PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1766, 21 July 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Wellington, Ju’y 20. Last night, which was probably the last one which private members will have to themselves, was notorious, if only for the fact that during the whole of the sitting from 7.30 to half past four this morning a party com prising a number of city members persistently and successfully stonewalled Mr McArthur’s Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, which proposed to separate two hospital districts. The original Bill might have got through, but notices to apply the Bill to various other districts, which, of course, affected nearly all the large towns, caused combined opposition. Early in the evening the Colonial Secretary offered if the Bill was withdrawn to bring in a Bill this session dealing with the whole question, but the promoters refused to accept the compromise and stuck to their point, but the Bill only got into Committee shortly after four this morning and was virtually killed. About a quarter past eleven the galleries were cleared to prevent the report of the useless discussion appearing in Hansard, and after that Mr Joyce made a speech lasting over four hours. An interested discussion is anticipated this evening, when the Premier is to move — “That this House do forthwith resolve itself into Committee of the Whole to consider the following resolution ‘ That this House is of opinion that Government should be responsible for the Legislative estimates.’ ” A stiff battle is expected over this motion, and the result is very doubtful. At times the proceedings of last night, over the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, were of a farcical and even ludicrous character, in consequence of the efforts of its supporters to keep a quorum. During an hour there were five attempts to get a count out, but on each occasion they were unsuccessful. When the number of members in the Chamber would be reduced to about nineteen, Dr Fitchett would point in the direction of the door, whereupon the city members who happened to be in at the time would hurriedly run out. Supporters of the Bill, however, kept a quorum handy, and were still ahead at ten o’clock. Once or twice it was an exceedingly close thing, and members, who could be heard scuffling in the lobbies, only presented themselves in time. On one occasion the presence of mind of M r McKenzie saved the Bill. Dr Fitchett, who is what sporting writers would call “on the small side,” left the Chamber and hurried away, and when just outside the door was stopped by Mr McKenzie, who lifted him up bodily and triumphantly hurried him in again holding him fast, in spite of the Speaker’s indignant call of “ order.”—Ashburton Guardian.