SESSIONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11162, 7 September 1899, Page 5

SESSIONAL NOTES.

Wellington, Wednesday night. " Is all my experience I hare never known so strict a ruling to have been insisted upon by the Chairman," said two or three members during the old age pensions debate lastnight. Speakers were kept very closely within the defined limits, and on the average a " point of order " was raised every five minutes. The Premier was very much in evidence with his appeals to the chair, so much so that Mr. Scobie Mackenzie asked whether Mr. Seddon was not usurping the functions of the Chairman. Mr. Crowther had to be pulled up so often that, he at last said in despair, " The nearer you come to a point that means something, the further you get away from it." Members simply roared with laughter, and the Chairman ruling that the remark was a reflection on the chair Mr. Crowther disclaimed anv such intention. " But," he added, " the idea was ingrafted in my mind, and it is still there." Once again the House rang with peals of laughter.

The House sat till twenty-five minutes to five o'clock this morning, discussing the amendment to the Old Age Pensions Act, introduced by the Premier. The discussion having lasted till after midnight, the Premier could not go on with the Estimates, but he determined to be revenged on the Opposition, and sent the senior Whip round to his own supporters with a message to keep the discussion going. This, the Ministerial following readily agreed to do, but it was a case of cutting off the nose to spite the face, for while the Opposition, with the exception of a few tireless spirits, wont home to seek rest and sleep, the Premier's supporters had to stay in considerable numbers to " keep a House." The hours dragged wearily, the debate was an absurd and meaningless one, and altogether the spectacle was humiliating in the extreme. About four a.m. the Premier, tired and jaded, was asleep in his chair at the table when he suddenly awoke, and starting to his feet astonished everyone by glaring in the direction of the Left Wing corner, and calling the attention of the Chairman to the presence of a stranger on the floor of the House. To the others members of the House it seemed a case of " Ho I sleep, do I dream, or is visions about,' for all they could see was the dishevelled and recumbent form of the member for Parnell. Then the Premier rubbed his eves, and it dawned on him that the supposed stranger was one of his own staunchest supporters. " Is that Lawry ?" he asked, and the question was answered by that tired member unfolding himself and rising to a point of order. Thus, it is that the paid servants of the people do their business. The Premier will insist 011 late sittings and rushing his Estimates and other important business through during the small hours of the morning when members are brain-fagged and physically unfit to deal even with matters of parochial interest.

It is stated that rumours are being spread in Canterbury to the effect that Mr. Rolleston will seek ro-election in the North Island. There is absolutely no truth in the statement. Mr, Rolleston will contest the seat bo at present represents. This session he is full of fight, and has done excellent service in the House. Indeed, both sides recognise that lie is a most valuable representative,

Mr. Morrison, the member for Caversliam, journeyed to Newtown, a populous part of Wellington, on Monday evening, to address a meeting in the Liberal interest, and to initiate a branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation. Though the meeting was duly advertised, only some 14 people attended, and of this number several were friends of the speaker. Apparently the Wellington electors were not burning to hear the eloquence of the member for Caversliam, They already know enough about the so-called Liberal Administration. Mr. Morrison accordingly decided to reserve his oratory for another place, and returned sorrowfully to town with an altered opinion as to the abilities of Mr. Seddon's new Liberal organiser.

Mr. J. C. Wnson, the member for Selwyn, states that ho will not be a candidate at the general election. It is his intention to retire from politics, and at the end of tho session he will leave for Scotland on business, returning to the colony next year. Mr. Wason's'decision will be recoived with general regret, as in these days of professional politicians he is just the stamp of man required in Parliament. The Opposition expect to have a strong candidate to take the place of Mr. Wason.

An animated discussion arose as soon as the House went into Committee on the Loan Bill to-night, the Opposition contending that the exact amount to bo spent should be placed opposite each particular railway or work mentioned. Mr. Allen called the attention of tlio House and country to the fact that the Premier had stated that the schedule of a Loan Bill was not worth the ink with which it was printed, He (Mr. Allen) would like people interested in the unauthorised railways mentioned to know this. (Mr. Kelly: "It is worth votes.") Mr. Allen said it might be worth votes if the people did not know, but when they did know it would have the opposite effect. The Promier subsequently explained that the schedule was useful, inasmuch as the people who lent the money expect that it would be spent in accordance with the schedule. He promised to give members a chance of discussing each item separately. He also explained that in several cases all that could be done this year would be preliminary works and surveys, and this accounted for the small amounts proposed to be voted.