SESSIONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11151, 25 August 1899, Page 5

SESSIONAL NOTES.

Wellington', Thursday night. Members are getting very dissatisfied) not to say absolutely disgusted, at the way in which questions are angered by Ministers, Take the Minister for Public Works, for instance. He generally prefaces his reply to a question put by an Opposition liiember, by some irritating insinuation, as to the reason why the question was asked. A straightforward courteous answer is the exception, arid not tiie rule. Tlie Premier's method is equally unsatisfactory. He exhibits a lamentable want of dignity and statesmanship, even when dealing with the most important questions. We had a typical example of his method in his answer to Mr. Joyce's question this afternoon on federation. He commenced by some childish nonsense about sending certain members to Australia as their absence would facilitate business. It is difficult to know when he is serious alid ivlibh he is joking, but surely there ought to be no levity regarding a subject like federation, when it is considered that a right br wr'dng decision must have an enormous effect for good or evil on the future of the colony. One cannot imagine Lord Salisbury of Sir. Chamberlain treating a, great Imperial question with the levity which has become only too common in the New Zealand Parliament. It is only fair to mention that Mr. Cadmah does answer questions affecting his Department, in a serious and straightforward manner, and there is hot touch objection to be taken to Mr. Carroll's method.

When the Loan Bill is in committee, Mr. Kelly will move to hold it over Until the electors have had ail opportunity to say whether the colony shall go in for any further borrowing. This motion will, of course, cause considerable discussion, but is not likely to be carried. If the loan is not agreed to railway construction and othfer public works would probably be brought to a standstill. Judging by a remark made by the Leader of the Opposition last night, it is not likely that Captain Russell arid Ills followers will endeavour to obstruct the progress of the Bill, though, of course, they will want, the fullest information as to how the money is to be spent-.

In answer to a question put by Mr. Lewis this afternoon, regarding the Press Association reports of the speeches of members, the Premier thought that they were more fair than the reports published in Wellington, Better hews of the proceedings of Parliament was to be obtained away from Wellington, than in the city of Wellington itself. That seemed to be the general opinion among members.

A little trouble arose between Mr. Pirani and Mr. Morrison during the discussion of the Municipal Franchise Reform Extension Bill to-night. In the course of the debate Mr. Pirani said, in answer to some remark by the member for Caversham, "Now, kerosene tins, keep quiet," referring, no doubt, to the recent dispute between Mr. Taylor and Mr. Morrison over a statement by the latter, that liquor had been taken into Clutha in kerosene tins. Later on Mr. Morrison said to Mr. Pirani, " You are giving the House impertinence." Mr. Pirani moved that these words be taken down, the member for Caversham admitting that he had used the words. On being asked what the words complained of were, Mr. Pirani said the remark was, " The member for l'almorston is giving the matter impertinence," Mr. Pirani said lie would not consent to such words being used to him by the member for Caversham, or even the Premier. Mr. Morrison now declared that the words proposed to be taken down were not the exact words he had used. The motion that the words be taken down was then put, and declared to be lost on the voices, and the incident closed.

The attention of the Premier was directed this afternoon by Mr. Lawry to the wretched methods of pronouncing certain words, which is becoming all too common in our public schools, Mr. Lawry requested the Premier to call the attention of teachers to the pronunciation of such words as take (toiko), again (agoin), day (doy), and so on. Mr. Seddon created some amusement by declaring that he could speak with authority on this subject. No doubt he referred to his Cambridge degree. iHe believed in the axiom, " the greater the diversity the higher the education." Nothing pleased him more than to hear his own provincial dialect. The Premier here gave a few illustrations of the Lancashire dialect, which appeared to be double Dutch to members, as there was a general demand for a translation. The Premier treated the matter right through as a joke, but the pronunciation of many of the young people of the colony is certainly fat' from satisfactory, and the attention of the teachers might, with advantage, be called to the complaint.