N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2056, 20 July 1893, Page 18

N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12.

In the Legislative Council yesterday the District Courts' Jurisdiction Extension Bill was passed, and the Representation Act Amendment Bill read a second time.

In the House of Representatives to-day the Premier announced that it was intended to propose Mr Guinness as Chairman of Committees, x The financial debate was resumed by the member for New Plymouth, who was followed by one of the Native members. Mr Swan talked till the dinner adjournment, and continued his speech when the House resumed. He was followed by Sir John Hall, who defended the late Sir H. Atkinson from charges made by the Premier. Mr Blake followed, and the Premier moved the adjournment of the debate.

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

Mr E. M. SMITH resumed the debate on the Financial Statement, and congratulated the Colonial Treasurer on his Budget. The Statement would find general approval all over the colony. Sir JOHN HALL thought the Government were rather unfortunate in the management of the debate, snd commented on the extraordinary turn it had taken owing to the co-operation of the Government with the member for Dunedin. The Colonial Treasurer had asked for the indulgence of the House, but he need hardly ask for that, as he (Sir J. Hall) felt that no one on that side of the House was more worthy to succeed Mr Ballacce than the hon. gentleman, and any reference he thould have to make towards him would, he hoped, be of a friendly character. Referring to the surplus of £283,000, he said that was not l a surplus of the revenue of the year, as it was made up by £163,000 from the previous year, and £83,000 owing to interest nob being paid, so that if these two items were deducted from the surplus there would really be only a surplus of £38,000, and he asked the House to remember that that was the only real surplus of revenue over expenditure. As to the prospects for the cdrienb year, the Treasurer estimated the revenue at £114,000 more than it was estimated last year, and he estimated a surplus of £413,000 to deal with. He deprecated the practice of estimating surpluses more than were actually available. The Government were proposing to btiild a system of self-reliance and of non-borrowing on a very Blender foundation, and one which might any day bring them into trouble. He was thankful for the liontst admission of the Government that the annual departmental expenditure was increasing by £30,000. It appeared to him a strange omiSßion in the Statement that there was only the briefest possible allusion to the Cheviot estate and the amount of money which the purchase would entail. Where such a large amount of money, £260,000 was concerned there should have been more detailed reference to this matter. As to the public works fund, their position now was that they had come to the end of their loan money, and the Government were thrown on their own resources. The Government proposed to contribute from the current revenue in all £350,000 for public works, but their position was such that all sides of the House should demand that the Public Works Statement should be brought down in reasonable time to allow them time to consider it. As to the non-borrowing proposals of the Government, in face of the issue of Treasury bills for the purchase of public and private lands, for the making of roads, and for the Cheviot estate, he should like to ask whether those Treasury bills were not borrowing. The Treasurer had stated that the colony was in a Btrong financial position, bub he (Sir J. Hall) asserted that it waß in a weak financial position. They had come to the end of the loan money which Sir H. Atkinson had left them, and they were now thrown upon their own resources. Referring to the public debt, he said the whole question was one that required careful inquiry, and the Government sbudiously kept' the returns as to our floating debt low down on the Order Paper, but they were entitled to full information on this point. Coming to the'proposed alterations in taxation, the Treasurer wißhed to exempt improvements and increase the graduated tax, but he (Sir J. Hall) would have been content if he had exempted improvements , for industrial purposes. The remission which he now proposed would principally accrue to town and suburban districts, and exemptions would mainly apply to people living in handsome residences, wno would not contribute in the income tax anything like what was contributed by small farmers. As to the graduated tax proposed, he said it was nob the mere £19,000 which was to be taken from landowners that had to be considered: it was the deprivation of the confidence which was beginning to be felt, and which would do more damage than the/ £19,000 got from large proprietors. He pointed out that they had very little information as, to the working of the income tax, and it seemed to him the Government were prepared to accepb any returns that were sent in. As to the question of the tariff they were told that the matter would be thoroughly dealt with next session. It seemed to him that the Government could safely make that promise, but ib appeared to him they would shirk it like many other questions. He (Sir J. Hall) felt it his duty in 1887 to part from many of his friends, and to assist in putting on heavy duties for the protection of industries, bub he thought they had gone far enough in that direction. The Premier had attacked Sir H. Atkinson on more than one platform for patting on those heavy duties, when he knew well it had been done to meet the heavy deficit of the Government which preceded the Atkinson Ministry. What justification was there, however, for the present Premier keeping on those duties? Now, with respeot to bhe Railway CommiEsioners, he considered the paragraph relating to them was the black spot in the Statement ; for although he (Sir J. Hall) had nothing to thank them for, it was an entire calumny to say that the commissioners were influenced by political feelings. He held that if a Minister were put on the board, there would be a constant 'state of conflict and confnsion. At the same time, he was not prepared to Bay the Railway department did require reform of some kind. Coming to the question of the settlement of Native lands, he thought there was no more ■ important question to engage the attention of Parliament than the unoccupied 11 millions of Native land. But they were told by the Treasurer that the Government were limited by want of funds. The House would, however, remember that they had voted £50,000 a year for the purchase of Native lands, and yet they were told that there was a want of funds for the purpose. They had had no statement of Native' affairs, and this was one of the questions the Government desired to shirk. He expressed approval of the new banking arrangements, and said they would be very advantageous to the colony. There were many^other subjects in the Statement to which he should like to refer, amongst them civil service insurance, which was also going to be shunted. The local government question was also to be shunted ; in

fact the Government policy was one of shunt all through. The Treasurer had stated that the legislation of the Government was attracting capital and labour; but that was one of the wildest flights of imagination, and was utterly unfounded. The Treasurer claimed also that trade was increasing, but he would ask whether there were.more unemployed than formerly. He (Sir J. Hall) knew there was more distress in towns. Mr Ward had stated that the Government finance was strong, bub he asserted that it was dangerously weak. Ever since this Government took office there had been an increase in expenditure. When the present liabilities were discharged our public works chest would be empty, and we should have nothing to depend on but a possible surplus. The present position was, to his mind, a very serious one, and should seriously engage the attention of Parliament. He referred bo Mr Seddon's various brips round the colony Bince he became Premier, and he was sorry to say many of that gentleman's statements were referred to in his part of the country as "Seddon's fairy tales." N One of those statements was that ha had accepted the office of Premier with great reluctance and diffidence, but if that were true Mr Seddon could have no difficulty in handing over office to some one else. Another statement was that the Atkinson Government were a Government of borrowing and squandering; bnt he (Sir J. Hall) asserted that when bhe Atkinson Government took office they found public works expenditure going on ab bhe rate of £1,200,000 a year, and bhey - left office in three years' time with N the . expenditure reduced to £330,000. Mr Seddon had also stated that the Liberal Government had initiated the system of non-borrowing, but the fact was that the present Government had inherited £750,000 from bhe Atkinson Government, and had been living on it ever since. Mr Seddon had stated on another occasion" that he hoped the day was not far distant when the land would bear all taxation— (The Premier here denied having ever stated this). At any rate, the hon. gentleman was reported as having made this statement. He had also stated that the present Government had wiped out the depression, but he (Sir J. Hall) wished he could tell them how he had done it. Then referring to the Cheviot estate, the Premier had stated' they had purchased the estate without borrowing and that the owners of Cheviot had acted patriotically. Ib was gr?ab paf riobism for owners bo receive £260,000 for their land. He next referred to a most serious statement made by Mr Seddon against the late Sir H. Atkinson which reflected greatly on the House and the integrity of an old and valued public servant who was not alive to defend himself. The charge made by the present Premier against Sir H. Atkinson referred to the statement made by Sir H. Atkinson that the Grey Government in 1879 lsft £957,000 of liabilities for the purchase of Native land*. Mr Seddon characterised this statement of Sir H. Atkinson's as bogus liabilities manufactured for a purpose. He (Sir J. Hall) warmly resented that charge against his deceased colleague, and stated that when Sir H. Atkinson made that statement bhe members of {the Grey Ministry (then in Opposition) were sitting opposite him, and the members of that party allowed the statement bo remain for 14 years until the present Premier made such a serious charge against Sir H. Atkinson. He quoted extensively from Hansard and parliamentary papers in proof of his statement thab those liabilities were bona fide ones, and that in reality £2,200,000 of liabilities in all existed ab the time, as alleged by Sir H. > Atkinson. He hoped the House would clear his deceased friend and colleague from such a serious charge, which he said was most discreditable, especially when not made until 14 years afterwards. He challenged 'Mr Seddon to hold an inquiry into these charges, and if he could not prove them he hoped he would have the manliness to withdraw them.

The Hon. J. CARROLL said that Sir J. Hall in criticising the Statement had indulged in a species of levity not altogether becoming. He (Mr Carroll) thought the present Statement showed the actual state of the colony better than most documents of. the kind. Sir J. Hall had characterised the surplus as a sham one, but' how could it possibly be sham when everything was shown so clearly P The hon. gentleman touched very lightly on the Financial Statement, and, coming from such a veteran, it proved that he could find very little fault with ib. He defended the present system of taxation, and said the fact that even with the exemption of. improvements the Government were still able to obtain sufficient revenue showed that ib was superior to the property tax v Referring to the Cheviot estate, he said it was* generally agreed thab the price paid for ib was not an exorbitant one, and it was suited for close settlement. Supposing the Government had made a small loss on the transaction, it would nob be a loss to the Government in the same way as to a private individual, as they would gain indirectly by the increased production. The Government had been blamed for nob acquiring more land for settlement, bub he held bhey had done all they could in this direction. Sir J. Hall, with his lengthy experience, was aware that a block- of Native land was not acquired in a day, but the land agents of the Government had been very active during the last year. The action of the Government in acquiring bhe Awarua block, and the price they paid for it, reflected credit on them, in his opinion, and it should be the aim of every Government to acquire land as quickly as possible for settlement purposes. The Natives throughout the colony were desirous of selling large tracts of land to the Government, as they found it more to their advantage to get the Government to cut them up and survey them. After referring ab some* length to the Native land question, he said the principle of taxing Native lands was adjust one, bub they must be careful in doing so to employ certain safeguards, and power should be retained bo exempb certain parts of the colony from taxation. He thought the measures shadowed forth in the Financial Statement should pass this session. No doubt there would be serious opposition from some Natives to the proposal, but there were other Natives who owned sheep and who now saw the necessity fortheir lands being dealt with in the same way as Europeans'. He had nothing to do with the controversy with the Premier, as Mr Seddon could reply for himsslf, and he believed his reply would be a correct one." The simplicity with which the Statement was prepared would, he believed, greatly add to the prosperity of the colony, and would promote the settlement of the country. ~ Mr BLAEE having spoken,. The Hon. Mr SEDDON moved the adjournment of the debate.

MINISTERIAL MALCONTENTS.

In the course of the progress of the ReesCadman drama, it was said that Mr Rees by sending in his resignation had fallen into a trap. It certainly looks very like it. Should Mr Cadman be elected for Auckland city in this byeelection it is generally understood" he will go back to his old seat at the Thames at the general election, which seat will in the meantime be kept warm for him. I saw the exNative Minister to-day, and pub the question

to him: "Were he successful now would he offer himself at the next election for the city?" He admitted he would not, and that he was simply going bo stand for a test. Thus, in any case he is safe for the Thames if defeated at Auckland. Now, while if elected for the city, he will only hold ib for the next six weeks. Ib looks like a game of "heads I win bails you lose." The Speaker this morning instructed the clerk of writs bo issue the bwo wribs as soon as possible. These are returnable within three weeks. Mr Cadman's friends aver bhab the prospect of Mr Adam Porter's candidature increases Mr Cadman's chances of success.

I also to-night saw Mr Rees, who told me he expected to be in Auckland on Tuesday, and that he feels confident as to the result. He however, holds that he was trapped last night. Nob five seconds before the papers were laid on the table he said a Minister met him in the lobby and advised him to go in the House as statements°were to be made. He got inside bhe door just as the Premier had laid the evidence on the table. " I have been told by 50 people to-day," he said, " that I should nob have so swiftly accepted Mr Cadman's challenge, but demanded a full parliamentary inquiry first. My answer to that has been thab I was placed in a very difficulb position, and as the movemenb seemed to be a spontaneous one on Mr Cadman's parb I could nob decline. I feel confident of this, however, that the people of Auckland will not approve of stifling an inquiry into bhe adminisbration of Native matters, and in any case good has been done by arousing interest in Native affairs. The excitement must now eventually ensure a settlement of the Native question." Mr Rees does not think Mr Porter's candidature will materially affect him.

In view of the allegation that the Government had forced on the debate on bhe Financial Statement with a view to postpone the prohibition bills of Mr Earnshaw and Sir Robert Sbout, I saw the latter this evening immediately after his arrival. " This Parliament," said Sir Robert impressively and deberminedly, " has to face this question by vote before the House adjourns ; if not upon the bill at least upon a resolution." Questioned as to the indecision as to the boundaries of voting districts, "Sir Robert informed me he intended totmorrow to bring in a bill to deal with the point by an amendment of the Licensing Act, so the House would have to vote on both questions— electoral districts and licensing districts. Under this new bill the vote will ba taken when the local option vote is taken and not at the general election. "I do not know," added Sir Robert, " that ib will nob be better. The question of liquor or no liquor will not then be mixed up with general politics. I am not, however, bound to either course, but the House will have to decide." '• Can you say what the result of the division will be ?" I asked. " I think there is every chance of carrying the bill," was the reply, " and in this attempt to block the thing, the Government are only injuring themselves. Bear in mind, I do not say they are blocking it, bub if they are, then theirs will be the injury."

THE WEARER OF THE CAP AND BELLS.

Mr E. M. Smith is the chartered jester of the House, and though he wears the cap and bells with sometimes small wit, hon. members are easily amused, and indeed it would be well if it were otherwise. While the unthinking laugh, there can be-no doubb that the judicious grieve, as may be seen by a glance at the expression of almost grave displeasure that Mr Smith provokes by his humorous sallies upon the faces of the veterans of the front bench of the Opposition.

A NATIVE LEGISLATOR.

In sharp contrast bo bhe extravagances of the chosen of New Plymouth, with dusky, dignified figure, lose in his place Mr Mutu Kapa, with Captain- Mair as interpreter by his side, and proceeded to address a House that to its credit listened to the northern Maori wibh considerate attention. With easy fluency and sonorous and earnest tones, he in well-chosen words briefly spoke to that parb of the Budget that most nearly affects his fellow conntrymen. He believed the intention to tax the lands of the Maoris meant that they were to be confiscated, because it was impossible that they could pay taxes. They had so v many restrictions upon their lands thab they could nob turn bhem to use, and they were prevented by bad laws from leasing thenvsui such a way as to procure the means of living. If the Government meant there should be equal laws for both races, why were the Maoris thus treated P

THE LAND TAX.

The Lands and Survey deparbmenb reports that the total area of land finally alienated in fee by the Crown and reserved or granted by acts to 31st March 1893 is 20,473,350 acres. The number of landowners in the colony is 91,501, and the value of the land owned by them £92,371,166 ; the value of the improvements thereon being £37,943,991. The number of persons paying land tax, 12,147; the amount of tax, £165,200; the number of companies paving land tax, 221; amount of tax, £77,381 ;— total amount of land tax, £232,581. The number of persons paying graduabed land tax, 1414 ; amounb of tax, £44,996; number of companies paying graduated land tax, 76; amounb of tax, £22,884 ;— total amount of graduated land tax, £67,880. To the tax paid &hould be added £819, being 10 per cent, additional charged upon tax paid late. The number of landowners exempted from the above payments is 79,133; amount exempted, £36,551,726. This amounb includes the part value of land bolonging to taxable persons not liable to land tax in consequence of the deductions on account of improvements and the allowance of exemptions under the act.

PETITIONS.

The petition of Dunedin shopkeepers praying that tobacconists may be exempt from compulsory closing has been referred to bhe Labour Bills Committee ; thab of Wm. Robertson and others, of Sandymount, to the Wasbe Lands Committee. The petition of the Jutland Flat Gold MiniDg Company has been remitted to the Government for favourable consideration. A petition by Mr J. H. Grocott has been presented by Mr T. Duncan.

SIR JOHN HALL'S SPEECH.

Sir John Hall made many excellent points in his criticism of the Budget. The Colonial Treasurer, he said, is personally popular, and the very faulb we have to find with him personally is that he keeps bad company. " I lasbly," said Sir John, " deal wibh the attack of the Premier upon my late friend Sir H. Atkinson." Sir John waxed humorous over the misuse of State documents for advertising purposes, and the endorsement upon belegrams thab " Beecham's pills were worth a £uinea a box." •• It is not non-borrowing, it is all borrowing." Reciting many of the titles of the minor subjects of the Budget, Sir John said they would be shunted, and it might -be said the policy of the Government was one of "shunt." '" „ . „ " How does the hon. gentleman (the Premier) propose to save the country ? " asked Sir John. "Ah," rejoined the Premier, "that's our. patent." "As the mud of the Nile fertilised

Egypt, so we are asked to believe," said the now jocular knight, "thab the Seddonian muddle will save New Zealand." The charge made against his dear friend Sir H. Atkinson by the Premier in relation to what he had described in his Auckland speech as " Bogus liabilities manufactured for a purpose," Sir J. Hall repelled with a warmth and feeling that deeply stirred his party, and created much suppressed excitement in the House. Sir John enbreated members to sbudy the official papers and see if what he had said was nob borne oub by them. The perroration in defence of Sir H. Atkinson was remarkably fine. If, he said, the charges had been made by Richard Seddon he would not have thought them decent, bub they had been uttered from the pedestal of the Prime Minister, and that should have made him very careful. He might think these random charges a small matter, but he (the Premier) had taken his stand upon a low plane of public moraliby, and had dragged his office down bo bhe irresponsible utterances of an irresponsible stump orator. Nothing so unworthy, discreditable, and indecent as the charges made againsb a man who could not answer for himself 14 years af berwards, he (Sir John Hall) had never known. The matter should nob rest, as ib was unsubstantiated and unretracbed. The Premier had degraded his office, and he (Sir John) challenged an inquiry. "If he can prove his charges," said Sir John, " letfhim ; if he can'b then I call upon him bo acknowledge bhey are wrong. In bhe name of a man whose memory is revered, whose services will never be forgotten, whose character will always be admired, whose personality will always ba loved— in the name of justice and fair play, in the name of what is due bo his high position, I ask him either to have the manliness to prove his charges or the candour to withdrew them." One of the most vehemenb of Sir Johns applauders was the Premier. He seemed to wish it bo be known he would have no difficulty in replying. MINERAL DEPOSITS OF THE COLONY.

The member for New Plymouth is not a painfully modest man, but he is an enthusiast upon the mineral deposits of the colony. There is, he says, a coalfield 44,700 square miles in area, with 30,000 tons to the acre. The outcrop is within 30 miles of Auckland, and from there the Railway Commissioners could get their coal at 4s 6d a ton, and anyone else at 10s to 12s a ton.

JOTTINGS.

Speaking on the Budget, Mr Swan discovered himself as an uncompromising opponent of party governmenb, which he thinks most pernicious, and thab ib has been bhe cause of such abuse and corruption that ib will bake many years of the highest form of administration to repair. The petition of the Bishop of Waiapu in favour of direct veto has been referred by the committee to the Government. A similar course has been adopted with regard bo the petition from Otago praying that the importation of fruit trees, &c. should be prohibited from Ausbralia in order bo do away wibh insect pests. Owing to Mr Ree9's retirement ' from the House, his bill to amend "The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1881 " was dropped. • The member for Napier says bhe Governmenb bake upon themselves too much authority; bhab they presume upon having a large and too obedient majority. Sir R. Stout thinks the Women's Franchise Bill will be cornered this session: As far back as 1878 Sir Robert accepted an amendmenb on the question, incorporated ib in a. bill, and got it carried in one division, but lost ib on a second. Thab was bhe first time the question came before the House.

A return of bhe revenue and license' fees on wines, spirits, and beer paid during the last financial year shows : Spirits, £348,993 ; wines, £32,585; beer, £17,798. The return of licensing fees paid to local bodies totalled £60,172. The Governmenb- do nob intend to have any provision in the Stock Bill for a cattle tax. The Hon. J. Carroll made some important utterances on bhe Nabive question in following Sir John Hall. "If we tax Nabive lands," he said, " leb us draw the Maori up in a line with ourselves. Let him eDJoy his own and be at liberby to settle his land and work ib productively."

THURSDAY, JULY 13.

In the Legislative Council bo-day the Payment of Members Bill and the Companies' Branch Registers Bill were read a second time. The Representation Bill passed through Committee wibh an amendmenb permitting the adding of names to the roll, and the measure now presumably is not a bar to giving the franchise to women ab bhe general election.

PAYMENT OF MEMBEBS.

The Hon. Sir P. BUCKLEY moved the second reading of the Payment of Members Bill. In doing so he explained khab its provisions were to enable a member of Parliament to obtain payment of his honorarium immediately upon his return to Parliament, or in the case of a Legislative Councillor on his call, instead of waiting till he takes his seat. The Hon. Mr SCOTLAND designated the bill as a cold-blooded measure, and one which was nob warranted. He failed to see why a member, because he was elected, should be paid for work he had nob done and could nob do unti.l be took his seat. If the bill were righteous, why did not the Government make it retrospective as far as the recently appointed members of the Legislative Council were concerned P Whilst he believed in the present Government, he felt convinced they were not carrying out their democratic principles, and if the bill was agreed bo there would be a howl of execration raised againsb the Governmenb. He opposed the bill.

Tke Hon. Sir G. S. WHITMORE supported the bill. He failed to see how gentlemen appointed to the Council should nob receive payment for services directly they were called to the Council or were returned to the other House. ' The Hon. G. M'LEAN supported the bill, which he regarded as an equitable one. The Hon. W. D. STEWART also supported the bill on the ground that members, if elected during the recess, had certain public work to perform even although bhey had . nob taken their seats.

The Hon. Mr STEVENS thought if members of Parliament were to be paid for their services they should receive their salaries from the day of their election. He objected to the proposed deductions per diem for non-attendance during a sitting of Parliament), because if payment was to be by the month no deductions should be made, or if they were ma*de they should be computed on the ratio of there being 365 days in the year. The Hon. Mr OLIVER coincided in the contention of Mr Stevens.

The Hon. Sit P. BUCKLEY, replying, said the proposed deductions were made with a view to compel the punctual attendance of members. He failed to see why Mr Scotland objected to the bill; especially as that gentleman was •' a lifer" in the Council, and had never spent a penny in contesting an election. The. bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed next day, ,

In the House of Representatives Mr Guinness was elected Chairman of Committees. A -private bill, dealing with the administration of some Native lands, was read a second time, and the financial debate was resumed. The speakers were Messrs Backland, G. Hutchison, Hogg, and Earnshaw, the latter speaking bitterly against the action of the Government in blocking prohibition legislation, and plainly declaring that he had not been sent to Parlia- | merit to support the gentlemen who at present occupy the Treasury benches. AMENITIES BETWEEN AUCKLAND MEMBERS.

The financial debate was resumed by Mr Buckland, who had nob been speakiDg a couple of minutes before he said Mr Lawry, the member for Farnell, had given out that he intended to "flatten" him (the member for Manukau^ut in a quarter of an hour. Thi3 was a very serious threat, and he really felt in extreme danger for a day or two. All he could hope was that he would not be flattened out further than the member for Parnell was himself flattened. THE CHAIRMANSHIP OP COMMITTEES.

Ib was not what he said bat the way he said it bhab drew attention to the member for Dunedin (Mr Fish) when the House had unanimously ratified the nomination of Mr Guinness as Chairman of Committees. He congratulated the Government on the absence of intrigue over the appointment, and condoled with them over the way their previous appointments had turned out. This was too much for Mr Seddon, who indignantly protested that there had been no intriguing. . ;

MINISTERIAL FLATTERY.

Every Minister, said Mr Buckland, had his special form of flattery, bat Mr Seddon bad been forestalled in ordinary forms, so when he went to Auckland he thought the best thing he could do was to give Sir George Grey a little soft soap. Auckland people, however, liked Sir George to be left alone, and the moment Ministers commenced to flatter him they saw which way the cat jumped. Then as tothe figures given by Mr Seddon at Auckland, they all knew he got them from Sir George himself. "No," loudly retorted Mr Seddon. Bub the fierce negative did not stop' the member for Manukau. They all knew, he said', that once a bulky Financial Statement had been abstracted from the table of the House. That Statement had never been Been since, but it was no doubt in the possession of Sir George Grey at the present moment, and when in Auckland Mr Seddon had unearthed the precious document, and that was why Mr Seddon had said he could not rest until he had set Sir George right.

LIQUOR LEGISLATION.

Mine and counter-mine are following each other in quick succession in regard to liquor legislation.. The representatives of the trade ab present ' in Wellington are deputabing Ministers, and, recognising thab bhey have lost much ground through past lethargy, are leaving no stone unturned. Ab a private meeting they appointed Mr G. T. Cross, of Napier, as secretary, with the mission to organise the whole of the trade in ports of the colony on the lines of the Licensed Victuallers' Association of Great Britain. There is increasing anger on the parb of the prohibition reformers in the House, who, as I have already intimated, openly accuse the Government of covertly placing obstacles' in their way. They point to bhe facb thab .the financial debate was forced on nob only against their wishes bub against those of the Opposition; and in regard to this I have good authority for saying that Mr Fish, while allowed free course by Ministerialists to speak at a critical moment, acted contrary to 'the wishes of the Opposition party. THE TWIN VACANCIES. 7

The writs for both Auckland City and Thames have been, despatched, returnable before August 4. Both Mr Cadman and Mr Rees leave to-morrow, both evidently benb on flooding bhe former constituency with controversial literature. Mr Rees intends placing in ths hands of the electorate copies of the Sansard report of bis speech in reply to Mr Smith and Mr Cadman. He expresses himself confident of a two to one majority. Amongst the messages he has received is one from a prominent elector at Auckland, urging him to come ab once, and adding "Right will prevail." Lobby gossip hath ib thab Mr Napier has suggested to Mr Cadman thab the ex-Native Minister should conbesb hispid scab, leaving- Mr Napier to fighb Mr Rees.

THE VACANT PORTFOLIO. ' A Wellington paper states thab Mr . T. Thompson has been appointed to the vacant ' Native portfolio. Mr Thompson, however, knows absolutely nothing of it, and Ministers preserve the strictest silence. When the resignation of Kre, Cadman from the Cabinet loomed near I indicated that Mr Thompson would nob be unacceptable to bhe Premier. If this be so, why the delay.? There be those who say, both within and without the Cabinet, there is a strong desire that Mr Carroll should have the office; and certainly his ability, popularity, personal knowledge of the Native rape, and blood relationship point strongly to him as among the first entitled to the position. But there are other considerations that will these things that I may refer to hereafter.

SIR J. HALL.

The topis of the day has been the speech of Sir J. Hall, and there is a concensus .of opinion

that it was in every way worthy of the man and the occasion. During the two hours and a-half occupied in its delivery the House was intent to the last word and would not for a moment assent to the speaker's more than once expressed concern that he was unduly oocupying the time of his auditors. No doubt the interest was intensified by the feeling that it was in a sense the closing scene in a long, arduous, and honourable political career. To-day I have heard many expressions of sincere regret that the country will presently lose hia services. He has done the State great service, and is there another such to take the place that will too soon be vacant ?

A LABOUR MINISTER.

A Labour member assures me that there is a growing feeling among his set that the Labour Minister of the next Parliament must be a direct Labour representative— that is to say, so it was explained to me, a man who will leave office to go back to the manual work from which he came. This, said my Labour informant, is not in any way a reflection upon Mr Reeves, whose ability, courage, and sincerity are fully recognised, but a desire that the Labour party should be directly represented in the Cabinet itself. f

A SOUTHLAND DEPUTATION.

A deputation, composed of all the Southland members, waited on the Premier this evening and brought under his notice several matters affecting the district. With regard to the Gore traffic bridge, they wanted the Government to improve upon the offer of £1000 made by the Colonial Treasurer towards a work which would cost £3000. The Premier said he thought the Government had been very liberal in this matter, and he could not see his way to grant any further assistance. The question of the Forest Hill tramway extension to Macdonald s corner was also discussed. The Premier stated that the Government could not interfere during the currency of the present lease of the tramway, which had two years to run, and they would make it a first consideration that the land, required for the line should be given to the Government. Mr G. F. Richardson urged upon the Government the necessity for two bridges over the Waiau river or an extension of the Orepuki railway line across the river to properly open up the Western district area for settlement. Mr Seddon undertook to carefully consider this suggestion.

JOTTINGS.

There is a feeling among Opposition members that the Government treated Sir J. Hall with but scant courtesy in putting up Mr Carroll to reply last evening. As the proclaimed leader of the attack on the Budget, the knight, it is said, should have been answered by a principal Minister v . The incident was mentioned to-day as another illustration of the tactless movements of the Premier. There was no friction among the Government party as ttfthe appointment of Mr Guinness to the Chairmanship, and consequently no occasion for the "iron hand" that is supposed to be ready to seize the first opportunity to suppress come malcontents upon.othor subjects. The closing sentences of the speech of Mr G. Hutchison were finished as a treble-cut diamond and sharp as a Damascus blade. His declaration that the Premier could never fitly enunciate-the policy of which Sir R. Stout was the real author and natural custodian was an astute and well-directed thrust at a line of cleavage that, faint though it may be now, may widen ere long to such proportions that the most timid and the 'most time-serving must alike choose the height of either side or drop into the gulf between and be politically loßt. > The Opposition press says the Government are Btonewalling their own Budget. No questions were answered to-day or yesterday. . , . . Mr George Hutchison says debate is deteriorating in the House. Time was when a Premier, challenged as Mr Seddon had'been by Sir John Hall respecting Sir Harry Atkinson, would have sprung to his feet in reply before the applauding cheers had died away. There was a fear the Premier had not facts at his back as to the statements made: The member for Waitotara, referring to Mr Seddon's charges, spoke of the time when Sir George Grey was his own Colonial Treasurer. It was a matter of history over the loan, said Mr George Hutchison, that the credit of the colony depended on the wires. Had there been the break of a cable or a mistransmisßionof a word, New. Zealand might have been in the position of Paraguay er the Argentine Republic. In the financial debate, Mr Earnshaw said Otago required exceptional treatment in regard to Us Crown lands and distribution of goods. He -dwelt strongly upon this. Another great point he made was with regard to temperance reform. When he was interrupted, as he was more than once by Mr Fish with interjections, he remarked that he did not apparently ' please either the temperance or the publicans' party, but he had convictions and he meant to stand by them. . - ' Mr Earnshaw made an imperial speech on the Budget. The Government, he said, should do everything they could* to connect the colony ■with the Vancouver service. The policy of America was America for itself. There was more to be gained by community of British interest than otherwise. The member for the Peninsula let the Government know his opinion upon their placing obstacles in the way of temperance legislation, and freely criticised their proposals. The Ministry should at least have taken the feeling of the House on the Cheviot purchase. Though he was bound by life-long ties to his party, he would not be bound to its chariot wheels by Bacchus. Captain Rusaell thinks individualisation of Native title to land should be insisted on whenever possible. It is generally thought that the trip to the Cheviot estate has been dropped. Sir John Hall has drawn attention to a breach of -privilege on the part of the Government. Under the Native Land Purchase Act an expenditure of £50,000 a year waß allowed on condition that a full return as to how it had been spent was laid before the House within 24 days of the opening of the session. The Hon. Mr M'Kenzie laid the blame on a block in the printing office. Mr Fish has, on the floor of the House, withdrawn his statements in regard to Mr Carncross and Government advertisements. At the time he first made the statement Mr Ei'sh promised to do this if, after inquiry, he found he had been misinformed. A return has been ordered of -the correspondence which has taken place between the Midland Railway Company and the Government. .The Government have refused a return showing "the names of all persons who, being absentees, paid the 20 per cent, increase in the graduated land tax. It is not usual to give names. A return asked for by Mr Hamlin of the names of all persons who have been appointed to the commission of the peace, together with the names of the persons recommending them, was opposed by the Government. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson has secured a return showing, the capital cost, working expenses, income and revenue of the telephone

exchanges year by year from the date of their establishment. The return Bhows full details. Sir Robert Stout has given notice of a bill to amend the licensing laws, making the licensing areas applicable for direct veto purposes. He has thus taken the step ho informed me he would yesterday. The Hon. Mr Rolleston's motion is unopposed for copies of any correspondence between the Government and the Agent-general (1) on the subject of the encouragement or assistance offered to Bmall farmerß and others possessed of some capital to emigrate to New Zealand ', (2) on the subject of the guaranteed debentures, and if the £450,000 of Treasury bills authorised to be' issued under section 2 of the " Public Revenues Act 1892"; (3) as to the Imperial Institute.

FRIDAY, JULY 14.

In the Legislative Council to-day the Representation Act Amendment Bill, Payment of Members Bill, and the Companies' Branch Registers Bill were passed. The Ofcago Harbour Board Empowering Bill was postponed with the view of ascertaining if it is a private bill.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

The Hon. Mr HART asked the Colonial Secretary : (1) Do so-called bookmakers attending race meetings pay a license fee to the Government? (2) If so, how many are now licensed ? (3) What is the amount of fees so paid ? (4) What is the amount arising from the tax on totalisator ?

The Hon. Sir P. BUCKLEY gave a negative answer so far as the three first queries were concerned, and with regard to the fourth question said the amount received up to the end of the finanoial year was £10,800 8s 9d. The Hon. Mr ACLAND asked the Colonial Secretary whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the alarming increase of rabbits in South Canterbury, and if they will at once inquire as to the cause of the samo and take immediate steps to stop the plague. The Hon. Sir P. BUCKLEY said early this year the chief inspector had examined the country referred to, and had appointed new sub-inspectors, who, it was hoped, would carry out the provisions of the act. Speaking personally, he had very little hope the appointments would result in great good ; but, at any rate, this he would say, that the chief # inspector would endeavour to see that the sub-inspectors' duties were performed satisfactorily.

In the House of Representatives to-day Ministers declined to answer questions, so as to allow the financial debate to proceed. This manner of conducting business found no favour, and the whole afternoon was wasted in discussions on a variety of topics, while several members persisted in putting their questions, well knowing that no reply would be made. In the evening the financial debate was continued, the Minister for Education being one of the speakers. The adjournment was moved by the Hon. E. Mitchelsbn.

THE PROHIBITIONIST REVOLT.

Ministers appear deeply chagrined at the undoubted prohibitionist revolt. As intimated a day or two ago, Mr Earnshaw had intimated his intention of using a freer hand in Ministerial criticism than formerly, but no one expected such evidence of open insurrection as was manifest last night. He would not, he said, be dragged in the gutter by Mr Seddon at the chariot wheels of Bacchus, and he declared he had not been elected to support "those seven men on the Government benches," but | certain principles which he considered had been abandoned. This was significant language coming from a prominent member of a party the Government have gone so far to conciliate. There is every sign of breakers ahead, and it is thought likely that many Government proposals will be dropped in order to hurry to the country. THE GOVERNMENT " SHUNT." The feeling I have indicated for some days past that the Government were stonewalling private business -found open expression this afternoon, when for the third day in succession the Government intimated that they intended to proceed with the financial debate. The Order Paper for the day had accumulated one private bill, no less than 50 questions, one leave to introduce a bill (Sir R. Stout's Licensing Act Amendment Bill), two notices of returns, 34 bills of various descriptions, 26 notices of motion. Mr Harkness protested against the refusal of the Government to answer questions, Mr Ward's emphatic statement that the course was the usual one being received with a full chorus of "No, never," from the Opposition. Mr Rolleston followed in the Opposition piotest. The Government, he said, had first fixed Friday night for the financial debate in a most arbitrary manner. The Opposition would have been glad to go on "with that immense mass of paper called the J, G. Ward Budget," but they could not be ready then. On Tuesday the whole of the time had been absorbed in that screaming farce " Rees and Cadman." Nearly at midnight the Government wanted to go on with the financial debate. He, for his party, declined to take up the debate so unexpectedly, and it went on without their consent. He (Mr Rolleston) was bound to say he had been informed that the reason the debate had been forced on was in order to "Bhunt" private business. He did not wish to go into the motives which might be behind this "shunting," but he and the Opposition absolutely declined to be a party to it. There was absolutely no reason why the financial debate should go on. As ife was, the whole .of the private business waß kept back, and questions the answers to which werfii necessary to carry on the debate remained unanswered. As long as he (Mr Rolleston) sat in the House he would see fair play, and he would not witness important private business delayed for business a lot of which was bogus. The Minister for Lands disclaimed any intention to keep private business, and maintained it was only right the Government should finißh the debate. Members from all parts of the House, however, either knowingly or inadvertently joined in a revengeful counter "shunt" on

OID SOLDIEBS' CLAIMS,. / an interesting subject, which was pursued until the last hour of the afternoon. Ministeis certainty did not seem to object, for once the matter was fairly floated they all, with the exception of the Colonial Treasurer, left the House.

At half -past 4 the old soldiers were dropped, and members insisted upon putting their questions. The only and stereotyped answer vouchsafed by Mr Ward was thatj theylwould be answered at a future date. Mr George Hutchison said he would ask every one of his questions every day. Captain Russell said he would do the same as a protest against the gagging propensities of the Government, who refused to be regulated by past custom or ordinary courtesy. The House must not allow a dictatorial Government to do just as they chose. Mr Fisher improved on this by accusing the Government of dictatorial damnation. Mr Rolleston, at the finish, said the whole conduct of the financial debate had been scandalously burked. What earthly reason existed for the Government to rub the House the wrong way ?

SIDELIGHTS Off THE HOUSE.

Mr Rolleston is nothing if not punctilious and scrupulously observant of the proprieties of the House, but he out-Grandisoned Grandison this evening by making a ceremonious apology for expressing the opinion that the Government desired to " shunt " the debate. "Ministers," said Captain Russell in his smoothest manner, "are unfortunately commonly required to speak authoritatively upon subjects upon which they know nothing at all." This was upon the subject of old soldiers' lands.

Silken satire sits well upon the gallant member for Hawke's Bay. Captain Russell told a story last evening to the House of the long and gallant services, extending over half a century, of an Imperial officer who abandoned his rights and bright prospects of promotion in the British Army to render arduous, dangerous, and conspicuously valuable services, extending over many years, in the Maori wars, and now had as his reward the equivalent of a pension of £40 a year. It was a narrative that, if known, should humiliate every New Zealander. Then Mr Smith, of New Plymouth, followed with so much of earnestness in bis denunciation of the wrong that had been done and sympathy for the men wronged that even the reverend senators on the front Opposition bench had a tolerant smile for the doggerel lines with which the member for New Plymouth concluded. By this time the question had grown to the dimensions of a regular debate, and it seemed in the fitness of things that Sir John Hall should say that it was the last occasion upon which he could raise his voice in favour of the old soldiers who had so well served the country, and that as for Colonel Stapp in particular he knew that he was deserving of all the good things that had been said of him. It is a far cry from Sir John Hall to Mr Taylor of Sydenham, and wide as the gulf that separates the men as politicians was the arguments they employed. Mr Taylor admitted Colonel Stapp'B services, but thought since the colonel was not a pauper the country need not concern itself. The House passed Mr Taylor by in merciful silence. His youth, inexperience, and purity, of purpose were among the allusions of Mr Fisher to Mr Guinness. This must have been meant for sarcasm, but the House took time for reflection. This is the people's Government, he continued, the poop man's Government, yet witness their treatment of the old soldiers who have served this country. As to Mr Taylor's contention that Colonel. Stapp had means of his own, Mr Fisher would like to know if Mr Taylor would be satisfied if the man who owed him money declined to pay because the member for Sydenham was not in want of it. This being talked out with theinconclusiveness that always follows upon such discussions, there came a short but complete

DETRACTION BY MB EABNSHATV of certain words which he had been informed he had uttered on the previous evening in allusion to the Minister for Labour in connection with the liquor traffic. Whereupon the Hon. Mr Reeves reciprocated by expressing his regret that he had permitted himself to interject sonic remarks that might have annoyed the ohosen of the Peninsula, and so the storm which raged over the back benches of the Government lasfc night passed away. Then came an onset by the Opposition, headed by Mr G. Hutchison, who insisted that the questions upon the Order Paper should be answered. Mr Ward, from the Treasury bench, in his suavest manner, would only make the answer, "The question will be answered upon a 1 future day/ "I will ask every day until they are answered," retorted Mr Hutchison, and various members proceeded to ask all 'the Order Papers would permit, and indignantly protest against the gag of the Government. At last Sir'R. Stout got his chance, and rising in his place, gave notice ot the first reading of his Amending Licensing Bill in a loudly approving Houee. This being done, Mr Taylor, of Sydenham, caught the Speaker's eye, and proceeded to plod his weary way till the dinner hour.

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

Mr MOORE resumed the debate on the Financial Statement and was followed by Mr Willis. Mr BRUCE said that in consequence of his retiring from public life for a time, and probably for ever, he had intended to be comparatively silent this session, but he wished now to say a few words. He referred to an article that appeared in the. New Zealand Times criticising a speech of his in Auckland as a "farrago of nonsense." But that was essentially criticism of a liberal character. What right or title had the present Government to the name of Liberals? Was it because they brought down a lot of rubbishy legislation that simply harassed people, and were very far removed from' the liberal principles of Bright and Cobden. The present Government party advocated land nationalisation, whereas Mr Gladstone, the leader of the Liberals in the old country, denounced that in strong terms. Mr Willis had asked what the Opposition cared for the working man. Did he and his party assume all the. credit to themselves for sympathy with the working men? They traded on that in season and out of season. A Liberal Government had more than once landed this colony in disaster, and it had taken all the efforts of our best public men to extricate it from the position in which Liberal Governments had left it. A great deal of credit was due in this respect to a statesman who was scarcely cold in his grave, and it was not very chivalrous of the present Premier to tell a country audience that the Atkinson Ministry had nearly ruiaed the colony. The Government had introduced the income tax, but Mr Gladstone and the Liberal paity in England were determined to do away with it at the first opportunity. They were taxing most heavily all the industrial classes of the colony. Their graduated tax was a disgrace to the Statute Book and yet it was proposed to raise it The fact was the Government were bowing the knee to trades and labour councils, who wanted the graduated tax increased. Respecting railway management, he did not care whether it were Radicals or Communists who were railway commissioners, so long as they did not introduce political influence. He did not, however, know any extreme Radicals who had brains enough fortheposition. He referred at length to the Land for Settlement Act and co-operative labour question. He said the latter was open to great abases, and was likely to prove a powerful political lever at election time. Then the Government paid great attention to the question of the " spoils to the victors," especially in the appointment of J.P's., and in the matter of Government advertising, and he instanced cases where advertisements had gone to newspapers whose circulation was not a quarter of those which were refused them. The Government had now been nearly three years in offlceandwbathadtheydoneforthecolony ? Had they reduced taxation in any way ? They had not. .The Government policy would notstand the test of analysing, but it was revolutionary and reactionary. In consequence of the Government policy being such as he had indicated, he held its members were unworthy of the confidcnco of the people of the colony. The Hon. W. P. REEVES said he Bhould

[ not have risen at such a late hour were it not for the fact that Ministers had been taunted with not replying to some of the speeches from the Opposition - Wenches. He referred to Mr Bruce's remarks that it would probably be the last Financial Statement he would speak on, but he (Mr Reeves) would greatly regret the hon. gentleman's absence from the House. Mr Bruce had referred to the Liberalism of the present Government as not being in accordance with that of Bright and Cobden, but Mr Bruce's Liberalism was that of 60 years ago. The very essence of Liberalism was that it progressed with the age, but the logical outcome of the Liberalism advocated by Mr Bruoe was a simple negation. He denied that the Government had yielded to the clamour of trade and labour councils when they decided to raise the graduated tax, and there had certainly been no general demand for euch a change. If it were so, was it not to the credit of the working classes of the colony that instead oi urging a reduction on the necessaries of life, which directly affected them, they should first of all advocate a change from the Property Tax to a land and income tax, which did not affect them at all. He held that his party could fairly claim they had contributed their share towards the improved prosperity of the colony for the last year or two, and that they had absolutely falsified bhe predictions which had been uttered as to the effect of their advent to power. He defended the Premier from the charge of making an attack on Sir H. Atkinson at Otaki. Mr Seddon had not attacked Sir H. Atkinson, but his Government ; and however much a man might be lamented, or his loss regretted, one must criticise his work as a public man. ' Referring to Sir J. Hall's speech, he regretted very much that it was probably the last time he would speak on a Financial Statement. The hon. gentleman had been a prominent figure in the colony's politics for many years, and his example was one to be imitated. Sir J. Hall was, in fact, a gentleman of whom his party might be proud and whom his opponents might respect. It would, however, be his (Mr Reevee's) lot to show that several of Sir J. Hall's statements were open to question. Sir J. Hall had made a great deal of capital out of the surplus not being the real surplus of the year, and he contended that it did not depend on the various items brought forward from last year ; but he (Mr Reeves) contended that it did depend on them. The Government were then charged with carrying on the public works policy on the strength of the proceeds of conversion, but he pointed out that the amount from that source was £222,000, and therefore they could not have carried on for two and a-half years on that amount. The Government were determined to maintain a strong finance, and. they refused to heedlessly reduce taxation in" order to enable them to do so. The most legitimate work of the Government in a country like this was to carry on colonisation ; and he should like them to ask country settlers whether they were | prepared to forego this advantage in order to reduce taxation on the necessaries of life. Sir jrHall had asked how the Government had j added to the prosperity of New Zealand. To that he would reply : they did so by doing what Sir J. Hall did not want them to do, and by not doing what ho wanted them to do. Sir J. Hall and the Opposition raised a bitter cry about the tax on improvements, which they alleged was a tax on industry ; but now the Government had taken off that tax they were attacked for doing so. There were two reasons why the Cheviot estate was purchased by the Government. The first was purely to protect their finances, and the second to encourage settlement. He defended the graduated tax at great length; and said it mustremain a policy tax, not for the purpose of bursting up large estates suddenly, but to compel their owners to subdivide them in a gradual manner. He complimented Mr G. .Hutchison onhis exceedingly able speech. It had been his good fortune to hear him attack both sides of the House, and he often wondered whetherthat hon gentleman attacked the present Government better, than he had done the late Government. Conservatism, was no doubt more in Mr Hutchison's element than Liberaliam. That being so, he probably attacked the present Government more ably than the late Government. He had attacked the Government for not being strong enough to gain the confidence of the country, and said he never had confidence in them. The question was not whether the hon. gentleman had confidence in the Government, but whether their party and the country had confidence in them. They deeply regretted the loss of their late leader, but they were honestly endeavouring to carry out the legacy left by the late Premier. They would go to the country and let it judge whether they were not honestly Bfcriving ..to do so. He maintained that the Government were prepared to carry out the Liberal programme, and they claimed to represent the views of a majority *of the people. They were prepared to do the work of to-day, and to leave morrow to take care of itself. The Hon. E. MITCHELSON moved the adjournment of the debate. — Agreed to. PLACATING THE PROHIBITIONISTS.

Late to-night I hear things that lead ts the belief that the Government have resolved to give the House an early opportunity of expressing a substantive opinion upon the liquor question.' The Government will not, I think, take sides upon the question, but pains will be taken to modify Sir R. Skout's bill in Committee in such a way as to let the drink party down as easily as may be possible. At any rate it seems as though the Premier is not the creature of the liquor interest that Mr Barnshaw thought. How far last night's revolt has changed the situation thia deponent knoweth not, but the retractions of Messrs Reeves and Earnshaw before dinner are significant to those who read between the lines.

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

Mr Willis, of Wanganui, thinks the cry of the Opposition that the surplus should be devoted to a reduction of taxation in the interest of the workers is a hollow sham. Reduce such taxation by all means, but accomplish it hy further taxation upon the big estates that remain unimproved. He would still further increase tte graduated tax, which he considers the greatest blessing that has ever been conferred upon this country. At the end of a half hour the member for Wanganui expressed an opinion that too much of the time of the House was wasted in mere talk, and looked a little surprised when hon. members laughed loud approval ; and then, coming to a. consideration of the place of the divine and lovely one in politics, he still further exercised the risible faculties of his audience by saying that when he got back home to Wanganui he thought he would bo brought round to the woman's franchise. Memories of the old-time lectures of Mrs Caudle seemed to fit across the minds of laughing members. At the opposite pole to Mr Willis is Mr Bruce, as thus : " And then, Sir, we have the graduated or confiscatory tax — a most unEnglish tax, that is a disgrace to the Statute Book. Last year," said Mr Bruce, "the Premier assured me that the graduated tax would not be increased, and now we find that ho is nothing but the puppet of the trade councils behind him." ,

The Hon. Mr Reevesj whose misfortune it was to be put up to speak' after supper, paid a high

compliment to the member for Rangitikei. Mr Bruce had said that was. probably the last Financial Statement "Vfco •> which he would speak. All would share the regret it th*t were so, for Mr Brace had always been straightforward. If one could not have staunch friends and allies, then the best thing was to have a fair, outspoken opponent. < While admitting the deficiencies of party government, Mr Reeves wotfld not move a single finger to replace it until he saw something bettery and that he did not see at present. It was a thing the working men of the colony could be proud of, said Mr Reeves, that, instead of clamouring for a remission of taxation affecting themselves* • they had given their mandate to reform the incidence of taxation which did not directly affect them. " Sir J. Hall's was the most busihess-lilce • criticism it has ever been my lot to hear" was Mr Reeves's preface to the essay he made ; and, as showing '- that* all reports were not to be relied on, the Minister for Education declared he v would nob hang a dog on Hansard reports, owing to the accoustic properties of Parliament 'buildings and other things. Why then should a Minister be held responsible for the work of reporters in small places, who did their work' under high pressure and every possible disadvantage. Roads and bridges, said Mr Reeves, were the life of the people in the north, and would_ they be prepared to see all these public works stopped in order that something should be taken off the taxation on the necessaries of life.. The change in taxation, he said, meant a present to the Government's bitterest opponents of £18,500.

THE LICENSING BILL. '

The Licensing Aot Amendment Bill, read a first time, follows the lines indicated to me by Sir Robert Stout a few days ago. It provides that two questions more than are now put snail be submitted ab every local option poll. These questions are-.— (1) Should any license at all be issued ? (2) Should the number of license.B be reduced ? If there is a majority in 1 favour of the first of these questions no licenses can be issued. If the second proposal is carried there, shall be only one license for 750 inhabitants. There shall be one polling day for the whole . colony, and the roll to be used shall consist of the ratepayers' roll, with the* addition of the names of those who reside in the' district and are entitled to.vote at elections for the House of Representatives. • ' •

AN AUCKLAND MEMBER IN AN

AWKWARD FIX.

Mr Jackson Palmer bad an unpleasant; experience to-day. Desiring to see the. Premier he entered Government Buildings between the hours of 1 and 2 o'clock when caretakers are particularly careful as to who is admitted. * Mr Palmer was on his way to the Premier's room when he was intercepted by a -stalwart messenger ' who asked bis business. _ Mr Palmer refused to disclose it, and. insisted on proceeding. The janitor thereupon took him by the collar and essayed to drag him out, tearing in the effort Mr Palmer* mackintosh from him. After relating hit experiences Mr Palmer had to stand & strong fire of chaff about being taken tor one -of the unemployed, and ho as jocularly replied that he would never go to Government Buildings again without his silk hat. But however much he may joke about the matter in the lobbies Mr Palmer thinks so seriously about the affair that he has laid the circumstances before the Speaker and Ministers, who have undertaken to mako t inquiries into the circumstances.

ATTEMPTING TO FORCE THE PREMIER'S HAND. -

A pretty little scene was enacted when the motion to adjourn the debate was made at 12.15. Mr Hutchison rose and proposed as an amendment that the adjournment be till Monday, for the purpose of taking private business; which had 'been submerged. The Premier had entered into one of those- alliances with Mr Fish of which they had heard. He had received a deputation from the -Temperance Alliance and sent them away satisfied, and from' the publicans and sent them away also satisfied. The Premier refused to accept the amendment, as the Government intended to conduct the business in their own way, and- he produced a ruling of Sir Maurice O'Borke to support him. He had had a private hint that Mr Hutchison had been looking up authorities.' It 'was true he had received a deputation, from.the alliance and that they had left with every confidence ;' and when he had met the brewers the first thing he had done was to send for a reporter. So loDg as he did everything aboveboard he had nothing to fear. Whereat Mi Soobie Mackenzie retorted that a new leaf had been', turned 6ver,«> and the House adjourned in ipeals "of /laughter, Mr G. Hutchison told the Premier that- when he received an alliance deputation he should " wink the other eye." ' *. j

jottings;

This, I am assured, is a true Brory.^ A veteran politician, who now enjoys a well-earned repose in the serene atmosphere of the. Upper House, lately made'a courteoWinquiry of one of thorn as to the welfare, of the twelve apostles. — "How were they getting-.spn ?" '•Well," he replied, " I can aardly say. '.You see we haven't discovered our Judas yet,- but we suspect him." J, V a <* \ No recommendation has been. made by the Petitions Committee on the , petition of William Robertson and others,-, of Qtago. r . A numerously-signed requisition- haferbef n received by the Premier from Raugitikei dis-, trict asking him to address a .meetings at. FeildiDg. . - \ "The old gamo," remarked Mr Guinness, when Mr Mackenzie said "he would -ask his questions every day until he got an answer. "That maybe," retorted Mr' Mackenzie; !*I have not been appointed Chairman of Committees." f ; '• '- " Mr Mills, the Government whip, asked me," said Mr Rolleston, "if I would 'agree to Mr Rees making a reply, and I_said nothing else could be'done by Englishmen,*— and Mr Rolleston brought his hand down with such" force as to make the books and papers, on the desk

dance. Mr Lake, of "Waikato, repelled the charge that the Opposition was responsible for Tuesday's waste of time over the ■ Rees-Cadman affair. Ib was, he said, entirely due to a supporter of the Government and 'a late whip, who deliberately stonewalled- to, prevent Mr Rees from replying, and ,he would have succeeded had it not been for the universar^ense of justice in the House. _ Mr Earnshaw's attitude of uncompromising hostility towards the Government, and" the Minister for Labour in particular, last evening haa been a topic in the lobbies Bince. '■ Moderate men behind the Treasury benches think the" member for the Peninsula did not receive , the con^ ' sideration as to the introduction of his bill that he was entitled to, but was treated as a servile follower, whose .business or convenience, need not be consulted. -,'.-'■' Mr Scobie Mackenzie will, it is understood, make a very strong attack upon the "Budget.' Other members of the Opposition, ate, in school-, boy phrase, "mugging up" with the same object. There is,' however, a foolish want of understanding between the leaders of the opposing forces aB to the plan of campaign that has led to much vexatious waste of time/particu-

4

larly thi* afternoon. Leaders oh both sides are waiting for the " other fellow" to come on. The second reading of Sir Robert Stout's Amending Licensing Bill is set down for the 2nd

August. The member for New Plymouth says he intends going to London directly after the elections to form a strong company to work tho fifokau coil mines »nd 'utilise the Taranaki iron Band.