PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume LV, Issue 9971, 4 August 1893, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

ANtSRV SCENE IN HIE HOUSE. During the stonewall yesterday morning there was considerable feeling in the House, and a scene took place between two members, Messrs ilurknesa and Fish. After Mr Fisb'a speech, which concluded at 25 minutes to 3, be and soma other members were In the lobby, the member for Dunedin talking very confidently about what those opposed to tho Bill intended to do to prevent the second roadieg. Ho promised that the adjournment of the debate would be moved, and that then all the stonewall speeches to which members were now listening would be delivered over again. Mr Harkoeso, one of tho strongest cup* porters of the Bill, asked him how that could be done, when he well knew that the forms of the House would not allow him to apeak to anything bat tho question of ad* jourumeut on suuh a motion. Tho reply of Mr Fuh, who was in a highly irritable mood, and exhausted from hie long speech, was anything but courteous, and nettled Mr Harkness, who, meeting him shortly afterwards, warned him how he must behave to other members.

A scene was imminent, but tbe disturbance was quietened by the good sense of members, only to be aroused again shortly afterwards, for as Mr Fish was walking out of the House at tho 1 noes ’ lobby, Mr J, W. Kelly, sitting on his usual bench with Mr Harkneus. clapped his bauds. This brought back Mr Fish angrier than ever. Thinking that the applause had oome from Mr Harkoess, bo biased out an ex. preasloa of contempt for tho member fur Nelson. This was uttered in a stage whisper, and was heard by several members on the benches near by. Mr Darkness followed Mr Fish out, and in tho lobby demanded hra to repeat the words. He did not do so. When Mr Darkness walked away and sat down, Mr Pish took off his coat, however, end loudly challenged him. furious with rage, Tbe sound of angry voices attracted several members, but the quarrel did not get beyond words.

yesterday morning’s stonewall.

The opponents of Sir Robert Stout's Licensing Bill continued tho debate yesterday until 7 o’clock in the morning, when the galleries were re>opoued, and. Sir Robert Stoat having replied in a brief speech, (bo second reading was carried by 26 votes to 9.

Tho scene In the Douse during the stone' wall was very dreary. Members slept wearily on their benches, with improvised ru.,B and cushions, the b.ll requiring to bo rang frequently to call in a bare quorum, Mr Fish spoko for four hours and thirty, live minutes, using various n*wapaptr and magazine articles, and even a nice, now, gilb>edgod Bible, to fill in his speech. Mr Swan bad excellent assistance in tbe articles written on ihe subject of ‘Prohibition’ by Mr Stringer, and published in a supplement with tbe New Zealand Times. These eleven columns ho bravely worked bis way through, la bis slow and halting style, and read and talked for two hours, gave way to Mr Buokland, who also recorded a good performance of an hour and twenty-five minutes. At 6 o’clock he was succeeded by Mr Dawson, tbe latter speaking for an boar, when the stonewall ended.

There was a great deal of bitter feeling in the House and lobbies during the sitting. While Mr Buckland was speaking, ho lost hia temper owing to interruptions, and strong personal recrimination occurred. Tho Acting-Speaker Mr Guinness did not hear it, being tired out. Members who were kept waiting, to maintain a quorum, and oould not therefore go heme, sanntered about the lobbies or wrote Jotters, or snored in the House, amongst those who slept being the Leader of the Opposition. Tho House adjourned at 7.45 a.m. After the all-night sitting, Mr Buckland spent tho morning judging at tho poultry show. PROPOSAL FOR 7HE REFERENDUM, In hie Referendum Bill, Mr O’Cunor prot poses to refer all policy measures, constitutional questions, to., to the people, who will be asked to vote ' yes' or ‘ no ’ on any given subject. The machinery is provided iu the Bill. There aro no ewespiog provisions for. tho abolition of party government, such as might be supposed MINING ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This measure, introduced last night by ths Premier and road a first time, proposes certain regulations for tho marking out of claims and the prospecting of dtep levels. CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS. It was suggested by Sir Robert Stout last night that the Government should take up Mr Sooblo Mackenzie’s BUI amending the Corrupt Practices Prevention Aot. It was, be said, absolutely necessary that something should be done in thia matter before the next election, (or there wore many defects in tbo existing law, and Parliament should do whatever was possible to stop the gross waste of money. Tbo Premier said bo did not hold out any hope that tho Government would take up the Bill, as they had a considerable amount of work to do now, THE ORDER OF BUSINE-S. The Premier is to give notloe to-day of a motion to the effect that after next week Government business shall take precedence on Wednesdays.