POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2543, 22 June 1895, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[R.A.L.] Till three of the o’clock darkness within and darkness without, and dimness of formal business. The rain patters on the roof, and the voices mumble without even pattering in the Chamber. At three o’clock tho business brightens below, and the light is turned on above. Of course it is the question of leave of absence to Sir George Grey, ’’ Notice of motion No. 1. The Hon the Premier.” Mr Sedden moves for leave for one month. Mr Ward has written Sir George was coming, he didn’t come, he is not well; without saying any more lie leaves it to the llouse. Mr Button, one of tho Auckland members, seconds, without any further language, superfluous or otherwise, leaving the way clear for anyone who wants to develop the other side. Captain Bussell develops it. He is sorry, but it is a duty. Great respect for Grey, greater respect for the Constitution. No evidence that Grey wants leave. He quotes May and another to prove that he can’t have it even if lie wants it. O’Connell’s case, Rothschild’s case ; in each the men had objected to take certain oath ; weren’t allowed to sit till they agreed j wouldn’t agree; new election. The point, he thinks, is that they were nut members till they had taken the oath.

Sir Robert Stout remarks Grey absent for third session, and takes up another line, more modern, more close. Section 130, Electoral Act. Provides that permission must be formally given; something more than tbo ordinary temporary leaves given last year, and renewed periodically. Such loaves not satisfactory of the Aot; doubtful whether Sir George is a member at all j Sir Robert thinks he is not. Oath nothing to do with it: oath or no oath, may be member; bat insufficiency of leave fatal. Doesn’t say ho is sorry at old man’s fiasco. Mr Bell backs up both legal brother and political chief. No evidence that Grey has authorised anybody to interfere. Astonished that anybody should talk about ungraciousness and that sort of thing. This is a matter of dry constitutional law, not sentiment Mr-C’rowthor rebukes the lawyers. Pie! Declare another election, Auckland would pat Grey in again unanimously in spite of all tbo precedents of all tho lawyers. Hear, hear from Sir Robert Stout. Mr Crowthor says, no business of anybody but Aucklanders. Mr Button stands by his two colleagues, and by tho city of Auckland. Thinks bat little of the legal contention. Not only bad in law, but inexpedient in fact and unworkable. Fancy the ease of a man duly elected and prostrated with long illness, which he regards as temporary. Is a year’s absence to be fatal to him ? If so moat grievous. Mr E. M. Smith says, Grey not a member ! Absurd, and tho House roars. But Taranaki only goes tho harder for that kind of music. A large review of the noble services of Sir George Grey ho gives in brief. Dr Newman ranges up alongside of his friends of Wellington, and gives a shot at the target of constitutional principle. Not sentiment this, Sir. The Premier replies deprecating this sort of thing—most unusual, most unprecedented ; can't remember snob a thing iu his experience. Grey never objected to take any oath, therefore Russell’s quotations fall. Session 1893 nothing to do with the matter. Sir Robert’s attempt to make capital out of 1893

Sir Robert interjects that he never founded any argument on ’93. The Premier to kijoy why, in that case, ho said anything about it at all ? They skirmish, and they smile, and they finish their little rally. After '93 Grey at "fiead of poll—everything condoned. In 1894 leaves sufficient. Sir Robert mentions that his point is that they wore not. The Premier waves his arm over that. Payment of Members Aot settles the question of membership. Ho roads tho clause. Principle is that sickness absences count as attendance. Settles question in one act, in fact. Then lie develops all tho circumstances. Eulogises Grey, dwells on bis groat services ; regrets the whole episode j it is duo to some reasons not mentioned in tho House : he won’t mention them therefore; he will only say that tho Leader of tha Opposition know he’had made a mistake—looking, smilingly, at the Captain opposite—ha regards to-day's proceedings therefore as the cover for a retreat. Gaptaip Russell breaks into a smile, and says a word dr two iu good humoured deprecation. Tho Pi'crijier ends. Ho is that Grey will be pained when’ bo hears what Ijas happened. Without more ado hp goes to the vote. . Tha ayes are fairly strong; not a single “no ” is audible. Leave granted on the voices. Aftei that, monotony of formalities, enlivened by a little skirmish about Bellamy’s, to the advantage of that favourite institujfcipn, and then dinner at tho usual hour.

Evenino. Perhaps it’s the'" dirty night, perhaps it is that tbo debate on tbo Address is not popular as a show, but the galleries are not by any means full. Mr Pjraux is, however, in good form. Ho is not tho kind of man that requires an audience. Plain, business-like, earnest, with a certain unvarying ring of independence in his voice, Mr Pirani is always the same. As a speaker who has neither good nor bad moments, ho maintains his level over. Ifo plunges into the Speech quietly, as he faces tbo House in evening dress, and has acknowledged the big round of applause with H slight flush ’ <?n fiis face. Through tho whole variety of subjects ho goes, making his comments in bis precise way, ticking off each point with that usual unflagging "business air of his. Tho House listens to him with pleasure, and an occasional laugh, Mr Pirani wants some provision for cutting up the new holdings. ’’ Under tho present system, Sir, a man can’t do that for 999 years.’ ’ The House roars, and the Uttio man is so earnest and intent that ho looks surprised. Bat it is only for a moment. The Midland Railway, ho quite approves the business of the seizure. Advances for settlers, be yegayfis ns a failure, because the members of the Rpard fiqre too much to do. Licensing bo is firnj upoq. Mr Ward he honours, together with the spec,ess qf bis mission. Tho Government has faults, l;ui R is the best possible Government obtainable j honest and capable. When he has road tbo Address he sits down and gets another round of applause. . Mr Maslin follows with a certain air of confidence, and no fear of _ contradiction. Ho speaks as one of whom it is said in the iqbbies that ho didn’t feel quite at homo hero last session, but ho has been homo and back and be i's all rjght. Ho speaks without notes, and with a full confidence in_ the Government,' tempered' by' flashy? of independence I'/hiolf being , e ?prc?jed bring up smiles aU round- He gets chatted a little, and does not sgspeyl for a while, which makes everyone enjoy , it, Wljen ho gets near the end ho says he won’t weary the House, . . , There are ones of *Go on, go on in patronising keys. The South Canterbury man says, “ No, I really don’t think I will;” and a laugh goes round, at which ho looks a little before he joins it good humouredly. Captain Russell, who follows, is sarcastically sorry that ho has, in obedience to tho usual custom, to follow the . two Government suppqrtexs. They have been so harsh, he says. There is' q pleased guffaw behind tho Captainl It'turns'out, ofiexplanation, to bo the salute offered to the Captain’s safly by his friend»n<J supporter of Vyairarapa. Wairfirapa is the sole occupant pi the second ’Opposition benob, andbofeind biffi, across the sba ! of empty benches, reposes M r 'Button presiding judicially. , ■ . ~ Encouraged by the salute of the only active follower of his widely-scattered brace, tbe Captain launches into much playful satire, going through tho previous speeches with practised ease, amusing the House with thatbroad, banter of which ho is a master. When ho has applauded tho modesty of Mr Pirani, andpredicted that Mr Maslin will not be a Government supporter long, ho gets to tho Speech, and pe bowls through it iu bold, fluent style, wifb occasional passages of polished banter. One pf those docls with Parihaka. , , , “No mention of ft in the Speech, sjr. I never saw the Premier look small, sir. But I wasn’t at Parihaka.” Tho thing Is so well dope that the House and tha two Oppositionists roar, This introduction takes the Captain into tbo whole Native cquqtyy, from to travels to London and onepapteys the Treasurer ; ho gets back to Now Zealand, pads Ministers everywhere except in yyclhngton. ” Nary a now Minister for mo,” ho says,’ but not in those words. Ho talks business shrewdly, does not go into anything very deeply, and ends rather unexpectedly by d»Cluring that as there is a great deal of work to dp b® wi.lj reserve himself for it. The Ministe? Education follows Captain Russell, in the same strain of banter, delicate and sharp. Ho fails te ilatoat a gleam of sincerity iu tho Captain’s speech, except in his expression of regret that bo bad to speajf at all. Ho chaffs him in this way for some little while, ending by complimenting him on his style of criticism, to which Ministers can find no objection on tha score of its spirit. The kind pf criticism they have reason to complain' of is very dilieroqj:, Attacks on wives uud daughters and the infant children of Ministers ; that js the kind of thing whioh is' unprecedented cud unfair. If o com P/>monts the Captain on bis freedom from that sort of thing. After which be traverses tbo Captain’s arguments. One after another b® takes them and handles them, going from grave to gay ns the humour takes him. When ho gets to tho surplus there is . a little passage of arms. The Captain wo»t allow that theyo js a surplus. Mr Reeves maintains tho surplus. They exchange thrusts. “Even Sir Robert Stout,” pays the Minister," admits The surplus,” and the sqrpjus is hidden in a peal of laughter. When be hag dealt with Captain Bussell, Mr Reeves gets to tlje lufiVfir and seconder, “ I—vy al, serviceable, genuine ” are the adjectives be bus for their candid criticisms. He compliments those gentlemen. Their oritielam is of the kind likely to improve the Liberal Pjlriy, not te destroy it. Ministers never object to that sort of filing. Tbe Party applauds, and the Hours fidjpnrus a little after half-past 10,‘"on the motion of JA* Mills, tbo Government whip. Members dispute’.dis&Wgßjf thb"events' of the day. ‘