POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2546, 26 June 1895, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[B.A.L.] A few formalities and then Privilege, which like the wind and the rain no man can gainsay. Sir Robert Stont’a motion for a committee to enquire into the absence of Sir George Grey. Sir Robert opens the ball, and wo have an hoar’s discussion, perhaps a little more. Sir Robert sticks to the legal question, the Premier and Mr Button meet him on that ground, Mr Crowther reinforces them with sentiment, dwelling raggedly on the services of the absent man, and on everything about him which may appeal to the feelings. Mr Duthie, who is in his place for the first time, and looks well after his voyage round the world, gives the latest news of the veteran. Ho spreads it ont for the House to see, ho holds it up in detail for the House to measure, ho waves it about as it were to try the strength of the stuff. The House murmurs a little as if to say the stuff is good. Mr Duthie sits down, leaving in the air the picture of a feeble old man burning with anxiety to return to his representative labours, fretting himself to fiddlestrings because adverse fate in the malevolent guise of infirmity interposes, feeling keenly the slightest wind of criticism playing over his bowed head and trembling form. Mr Duthio’s evidence, as that of an eye witness and sympathetic Now Zealander with a proper regard for the history of his country, makes an impression, and the picture ho has conjured is effective. Sir Robert, in reply, rakes over _ the arguments of the other side, has a little good humoured passage at arms with the Premier and the Hon John McKenzie, and as everybody, including the two Ministers, finishes laughing, he divests himself of all personal consideration in the matter by reiterating his respect for the law, and by declaring that if the law has been obeyed an Act of validation would smooth matters over as completely as the most exacting veteran might require. The House prefers to do it another way, and by 45 to 8 decides to leave things as they are.

Sessional committees set in, but before th ey do so there is a little skirmish over the proposal to appoint 15 members a Tariff Committee. There is a suspicion that the proposal is a device to shuffle the tariff ont of the way, there is some discussion, the Premier acorns the insinuation, there is some bantering, and the House is divided by the suspicions patriots. After that the few committees in the Bill got appointed, the dreary proceedings being enlivened by a quip from Bnller at the expense of a printer’s error.

Committee to report “ upon questions relating to tho railway.” “ Will the Minister kindly tell tis what railway this is r” says Buller with an air of profound innocence. The House laughs, but no Minister says anything, and any one who looks carefully at the Ordor Paper sees a vacant space between “railway” and the comma by which it is followed. Palpable misprint. Tho committees settled* the dob&to on tho Address comes Up, and apparently at tho outset has a narrOw escape of collapse. No one takCs any notice of tho Speaker’s formal question about anyone wanting to speak, and it is not till Mr Pirani is actually on Ms legs ready to reply that Sir Robert Stout g cts up to carry the debate on. Sir Robert lots ns know at once that be has lots to say, for he fires a shot at the Standing Orders.

” Autocratic rule of this so called Democratic House.” That is what prevents him from enlarging on all the sins of the Govern* mont and the 5 , r shortcomings. At the outset he chaffs the mover and seconder on. their “ breezy independence,” then he knocks some more fur off the fur seal, where Captain Russell left off, arid then he seta his teeth and plunges into the fray. Consols, Advances to Settlors, Land for Settlements, .Native Lands* Co-operative System, the State Fatal, the Uriwora Expenditure, these and many other things he holds up to Scorn as desperate failures, and ho varies that expression with great polemic gusto. He holds up oaoh bird of bright plumage, doela es emphatically that once It was a beauty, deplores its death* and throws the carcase at the Government. Which ho explains to mean that ho is a time Liberal, who admires the Liberal nieasurea as well meant, but condemns tlio men who have brought them to naught. For the Fair Rent BUI ho predicts a similar fate, and after some more hostile demonstrations ho comes to hia main attack^ Like the Lion Rampant he bears Ills way through Mr “Ward’s loan circular, treading Its various statements under foot. He shakes the Treasurer savagely about the three millions of unpledged securities, the guaranteed debentures, the surplus, and the whole list of things which the Treasurer has had to bear the brunt of in the columns of various Opposition papers, “A shame and a disgrace*” ‘ 5 Bogus prospectus such as rotten Companies bring out-,” and other expressions forcible but sufficiently polite for ParUdraoilttCerUpWaiso his moaning, and give vent to tlio warmth within. lie Cuds with a fierce rejection of the criticism which demands concealment of these things as the tost of patriotism. To define the noblest patflofciani ho quotes some noble lilies, arid lands his warm, norVous peroration In the midst of a burst Of applause front the whole House. The Premier takes possession of the floor fdr t reply, and then dinner ;.ihon leave dismissing the speech, and prophesying heavy weather later on; EVENING. After dinner this anticipation is realised. The Premier, who has a full house, tackles the three millions unpledged at the start, and ho pounds the senior member for Wellington for founding such serious charges on a hews* paper report. , . , The Opposition fire, a vblldy tldross his course, and Sir Robert says “ revised,” “ The Agent-General.” The Premier # sticks to it without any abatement of his vehemence. He has seen two newspaper reports contradictory of the other. “Wait for the Treasurer” is the point he works up to. Then he comes up with Sir Robert and his figures. Canada 3 per cent, wont off at .£103; yes, sir. But it was guaranteed by the Imperial Government. The dramatic pause which follows is filled with jeers by the Opposition, but Sir Robert makes no protest. Canadian history, Canadian finances and re-! sources ho givec Ufi rapidly for purpose of comparison ; and having made the comparison finds it greatly to our advantage. The history of the Canadian 3 per cent, loans he goes into with much detail of quotation. As ho waves his paper, ho says ho is very glad he had those few minutes of the dinner adjournment; He quotes four issues of 3 per cent.-—lBOl, ’92* ’o3* ’94-—gives the price in each case ; brings out .£9l* £92 Os Gel, £95 7s Cd, £97 9s 2d; works out the average £94 9s: compares it with Ndw Zealand £94 8s 9d. Tile MinisCCvialUtsi cheer the dramatic point with much enthusiasm. The Premier continues his attack along the line of figures. Mauritius and Ceylon loans, bir Robert has omitted to say that they were Imperially guaranteed. The last 3 per cent. Ceylon loan which he had flaunted at the Government, that was issued at a price 25s loss than ours, and the sum wanted, £450,000, was not covered* the subscription being a little over £300,000 only.

Sir Robert says he was giving Exchange quotations, not tho rates of issues—a remark Which the Premier replies to With a wave of his arm, after which ho proceeds to deal with tho many points of tho circular attacked by Sir Robert, and when ho has done lie pronounces that document perfect in every particular ; and while tho Opposition roar with derisive laughter, he looks as if ho were aghast at the Agent-General's moderation. Whoa tho noise subsides ho makes an eloquent reference to that officer’s personal honour. After that ho covers a vast amount of ground; more figures, surpluses and such things come on to ids anvil, and got hammered by that hammer which is always beside him and generally going. Once ho has to rebuke the Opposition for interruptions. “ I never interrupted tho senior member for Wellington, neither did they, sir. My remarks are very unploisant to them, but that ia no reason for them to interrupt me.” On ho goes through and over Sir Robert’s points, keeping up tho steam with groat vigour. He throws various missiles at Sir Robert— Hansard, his opposition to certain things, his predictions that have not come off, Ilia finance when in power—" remarks don’t apply to tho hon gentleman, who only on ono occasion had a very small surplus.” Ho speaks warmly of tho unemployed, throwing back Sir Robert’s criticisms, and ends with a fervent hope that nobody will do anything during this debate to lower tho honour of tho country and traduoo every man, woman and child in it. Tho House, which has listened throughout his allotted hour with interest, gives him a hurst of applause.

Eight out of the hand-claps up springs Patoa, whom the House receives with pleasure ns a capable speaker, who is sure to amuse them, and give them an instructive example of style and delivery. He begins with a compliment to the Premier ; “ on this the first occasion after his 50th birthday.” The Opposition think ho is getting off somo deep joke, and go off into peals of laughter, which, proving infectious, travel round the house. When the House quietens ho goes on to show that ho is very much in earnest, and ho pays the Premier a very manly compliment—referring to his fine half-oentury, his proud position, his example of how industry, energy and persistence may attain to any position. With his hand on his heart, ho wishes his hon friend “ Many happy returns.” Ho goes on to hope, if ho may be allowed to be critical, that as time goes on “ he may give us less to criticise and more to praise.” Some of the Opposition greet this with laughter, but Patea will not leave them under any misaprohension of his mind in the matter. “ Animated, Sir, by the same desire as the hon gentleman—a desire for the public good —I will now proceed to the work of criticism.” The House gives him a burst of applause. Ho takes up Mr Ward, admits the loan has been a grand success—the Opposition don’t applaud—certain things have been imputed to him ; lot us wait till ho comes back. But as tor Agent-General, fall upon him right away ; for he is not coming back. That is his line.

Ho enters the region of Finance, and stays there tor somo little time, tossing figures about with clever carelessness, much after the manner of a juggler who keeps several knives going at a time. From Finance he soon gets to Fancy. Fancy takes him to Parihaka, and there dwells with him, with happiest inspiration. Some Maori had ’compared the Premier to a white crane : a bird “ rare and beautiful,” says Patoa with an inflexion which explodes the House into laughter, and as the House laughs ho eyes the Premier comically. White elephants he thinks the Government knows more about just now, animals which have replaced the old-fashioned rod herring; but the White Crane is a now thing. Ho takes the Premier to Parihaka as the White Crane, “ personally conducted ” by the member for New Plymouth, and at every turn ho roasts the bird, and bastes him with pungent humour to the great delight of the House, while somo of the Opposition have narrow escapes of asphyxia. Wairarapa is purple, Mr Duthio seems unable to got his breath, Wakatipu is holding both his sides, Mr 801 l is laughing for once without a break, while Mr Button honours the occasion by shaking a small reef out of that permanent judicial smile in which the House is wont in critical moments to seek support. The White Crano is informed by the Prophet to speak. “ If you have anything to say, say it.” Tho chronicler is aghast, ho strikes into an attitude of pain, ho looks plaintively at tho Premier. “ Has it come to this?” he asks. “ Tho first of tho Pakohas addressed thus by this savage!” Ho develops tho sketch with first-class histrionic power, encouraged by the laughter that ripples in front of his words, is tossed up on either side of them and tossed far to each wing of the House, and swirls away after them like the wake of some lively craft dancing over the sea. But tho White Crane was never known to refuse an invitation to speak, says Patea, keeping np the show. Ho works away at the adventures of the White Crane, and ho certainly does not vary his sketch by any lines that can show tho Premier’s side of the story. When ho works out the vein of humour ha gets back to the ordinary world through tho “damp, dark bush,” in which ho stops to apostrophise tho Minister of Labour. “ Is it possible the hon gentleman is going to send men, women and children, who have as yet committed no crime, to try and make a living on ten-acre sections in such country?” Having got back to tho world of civilisation, ho solemnly fails to find anything there to tho credit of Ministers, and rounds off with a low pitched denunciation of “ Fads and Fancies,” which merges into a brief eulogy pitched in an even lower key of “that glorious country." Mr W. G. Eussoll deplores tho quantity of midnight oil expended in the preparation of tho undoubtedly excellent fancy sketch we have just had ; he wrestles with his figures, and fails to find any facts in his collection. Ho throws light into the damp, dim forest, and shows ns happy homos and prosperous settlers, he follows Patea everywhere with a certain bulldog tenacity not unmixed with volubility. From Patea he gets to tho Speech, and comes to the assistance of the Government in many ways, making particular eulogy of the boldness of the manner in which they have handled tbs Midland Eailway. Before bo finishes ho makes an important statement. “ Last year we supported tho Government solely for the sake of our election pledges, but now we have realised that they have prudence, care and judgment, and wq will support them for that reason.” The Premier, particularly, lias shown hia strength and character in resisting pressure and upholding a prudent finance. He will support the Premier. Mr Duthie cornea briskly after with his

team of words in capital order. Se whips them, up sharp into the wako of his senior for Wellington, and he keeps them cantering along merrily to the tune of ditto, which We got very energetically from their hpof*beata. He has been in London, air, and he speaks from experience. Ho astonishes the House by telling them that he knows (by sonie accidental circumstance) that tho report of Mr Ward’s speech relied on by Sir Robert is quite correct, but he thinks wo ought to let Mr Ward speak for himself. As for tho Agent-General, he sends his team into the wheel tracks of Patc-a, and when that road is past, he flies over the plain of general politics, jolting over £ll the tussocks, and holding tight as he rasps over the rocks.

Mr F. M. Smith deals with tho Tory press with an abruptness that raises laughter. He roads poetry whicli does the same, especially when he says, “If you want any, apply to mo” ! with a broad band on a broad heart ho aays it. He tells his Version of Parihaka. Invitation, great rejoicings, all spoilt by Mr Hammond’s stupid intrusion. Hp likewise ventures on the subject of iron and other resources, and I think ho may have said some* thing about the proper .thing to do with then! : spend money, and ed forth; and he is interrupted by supper.

After supper Mr Smith finishes, Mr Crowthcr follows with inter alia some rebukes of the flippancy of New Plymouth, more in Yorkshire sorrow than in tbcangor of the West Riding. Major Steward comes to the support of the Government with an.air.of high, philosophy; .arid dftcr ftipi ,Mr MeLachlan gives rugged pdiiit to the argument froib Canterbury. Wdirarapa, wlio has been Spoiling all day and night for tho fray, adjourns tho debate at the hour when yawning is privileged by high dramatic authority. Wo go away thankful that the hour is early—-com-paratively.