LOBBY AND GALLERY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1745, 16 August 1905, Page 42

LOBBY AND GALLERY.

THE POLITICAL WEEK.

Ftactically, general questions of' politics during the. week have been entirely subordinated by the renewed debates on the now famous voucher charges. Education, deience, finance, and kindred subjects' have dwindled into insignificance for the- timo being. Early in the week the political barometer pointed to- “ stormy,” at which point it remained for a couple of days. After that the atmosphere cleared, but the effects of the storm had scarcely passed away by hfaday night, when consideration of the Estimates- was resumed. Practical politics appeared to have become-, paralysed; the Estimates, from a debating standpoint, were dead—in effect, “ blown out” by the voucher winds that had come in so strongly from the South.. Three classes oi the Estimates were finished-—Legislative, Colonial Treasurer’s, and Old Age Pensions. Departments. After that—it was early yet, as time in the House- goes — shortly- before 1 a.m., members were glad to. leave the vitiated atmosphere behind them, and face the bracing, wintry air- of the night.

who have had experience of Parliame'ntary warfare recognise the same. old! lines, of attack that are disclosed. on the Estimates. In each department of. votes one generally knows what items will be “ stuck up.” There wer©_ the same, old pompoms fired, but i the powder seemed to be wet, and the guns-: worked, badly, and the: gunners far the most part missed: their mark.

It was not until, a, late hour that the House on Friday - night got on to really serious. State; questions ;, the earlier hours were taken up. in. fighting very trivial votes. It was alleged that principle—good, old principle^—was involved. It- was left to some-’ members of - the “New Liberals” to take up the time with a discussion on small things; the Opposition- proper was content to wait for criticism on debentures, and loans, and interest charges,, but even then they were met at every point with arguments, from the Colonial Treasurer that: seemed to leave his position at the finish unshaken.

There was- one matter in which the Opposition, appeared. to have felt satisfied v and that was that full; particulars in regard, to the cost of floating the last lbam. would be; furnished on the next; Imprest _ Supply. Bill, which will fee submitted before-, the- end of the month. The position of Mr Kennaway was called into question. It was argued that if he got a salary of £750 per annum' in London for services rendered to the colony, lie should not receive any honorarium, as proposed in the Estimates—£3oo. This, however; the Treasurer explained, extended over a period of three years, and was money well earned. The Opposition, warned the High Commissioner in future to attend to these matters: * The compact with, the colony’s, loan. agents was entered into years ago: There was an important. phase of the question urged on blie Governments critics—the necessity of keening men well up in the financial world to- advise the colony in its loan transactons. These- do duty for every colony, and it was necessary, the Treasurer urged, for this colony to have competent men, thoroughly versed in the do- ngs of the financial world, to watch our interests.

“Contingencies.”—moneys spent in the “sundry accounts ” of every department —took up some; time.. These are not set out in detail in the Estimates, but- are. simply re d out by the Treasurer as-each item is reached. Members wanted: them in their; hands, printed. These eont : ngenci.es involve such items as- clerical assistances, typewrit 1 ug, iravell ng expenses, etc., incident' l l to most departments. There was a ten-

denoy to closely scrutinise. The Treasurer promised to concede what was asked—in future to have them- all printed. There was gratification from the Opposition benches. Incidentally, members wanted typewriters to facilitate the despatch of their business—the Treasurer promised to get them a couple. They wanted, also, rooms in which they could neet their constituents. All the rooms available, they complained, were now monopolised, and they had to talk to their constituents in the corridors. The Treasurer admitted the reasonableness of the complaints. The old w-ooden building which had done duty for years did not provide the adequate accommodation needed, and the only way out of the difficulty was to provide for an extension. Nothing definite in this respect was promised, but members are looking forward to the time when there will be more breathing space.

There was one humorous feature of the Estimates. It was the only division called for during the debate, on an item of payment for assistance to the colony’s loan agents. The senior member for Christchurch moved to strike out the vote altogether. Very rarely during the term of administration of the 11 re sent Ministry has an item been reduced, and it did not look probable that in the last session of the present Parliament an adverse vote on the Estimates would be carried. Considerable curiosity was evinced regarding the result of "the division. There was a stampede for the “ No ” lobby—Government and Opposition alike flocking into it. The Treasurer justifiably chuckled. Mr Taylor could only muster six votes with him. “Mr Taylor’s no-confidence motion —ha, ha!” cheerily observed the Treasurer.

Who will occupy the Treasury benches next year? This question arose from some “ asides,” when the Treasurer promised the Opposition that certain detailed information asked for would be furnished in the following year’s Estimates. “You won’t be here next year,” came the cry from the Opposition benches. Amidst some laughter, the Treasurer rejoined, “I’ll be here next year to meet you; you needn’t worry about that.” Then came the adjournment of the sitting, after a debate utterly devoid of “ fire ” —tame and uninteresting.