EXCHANGE OF POLITICAL COURTESIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2331, 3 November 1898, Page 9

EXCHANGE OF POLITICAL COURTESIES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 25. An exciting passage-at-arms took place between Mr Taylor and Mr Fisher in connection with the Premier's motion to suspend StandingOrder No. 55 in order that new business might be brought on after 12 o'clock. Mr Fisher, •peaking vith considerable warmth, stated that the tactics of a very few members in his vicinity were converting the proceedings of the House into a bear garden. Mr Pirani : " And he is the bear." — (Laughter.) Mr Fisher declared that the conduct of the members to whom he referred reflected no credit on Parliament. They prevented the transaction of all business, and kept members in the Houso till all hours. Mr Taylor interjected a remark about Mr Fisher. The Premier and Mr Fisher both called the attention of the Speaker to the interjection, and Sir M. O'Rorke called upon Mr Taylor to withdraw his remark and express regret. Mr Taylor said, " I passed the remark to my colleague, but if the member for Wellington heard it I will withdraw the remark." Mr Fisher, continuing his speech, said that if things were allowed to go on as at present it would be impossible to conclude within three weeks or a month, whereas all might be finished within a week or 10 days. Mr Taylor said the audacity of the member for Wellington was colossal. He was seldom in his seat during the early part of the session, but that was a matter for himself and his constituents to consider. Mr Fisher had taken little or no part in the proceedings for reasons best known to himself, but during the last week or two he had been in a different mood.

and now, forsooth, he assumed the character of a moralist. There was scarcely a man in the House to whom he (Mr Fisher) had not been grossly personal. Three or four times that day the most grossly personal remarks had been passed across the Chamber to the member for Palmerston, who was not interrupting in any way. So far as last night's proceedings were concerned, the member for Wellington was to be congratulated on being able to remember what had taken place. His knowledge of what had been going on in the House this session dated back about a fortnight, yet so soon afterwards he came there lecturing and interrupting members. Mr Rolleston- complained bitterly of the way the businefcs of Parliament was now being conducted by the Government. The Premier had destroyed the whole parliamentary government. The committees were dead; members of the House were led captive by promises and pledges given at" the hustings — promises that they could not forgo, — and were driven into the lobbies to vote for measures they did not believe in. So far

as he was concerned, he was prepared to stay and do the business of the country, and to help the Minister for Lands with his bills, but there were other and equally important questions that should not be shelved or burked. There was the question of railway finance, now before the Public Accounts Committee, and other questions that had been relegated to that committee so that they would never see daylight. Then, were Ministers to be allowed to go homo without a discussion on the Wrigg case? That was a question that would ruin any Ministry in any well-governed colony. Mr Carson protested about their being kept there till all hours of the morning night after night, while they were physically prostrate and bills were shovelled through. Mr Morrison made a violent speech, in which he severely lectured Mr Rolleston. Ho said his speech was the same old gag, and he referred sneeringly to the intellectual gentlemen opposite, of whom Mr Rolleston was a type. So far as he was concerned, he objected to be lectured by the member for Riccarton, for he waß under no

obligation or pledge to the Government iff' any way. Mr Montgomery protested against legislation by exhaustion. The Premier mada a heated reply, charging Mr Taylor and other.? with speaking to the galleries, and Mr Mont-c gomery with speaking to the ladies' gallery, yet now he eaid he wanted to go on with thtf business of the country. The hon. mernbec was crying like a lamb looking for its lost datn.— (Laughter.) Mr Seddon then pro' ceeded to attack Mr Rolleston. He said that! gentleman was fast losing his repu f .ation, and was now known in the country as the scold of the House. He (Mr Seddon), however, was going to give it ta him back. Mr Crowther: " Whether he deserves it or not? "- Mr Seddon: "Well, he does deserve it." The Premier went on to defend the action of the Government in the Wrigg case, and then returned to Mr Rolleston, whom he charged with using personalities that would not ba expected even from Mr Taylor. The Premier's motion to take new business after midnight was then put and carried by a large majority.