SESSIONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9581, 4 August 1894, Page 5

SESSIONAL NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH,—- SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] ;'-I, ' t • v.- k- » -• • •-V. : .' v- ?-3 r ' Wellington, Friday. Ik his opeech 'this ■ afternoon, Captain Russell showed the utter, silliness of the anger exhibited by Ministers at the interview which appeared in your columns simultaneously with the Financial Statement. " Why," he ; asked, " should not members who,disagreed with the Budget slate their opinions, and permit their criticisms to be published The Treasurer had said that the interviews had been placed before the public on the same morning that the Statement appeared in order to discredit the proposals of the Government, but that they had failed to do bo. However, Captain Russell pointed out with great force that the fury of the Premier and the extraordinary step of the Treasurer in evading the new Standing Orders to secure an additional hour's speech, which he entirely devoted - in ' the highest falsetto to the criticisms of !the leaders of the Opposition, and Sir Robert Stout, showed that the interviews had very considerably modified the effect of the plausible contents of the Budget upon the public. Mr. Earnshaw significantly asked how ib was that the Colonial Treasurer had so carefully refrained from referring to the criticisms of such faithful supporters as Messrs. Pinker ton, O'Regan, and Saunders, which ' appeared in your paper with the others, while he laid such stress upon what Sir Robert Stout, Mr, Earnshaw, and the leaders of the Opposition had said.

. So far asi I can ascertain, the " perpetual lease" advocates in the House, as against the lease in perpetuity of the new Lands Bill number 38. As this will soon be a big question in the country, as well as in Parliament, I give the names of members who have either expressed themselves in favour of the reforms or are believed to desire it. They are: Messrs. Allen, Bell, Buchanan, Buddo, Buick, Button, Collins, Crowther, Duthie, Earnshaw, Flatman, Graham, Hall-Jones, Heke, G. Hutchison, Joyce, J. W. Kelly, Lang, T. Mackenzie, Massoy, McGuire, Maslin, McLachlan, Meredith, Miller, Mitchelson, Newman, O'Regan, Pinkerton, Pirani, W. R. Russell, G. W. Russell, .G. J. Smith, Stout, T. A. Tanner, Thompson, Withy. Notwithstandstanding this long array of strong names, I think the Hon. Mr. McKenzie will have his way, and get the tenure he has fought for so desperately ; not that he believes ib the best, but that he is convinced that ib must remain if the Bill is to be saved from destruction by the Council. Still ib looks as though the perpetual lease will soon be placed upon the Statute Book by the mere strength of its supporters, and I am quite prepared to find that once "the measure now before Parliament is passed, a short amending Bill will be introduced to give effect to the desired change. As to the political element on the Land Boards, if I have pricked the card aright, they are 46 representatives opposed to the inclusion of the district member, so that one defeat at least seems to awaib the Minister in committee.

The elective executive party in the House are just now in a hopeful vein, nob that they anticipate success for the Bill of Major Steward as much as that they have had of late some wind of favouring fortune thab will strengthen their numbers in the Legislature and will have influence with the country. Thus the tactless, if not brutal, methods resorted to by the heads of the Government in their management of : the party machine have made soma of the new men, wincing under their bondage, give willing ear .to the reasoning of the enthusiasts who would r abolish party government and substitute an elective executive. Then the report of the Constitutional Reform Committee of the House is positively startling in ths emphasis of its approbation. These gentlemen send up bo Parliamenb their deliberate opinion that party government as ib exists in New Zealand is nob adapted to obtain the best results in Government, and that a change is requisite. As to the probable fate of Major Steward's Bill, ten days ago ib looked as though some twenty members would vote aye" for the abolition of party government. If that number were of that opinion then, there is a greater number now, and the inevitable law of compensation will yet avenge the martyrs to the tyranny of the ticket.

After the usual batch of petitions asking for the amendmenb of the liquor law, Sir Robert Stout asked the Premier when he intended to bring down his Licensing Bill. Mr. Seddon said he hoped to be able to bring his measure down immediately the financial debate was over. Sir Robert replied that the Bill had already been read a first time. -He wanted to know when ib would be printed and circulated ? "I am afraid," ' responded the Premier, " I will not be prepared to circulate it before the conclusion of the financial debate; bub I hope bhat, like last year's Bill, ib will give satisfaction to everyone." This remark naturally evoked an outburst of laughter.

Dialing -with th 9 attitude of the Government to Sir Roberb Stout, the Post states that "in the speech made by the Premier on Wednesday evening he stated that Sir Koberb Stout would be ' bitten' by his myrmidons. Nothing could better show the obedience arid invertebrate character of the Seddonian following than whab took place last night. Almost all who spoke on the Government side had learned their lesson well. Messrs. Montgomery, Morrison, McGowan, etc., spent almost as much time on the senior member for Wellington as on the Budget. None of them seemed to know much, or care, much, what the financial position of the colony was, but though unable to discuss the Budgeb they obeyed the Seddonian word, and went,'for Stout. Ib is accounted wrong to criticise the Budget and a great crime to pick holes in HVardian finance. Nay, it is even reprobated that the true position of . the colony should be stated, for it is stated the London moneylenders may not lend us money, and without borrowed money what are we to do ? ..The Government supporters could only repeat parrot-like the lessoninculcated -by their . tribune. . Independent criticism cannot be allowed. As it, was with thg Land for Settlements Bill, so ib is with the Budget; ib must be swallowed without a murmur of discontent."