SESSIONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9615, 13 September 1894, Page 5

SESSIONAL NOTES.

f»T TELEGRAPH. —.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. 1

Wellington, Wednesday. The Government Rating on Crown Lands Bill was received last night with a storm of protest from all parts of the House. Mr. Bell's statistics, showing that the overwhelming proportion .of assistance would go to the West Coasb of the South Island, formed the key-note of the discussion. Mr. Massey agreed with Messrs. Thompson and Houston that the Bill was a snare and a delusion, and contended that while certain counties on the West Coast would receive their thousands, the districts North of Auckland would get comparatively nothing. Mr. Massey reminded the Premier of his promise when in Auckland to give assistance in the maintenance of the main country roads in the Auckland district. Mr. Massey hoped this was nob a sample of the aid the Premier intended to render, . When the Treasurer rose to reply the rush of interjections to elicit information as to the way in which the various districts would fare kept him busily employed. He assured Mr. Thompson that bis district would receive £80, but the member for Marsden replied, " More likely eighty shillings." The Bay of Islands would receive about £40 a year, and the Auckland City £160. The West Coast district as a whole would get some £3000, Wesbland* getting £1000 and Inaogahua £900. This announcement was greeted with loud cries of "Oh 1" The division proved a close one, the second reading only being carried by 27 to 23. Of the Auckland members, Messrs. W. Kelly, Lang, Lawry, and Harris voted for the Bill, and Messrs. McGowan, Thompson, Crowther, Houston, and Massey against it.

During the debate upon the Railway Bill to-day Mr. Crowther arrested the attention of the House by stating that he intended to suggest a- well-known gentleman for the position of Minister of Railways, he referred to Mr. Samuel Vaile. This pronouncement provoked an outburst of laughter, but Mr. Crowther persisted that he would not be doing his duty as a representative of Auckland if he neglected this opportunity of introducing the name of one so capable of filling the position to the notice of the House. In reply to this, the Premier laughingly stated that Mr. Crowther's suggestion was equivalent to a request that the Government should call Mr. Vaile to the Upper House in order to make him Minister of Railways. Mr. Crowther seemed afraid that Mr. Vaile would not be safe in this House, and that the only way to keep him from members and to protect him from their continual wants was to place him in the Legislative Council. The Premier was sorry the representative of Auckland had such a poor opinion of his fellow-members.

Tne now famous twenty-first section of the Alcoholic Liquors Act was again brought up to-day, when Mr. G. J. Smith, of Christchurch, asked if the Government would agree to give the House an opportunity to consider the petition of Edward Taylor and another, presented to the House on the 12th of July, praying for relief in connection with the action of section 21 of the Alcoholic Liquors' Sale Control Act, 1893? The Premier stated that at the present stage of business ib was almost impossible for him to give an answer in the affirmative. As to setting aside a special time for discussing the question, the Governmenb would consider the matter, and if any wrong had been done it was for them to rectify it. Mr. Smith wanted to know if he could again bring the matter up should the answer of the Government prove unsatisfactory to him. The Premier re- | plied, "The hon. gentleman may ask a question every day upon it."

A general discussion upon the " black list" question took place this afternoon. Messrs. G. W. Russell and Morrison, as members of the Railway Committee, to whom it was suggested the matter should be referred, thought the charges should be more specific, and the committee ought not to be required to wade through a volume of Hansard. Sir Robert Stout contended that the charges were specific, and would be found within the limits of one page of Hansard, and Mr. Bell asserted that the charges were as specific as charges could be made; bub some members seemed to desire that Sir Robert Stout should disclose his evidence. The Premier urged that preferring charges made in the course of a speech to a committee was laying down a dangerous precedent that might curtail the liberty of speech in the House. He did not think it right for a member to make charges for the purpose !of going on , a fishing expedition. (Sir Robert Stout : "We will see about that.") The Premier went on to say there might be some means of avoiding the necessity of an inquiry. The Commissioner, for instance, might have a complete answer. (Sir Robb. Stout: "I won't accept their answer.") At this stage Captain Russell remarked that when the Premier spoke aboub a fishing excursion ib was to be presumed thab there were fish somewhere ahout. The discussion closed by the Premier stating that he would look into Hansard, and if the charges were sufficiently specific he would move for a committee, to which Sir Robert replied, "If you don't, I will." He wanted to examine certain persons whose names had not hitherto been mentioned in the business.

When Mr. Pinkerbon camo to move hiß amendment for tin reversion of the railways to political control, Mr. Russell, of Riccarton asked what did nob look like an easy question for the Premier. Which amendment) had the probation of the Government—that of Mr. Pinkerton for political control pure and simple, or that of Mr. G. J. Smith, who simply wanted to deprive the Minister as a member of the Board of Commissioners, of the power of veto? Here Mr. Earnshaw was ludicrously concerned lest be might find himself voting against the wishes of the Premier. Mr. Pinkerton usually cautious and self-contained, provoked the mirth of the House by gravely stating that "Mr. Smith's amendment was a \ censure upon the Government, while his j was an amendment to improve the Bill." I Captain Russell, with characteristic good ! humour, pointed out that the mover of the j amendment, Mr. Pinkerton, wis evidently the coming Minister for Railways. The j House was now in high good humour, and welcomed Mr. Crowther, who, in his quaint way said, with slow seriousness, thab as the Premier was bashful, he would opeak for him, and be would say that the amendment was wot the amendment of Mr. Pinkerton, but of the Government. Mr. Pinkerton was too good a general to move such an amendment without consulting the Premier, and knowing he was going to win. Then came the close of this comedy interlude in a pleasant speech of the Premier, who said that he believed that a majority of membeni favoured political control, and for his part he would not be offended if Mr. Pinkerbon's amendment was carried, and should nob think it . necessary to consider the position of the Government.