SESSIONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10837, 22 August 1898, Page 5

SESSIONAL NOTES.

[BY an ONLOOKER.]

Wellington, Saturday night. i Considerable amusement hat been caused by Mr. Holland's retort to Mr. Bollard's severe condemnation of the Auckland members for the weakness of their attitude on the Main Trunk railway question. Mr. Holland said: "Better the deil we know than the deil we don't know," which is not very complimentary to the Premier and his colleagues. He would think about accepting Mi'. Bollard's advice if he was sure the incoming Government would do the work. This is very weak, and as long as Auckland members talk in this way so long will the Premier laugh at them, and ignore the claims of Auckland. Mr. Bollard was quite right when he said that if the Auckland members made the completion of the line a life or death question, the Premier would be brought to his knees. Mr. Holland need not be afraid of turning the Government out, for they would sooner do the work than relinquish office. Mr. Holland, it is true, told the Premier he was not satisfied, but what does Mr. Seddon care for his dissatisfaction unless he backs it up by his vote.

The member for Wallace (Mr. Gilfedder) has made a calculation. He states that the increase of the beer and spirit duties shows that the people of New Zealand have each drunk four additional pints of beer and six extra glasses of whisky last year. This he take.) as an evidence of the improved condition of colonists, and the increasing prosperity of the colony, due to the administration of the Seddon Government. What will tho Prohibitionists say to this ? Mr. Tom Taylor will doubtless wrestle with the argument when he makes his speech. •

There is strong feeling in certain quarters regarding the action of some Government supporters in putting into Hansard long and elaborate tables which have never been read in the House, and it is probable that the matter will bo brought under notice of the Speaker and Parliament in a day or two. These tables have, it is said, been prepared by Government officials, and have been compiled and placed on record with the object of supporting, or emphasising, the peculiar phases of finance upon which the Government have been laying special stress. One of the tables covers a whole page of Hansard. If all that is said about this matter is true, Hansard will soon be quite valueless as an actual record of the proceedings of Pal liament.

It is now evident that there is very little hope for Mr. Millar's Liquor Bill, which stands adjourned until Wednesday next. The Financial debate will not have finished by that time, and unless Mr. Seddon is prepared to give another day for private members' Bills, which is not likely at this late period of the session, the Bill is doomed. It remains to be seen whether the Government will take the matter up, and adopt Mr. Millar's proposals in a Ministerial measure.

I understand that Mr. Samuel Vnile feels keenly the scant courtesy which ho has received at the bands of the Premier and the Legislature. The Railways Committee of the House declined to hear him, and the Public Petitions Committee of the Council has taken up the same attitude. The Council, as a whole, was then appealed to, and on a division the action of the Petitions Ccmmitlee was upheld. lam told that the Premier has even declined to grant Mr. Vaile an interview. This is surely an uncalledfor slight to cast upon a gentleman who has devoted many years of his life to the study of the railway question, and who only desires to place the information at his disposal at the service of the State. I understand that Mr. Vaile intends to appeal from Parliament to the people.