THE GRIDIRONING MAP. (BY TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN REPOTER.)

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 9301, 3 September 1898, Page 2

THE GRIDIRONING MAP. (BY TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN REPOTER .)

Wellington, September 2. A somewhat acrimonious debito sprang up after tho telegraph offico closod tills moroiug upon tho unprecedented domand of the Minister for Lands to havo tho map of Sir John Hall's Hororata catate inserted in Hansird. Araoudmenb after amendment to tho Premier's proposal to issuo tho map with Hansard were de« bated at grejb length, even antll a quirtor to 5 this morning. During tho debate somo catting things woro said. Ono member oxchfraod : Wo haro a Speaker who cannot act, and wo havo an Acting -Speaker who cannot decide What, then, is to become of Parliv moot ? Again : Tho Speaker has boon spirited away ; and another replied : Yes, ho is half-way ovor to Auckland by this time. To carry their point tho Government) hive strained thoir party almost to tho breaking point. Evon such strong Minis* iorialists as Me«srs M'Nab and Tanner broke away, and Mr J. Hutcheson and Mr " Marsdeu" Thompson were iuduced to Btay outside, Ono or two others woro influenced by tho assertion thab If tho proposal was not carried it would kill tho Minister for Landg. Tho life or death of tho Minister overcame wavorors 1 pcruplos. Of course all tho Maori membors were secured to vote for tho Government. Never, probably, In the wholo history of Parliament his the dominant party used thoir power in a more tyrannic it way. Previously it has boen tho rule to give cqu*l privileges to members and Ministors alike as far as Ilinsard 19 concerned, bat ander the roiolation carried by the Government by a majority of four, tho Minister for Linda is to ba treated exceptionally, all becauao, as Mr Crowthor said, ho had takon tho sulks, and was keeping out of the House. Of courao he had to withdraw this, although ho snid he believed it to bo quite fcroo. If members had any donbt as to tho resolution they were sob at rest whon tho Acting-Speaker oflichlly announced this afternoon that all members wero not to bo accorded equal privileges rggarding Hansard, he taking tho resolution to moan that no other pictarea of map's used by members would be Inserted save thab exhibited by tho Minister of Lindu, consequently ho had ordered that a map of Bushy Pa*k, used by Mr G. Hutchlcon, was nob to bo insorted or issued with Hansard. Cries of " Oh ! oh !" and €l moat oxtra* ordinary." Daring tho debate, and about 4 o'clock this morning, Mr M'Guirosild the Mlufator of Linds was nob serious, and that tho Promier was sitting behind his colloaguo laughing and making faces at him. This last remark Mr M'Guiro was ordered to withdraw, but substituted " Tho Promier had a very broad smile." A voice ; Nob as broad as fcho map, though Mr M'Gulro: Ib would bo bigger than tho map if it could bo got into Ilansird. Upon all tho amendments moved by the Opposition to tho Piernior's motion tho voting was tho same— 25 to 21. When tho llouso met to-day Captain Russell raised another broach of priviloga ovor tho Promlor'a insortion Into Hansard of tho tables of figures never read In the Qouso, Tho Premier donied this, and the Acting'Speakor said ho could not rule which was ris;ht, but ruled that Captain Kussell's motion way out of order, adding that I ho matter should bo reforred to tho Printing Committee to havo evldenco aud decide tho question of facb. Thon tho Promlor added to Captain Ilusaoll'8 motion, "Tho cousidoratUn of tables inserted by Messrs Frasor, Mo^ro, Scobie Mickenzio, M'Nab, Duthie, Geo. Hutcheson, Cadman and others." As tho Premier wided through Raneard for tho tables Mr J, ITutchison inters jected: "Good old Printing Debates Committee" Mr Taylor declared tho Promlor wai miking a farce of tho whole bu^Jncu3 of Parliament. Mr Crowthor said Hansard ooomed to bo one-half Incorrect, tho othor half jusb stuffing. Tho Acting-Spoakor having ruled Captain Russell's motion out of order, and permitted tho Premier to make ati addition to it, ho himnolf holding that tho nntter should bo roforrod to tho Cora* mittoo, 6\v Maurice's deputy found himself in a tangle, and tho whole business collapsed. Bub Mr Fraaor rose, and protested agilnsb tho Premier's allocations going into Hansard without tho right of replying. The Acting-Speakor, howovor, got over tho difficulty by deciding that ho would delete all this afternoon's discussion from tho journals of tho Hou-jo and Hansard,

Malls for liiji, por Upolu, will oloaa a(> Auoklaad oo September Jtifib, abd p.ra,