POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2579, 3 August 1895, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

' [R.A.L.] The afternoon ia devoted to questions. The chief incident is the Treasurer’s declaration that an earlier session is the key-note to the question of returns and financial accounts. Ho conjures up all the arguments, criticisms, demands and denunciations of the past few months and years ; waves his arms and brings out yards and yards of argumentative ribbon. He does it by indication and’ suggestion, and such feats of the political conjurer. We have visions of earlier sessions and Financial Statements within the critical time. Can this be ? There 'is no deponent .to throw more light on the point, .Things look likely that way. Mr Allen makes them lively also by tirading about the refused returns. Mr Stevens goes for a walk, a prolonged walk on the country roads, and in the middle of his peregrinations is summoned with the rest of the House to dinner. . . After dinner we Lave pigeons and other game, which fly out of the Animals Protection Bill in committee. The birds fly all over the precincts, and hon members takes shots at them in the most oompassionate manner. It is a regular battue, in the course of which we learn much about the . Native game, and. have to deplore the loss of so many pigeons wantonly slaughtered in their search for succulent berries. There is a general air of sport and roast meat, shooting parties in the bracing mountain air and savoury feasts, and birds of brilliant plumage among the breezes and trees and the Italian atmosphere. When the game is cleared away we have whisky, and—water. ■ Alcohol Control Act Amendment Bill; the Government measure. , The Premier moves second reading. Stands, between whisky and water. Declaims against both. Fights all his points with great energy, and after appealing to the [moderate men sits down. “ When moderate men looked big, sir, the old verse somehow comes into mental view.. - 1 ' ’ Sir Robert .takes to the .water, comes out and shakes his coat in the face of the Premier, who looks as if he would, like to sjy Lie, down, sir,” but -does not, When he has scattered all his drops and dried his dripping coat, he says no more. . Consistency,, bare majority, confidence of, public, many "other" things appear in the drops he has scattered oyer the Premier. This little dual, over, whisky and water fight till supper and after. "At half-past 12 the Premier rises to reply, and replies. Ho is in great fettle, and marks' once more his distance evenly between whisky and water. His Bill is moderate ; it is', consistent with his whole attitude from the earliest point of his career. Sir Robert-is-.consistent,-too. Only in this ; in nothing more. Let us fight it out, is his parting shot, the last of a big broadside ofreturn fire. . 1 ■■■ • ; There is a little avalanche of personal explanations, out of which' it is noticeable ‘that Mr XJawry repudiates the soft impeachment of being a whisky champion. The Premier gays ho never said ko—oh; dear no—and Mr Lawry has tewing his tomahawk in empty space. HP dgas not swing it long, for Mr Speaker’s ’eagle .eye begins to' travel in bis,, direction.. r,-, •••, Then we ought, to have, .division, ,If therqis Anything in hells ivo must have division.' •Apparently, there-is nothing.:’in bells;: anymoreifhan there is in Prohibition; for thereof, no division. ... • Division is certainly Called for, and the -tailors for the “■Ayo»'’ n ’ar« easily named. Mr Speaker has no difficulty; wTho trouble begins when ho tries to name tellers for the “Noes.” One name after another draws a blank; ■’ ■’k k : _ r “Mr Dutlpe,” says the big voice. Mr Duthio bao gope- home,” shouts several .voices, - . ~ ’ , r I presume there's no difSfinlty, gay® Mr Speaker quite pleasant and mellifluous. Air Speaker, has tqproposo to get over, the difficulty and he Rods! so by'asking any two to: stand up-who are willing.-to'tell for the. Noes. Mr Pratt , stands,, up,,-but never, another. , The difficulty therefore continues, and Mr Speaker, finding no one game to be a toller for tf;3 ’■ Noes,” declares the Bill carried on, tlj.o voices!'.;' - ' ;l V, Astonishment ai}d ufijourument at a fittle after one, • ;.. •