MB J. HUTCHESON SPEAKS.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 271, 7 April 1898, Page 2

MB J. HUTCHESON SPEAKS.

SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED. BRIBING MEMBERS. Wellington, Monday. Mr John Hutcheson, Labour member for Wellington City, addressed a large meeting of liis constituents here to-night. In reviewing the work of last session he let the cat out of the Oat; completely in regard to Mr Seddon's charges of obstruction against the Opposition. He at' tiibuted the great waste of time to three things—the unprepareduess of the Government policy, the excommunication of the Left Wing, and the season of the year. He said he knew for a fact that the policy of the Government was not ready. He also emphatically stated that he know it was intended that the Opposition should obstruct. They were given the meat, less the hone, of insufficient and disproportionate representation on sessional committees. It was intended that the Opposition should oppese this, and they did oppose, thereby fulfilling their highest function as Her Majesty's Opposition. He referred to the disgraceful way the roal work was rushed through at the end of the session, when, what with influenza and other causes for prostration, members by that time hardly knew what they were doing or thinking, and had scarcely animation enough to resist what they did not approve. Rvfeiring to the way the Government had dealt witli some important Bills, he instanced the progress of the Eight Hours Bill. This was read a first time on September 28, and favourably received all rouud. The second reading took place on November 12. Then the Bill lay dead for two months. It was juggbd up and down the Order Paper for two months and two days. After all this it got into committee, and at two o'clock in the morning, because of some amendments that had been made, the Premier lost his temper, banged it down on the bench, and kicked it on the floor of the House. It was there yet, for it had never come back, exc?pt on December 15, when the Premier was out at a dinner, and it was considered for a time in Committee, and progress reported. But that was the last that had been heard of it. After referring to Bills of local importance, and a number of other Bills of general importance, he spoke of the Technical Education Bill, aud was loudly cheered when he affirmed positively that Mr Seddon, of deliberate purpose and intent, had determined to subsidise denominational schools. He traced the course of the Bill, and quoted Mr Seddon's own words in Hansard, in proof of the assertion he (Mr Hutcheson) had made. Never, he said, had there been a more ioeidious attempt made to destroy our system ot national education. After speaking at some length on matters of interest to seafariug men, he went on to tell the story of the late Wellington bye-election, and was again loudly cheered when he stated his to Ministerial interference in the selection of candidates for Parliament. Ho said he was not going to make auy sensational disclosures, but he mentioned that Mr Seddon, at the commencement, urged the Trades Conucil not to thiuk about running a labour candidate. All they were to do was to see that their people got on the roll and leave the rest to him. (Laughter). Towards the close of his speech he created a mild sensation by urging the absolute necessity for honesty and independence in labour members, otherwise they were liable to be " got " at and corrupted. There were, he assured them, temptations put in the way of labour members. He had been offered moneys to procure legislation, and he had been offered paid-up shares in gold miues to allow his name to grace them. (A voice : " German syndicate.'') Mr Hutcheson : Not, perhaps, bo great aud so wealthy a syndicate as that, but I was offered to the value of £2OO. These sort of people I had to show out of my office. There are those who know what I say to be true. I have witnesstss (Loud applause). I tell you a labour member cannot afford to be chums with Ministers. (Mors applause). He went on to refer to what they had been hearing of Tammany corruption. He was sorry to say we had all the elements of Tammany corruption in embryo, and it only wanted development to make it serious. Every day he saw instances where political services were rewarded. They must"stop that sort of thing. (Cheers). The civil service was in a deplorable state, It was largely manned by temporary labour. There had been men in the service for 15 or 20 years, who were only driviug the track pen of a temporary clerk, and these were in charge of all the secrets of our defences—ten bob a day temporary clerks who were liable to be chucked out at a moment's notice, and who could sell those secrets to an enemy. Amid renewed clieer"ng, he advocated that the civil service should be put under a board of control. He also advocated the curtailment of the powers of Ministers. In conclusion, he said he would remain a Liberal, and support the present Miuistry and their policy so long as it was a clean job. The speech was on the wholo a manly and courageous one, and the great mass of the meeting was entirely with the speaker, and evidently in earnest opposition to Scddonism. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried, only one hand, a woman's, being held up against it.—N.Z. Herald.