION BILL. AftPr She^manner in whion the Premier rode the high horse over the second reading of the Representation Bill, and his avowed intention to force the Bill through, it was expected 4hat the real stonewall would oom:meno¥tb'night, and -these expectations have nofc r«"eu'disappointed. Ths city party were jpique^byer the Premier's aotion last night, iand this hardened them in their resolve to by every constitutional means the 'passaged the Bill. In this th<sy have ths support of the Evening Post, for it says:— ■»* Thoibpponentß of tbe Bill will be fully justified in adopting every possible means of defeating or delaying the obnoxious measure. They can do so without reproach, for it is Ministers who have shown the example of mot fighting fairly. Eviry form and mode «of Parliamentary obstruction will now be quite In order, and the town memb re, io luetice to those tbey 'represent, muafc usa ev«y exsrtion to defeat the eff .rt to riespoil their oonssicuents to the extent of one-fourth of their political power. ThosA members also who: .honestly support the system of $roporiiion>l voting should oppose to the very last tho ipaßo.*go of a Bill wbioh will indetAoitaly pbs'tpoaa the adoption of tbac system. If the. Government possessed a particle of qpolitfp|l:prinoiple they oould not, after bav'dog introduced their first Representation Bill, ■have presented the second one as a substitute. If this second Bill passes, the adoption of the Har« ayatem will be rendered absolutely Mht-oraible."* At the meeting of the town, members held this afternoon it was resolved, to aot on the resolution I have .already forwarded you, whictfdedlared tbey would delay the progress fit Uhe Bill by every constitutional endeavor. M. deputation w&s despatched to wait upon the Premier, asking him to postpone tbe consideration of the Bill until Tuesday next, on sneir allowing it to be committed without debate, bat reserving to themselves fall freedom of action when in Committee. They urged that this wottld allow the metropolitan press to give voioe to -their opinions on the measure, and aIBO give time for town and oountry to arrive at a compromise. Sir H. Atkinson, however, refused, unless the city members would pledge themselves not to de« lay tbe Bill io Committee, bnt thiß the deputation would not agree to. The following meniberß bave pledged themselves to obstruct the passage of tho Bill oh the ground that it is an aot of injustice at variance with every flpnnd, and hitherto accepted principle of fair «hd square representation: — Metßrs Stuart Menfeeath, Pish, Dr Fitobett, Barron, Rosb, Reeves, Sir George Grey, Longhrey, Dr Newman, Allen, Goldie, Perceval, Mobs, Jones, Humphreys, Fisher, and Taylor. All business haa been interrupted by the proceedings in referenoe to the Bill. Oa tbe House meeting this evraing the Pr«mier moved that the Speaker leavedbVohair in order to go into Committee on ttfa measure Mr Moss said he ha? not yet ijekwf' io' this measure (laughter), aod 'he wSferred to the oonduot of the Premier in the mensura 00. He asked the Premier to allow tbe Bill to stand over for a few •days and go on with tbe other bneiuesa of ahe Government. Was it the Premier's in--tenfcidn to force* the Bill through ? He wonld '•auee for two or three minutes for a reply. The Premier said that as tha hon. gentle- ■■*' bad been asking questions for a quarter an hour, he (the Premier) had become a tittle confused. Mr Moss asked again whether tho Premier Intended to force the Bill though contrary to «he wish of a large section of the Houee. The' Premier : It is not my intention to force the Bill through uuuuly, unless it is unfairly resist od, but if it iB, then I will ■ <oroe it through as far as lam able. I will * « fo prepared to submit to any adjournment "waless sufficient rcasonß are givou. At «t .anc '* ** v ° htaid noM except that tbe W^nti«W &*** a O6 tmderstand it. M^Moi • ty** * understand that the F^teluUidl «««•««• BUI through. m^lahall have no d,aire to t^J 6 *£ uMuiy, b»t. if the same taotios as >, «*" *™ ahed yesterday and are apparently to i>r* p™» on with jio-oight are persisted io the H», *?° will .undoubtedly ba i>sked to gee she Bit. through as soon as possible. s ' ""Mr Moss asked whether, if, be and tbe other hon. gentlemen agreed riot to disousß tbe- Bill at aIU tbe Premier would agree to its postponement fur a few days and procaed with .|hd Other business. Mt W. P. Reaves: We'll go into Committee wlthoafrdisoußQioD. <ahtt Premier^ • That is, if I permit the hon. gemtlwaan te • oonduot the business he will

I behave nicely— is tint it ? If the hon. gentle- j ! raan is £>r>i T -U7 to resist the Bill by using ■ h'j j forms of tho House vi a wy that is not juati- ) fia'nlg, ir, ia the infentiou of 'he Government I I to ask the H-.usr to nush tha Bil! through, j If hon. gen'lemen mlldii'Cussthflßiil fairly, j | the Governmenf. will no', unduly pt-«si» if, but j 1 p.m pledged to the hon. geatlenir.i and j those who Bupporh him to do no busiuets , until thi* Bi lis passed. (Cri-s of No, no.) I Mr Moss tbea went on co disou^B ths BiH, I speakinc for just over an hour in regular I , stonewall style. In hia speech he appealed to j • Mr McArthur ai tbo r al lwader o? uhe < ! Ministry, and described fi?e Prtraier'a ppoeoh iou tho Biil as a rollicking »-»;>eeoh in hi ■-•< beat | 'arrikin h yip. Fio disani cl upon th i^ - morali'y of th^ Bill, and taunted thePremieil'l vm:i acting upon the princinla woici ho f-nv:e 1.-i.-l <3ckvu "Tia-. iho first da yof a Government wa-< to t -ke cue of itpulf," and tens keeping himself in office fqr tna-y yenrs. Mr Iznrd fh-n rr.pe an>l expr^s^d! regnt tha; th'f Premier h^d refused Mr Moss' request for thri adjournment of tha consideration of the Bill, whic affVc'ed tuo rights of | at le»er, one-fourth of the electors of tho colony. Ho objeotad to it buiag forced down their tbroarsj though he declinod to bo a party to' any factious obstruction. Though' ho aoknowledg-d that the majority mußt rule, he claimed tba' the minority had its rights, and protested against tun Bill being rushedthrough before any part of the oolony except ' tba immediate neighborhood of Wellington knew what it was. : . . Sir G. Grey, who was received with applause, began by protesting against the insult offered to him by asking him to give a secret expression of opinion on the question of an increase of the number of members. He wished to know when he would have the opportunity of discussing it. The Speaker Eaid when the debate was over, intimation \va3 given to Mr Ballance that allusion might be made to the matter, though he was far from considering that a breach of confidence had been committed. Sir G. Grey continued trying to open the subjeot, until the Speaker said that he would be interfering with the conduot of business if he persisted in bringing up the matter, whioh he (the Speaker) did not regard as a breach of privilege. Proceeding with his speech, Sir G. Grey said the effect of the Bill would be to reduce the people of New Zealand to a state below the level of the people of any other colony. After complaining at length that ths people were being robbed of their rights, he said the absence of reference to the Bill from the Governor's speech was nothing but criminal, while a plot to restore the number of members to 95 without fair notice, or an appeal to the country, was treason of the deepest dye, The Hon. Mr Ballance said that, but for the reduction of the number of members, the present Bill would never have been brought down, and he explained how he had taken the responsibility of issuing ballot papers on the question, which had been complained of. He felt that the country -had changed the subject and the members had changed with it, and he wished for an abstract opinion from them on the subject. As soon as Mr Ballance had sat down at 9'45, the Premier asked the Speaker to leave the chair until 10"3O, as he had just received , a deputation of members, who made a pro. posal which he believed would be acceptable to tbe House. This was agreed to. The town members then held a meeting, when it waß deoided to ask tho Premier to make the Bill the same as that of 1887, with an increase of the quota from 18 to 25, thus doing away with the inclusion of the small towns and the amalgamation of the oity electorates. If this was rejeoted in Com« mittee, the Premier was then to withdraw the Bill. The Premier was approaohed with this, and a long consultation ensued, necessitating a further adjournment until 11*30.

[Press Association.] Wellington, July 25. After several adjournments with a view to arriving at a compromise, at 11-40 Mr Reeves (St. Albans) resumed the debate. The Premier made a statement to the effeot that he had received deputations from city and oountry members. The oity members bad asked to bave the 25 per cent quota for the oountry districts inserted in the Bill, but tha oountry members had stated that they would insist on the 33J per cent quota. The Government had come to the conclusion to insert 25 per oent on the basis of the Aot of 1887, instead of 18 per cent as at present. The Government wore prepared to carry 25 per cent, and they would aooept neither more or less. After some discussion Mr Beeves resumed his speech, oiritieising the remarks of the previous speakers. Mr Pish opposed the Bill at length, Just before 2 a.m. the galleries were cleared. The stonewall was continued all night, and the House is still sitting (10 a.m.) The town members talk of keeping it up till Tuesday. (From our own Correspondent.) Wblbihgton, July 25, 11.30 a.m. All efforts to arrive at a compromise were ineffectual, the moßt tbat town members eould gain being an assurance from the Premier that he would not go on with tbe Bill if either more or less than 25 per cent were inserted. With this the town members were dissatisfied, and they proceeded to stonewall the motion for the committal of the Bill. The galleries were cleared at 2 o'clock, and the doors are still closed, and likely to remain jso until the committal is agreed to. The Itown members are confident that they are able to resist the Bfll, and as tbey seem determined to hold out there is a strong prospaot of a eo&tinuous sitting until Sunday, with only the dinner intervals. Metropolitan Aoitatiow. The other day the Premier twitted the eity party that they had taken no steps to hold mass meetings in the four large centres of population to protect against the Representation Bill if it was so objeotionable. That agitation has now been started. I do not know if anything is being arranged in Auokland or Christchurch, but I understand a publio meeting iB to be held in Dunedin. Here in Wellington a publio meeting will be held on Friday evening, when it has been i arranged that Sir G. Grey, andMessrß Fisher

, and Goldie will address the electors on the j f Representation Bill. I Native Reserves. j The Westland and Nelson Native Reserves j Act, 1887, Amendment Bill came before the I Legislative Council this afternoon, • when Mr Taiaroa, by whom it was brought in, moved I its seoond reading. Its objeot was to enable ! the Native Land Court to subdivide the Grey- ! mouth native reserve, and to revert it into its original state at the expiry of the ourrent leases. A considerable amount of opposition I was offered, but the seoond reading was ! ultimately oarried by 13 to 10. ( Codlin Moth Nuisance. j .J* Bill which has been prepared by Mr ; j Jones, de-'liosr wih the codlin moth pes*-, j has met with the g ner •' approval of the mumI bers who lately mov d *> the m-tttsr. It J proposes to rnako it un «\,- •'• f o eell or off or j for =wle any fruit oontunin:; noths or the cbrysdis thereof, whothT suoh fruii is prown in the Oolony or imports from Bbroad. or to remove frnit from a district in whioh it is grown to any othrr distriot, or case, box, I barrel, or other rec -pt*ele whioh has at any time oontained fruit so infrced. Power is given to the Cns'onv? Department to oonderan and destroy infect n d fruit or boxes, etc,, whioh hnvo oontained such.' Nothing has yet been decided ns to the machinery clauses of tbe Bill with regard to tbe enforcement of penalties, bnt in thiß or any other respect . the promoters of the Bill will ba glad to j receive suggestions from those interested, REDUCTION OP MKMBEB3. If anything has been made specially clear daring the Representation debate, it is that there is a very large seotion of members of the House favorable to the repeal of the Act of 1887, and a consequent restoration of the strength of the House to 95. An effort is being made to gauge the general opinion on the subject by the issue to every member of a ballot paper, on whioh he is requested to indicate whether he would favor the return to the status quo ante, and to send his paper to one of the offices of the buildings by Priday D6xt. The circular is anonymous, but it transpired this evening that the Hon. Mr Ballance is its author. The result will be awaited with interest. The following is the form of the ballot paper:— " Ballot paper to be deposited in the ballot box in Mr Otterson's room by noon on Friday, the 26th July. Proposal to restore the number of European members to 91 —Aye : No. Strike but the word " Aye " or " No," leaving uncancelled tbe word whioh represents yoor opinion, but writing nothing on the paper." The intention, I understand, is to get an idea of the real feeling of members on this qneation, whioh, it is thought, could not be obtained by open voting. Hence the idea of having a secret ballot taken. The result will be disclosed on Friday afternoon.