Political Notes and Comments

Southland Times, Issue 13505, 23 July 1896, Page 2

Political Notes and Comments

[By Telegraph.] (from our own correspondent.) Wellington, July 22. The collapse of the financial debate this afternoon was the greatest surprise, not only of this session but for years. The debate was confined to only six speakers, only two of whom were opponents. This is unheard of and the scene which greeted the Premier when he rose to reply, there being no other member ready to go on, was one to be remembered. Laughter, mostly ironical, resounded through the Chamber, and the smiles of the Ministerialists from the sardonic oxproseion of “ Lands ” to the quiet chuckle of Pinkerton and the chirpy cachinnition of the popular whip “Charley” Mills, showed how they appreciated their easy victory. It was evident that the result was unexpected. Mr Mills had been round the House whipping up his own side and failed to get members who were ready or willing to speak. It is known that some thirty representatives hid announced their intention to take part, one indeed had gone so far as to send to the Hansard staff a copy of the figures he intended to use. Of the Premier’s reply I must say that it was an able fighting speech and looked at from an electoral point of view likely to be serviceable to himself and his party. It commanded respect by its earnestness even though some of the state-' ments will not bear analysis when they are dissected in cold blood. The effect of the curtailment of the debate will be, in the opinion of a leading Ministerial authority, to reduce the length of the session by three weeks, but no [an] attempt will be made to force a discussion on the estimates.