TRIAL OF STRENGTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15385, 23 February 1912, Page 6

TRIAL OF STRENGTH

TIIK XO-OOXFIDENCE DEIUTK. SPEKUIKS RY LABOnt AIIiMBERS. SOMK REAIARKAIJLK UTTERANCKS. AIR PAYNE'S PLEDCIiS. (Fhou Oun Own Cohresposdent.) WELLINGTON. Fobntary 22. Tho ilelxito on the no<onfidonoc> motion proposed by tho I/eader of tlio Opposition was resumed in the House of Representatives thus afternoon hy another Ministerial, ist, the member for Duncdin Somli. When be n'Mimed his seat (hero was a )).iiL<e, Goveiiuiient supporters apparently exyrxi' ing that one of Mr Massoy's party would reply to the two Government members who had spoken since the laei speech from the Opposition Ihinchcs. Rut tho Reform party ba.s no intention o( prolonging the delude, and its members ehounwd "Divide! "Divide" until Air Macdonald, tho junior Government Whip, rose to csurv on the tlebate. Air Sidey, wiio rositmed the debate at 3 p.m., siid the ngnilimncc of the gcnerul election recpiired to be examined with care, lie woleomcd all that had boen sakl in the Governor's Speech. Though some of tlio proposals which it advanced might be discovered to be impracticable, it was unfair to say that this was a telatcd attempt to gain support. The vrrdii* of the people was not against the. legislation of the Government nor again.*!, the incrmso of indebtedness. The country was better able to boar in debt to-day than it was to bear the debt of 20 year* ago. At that time, instead of teing responsible for llie increased cost of living, the Government had done a great deal to assist the poorer section of the community to meet. it. The trend throughout the wholo of tho Liberal administration had been to remit indirect (Customs) taxation and impose the burden on direct taxation. Considering all ih:u had been done, it was remarkable tliat no more taxation had been imposed. Much useful work had been accomplished by the union of Liberal ajid I>oboitr forces. Thero were erica of " Divide" from tho Opposition side when Mr Sidey had sat down and had been tin 1 v applauded, but Mr Alacdonakl roso to eulogise the legislation of past years and the legislation progratimio of tJie Governor's Speech, which he said would have to te carried out by any Government. Aa soon as Mr Macdonald tegan to talk of tho statu of thn parties in the Honso the Opposition cries of "Divide Divide I" were revived. Air Macdonald: The Lite.tals have as large a majority in this House as the (.lonservatives have.—(■' Divido Divide!") If tho Conservative patty gets a majority it will Ixi from tho Independents, and 1 cannot conceive of any Liberal casting a vote with tho Conservatives, who have opIkvkml every prognx-sivo measure.--(Minis-terialist applause. Opposition dissent, and loud "Hear, hears" from Air Luireiison. During tho ejection campaign they did not criticise tho Government's legislation, but they attacked one man-tho Loader of the party—in a most maliimant manner.— ("Hoar, hear, "No, No!" applause, and uproar.) Tho Speaker ap|walcd to the House to give Air Macdonald a hearing. Mr Macdonald added that, in spite of tho uproar of the Conservative jurty, wliat lie had slated was tho absolute trutli. lie declared that the Liberal partv was loval to its chief. Sir J. Ci. Ward was sure of bis party. He wm not Roiii? to give way until it had been shown that he was oppo'scd by a majority of tlio House. Opposition Members: "Divide! Prove it!" Afr Alacdonald said that, like other members, ho was (piito prepared to see a vote of tho Houso taken before they threw up the sponge to tho Conservative party. The Opposition had laid many charges, but had substantiated nothing. It relied on iiuutendo and miireprcscntation, It lmd not cited one definite case of extravagance in expenditure by the Government. Mr Macdonald continued that, although the Opposition was always calling out for the settle. nient of Native lands, it did not demand the settlement ol areas held by the big Tory landowners. He denied that millions of acres wwo lying idle. This cry was raised by the Reform party in order to shield its Tory friends, who held millions of acres practically idle. The land held by tho Government available for settlement aggregated only 3.280,800 acres. Thi s ineluded land for closer settlement and pastoral land. The Leader of the Opposition liad stated in Christchua'h that Hie King Country was being rapidly opened up and settled. This wits the sort of thing that the Opposition said when it was slating the facts of the case and not misrepresenting for electioneering purposes. Air Macdonald declared that tho very pcoplo who complained that tlie Government did not provido settlers with means of access to their holdings had sent rcprwnlatircs to Parliament to support the Conservative party in its anti-borrowing policy. Air Macdonald was applauded when his speech wes interrupted by tlie dinner ailjonrniiioui. The galleries were again ftilcd when Air Macdonald resumed after the dinner adjournment, lie said (hat the platform of the Op|Hisition during the election was " Put the Government out of office." Thev relied greatly upon allegations that the Government had teen guilty of extravagant borrowing. These statements had been persisted in, though those making them knew that, some of the North island County Councils did not get one tenth part of the money for which they asked. Those pcoplo who understood the position knew that tin-le.-b the Leader of the Opposition and his party wero liko Eastern magicians they could not carry out the promises which they had made to the people without borrowing. Sixty per cent, of thn money borrowed by the prosejit Administration was paying interest. The Opposition had gone round the munlry saying that the Government, was heaping up an enormous, debt and increasing the burdens Unit bore upon the workers. Air Laurensnn (fervently): Hear, hear. That's their gaino the whole time. Air Alacdonald said that no man could deny that tafe investments could not be found in New Zealand to-day, but some men who had accumulated wealth here look their money away because they were afraid of Libour. which was going to assert itself and gel its just right'. People in every electo.'ato had made misstatements about the Leader of the Government, and had imputed all torts of rubbery to the Administration. As he continued, Mr Macdonald was interrupted bv Opposition interjections of "Divide." " Ye-, we will take a divi-ion," he said. To this the Opposition memoirs icf|Hini!ed with a choru-i of "Hear, hears." The first of the I/ihotti* members to lake part in tl:<: debate was Air J Payne (I!rev Lynn), who began by stating that lie hail not realis-xl when he peonittigiitod bis lamons si'licnio 45 during the Grey Lynn election tint within sudi a sJiort time" ho was going to jo? a portion of it realirod. The main feature* of lh.« Governor's Speech wore wry much on Che linos of his sahejiie. 1 loth iucludtd the m\ ion ilif.ilion oi industries, the ac>piir'.>iiK.'tit of big estates on a debenture and the relief of the ag,?d an-.! sick The Governor's Speech was not a deathted confession of tt>s Literal patty, be: was rather tho policy which had teen hrons'it forward at tbe- birtb o! a now pirly—the oombiiied forefs of Ixibemr and Lit eralistu,—(Government Alemters: " Hoar, hear") Mi~ |K>;itiou as a Labour representative wa« very o!<\ir. Ho init-i view tJie p*itkm' striely as it affected the inti-nv>ts of tho' workers whom ho So far a> tho workers wore concerned tJie Literal party and (ho Tory jxtrty wero alike in tlio ros-ixxi that their i:itcr<ns. strictly «jx\ikitiir, were ro; the interests of Latemr; t.h:»rciCTO he had to dcoide what was ihe Uvt tercain ho ooti'd make for I<iteur uwbi llie priwnt coticiitions. An extromely pn.vrriM.-ivo radiral policy l.ael been broufriit down by tbo ivirty in power. Tho party rot in pcvx'r n.id had an opportunity io that policv « as to atTord him an oppottunity of krtrnitu; whether it was to bring down similar radical niiM.-iircs. Imt & far it liad not indicated its attit.ide- He had hoard die Speech eoniliMi!i:rd as Iviny an i/tjult to tlio ini..|||. getice of th> lions', but he had not hcuiil any rinson for rh.it opinion. He wats now awaitim; witii inu'rest an Ixacm opinio': by a memter of the op|xwiiio:i upon tli; lumviiiit.irian measures dealt with in tlio Governor's Sliee-ch. Alemlvrs of the Reform |\irty miritt tn - to him time ho Lid no right to review rl'.e position, sinoo r>i lat.n- than Friday wt-ck ho had •,Mien word to Mr M.-s«ey that he wedd v-'t- acainst the W.ird Goveriin:ent o.i n ikMMididinoe nyni«i.-lMr Maivey: 'Hear. h.«r."| Hut if he ivvinei it oxpoeHo::. to bnrvi}; a pledtje for the benefit of tho pcoplo lie tvproycnlwl ho would break his pledsn witiwiut eomiiunction. ]U had !w>n to^'i tiiat by doing m bo would commit poli*^a»l

suicide, but lie preferred tlial to committing Labour-interest murder.--(Governmoiif, Alemben: "Hoar, lnvir." Documents had teen pulilWioil in reference, to a meeting in Mr Garland's oflico in Auckland, which showed tha, 1 in orawer to an inrpiirv ho hud said that lie would vote against the. Ward Government on a iio-conliiloncc motion on iis land policy. Later ho !iad n.n interview with Mr Mawey. ami told him ho would vote against tlio Ward Clovornmont.

Air Aliiwoy: Would you repeat till tint you told me"

Air Payne: On what occasion? Air M.isacy: lost. Friday week, when you told mo olxnit an offer of nionoy.

Air Payne suid tlsii at the time- lie maefo liia pledge he, in common with many |xx>plo in iln> north, believed thai certain ineonrislnndos wero going on—certain cxtravaRanees, lie did not ray that, these stories hod boon spread by moniters wlto were on the Opposition tenches, but. thoy wore certainly not circulated by friends of tho Liberal party. Since J\n h.-ul been in Wellington he liad had an opportunity of hearing fully various matters and inmion<los discussed, and ho had liad ;i most remarkable experienceOnly on Monday night a meeting was called with the object o( asking him to resign simply on the rumour that he was {,'oing to vole in favour of the l'rimc Minister against his pledge* The meeting ended in a fiasco. Instead of calliii}: upon his to resign the mooting passed the following resolution:—"That this meeting of supjxirtors o( Air .John Payne, in Grey lij'tm electorate, in view of the opposition recently shown by the Opposition party and its press to organised lateur. more particularly in Auckland and Wellington, call u|x>n (heir representative to vote against the He-form party and the noconlidcnco resolution now before tho House." Mr Payne stated that tho resolution was signed by the secretary of the Ciener.il Labourers' Union in Auckland. 110 tad 2E4 members of that union in his cltYtorate. One of the stories in circulation was that he had been bought by the Ward party for £1000. It was plain that there were innuendoes still in circulation, because this had boon told him by tJie I.c.ielcr of the Opposition himsclf.-fGoYcrnment Ale.tnhers: "Oh, oh," and laughter). Air Alassey: Hear hoar. I showed you n letter I had received, and you raid that you had been ottered money.

Air Latireumn: Hy jovc. that is the hottest thing I ever heard in my life.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie: Do 1 understand the Leader of the Opposition to say thnt thai honourable gentleman was offered £1000 by the Government for his vote? Air Alassey: That was not what I said. Air Alarkenzio: I accept the hon- gentleman's statement.

Mr Payne said that nono of the statements by the Opposition, that the Government party could not |»ssihlv carry out. the matters dealt with in the Governor's Speech, would have any effect on him. Any attempt to influence him by specious arguments would he fulile. He stood for measures and not for men. and having teen promised measures he bellieved that from his [msition—the I/ilic-ur section—he would be able to force those measures, and so serve the interests of the labour |K>ople whom he represented. Ho did not sujrgest that any menilier of the House was res|x)nsible for rumours that worn current at election time. lie was glad |luil he had heard Sir Joseph Ward's repudiation of those rumours and baso slanders. He hod heard nothing from the Opixisilion to the effect that the Prime Minister's denials were incorrect, nor liad he heard a single fact thai would subrlantinto llie charges of reckless and plunging finance with which thn Government was indicted by the Opposition. Having been an employee of an English railway company, and having travelled on the best systems in England, he considered that the people of New Zealand showed the worst lack of patriotism by continually crying out against Ihe railway system, of which the worst line was no worse than the worst in England. He could not reconcile the manner in which the Opposition (Icsrrited the increase in railway fares and freights as taxation with its criticism of the administration, under which the railways had not paid until the Hon. J. A. Miliar had applied the remedy by enlarging his sources of revenue. .Mr Payne declared that he had entered the House with an open mind to listen lo the arguments from both sides of tho lloiife. Never in all lii« experience had he heard such dishwater arguments as those advaneetl by the Tory party to riilistuntiate the statements circulated by Tory partisans during llie last few months'. After some references to financial topics Mr Payne returned io the subject of his political attitude. U 0 said ho had not heard anything ho could pass on to Iho electors of Grey Lynn to justify him in voting out the Liberal party on a no-confi-dence motion.-(.Ministerial applause.) In Grey Lynn at the lirst ballot mora than 5009 electors voted tor tho Übcral and I/iiteur parties out of a total a little short of 8030, and only 1500 voted for tho Conservative interests. A number of the latter had informed him that thev voted for him at tho second ballot and tliat if they had thought he had a chance they would* have voted for him at tho first ballot. Ho had now heard lioth Leaders in the House, and, bearing in mind the electors of Gtvy Lynn, he did not propose to fly in tlie'fuce of tiiotn electors, lie would put himself in a position h« could not maintain if In; votoil against the Literal jwrty that had done so much for the workers. " Pledge- or no pledge." said Mr Payne, "1 will not voto against the Literal party on a no-eonli-dc-nco motion." Ho admitted that the LilHT.il party was not ]>erfeot, but there would be a combination of Literal, Radical, and Libour interests, and with such a combination Labour could hope to obtain a majority in the House. The late oleclions would Iki a salutary lesson to tho party — (Ministerial applause.) The workers would be ready to. throw their weight with the Conservative interests if need be to bring about a reconstruction of a Government which showed a tendency to become autocratic when it should bo democratic. Tim election would also bo a lesson to tlie workers, and whilst it might bo expedient for them to oust an autocratic democracy, they had not strengthened tho capitalistic, and Conswrvativo interests. Tho so-called Reform |wrty would Im known in future by its line title of the Tory party. Tho |iosition he took up was ono of strength tor tho Labour parly. If they kept tho Liberals in power they could look wtlli reason to making them knep tho pledges given in llie Governor's Speech. If the Liberal parly retained office, as ho believed it would, lie. as ono of tho labour members, would bo in a |>osition to comjxd it to pass Labour measures for the benefit of the people he represented, lie was «t. liberty to vote against the Government on a future no-conlitlenoo motion if Litenr interests were not conserved, Thn coming division would show tliat the votes of the Literal, Radical, and labour parties wero against capitalistic interests and in tho interest of the general good. Mr Paym, said the way to stop industrial unrest was lo nationalise the industries of tlu> Dominion, lie spoke strongly in favour of State, enterprise and a Statu bunk. In Great Rritain individuals made money out of the dead because tlicy owned tho conicierics. He advocated a monopoly in Slate lir;» insurance, and .-aid the oflimr who con. trolled the Stale Department in Wellington had informed him that he could work tlio whole insurance of the Dominion without any increase of capital. That meant that his profits from insurance would bo in the neighbourhood of £1,003,000. Air A. Harris (Waitomata) said he had teen returned by one of the most intelligent constit'tencie-s in the Dominion on a mission That mission was to put -jut the Ward Administration. "I am," he said, pledged on the platform io ]ierfonn that duty, and I took it. The member '<-h 0 hus just spoken was pledged in the same wuy.—('* Hear, hear.") Sir, I feci ashamed that an honourable gentleman in a House such es this should sink to such a level that he dare stand before the llotiw of Parliament and say he is prepared to break his election pledges."—(" I loir, hear.") He read .111 extract from one of Mr Payne's speeches in December—three days before the second ballot. "At prer-ent," Air Payne had said, " the Opposition lias a majority, and 1 am satisfied that after the second ballet it will have a majority. It is far more true to democratic principles, and will Jo infinitely more for tho workers than the gingerbread aristocracy that has grown up from Liberalism.—(Loud laughter, applause, and cheering from the Opposition benches). And. continued Ah Harris, when asked to explain his remarks further, Air Payne said: " 1 believe that the Opposition is so anxicu> to clean up the terrible finance of this country, and tliat it will be lair to the workers Isrcause it realises what tho Government realised too late—that the workers are a power behind the btdlot box."

" And this is the lion. sjtMoleinan who u now 'iirtportinv the pingerbread nristoorav." said Mr Harris, amidst a p.-\al of lauehter from tho Opposition hunches. " I ain very ploasi'.l." ho aiHrvl, " that ho is not on tlin same side of the Hot|sf> »« [ am.—("Hoar hoar."! 1 simuM l.c very foiT.v, Sir, to call that genttema-n a «>]'. league of mine. A wan cannot bo true who is not true to his election plcdire.'. Her* '.'• a. nun who ovrcs his position ;/i ihe vows iriTtn to him becaoso he was pledged

I to send out ol office an effeto Ministry. [lie whs pledged to come down hern to do i that. I regret that he has sunk to such a level that he is prepared to sink hi? principles of honour anil his word lunl vote with a partv that he is expressly pledged to vote against What." asked Mr Harris. " had the Labourites to thank the Want Administration for'.' A [Treat number of empty promise-promises it had untile without the slightest intuiition of carrying out. Ho and .Mr Payne both owed thoir position largely to the labour votes.—(.Mr Massey: " Hoar, hear.") But Labour thrmighou'l. Now Zealand hud nothing to thank tho Ward finvernment for; on tlio contniry, it had a lot to blame it for.—{'' Hoar, hear.") The Opposition, on the other liand. claimed that it was the friend of I-ahour i« this Dominion.—(Ministerial laughter.) It was all very we'.l for the hon. gentlenrn to laugh, but they would be laughing on tho ! oilier side of their mouths after this division was tak.Mi.—(" Hear, hear.") He went on to give a number of reasons why tiie present"Government had lojt tho confidence of the country. " t rose with the object of telling tho'member (or (irey Lynn my opinion of him," said Air Harris in conclusion. " I think very little of him. He pledged himself to his'electors to vote the Ministry out of power, and has shown himself a man who can sink his principles and lower his manhood. It were tetlor that a milestone were hanged around that gentleman's neck and he were cant into the middle «( llie sea."--(Applimso.) Air Payne roso in personal explanation. " I must "fcicl alxuhed at tho speech of iJie member for Waitcmnta," ho began. " You have no right to comment upon the method or the argument of the speech," the Speaker interrupted. " You must refer to tho part of the .speech which misrepresents you." Air Payne explained that his signed pledges were in the possession of his Scheme 45 Oommittto in Auckland, and they did not contain tin undertaking to vote against the Ward Administration.— (Government members: " Hear, hear.") I do not deny that I pledged myself to vote against, the Ward Administration," added Air Payne. " I came hero with an impartial mind, and have listened to tho weak dishwater " Air Harris: Is this a personal explanation? Tho Speaker ruled that comment was out of o:drr. Mr Pavne admitted that since the election ho liad given straight-out pledges to vote out tho Ward Administration. "Tho Ward Administration will no longer oxist after this division is taken," he added—and there was a burst of applause from the Opposition,—" because the Prime Alinister has already told the country that ho intends to resign."-(Opposition liiutrhter.l In vigorous slyle Air A. 11. Jlindnnrrsh. Libour member for Wellington South, explained his position. " I look line care," he said, " thai I did r.ot pledge mvsclf to either party."—(Mr Mnsioy: '"Hear, hear.") " It is unfortunate that Air Payne has pledged himself lo some extent—now far I do not. know,-but I do know that ho was siippnrted iiy the labour parly atul hv the Op|>ositioii parly licco-use. ho'was the lesser of two evils, "j have no love for the Literal party.' 1 Al r llindinarsh continued, "and I congratulate the Leader of the Opposition upon the good work that he has done, and upon the manner in which lie has Ixeu able to persuade the country to send all these men to hack him up against this party that has rotted in |»wor for so lons, and lias brought forward this radical policy when four Labour members have got into the House. You can judge what u will do when there, are 20 Libour members in this House. I (hank Mr Massey for having mi bor:ie himself that the people nave reposed confidence in him to such mi extent tliat tho Labour party is able to control the situation and break the spell of diotldv Liberalism that hangs over this countTy. On this occasion 1 shall vote, in spito of my ojnvictions, on Sir Joseph's Ward's side. I stall do so because Sir Joseph Ward held out a prograniine, lam prepared to say, 'We shall give you a fortnight to slow whether von will put these iiieasurvti through, and, if you do not, wo shall vote for tho Opposition.' Wo are going to exhaust l>oth alternatives. We mean to try to suck Sir Joseph Waul drv and to suck the Opposition dry, That is iny position, and that is the position of tho Labour |virty."-(I, a iight<-r.) Mr Hindmarsh said Mr Millar had twilled the Op-1-ositom with having voted against certain measures. No so many years ago Mr Alillar, who called himself a democrat, had opposed his leader's proposal |o introtluce the_ rating on unimproved values. Hy that action he merited llie eternal op|>osition of every trite democrat, and that opposition towards Mr Millar would always eniiiniito from him. Last session Air Alillar voted against Air Hogg's Abolition of Duty on Flour Bill, ar .vl at that tunc mtered tho treacherous doctrine that wages could he increased without increasing prices. Such opinions justified tlie Labour party opposing anv Alinistry which ineluded Mr Millar. " 1 shall' support this .Ministry on thin one occasion, and on every fuiuro oooasion so long as Mr Millar remains in it I shall do my utmost against it," Air Hindmarsh declared. Tlie speaker contended that if State enterprises woto to bo extended in Now Zealand it would have to be properly administered, 110 proceeded to quote instances showing that proper administration wis not tho rule at pivsent. It wan being bruited about in Wellington at the present timo that a corlain Wellington man had bought some I 'lor pumice land in Hnwltc's Bay, in tho region of Ruminga, and tint ho Isid afterwards got rid of it by selling it to the Government through a member of Parliament. The vendor wns a Richard King. A .Member: Who was the member who nrpolinhxl tho sate? 'Mr llindinarsh: I do not wish to mention his name because there may te nothing in it. In another case which had recently come under his notice tho holder of a worker's home scnion in C'oroinandel street had essayed lo transfer the section to another poison. On going to the Department of Lalwur the holder was informed that the transfer would not be allowed. Air llindinarsh titen interviewed Mr J. Ixmias (SOTCtary for Labour), wlvo tokl him that In- rad received instructions from tho Minister of Libour not to allow any transfers. Wlien he told Mr Umas that tho .Minister of labour had no power to do this, the official replied, " I "don't oaru whether hu has .power or not; I am not going to do it," A ntemter of the board (Air Ji«i. .Mackenzie) told him that ho liad never been summoned to attend a meeting of that body, and knew nothing of what wax going on. When ho spoke to Kir Joseph Ward about it, the Prime .Minister said that ho would soe tJmt it was ipiile right. lielorc he had time to act, however, the transfer was allowed lo go througlt. Touching another matter Air llindinarsh slated thai Air Fisher (Undersecretary for labour) was in a. stato of trepidation when he asked for the production of a. lito relating to a land transaction in Uawke's Iky, Liter, when lio found that it hnd been laid on the lablo in tho House, Mr Fisher produced tho file. It l«id been ini[>ossiblo to get information from the present Government. Thesv two instances which lmd occurrwl during the past, few days had convinced him that there was very little freedom of will on the part of the iindcr-sccrelarios. It was very difficult to prove corruption, because a Minister always had the evidence in his possession, and one had very little hope of unearthing anything. The.ri) were things done that he would not say for one moment were corrupt, but it was a wonder to him that a vulgar instinct of self-preservation had not «ivcd the Government from doing some of the things it had done- Take, for instance, the a|>pointments to the Legislative Council a few years ago. Recently land had teen knight by liio Government at Tougoia. Ordinarily sane counsels should have induced it to buy instead hind roulh of Napier. It might have taken some of Air Geo. Hunter's land.—(Laughter.)

A Member: Or Mr G. P. Donnelly's. Mr Hindiiwrsh: Yes; he is ft great Liberal supporter ni!<l tho largest sheepowner in llawko's liny. Mr Ilimlmiirsh expressed the belief that llio Labour parly tlioupht it. might iiltiintitcly become lik'o the Liberal parly, nml not- so innocent ns it should lie. Th.it would exercise a good influcnoo upon politics in New Zealand for some years. The Government should have known that its cheap-money jxilicy would fend up the pricv of land, and it therefore should hive had the liind valued when the scheme was started and should have taken jwtion of the unearned increment afior that for the State. Instead, it simply lwrroved money Anybody who Wl tlie security could borrow money. There was nothing statesmanlike about that. --

(Laughter-) It was easy enough in pass an act that- every peiv-on over 70 should have a pension, but there was nothing statesmanlike abut that. From the way they talked of it one might suppose that the Liberal party paid the old-age pensions out of their own pocket*-.—(laughter.) There was no statesmanship about the Liberal party's record on the land question—tho most iui|>o!'!ant (ptcstion of all.— I - ' near, hear."| After 20 years it- had had U> admit, that its land |»lir.y was a fraud and a failure. He did not believo in the Opjiosition policy either, because it would only create a"large number of small freeholders.

Sir Jusoph Ward: Wlial is your solution?

Mr llindmarsh: When I am Prime Minister I will givo my solution. It is for you to do so now. Air Alasroy would bo able, continued Air Ilindmansh, to form a Cabinet that would be more piogressivo individually than tho present one. If tho present Government dir not givo satisfaotho lyabour party could put a little cold Bteel into it and see what tho Opposition could do.

The conclusion of Mr llindmarsli's speech was marked by loud applause from both sides, and then cries of '' vote," but

Mr J. Vigor Ilrown (Napier) rose to fill the gup. Ho said the Opposition had been for 21 years trying to get on to tho Government lionchcß, but ii was as far oil them n.s over. Let it wait till the division ivunc, (Opposition cries of " Let's havo it"; " take it now.") 11 n compared tho Opposition to a travelling circus—(Laughter.) Ur Pomaro: You're the clown. — (Laughter.) A reference to the Conservative ranks caused Air Alnsscy to interject, "that is whore you were nnco.'' and tho Houao laughed.

Mr lirown: And if you ever find me in the Conservative ranks o#ain you can choke me.-(Laughl.er.) I had enough of it. Mr llrown charged the Opposition with Iwing no friends of Laljonr. It did not- siip|>ort Iho Labour candidates. Mr Massoy: Wo supported a Labour man ai:ainst you.—(Uiughter.)

Mr Brown 'retorted that it was Mr Mfissey who had got him in. "If." he Eaid, "ho hn<l not. come, to Napier I don't Ixv lieve I would have been elected to tho lloiihp."—(Lntißiilor.) An Hon. Member: That docs not say much for you. Mir Brown referred *o the beneficent lfjrislalinn passed by 'ho Literal party lr> uphold its horrowinir. policy. Ho made, references to tho larjro land-owners in Hawke's Bay and to their attempts, lry cutting np their hind, to evade the land lax lie mentioned names ami areas and values. Mr 11. M. Campbell (Hawke's Bay) rose to make a iioifonal explanation, stntinfr tJial nn underhanded attack had been matin upon himself and ii|>on his Into father. Mr Massey: Tho meanest thins I cvor kcard in my life. Tlio Prime"Minister challenged Mr CampMi's right to make a personal ex pinna tion, anil sutrtrpiitod that tbo House should ndjottrn. It was Ihen 11.40 p.m., ami he remarked that the Hoiiso did not- want, to bit until 20 minutes to 1. Mr Campbell elect rd to mako a speech. The meinhor for Napier, Ik* said, hud staled that his Qlr Campbell's) father had bequeathed land t nder different names eo as ro escape tho land tax. This was deliberately false. At. tJio bidding of tlio Kpcakcr, Mr Campbell withdrew the words "<Wibcratoly false" and substituted " absolutely contrary to fact." Tho member for Nnpior, ho said, ii»r| 1-oi>ii miiltT of an undcrhamled attack. His (Mr Camidioirs) father had come to Aew /ioai.iiul in the early days, he had fought, for his country during tho Maori w;ir, and he had never demo an mxlerJii'.ndtd ihinu; neither had ho over Irnt money at the rale >.'f 30' or W per cent. While on his feet he would make a few other remarks. liookjng round on the opjxwite hunches lie saw a very queer colkiiion. There was the pure water crew ami übo the beer section; there wcro nil sorts. There was a larr;e landed proprietor on one of the back benches, and (hero were also those lho considered it a sin to own any laud at .ill, or at least they professed to.—(l aitghlor.) Then there was a i>enllo. iritui i.n the Treasury benches who was roturned as a largo shccp-ohier. Ho had far more sheep than several of tho Rontlciiion Mr Drown had accused of briiiß larpo sheep-owners: in Itawko's Hay.—("Hear, hear.") Mr Mussey contravened a statement by Mr Brown that the Leader of the Opposition was tho particular friend of tho Hawke's Iky laiidowners.riAs an indication of their rcdations, lie reminded the House ot nn incident of the election camjMiipn, during which four Hawko's Bay land owners did their best to injure him politically by nigning a letter which was incarrect ami circulatini; it in the Dominion by means of the Press Association, lie objected to Mr Brown's endeavour lo show that the Loader of the Opposition mus a friend of the larfo landowners.—(Mr Isitt: " Hear, hear.'') Government members: So you arc. Mr Massey: Tho gentlemen who sty I am tire making a statement that is absolutely contrary to fact.—(Ministerial uproar.) I am apiinst monopoly in every possible way, whether it is flionojwlv of land or monopoly of l>eer. In spite of cries of "Voto" from the Op|)osition Mick's, tho adjournment was moved by Mr W. J. Dickie (Sclwyn), and Urn House rose at 11.50 p.m.