TUESDAY MORNING IN THE HOUSE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 752, 30 July 1886, Page 13

TUESDAY MORNING IN THE HOUSE.

At 4 a.m. Tuesday morning the debate on the second reading of the Loan Bill and the amendment moved upon it, was actively proceeding, Mr Rolleston being the speaker. The hon gentleman made one of the most vigorous speeches he has ever delivered in the House, and concluded at a little after 4 amidst cheers. When he had finished the Speaker, for the twentieth time, formally stated the question, and just as he appeared about to take the voices, Sir George Grey arose hesitatingly, as if he were about to speak. As he did so, however, Mr Moss entered the Chamber, and addressing the Speaker “Sir!” walked to his seat, took up his notes, and began. He spoke for some time, criticising the Government policy and protesting against the course the Premier was taking in forcing the debate to a conclusion. Hon members now began to evince less interest in the proceedings, and Mr Moss had two opportunities of taking breathing time while the bell was rung for a quorum. Before that gentleman had finished he was interrupted by the Speaker, who notified to the House that the Hansard reporters were tired out, and were, consequently, not reporting the debate any longer. Mr Reese thereupon (it being then a quarter to five) moved the adjournment of the debate. Major Atkinson then appealed to the Premier not to allow the business to go on in this way any longer. _ He was quite ashamed, he said, of the position that was (taken up, not so much by the Premier as by a few rabid members of. his party, and he had never, in all his experience, seen such a proceeding. Was the Government , going to use its majority for the purpose of forcing the quostion to a division —for the purpose of burking discussion ? It was unfair to ask hon gentlemen to go on. There was Sir George Grey, for instance —the country wanted to know what he had to say about this important matter. Major Atkinson again expressed disapproval of the Premier’s conduct, and said he would take care that his remarks, though they were not reported in Hansard, should be reported through other channels. Mr Rolleston spoke in a similar strain, adding, confidently, that it was a mistake to suppose that part of his speech was lost because it was not reported in Hansard —he should say it all over again, and a lot more, too. Then followed a short discussion in skirmishing order, several gentlemen reminding Major Atkinson tbat he had kept the House later than this, to which the leader of the Opposition said “No, not on such an important occasion as this.” Sir George Grey denounced the “ tyrannical action o£ the Government,” and said he wanted to speak in this debate, because the Treasurer had pleaded poverty, and had said he had not received anything from the Colony ; whereas he (Sir George Grey) proposed to prove that either the Treasurer -or somebody else had received large sums. Eventually the

motion for adjournment was put and lost on the voices. Meanwhile the Premier,. closely followed by one of the Government whips, had been over to Mr Cowan’s seat and spoken to him ; and now Mr Cowan rose and moved the adjournment of the debate, expressing, as he did so, an ODinion that a deadlock had been come to. The Government did not object to this, and it was carried. Thereupon the House adjourned at a quarter past 5.