THE WANING MANA OF THE MINISTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 20

THE WANING MANA OF THE MINISTRY .

It is difficult to conctive any prccsediuga more calculated to accelerate the waving inaua of the Ministry than Saturday niguVri dis-cus-sion, when, for two hours Mid a-half, during which time the Hous-.s waß in Committee on the Customs Duties and Exciue Bill, discipline, if not decorum, was set aside. From the first the Premier recognised the temper of bis audience, but he could hardly anticipate that, after having confessed defeat by himself moving to report progress, he would have to get his own following to stonewall his motion until ho had whipped up an assured majority. Yet this was for some time clearly the situation. As for the Treasurer's repeated statement that he could not ba expected to take the boot and shoe duties except in a full House, it was so puerile as to excite repeated exclamations of derision and con'empt ; while Captaiu Ru33ell suggested, amid approving cheer*), the Treasurer's desired postponement was in orcTer to bring in his ninth tariff. Mr Robert Thompson sternly told the Premier that hon. members had not come there to be played with. Mr Buchanan abjured the Treasurer to come out into the open light of day and say what he really meant, to which Mr Ward rejoined that he could not comply at that hour of the night. Mr Flatman contributed to the entertainment by solemnly asking, as a point of order, if the House could report pr<"gred3 when it had made none. The Premier plainly told members that he knew they meant mischief. It is toa late, he said, to cry out when you get into the dirt ; the thing is not to get there. " You've got there," cried a voice, amid cheers of approval. "Oh, no, not yet," retorted Mr Seddon ; " only the Government can move the j duties, and I think that under the circumstances I will move to report progress," upon which announcement there followed disorder, derision, and laughter. Then it was that Mr

Grahßm, of Nelson, raised his indlgnimfc Sfo nuncint'on of the Premier. He was hnru tff> reduce tho burdens of tho people, which tfio Government professed to deaire to do, but airf* tain leading items of their tariff wculd increnaa them. Then came Mr Earrmhaw, who taunted tho Premier trth cowarrl'cc, but told him ho would snpjxjrfe the bncta daty, and 6it down with the seemioji s*ti«fac"ion of having got even for a lot! oi things. Shortly after this the Treasurer bugan to spin worda nt length, and there ai-oße % an •• You are 6tonow»lling." " Never did auoh 1 thing in my life, air ; but," he continued, "il this matter ia settled now on a catoh vote "— ("There are 60 memiKra in the Houso and ilva pairs," cried ono. But the Treasurer heeded not.)— "it will only have to be recommitted and dealt with in a full House." Other pottts in tho wrangle, for it was not II debate, I gave in my report of last night, but af< the end Mr Tom Mackenzie crystallised the situation by stating that certain mwrnbern werg absent whom the Pnsraier wanted present, and he should have anid so from the that. After the motion to report progress had been pasted the Premier, in his btsfc manner, asked if members were diapoped to go on with the Liquor Bill. " Y«s ; bring it •long," said one, amid disorder. " Order !" said Mr Speaker ra hia sternest tones. "Hon. members will ra» member that this is the Parliament of New Zealand," aud the Hcuse b- ctm« respectful aud fiipnt under the di-s»rved rebuke. Presently the unruly »BSL-mbl.oge were disminned, to renew iv the lobbies, without the restraint ot Mr Speaker, the coutentkn of the hour.