THE GAME OF POLITICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12783, 2 October 1903, Page 3

THE GAME OF POLITICS.

SOME PARTY TACTICS. (Fitou Otin Own Conp.EsroxDF.NT.) WELLINGTON, October 1. There was a curious exhibition of political tactics in tho House of Representatives this afternoon when the Standing Orders were under consideration. The proposed amendments on the Standing Orders wont through tho House in comnutiec some weeks a§o. When the House met to-day the Premier moved that tho report on the Standing Orders he referred back to tho House ill committee for tho purnoso of considering three particular clauses, one of whicli was the timo limit of speeches in committee, on which tho Premier had previously been defeated in nil attempt to rcdnce tho time limit from 10 minutes to five minutes. Then tho leader of the Opposition moved that- a fourth clause be reconsidered in committee— namely, that which fixes the hour at which no new business can bo taken at half-past 12 instoad of midnight as under the existing Standing Orders. Mr object, of coursc, was to get back to the present system of taking no new business after midnight. Tho Premier stoutly opposed this, but on a division being taken tho motion by tiie leader of tho Opposition was carried by 36 votes to 32. This obviously meant that, in I spile of tho Premier's protests, the Eouso is opposed to tho extension of time and wished that no new business bo taken after midnight. But the Premier was not defeated. His whins had been going round, anil when tho Speaker put tho question that tho Premier's motion as amended by tho leader of the Opposition bo adopted, there came a volley of Noes" from the Government- side of the House, led by.tho Premier. "What!" said the leader of the Opposition; "do you vote against your own motion?" Evidently the Premier did, and when tho division was taken the Premier and his party went into tho lobby against the recommittal of the report, including a dozen members of the parly who on tho previous division had voted against tho Premier. Thus it happened thut, to prevent the House from wiping out tho half-past 12 clause (which could not be done without going into committee), the Premier sacrificed the amendments he himself wanted carried, and by 42 votes to 22 lie defeated his own motion to send the report back to committee.

Among those who voted against the Premier on the first division wero Messrs Arnold, Bedford, Buddo, EH, Fowlds, Graham, Hanan, Hogg, Kidd, M'Lachlan, Millar, Sidey, Tanner, and J. C. Thomson; and on tho second division all these voted with the Premier except Mr Hanan, who did not vote. Messrs Barber and Remington were the only members on the Government side of the House who voted on both occasions against the Premier, the remainder of the 22 being Opposition tind Independent members. On the result of the second division being announced Mr M'Gowan moved that the report on the Standing Orders ~be adopted without amendment. Thon tho leader of the Opposition expressed Ilia surprise at the turn of events. He said the position was tho most peculiar any member of the House had ever experienced. Ho did not envy the position of the Premier or of his followers. Tho wholo thing was farcical. It reminded him of the saying, " He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day." Tho Premier was beaten, and did not stay for the final fight. Sir William Russell referred to tho Premier as a marvellous tactician. Ho was not worthy of tho namo of strategist, but at tactics he" was marvellous.

Mr Millar spoko for those who had been accused of inconsistency by voting against tho Premier on the first division and with him on tho second. He said their position was that they did not want tho Standing Orders recommitted at all, but if they were to be recommitted they wished the midnight clause reconsidered with the others.— (Tho leader of the Opposition: "That's too thin.") The Premier and Sir Joseph Ward, however, both explained the position in similar terms, tho latter pointing out that Mr Fowlds, in an iptorjection, had, before voting with tho leader of tho Opposition, offered to support the report as a whole if tho Premier withdrew his motion to recommit certain clauses.

The matter was carried over tho halfpast 5 adjournment, and when the House resumed at 7.30 Mr Barber moved an amendment to Mr M'Gowan's motion to tho effect that all tho clauses in tho report on the (Standing Orders bo adopted -with tho exception of tho clause fixing tbo hour at which no new business can bo taken at lialf-past 12. This wae only another movo to bring about the same rosult —namoly, that the oxisting Standing Order preventing now business aftor 12 o'clock bo continued,— aud probably it was moved by Mr Barber, instead of from the Opposition benches, with tho view of securing support from tho Government side of tho houso.

Speaking to this amendment, Mr T. Mackenzie referred to the fact that tho halfpast 12 clauso was originally carried by one vote, which, ho said, was secured by tho persuasiveness of tho Premier on a raemljcr who had arrived from Auckland just before tho vote. Mr Fowlds was at some pains to explain his position in the mattor. Ho said ho did not want the report to be recommitted, because ho was afraid of what might happen to the timo limit on speeches in committee. But if there was to be recommittal he was much concerned that tho matter of new business being taken after 12 o'clock should alio bo recommitted. Mr Barber's motion was in tho direction of securing what he {Mr Fowlds) thought highly desirablo; but ho had given his word that lie would vote for the report as a whole, and ho would bo true to his word, even if it made him illogical. lio would rather be illogical than not keep his word. Tho Premier got out of a difficulty in the afternoon by a very smart movo, and this was a very smart counter-move. He regretted that he had put himself in a position that he could not voto for it. Mr Bedford said ho mado a promise to tho Government Whip with respect to a vote lie gave in tho afternoon, but he 'was no longer bouud by that promise. T3io promise was that if the Premier would abandon his proposal to recommit tho clause respecting time limit on speeches he (Mr Bedford) wouid vote against recommitting tho half-past 12 clause. He voted as lie had promised, and ho was now free. He oonsiderod that all tho trouble was on account of the Premier, in his obstinate self-conceit, forcing the Houso to agree, -.vitk liirn on this matter.

Mr Alison said if tho Premier would gracefully accede to the wishes of the House ho would create a much better feeling. There was an irritation going on in the House on account of the Premier defying tho wishes of tho House. Ho (.Mr Alison) was thankful that ho was not a servile Government supporter, who would vote one way in (he afternoon and another way in the evening. Tho Premier would act wisely if lie would endeavour to lead tho House and not'drive it.

Tho division was then taken, Mr Barber's amendment being defeated by 38 votes to 26, and the report on tho Standing Orders was adopted without amendment at- about 9.15, the whole of the day up to that time having been spent in a tug-of-war between the Premier and the Opposition and the

Independent members of the House without any result. ■ The following is the final division list f°r no new business being taken after midnight:— For Midnight (QC).—Messrs Aifken, Alison, Barber, Bedford, Buchanan, Duthic, W. Fraser, Hanan, Harding, Hardy, Herdman, Hogg, Kidd, Kirkbridc, Lang. Lewis, Vander, Masscy, T. Mackenzie, Remington, 'ussell, S'jJ e yi Tanner, 3. C. Thomson, J. W. 'Jliomson, vile. For Half-past Twelve (SSj.-Messrs E. G. Allen, Arnold, Bonnet, Buddo, Carroll, Colvin, Davey, Duncan, Ell, Field, Flatmaii, Fowlds, Graham, Hail, Hall-Jones, Hoke, Houston, Jennings, L".wry, Major, M'Gowan, li> M'lCenzie, M'Lach'.an, M'Nab, Millar, Mills, O'Jteara, Pcre, Rutherford, Seddon, Smith, Steward, Symes, Ward, Wilford, Willis, Witheford, Woods.