POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8287, 16 September 1903, Page 4

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

By Telegraph.

(Frotn our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, September 15. Mr Willis got off a neat repartee during the passage cf the Customs Estimates. The Premier, under some mistake, criticised the lion, gentleman for referring to printing machines. Mr Willis promptly explained that his remarks were not- directed to that class of machinery at all. He uad referred to macliinery nob connected with his own business, and it, was his habit never to bring his private, affairs before the House. 'Mr Hogg interjected: "He meant gas engines." "I was not," retorted Wanganui, in his suavesb tone, "referring to the honorable member at all." The House laughed briskly, and Masterton looked as if he. thought, "a time will come, but not just, yet." Mr M'Sab has been appointed Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, and the fact shows how the capable member for Mataura is mounting the ladder of public life.

The land question is not to be allowed to die in the country. Messrs Taylor, Bedford, and Laurenson have accepted tlie invitation of the Fanners' Union to addres6 a. meeting at Mangatainoka on the advocacy of the leasehold as against the freehold tenure. Mr Laurenson some weeks ago made a 'statement- tliat lie and others would one day stamp the country against the freehold. This looks like the commencement of that campaign, but it is beginning far off. The oratory will be fiery, as everyone who has heard these champions on the subject knows. Fortunately the bush does notburn readily much before February. The Agriculture Committee still has before it the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill, so that the measure is not lost, as has been suspected for some time. The Committee has deprived Auckland of the partial exemption originally extended to that district, and has added a new clause providing that- with the exeception of the provisions relating to the importation of diseased fruit or plants, which come into force on the passing of the ■Act, the Act shall come into operation on April Ist next. The Privilege Committee held another siting to-day. I understand that no reply lias been received from the 'Lytt-elton Times, and I believe that the representatives of the local paper cited before it have not made the Committee as happy as the average detective is when he claims a big reward. There are rumors of all kinds about, amongst others one which recalls the fact tliat a recalcitrant witness was fined £SOO and paid it some years ago. The case is that of Mr Watson, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, who refused to answer a question asked by the Banking Committee in (if I remember rightly) the year 1895. It may be doubtful whether the Committee will fine any pressman £SOO, but it is absolutely certain that there is not a pressman within some miles of Wellington who could pay such a fine. The idea, of sweeping, in other newspapers seems to have been given up. In the case of Mr Twomey, whose paper was included, it seems to have been settled by the gessipu that" the privilege of the Council would have saved that hon. gentleman from being haled before a Committee of the Lower House, or to the Bar of "another place." I don't know that Mr ! Twomey would have minded, pat I fancy that this question of a privilege within a privilege would, have interfered with his freedom' of action. In the House the only business done-dur-ing the-afternoon was the passing without debate, and after a few- breezy words from the Premier, of the resolution- of congratulation to the State of Tasmania on the century of her foundation. The rest of the afternoon was wasted in a discussion about answering questions. The "sacred right' 3 was represented by 40 on the Order Paper, The Government' wanted to go' straight to the Estimates, which are not going along as fast as might be. wished,- hut t'h© Opposition would have the questions, and insisted on the "sacred right" in many speeches, moved the adjournment-, and let- themselves

go. The Government replied coa amore and. con spirito. The Premier went, on to. do some work.'; Mr FishOT stnick the right note: "Thirty years' experience-, and never saw the Government discretion in the matter of questions questioned." The member for Motueka struck another note of the right key: "The 'sacred right' is dreadfully abused for factious and personal purposes, and the Government on such occasions in : variably and naturally goes one better." The sole interesting point was brought by the interjection: "Why don't _you amend the Standing Orders." The list of amendments will be brought, down, before the end of the week. Mondays are be sitting days in future.

Monday sittings is ab present a notice of motion by the Premier. It ca,used a sensation when he gave notice, but it has come at the period of the session when such a motion is to be looked for. According to past experience members have forgotten the ten weeks of the session. Interviewed by a pressman Mr Seddon smiled,his inscrutable smile, but, on being pressed, said he wanted to frighten members into .working a little more. All the same it is probable that next Monday will be the last' of the free Mondays, and the rest will go into the melting pot of wasted time. • Further, the Premier has in his. eye the question of bringing the supper adjournment forward by half an hour, so the full galleries will offer that much less temptation to garrulity, but that if hard pressed (which is doubtful) will only be half an hour, and what is half an hour to the practised obstructionist The main hope for the saving of the business in the new Standing Orders —the closure proposal—makes a good many members cough, as naturally must be the _ase. On the cities' side it is pointed out that' theTe is plenty of safeguard in the fact that eight men must back any proposal for putting the question, which, moreover, the Speaker need not put unless he likes. That, it is hoped, ought to take the sting out of obstruction without hurting legitimate privileges. But there are members who declare that- they will fight the gag to the death. . . r In the evening the Estimates the time solidly, though an occasional parochial--ism would stop the. way; an Aucklander, for -example, asking why a) m-esseri'ger .iathe Queen City only got seven shillings a day while another in the Empire City got eight. But on the: whole the business remained on the loftier lines of economy and' heckling.