ADDRESS-IN-REPLY,

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 309, 2 July 1898, Page 2

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY,

The debate on the Address in»Reply and Capt. Russell's amendment collapsed quite unexpectedly to-night. Mr Buchanan was called on by the Speaker at half-past seven to continue the debate, but as Mr Buchanan " sat tight," the Speaker put the question, with the result that the amendment was beaten by only six votes. The Government Whips were rushing about the chamber whilst the bell was ringing in order to hunt up their men, seven of whom were absent from the House. It was noticeable that the Opposition were all in their places, with the exception of Mr Douglas McLaan, who unfortunately arrived at the House just a 3 the doora were locked, and was unable to take his seat. If the five absent Oppositionists (Messrs Rollestou, Duthie, Allen, Piraui, and Hone Heke) had been present, and if Mr McLean's vote had been recorded the numbers would have been a tie, instead of 30 to 24. The Ministerialists, of course, declare it was a snatch division, and they gave the Opposition due credit for a certain amouut of smartness over it. I gather from the Government Whip that Mr O'Regan and Mr Roderick McKenzie, both wished to speak before the debate closed ; but as neither of them had turned up at 7.30 p.m., Ministers were not prepared to put up any other members to keep the debate going and the division was taken. The absent Ministerialists were the Minister for Justice, Mr Guinness, and Mr Lawry. There were loud cheers from the Government side when the numbers were announced, and equally loud counter cheers from the Opposition at the closeness of the division. Mr G. J. Smith was not present when the division was taken and consequently no other amendment was moved on the address. Mr Smith, who is one of the Left Wing, would probably have voted with the Opposition if he had been present. . RECKLESS EXPENDITURE. I hear on good authority that the new Parliamentary Library alone will cost several thousands of pounds more than the £7OOO already voted by the House, and if this is correct it will probably take £70,000 or £BO,OOO to complete the alterations aow in progress iustead of £40,000, which the Premier admitted in his Feiiding speech the additions would amount to. The Government party rare exceedingly annoyed at so much attention beiug drawn to this reckless expenditure ; but there is no question about it that the constituents will remember it at the general election, and it is likely to cost more than one country member his seat. Apart altogether from the present Parliamentary additions, people naturally say that if Ministers can ignore Parliament iu this way, there is absolutely no sud to the amount of money which Mr Seddou can spend without consulting Parliament at all. The Premier glibly told the Feiiding people that " Money was no object," and he repeated this phrase yesterday, when asking for an Imprest Supply Bill for over £400,000. The struggling country settlers, however, who apply to Ministers for a road or a bridge, are rudely sent away with the excuse that there is no money available for such necessary works. THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK. Judging from present appearances there is not likely to be a change of Government for some little time longer. It is not too much to say that the Opposition could turn out the Government this session with the assistance of a certain section of the House, but the terms which the latter would impose would be such as the Opposition could not possibly agree to. The feeling is growing stronger that by the time the general election comes round the country will be so beastly sick of Seddonism with a,ll its corruption and maladministration that the people at the poll will demand a change in the hope of obtaining a more honest Government.