JUDGE EDWARDS' SALARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8362, 16 September 1890, Page 5

JUDGE EDWARDS' SALARY.

DETERMINED STONEWALL. THE GALLERIES CLEARED. AN ALL NIGHT SITTING. [BY TELEGRAPH. reporter.) Wellington, Monday. Thk vote of £1621 for the salary of " Commissioner and Judge Edwards" was persistently blocked for several hours to-night by Sir George Grey, and Messrs. Ballance, Seddon, Fish, and Taylor, and an all-night stonewall is quite on the cards, as several of tho Opposition threaten to reduce the item pound for pound before they give in. Captain Russell early this afternoon consented to strike out the words " and Judge" from the item, so as to remove the objection that was shown to any recognition of Commissioner Edwards as a Judge of the Supreme Court. Your readers will recollect that part of the famous compact made some weeks ago between Mr. Bryce and. Mr. Ballance was that the appointment of Judge Edwards should be left for the new Paaliament to decide ; and, in confirmation of that agreement, the Government to-day agreed that the salary should be voted simply to Commissioner Edwards. Capt. Russell spoke very plainly to Mr. Ballance during the discussion, charging the member for Wanganui with a distinct broach of faith. He twitted Mr. Ballance with having stated that if tho words " and Judge" were omitted he should abide by the decision of the House, whilst, the House having twice rejected reductions, Mr. Ballance had moved a third reduction in tho item. Mr. Bryce also said the member for Wanganui was wise in his generation, and he appeared to be able to change his mind very easily, for he had led him (Mr. Bryce) to believe the previous day that if this alteration were made it would satisfy him that no recognition of Mr. Edwards as Judge was intended. i Later. A persistent stonewall is still (midnight) being carried on over the Judge Edwards' <~,1..-.. At V.C...v * «

salary vote. At twenty-five minutes to twelve Mr. Fish was speaking in his most approved stonewalling form, when Mr. O'Conor moved that thegalleries be clearod, which was done accordingly, and to all appearance the House is in for an all night sitting. Ministers have a substantial majority on the question, but their opponents are determined to obstruct the vote as long as they can. Some of them even threaten to keep it up till October. They hope that some Ministerial members will not be able to stay in Wellington during an indefinite period, and that they may thus be able to secure a majority through a sufficient number of Ministerial members having lost patience and departed, leaving a small balance on the Opposition side. On the other hand the Government whips have have made careful arrangementsfor keeping a House," and at present it is believed the numerical strength of the stonewallers is not large enough to enable a very protracted course of total obstruction to be carried out. The Government declare they will not give in, but their concession in respect of removing the word "Judge" from Mr. Edwards' title, as mentioned in the Estimates, instead of conciliating the Opposition has apparently only inspired a hope that further concessions may be squeezed out of Ministers if only the pressure be severe enough. The stonewallers are well aware that many of the Government supporters are feverishly anxious to get away and begin electioneering (their opponents being in most cases already active in the field), and they count upon these members bringing powerful influence upon the Government to induce Ministers to give way, so as to let them depart to their respective constituencies. Failing this, they hope, as I have said, that these members will lose patience, and go of their own accord, leaving the victory with the Opposition. At the time of writing, it is impossible to predict what will be the outcome of this last sensational deadlock. It is, therefore, quite possible that the prorogation, instead of coming off to-morrow, as intended, may be indefinitely deferred. Tuesday, one a.m. The stonewall continues in full strength, and tedious speeches are interspersed with motions alternately that progress be reported and that the chairman leave the chair. The Opposition assure me that they have made complete arrangement* for relays of speeches for the next 24 hours. They vow they will never relax their obstruction until Ministers give way. The Government, however, profess equal determination, so it is a pure trial of dogged obstinacy on both slides, and the sole question is, who will be the first to give in ? At present this remains an unsolved conundrum.