THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15385, 23 February 1912, Page 5

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

EXCITEMENT AND SUSPENSE. ' BRIBES BEING OFFERED. (Fbom Onn Own Coaßr.sroscENT.) WELLINGTON, February 22 One of the main characteristics of political situation is tho leus-a oxciteni lliat pic-vans. Mile strain upon ttui pi cipal actors in it, and ah>o upon ih vtuxMi votes are regarded as doubt I must bo very great. There is no chai in ilio posiuuii, a-nd there is still ev indication that the Reform party wilh |i$ four voles. So far as ean be aai taiiied, there is only one member whe at all likely to break his pledgtu to constituents. Messrs Yeitch, Koberts and Atmoro cannot possibly vote- ioi Government that they have so utterly c demned in their platform speeches, deed, one would not bs at all surprised find even Mr Hindmarsli condemning Government policy, or some phases of in unmeasured tonus. The debate is being unnecessarily p longed by tha Government, in the In o( influencing the votes of Messrs Atm and liobertnon, but more particularly latter. Tho wa-sta of time this afterw over formal business about which no < cares a dump just now was most uoti able. Tho Opposition were ready and v ling to take a division, but not 60 i Government. The Opposition did i bother to put up a speaker to reply to Russell, who spoke last evening, so oidey followed him, ami Mr Macdou; (tho Government Whip) followed Sidey. Thus bel'aro tho short afterm sitting was over we had three Uovcrnnv speakers in succession. The public a members themselves are already tired tho debate, and of the suspense that being so long drawn out, but the Gove ment party must needs keep it going the forlorn hope that by some means other their scanning will intluencc couple of votes, which at tho best woi give them but a. barren victory on I casting vote of the Speaker. Meant in the intrigues that are going on with view to getting members to break th pledges are becoming a positive scand Little coteries of electors are being ; together to pass resolutions to ask men go back on their pledges, and cert; members have staled in the presence witnesses that they have been olfei bribes to change their vote. It is just well that the country should know wt is going on. His not suggested tl tlieec bribes have, been offered by anyc in Parliament, but thai they have bo offered is undoubted Tho fact that both Sir Joseph Wa and tho Hon. Mr Millar are to eta down in favour of others on their si leaves the Liberal party in a park .light, and it is now slated that there a possibility of similar ammunccmoi from other Milliliters. Tho only m whose name is mentioned as the new lead of the party is Mr Thos. Mackenzie. T two main features of the situation a that the Reform party is absolutely 6oli harmonious, and enthusiastic, whereas t Government party is far from happy, ai there are on every hand signs of disru tion in its ranks. When Mr Macdonal the Government Whip, to-night said t Opposition had not a majority in t country, there were Opposition'cries " Take a division ! Take a division And Mr Miisiscy smilingly threw tho cln lengc across tho floor, " Lot's go to t country." The Government Whip, ho ever, evinced no eagerness to accept cith challenge. The sensation of the cvenh wa.? the most extraordinary speech d livercd by Mr John Payne,'tho newmci ber for Grey Lynn. His opening sUtt ments about breaking his pledge mu have been received with astonishmeti even by his new-found friends ou the G vermnent Bide of the House. A WASTK OF TIME. APPROACHING THE DIVISION. There, was apparently a deliberate ,1 tempt to waste time in the House of R prosontatives this afternoon, members < the Government party co-operating f somo reason that was not explained delay the resumption of the debate on i .Massey's no-confidence motion, and co sequently to postpone the division. Tl sitting commenced with the usual baU of notices of questions, and then a larj number of papers and of returns ordcri last session were presented by the Prin Minister. One of the returns related I advances to settlers, and upon this t! member for Lyttellon initiated a debal that was continued to the point of e: hanstiiui. Meantime, the afternoon w; passing, and further delay was caused li the member for Christcliurdi East (M Davey), who askrd a question rogardin the hydro-electricity scheme. Tho Mil ister of Public Works showed an tinusu; willingness to be communicative, and vigorous discussion was started upon li reply. A few minutes Iwfore 4 oYloe the leader of the Opposition interruptc the presentation of a contentious point I, the member for Grey Lynn by drawin the attention of tho Speaker to a ruliii by Sir Maurice G'Rorko that " a wanl-ol confidence motion is always considcre to supersede every other matter until i is disposed of." Mr Masscy said it \v.i quite evident that there was an intci lion on the pari of a number of men! hers to waste lime.—(Ministerial denials, Parliament had been summoned for specific purpose, and the people of th eoiintiry wished. that purnoso to be fir filled as quickly as possible. Ho askc whether the discussion was not out <i order. The Hon. li, M'Kcnzie said i was usual for formal business to tak precedence of a no-confidence debate, an he could not understand whv the l.eade of the Opposition now objected to tha practice. The Speaker said that the rule were quite clear. He ruled that forma questions and matters could be dealt with but no debatable matter could he intrc duced. Shortly afterwards the debate oi the Addrcssin-Reply and on Mr Massey' amendment was resumed by the membe for Hunerlin Saiilh. It j R now ntitic-i piled that the House will divide on th no-coiifidcneo motion before the adjourn tnenl for the week-end, nroliahly in th early hours of Saturday morning. The evening sitting'turned out to b one of the most extraordinary exper: cßceil in !ho Parliament for many years Mr Payne's announecmciil of the break ing of his election pledges roused M Harris, of Waitemata, to one of themos pitiless denunciations given utterance n Ihe House. Mr Payne cat pale and/silent and Hie House, listened with rapt aiten lion to the outpouring of the scorn el the member for Waitemata. Mr Payn< in-jdc an attempt to further explain 'hii position, but failed to arouse any cnlhii sjasm. Then followed Mr Hindmarsli Inn Socialist L-ihour member, who de. feated Mr Wright in Wellington Soutl on the second ballot His was anothei most extraordinary speech. ]| c smote the Liberal Government hip and thigii and praised Mr Massey for lii« splendid work at the same lime. He, unlike Mr I ayne, had given no pledges. Havinstaggered the House with his denuncic! Hon of Wardism, and of his condemnation oi Millar, he calmly announced that on this orcasioii he would vole, with Sir Joseph Ward. He would five him a fortnight to carry out his programme, a statement which created much" laughter During the rest of his speech Mr Hindi marsh had tho House in fits 0 f laughter. He proved to he a most unconventional sjxaker. After all those fireworks Mr \ itror Hrwn came on the scene as a vcritable rushlight. Mr Brown wanted to stop at 11. but Mr Mawev ur<H that they should come to a finish. The country, he- said, was 'jetlin? very dissatisfied with' what was taking plate. Sir Joseph W.ir<! said it was understood they were to stop each eveiiinir at 11 o'clock.' The Speaker said that, no resolution lad been pnssr-d bv the House, but Mr Brown could risk moving the adjournment of the debate. Mr Brown, however, elected to go on with his speech.