PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 2875, 18 July 1896, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[R.A.L.j “ The dignity and the power of Parlia-ment-.lt i* the war-cry of the Gorernmeat. The Premier raises it tho moment the Banking Committee’s report is laid on the table. Tho committee reports the contumacy of Mr Watson. A long foolscap page of question and answer waves like the flagof battle. The Premier raises tho wavery. Dignity and power of Parliament. They have been defied. A committee ordered by the House to do a certain thing finds it impossible to do that thing, because Mr Watson will not obey tho orders of tho House. He has been warned, his counsel has been warned, that something will be done to make him feel warm. For a time it looks as if Mr Watson is going to bo treated to “ something Ungoring with boiling oil in it.” It never appears during tho Premier's speech under the flapping flag with tho big motto what will bo the exact punishment of that contumacious gentleman ? Everyone about the preoints knows that the’ Premier is going to move that Mr Watson shall be fined .£SOO for contumacy. In that way tho Premier is to ask the House to maintain the dignity and power of Parliament. The Premier intimates that he will move something at half-past seven. Everybody knows what it is ; therefore nobody is interested in tho present aspect. Nevertheless there is a biggish, glibbish > debate. That is tho usual effect of any refer once to B.N.Z. PLANTING CROWN LANDS. In answer to questions, the Minister for Lands said that tho Government intend to plant with forest trees lands not suitable for settlement. He added that experiments were being made with blocks of land. PROHIBITION ORDERS, The Hon Major Steward asked the Minister of Justice (1) If his attention has beau called to the face that prosecutions for breaches of the Licensing Act in supplying prohibited persons with liquor have recently failed, owing to its being held that prohibition orders made bv Justices of the Peace are ultra vires ; (2),*is it the tact that such orders can only be made by Stipendiary Magistrates; (3) if so, will he take stops to amend the law ; and (4) if not so, will he endeavour to get an authorative decision on the subject P Mr Thompson intimated that the Government could hot answer legal questions, but that if tho decisions of competent authorities are brought before them they will take steps if necessary to have the law altered. “ INTER ALIA.” Thirty-three other questions wore asked in all, and answered. Tho most important of the answers being that Government is keeping steadily in view the case of tho much Biased young woman who was decoyed to Westport the other day, and that tho Info Government Printer retired at tho request of the Government, and without compensation of any kind. ADJOURNMENT. The adjournment grows out of tho questions. Sacred right of question leads to sacred right to balderdash, which soaks up tho afternoon as a thirsty soil sucks up tho rain from heaven. Members explain why they have done certain things, and why they have not done certain other things. Nobody cares. Two matters vise to tho surface, one is the Queensland cattle “tick.” A disgusting crawler which makes everybody sick, oxcept a few enterprising souls who actually venture on trying to make capital out of the noisome creature. 'The “Big Claymore ” moots their cries by raising the

slogan of bis race, “ Cut thorn off root and branch,** ho shouts. Ho intimates that total prohibition is the only safety at all eronts lor tho present. The loatUer-aellora weep and the leather-lunged are silent. The other matter is about cadets. Svr Robert Stout calls them clerks; draws pictures of their swarms; holds up his hands in horror at their number; sees corruption and shudders. The Minister of Lands says that one cadet only has-been appointed in the temporary category. “One poor boy,” he aays, in the most derisively sympathetic tone ; “ Our only one, sir.” He seems to object that Sir Robert wants to deprive the service of this poor lamb. Tho Parliamentary kaleidoscope revolves until dinner. EVENING SITTING. An enormous crowd everywhere, GSi members in tho House all in thoir places, tho majesty of Parliament over all —all eyes on the Premier, who is on his legs asking that Mr Watson, the contumacious, shall be baled to tho Bar of the House. Tho Premier ia very much in earnest. Ho takes a grip of Watson, tho contumacious. He makes a big fire under the forgo of criticism, ho blows the bellows of the forge with great force and rapidity, ho thrusts tho coutumacygof this Watson into the fire, brings it out red hot, and gloats over it with perspiring forehead. Me takes it out, planks it on the anvil of denunciation, and hammers it with tho hammer of detail. Several tiicea ho returns it to tho fire, each time ho gets the bellows to work, makes it hum, makes tho fire blaze furiously. Whenever on those occasions ho brings the iron of contumacy back to the anvil it ia at white heat. Bang goes bis hammer, away go tho sparks in showers, tho swing of hia brawny arm is Tho fuel ho throws into tho furnace is the dignity and power of Parliament. Tho fuel ia of immense heating power, it makes that iron terrible to look at, it gives steam for the Premier’s arm in unlimited quantity. As tho performance goes on Premier becomes warm, gets a flow of indignant language, appears to be alluding to some awfully desperate criminal. The Opposition engage him with derisive laughter, hurl derogatory remarks at him, treat him to the language of sarcasm, throw at him the missiles of sarcasm. “No laughing matter, sir,” says ho. Tho most serious in our annals he gives us to understand it is, as ho falls to his hammering again, quite unabashed by tho interruption. Ho is astounded at tho levity of tho enemy—not the slightest respect have they for tho serious character of the privileges and freedom of this House. The sparks fly more out of this iron of contumacy, and the fiery showers spell many things awful management in tho past, robbery of widows and orphans, writings - off innumerable, all things pertaining to tho position of ton years ago. Enemy of tho Bank! Yes, sir. It is this Mr Watson who is the enemy. . He pretends to act in tho interests of tho shareholders. There, sirs, is the enemy. The Opposition keep up their fire of laughter and cheers 5 tho Government troops give feeble cheers ; the hammering rings away for half an hour. “ Sir, I move the motion.”. Captain Russell repudiates the insinuation that ho and his people have made light of the privileges of tho House. Simply been laughing at the bathos of tho Premier, air. But theiCaptain takes up tho tongs and tlm hammer too. Technical breach, of the privileges ho says has been .committed. He therefore seizes tho iron of contumacy, puts it into the fire for a second or so, puts it on the anvil, and taps it lightly to the tune of tho “ woodpecker.” Pinal tap says in faint ring, “ Must vote for tho motion.”

Patca takes up the iron in quite a different way. Firm is his touch, practised his skill, just a blow or two and he is done. No precedent, sir, for employment of counsel. He takes the cutter, places it on the iron just where there is a branch; gives a tap or two and cuts off the branch of counsel; sits down with an artistic expression overspreading his features. Ho leaves in the air the memory of Mr Bridges, a banker, who, deprived of counsel, collapsed 'awfully at the Bar before which wo are all hungering to see Mr Watson.

Clutha is in his most swirling mood. The water power of the whirling floods ho uses to blow the forgo and wield the hammer-. He does his best to undo, the work of the first blacksmith under chestnut tree of privilege. B-oach of privilege ! If it wore, would bo proud to honour Mr Watson. The real defender of the Bank is Mr Watson. Among the sparks that fly from the iron under his hammer are a collection, which spell Mew Zealand Tikes in praise of Mr Watson. Mr Eamehaw when he gets to the forgo loaves the iron of contumacy alone, and puts the Premier into the fire. Mr Hogg hails Mr Garnsbaw as if ho wore on the top of Mount Victoria. He calls him “ Panjandrum.” The great P. of tho Liberal Left Wing. J . , ' Mr Karnshaw hears, and wants the Speaker to protect him from bad language. Mr Speaker asks him if he knows what “ panjandrum ” moans. For bis part, ho knows not the word. Whereupon tho House roars with delight. , „ , Mr Hogg intimates in several volleys of sound that ho had no intention of reflecting on Mr Garnshaw. In several ©tier volleys ho intimates that he hag the greatest respect for the member for Dunedin ; and tho House accompanies him with other volleys. Thus encouraged, tho Masterton batteries are' turned on this question of privilege, and play upon tho forgo and the anvil and the iron of contumacy. Tho last salvo is for tho two ' recreants, Olutha and Dunedin, who alone have denied that tho privileges have been broken by Mr Watson. ** More power to him,” says Olutha. Thero is an awful pause, members looking at their desks all round. The pause is broken by Mr Speaker. 44 That remark cannot bo allowed to pass unnoticed,” ho says in that voice of low-pitched suggestion the House knows so well. It is the growl of the distant thunder which portends tho storm. The dark dead silence of the place is broken by cries of “ withdraw,” thrown at Olutha in various keys from various parts of the ’ House. Clutha sits still. Mr Speaker gravely invites him to withdraw the words, explaining how bad they rises, dark and dour. Says he gave hla real opinion and there it mast stand. Mr Speaker explains that if he persists there are consequences ; points out those consequences. Another pause. It is what practical men call “ touch and go.” But Olutha withdraws tho words —tries to justify them according to tbo usual practice in these cases, is prevented by the Speaker, and the* incident ends. Tho debate goes on, every on© taps tho iron of contumacy except Riocarton, who sees no breach of privilege at all, and is brought to a close by the Premier’s reply, who gives lest touch. The irouis given up to tho House ready for final touch. Final touch is 44 Watson called to the Bar forthwith, with his counsel.” “Sergcant-at-Arms,” says Mr Speaker, “you tare to bring William Watson to the Bar.”

Colonel Fraser, at the first word of this order, ’.vheels about and makes for the door ; at the same time Mr Watson, who has be-in quietly sitting all the evening in one of the Speaker’s chairs on the floor of the House, gets up also to meet the officer. After they Doth disappear there is a buzz of whispered oenversation all over the place, and the Speaker calls out, “Place a chair for the counsel.” A messenger puts up the brass bar, and drops the green curtains. The curtains are opened, and Mr Watson, with his counsel, come* te the Bar in custody of the Sergeant-at'Arms. Mr Wat-on remains standing. Mr Th«o, Cooper, the counsel, who ia in wig and gown, takes the chair provided for him. The Sergeant-at-Arms takes up a position behind, as if prepared to prevent any sudden bolt on the part of bis clients. Mr Speaker addresses Mr Watson, who is

perfectly self-possessed, a little pale, just a degree nervous. “Como up to tho bar,” says Mr Speaker, and the dapper little figure comes briskly up with the air of one who is ready to take any place whatever. He gives his name, and acknowledges nunself president in a voice that shakes a little. Mr Speaker puts the question to h;m. He refuses to answer. Explains—and his voice gets firmei as he docs so —that it is uot^ contumacy on hia part, but conscience. Then briskly turns about, and says ho will leave too counsel to address the House. Not so fast, not eo last, sir ; your lime is not over yet. You have forgotten the ordeal of question. Mr Speaker intimates that the ordeal may begin. The Premier is up ana half through a question, and halt a dozen members look eager to follow, when Mr Speaker stops the rush, intimating that questions must bo written. They are written. They come quick, they come sharp, blunt, wise, foolish, useful, useless. Mr Watson answers each in a soft voice, warily, oannily, taking tho greatest care to understand everything bolero ho answers. Occasionally ho refers to the counsel. For the most part he stands holding tho bar with one hand, tho other up to his ear to enable him to hear. “ Point of order ” makes a diversion of the stream of questions. It is Mr Duthio asking whether the enquiry is not taking too wide a range by goiug too much into tho affairs of the Bank. Mr Speaker says that in his opinion tho enquiries ought to bo confined to the refusal of Mr Watson to answer. A discussion rises up for a moment on points of order, like a straw fire, and goes out like the same. Tho questions continue, Mr Speaker making the scope narrower according to his ruling by throwing out the questions he thinks too wide. Ministerial these questions, and Oppositionist and otherwise.

At 1G minutes past 10, tho questions being over, Mr Watson gota leave to address tho House through bis counsel. Mr Cooper addresses the Speaker just as if ho were addressing “the Court” he addresses so frequently. Ho speaks with emphasis and without gesture. His words are measured, and they come smoothly, consideration is in ovoiy syllable and over every feature of the impassive face. Not .in ordinary recalcitrant witness, he says, in hia introduction; one who has imperative reasons why he should ho silent about certain things. What those imperative reasons are bo sots forth very clearly and calmly, iu a voice that scarcely fills the Chamber, but carries tho carefully articulated phrases to every car. He has his references written down in a methodical looking paper, which he methodically handles, as ho methodically speaks. No breach of privilege, no possibility of invading soorooy between banker and customer, which is safeguarded by Acts of Parliament. No power on Mr Watson’s part to disregard the safeguards provided by the Legislature, even for a Parliamentary Committee—that is his lino. Mr Watson, in fact, in disobeying tho committee and tho House is obeying Parliament itself. Mr Cooper goes on to bo shocked at roving Commissions, and enquiries of this kind through tho business of tho Bank, fcuch things could never on any account bo permitted anywhere, and never have been. A moat high standard of duty is Mr Watson’s ho t argues—that is why ho is boro. Wo hoar tho details on which the sense of duty is exorcised, all tho reasons are summed up and passed in review, and* at this point Mr Cooper indulges in gesture—one baud ,on tho other, tho finger of emphasis on tho thumb of certainty, a series of gestures of that order—but keeps his pace down to tho original gait. When he has brought his case to its greatest hoight ho declares emphatically that the Bank is losing business in consequence of this enquiry ; and tho Bank will bo ruined if tho enquiry goes on. Technical breach of privilege, Yea. But in every interest Mr Watson must bo uphold. At 10.45 ho finishes, the two retire, and the House goes to supper.

After supper tho iron of contumacy is taken into tho second stage. The chief smith prepares a tremendous fire, heats the iron of contumacy therein, selects his largest sledgehammer, of JBSOG calibre, gets tho hot iron on to the anvil and hammers. Captain Russell won’t have the XSOO fine. Only fining ourselves, ho says. Mr Collins interjects, “Go on fining and you cover tho guarantee.” “Exactly” says* the Captain cheerfully. Quotes cases to prove the force of all tho extenuating oiroumetanoos ; asks tho House to lot Mr Watson off without a fine; make# amendment to that effect; throws cold water ou tho Premier’s fire in fact; and predicts ruin as the alternative. Patca sides with the Government, though against tho decision of tho committee to ask tho question. Mr Duthio with, groat urgency warns tho House not to ruin tho Bank. Mr Tanner ia for the bitter end. Mr G. W. Russell objects to “backing down,” but thinks tho enquiry useless. Dr Newman warns the House against the want of finality. The Hon Mr Ward overhauls Mr Duthio. gets away among tho Bank’s business and history, and is called to order, bows, and goes on. He finishes, and tho debate goes on, tho hammers tapping away at many irons. Tho claymore gets at the anvil ia time, and makes tho sparks fly in his accustomed manner. “Tho other side are afraid of tho book of revelations that is coming out,” he shouts. Tho other side laughs, and tho claymore goes hammering ou. Ho has plenty of evidence; he knows who to get before tho committee; ho wants no dead men’s accounts ; there are apy number of live people who will bo shown up. Maintain tiro privilege of tho House ; won’t require to keep on fining. Just get one of them into gaol, put a broad arrow on him, and tho rest will give in. “Can’t do it,” comes in chorus from tho other side.

“ Don’t know what they’re talking about,” says tho claymore. They skirmish one with another, Tho claymore treats them to experiences—shows with his pocket-handkerchief how the Bank of Now Zealand covered |up“bad debts, amuses tho House in the character of conjuror. Banter and sport descend on tho scene.

Mr Earnahaw strikes his hammer at tho tSiDvernmont, Mr Collins does the same with groat fierceness, Mr Massey puts his blow just where his leader put it, Mr Heko follows carefully in the same place, and then the debate is exhausted. At 2.30 tho amendment is lost by 45 to 19/ Thon Mr 801 l moves another amendment; to out out the fine. Uis lino is that the House has not the power to fine outsiders. It can only fine its own members j 650. Tho power to fine outsiders has been in desuetude tor 2GO years. Our powers are only those in active uso by tho Commons in 1805. Wo leave him to go to press.