PARLIAMENTARY.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 3105, 28 July 1894, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

Lands for Settlement Bill.

Referring to this debate the special correspondent of the H.B. Herald says : The Lands for Settlement Bill was in danger of beiDg lost on a count out at 1 o’clock this morning. At that hour several Government supporters appealed to the Minister for Lands to consent to an adjournment of the debate on the bill, but the Minister persistently refused to do so. The feeling on this question was so strong that Ministers only escaped a defeat on the adjournment by two votes. After the division had been recorded about a dozen of the Government supporters at once left the chamber and went homo Mr Maslin was speaking at 1.30 when Mr Roderick M‘Kenzie called attention to the « state of the House,” there being no quorum. Ministers looked extremely anxious as no one came into the House in response to the bell, and the Govern ment whip at once left the chamber. Were it not for the fact that two members camo in to make a House there would have been a count ont, and the Minister for Lands’ pet measure would have been killed for the session. If a few more incidents of this kind were to occur the Government would lose all control over their party.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, This day After the telegraph office closed at 2 o’clock this morning, the debate on the second reading of the Lands Settlement Bill was continued. In reply to Mr Hone Heke, Mr M‘Kenzie said there was no intention whatever to apply the bill to native lands. It only applied to European lands in centres where the land was required for settlement purposes. Messrs G. J. Smith and Hall supported the bill. Mr Graham moved the adjournment of the debate till next sitting day. This was agreed to. The Hon. J. McKeDzie, in referring to the question that cropped up in the evening, said a number of members who gave a general support to the Government eeemed to be supporting this bill out of a personal feeliDg for the Minister of Lands Mr Miller’s motion for the adjournment of the debate was supported by every member ot the Opposition and by the opponents of the bill, and if it had been carried ho would have left the Mini gterial benches. If his party could not support him the sooner he left the benches the better. He was not here as a time servant and bis health was affected by these late sittings. If members could not support this measure on i s merits they ought not to support it at all. They were not obliging him by supporting the bill. He pointed ont that it had been arranged by the whips to carry on till 2 a.m., but those members of his party he referred to would not consent to this.

Mr G. J. Smith disclaimed any intention to kill the bill and pointed out that a large proportion of those who voted for the adjournment were supporters of the measure.

Captain Russell (Hawke’s Bay) stroDgly protested against the attitude taken up by the Minister of Lands over the question. If that hon. gentleman was to dictate the hoar at which the House was to adjourn and then threaten to leave the Ministerial benches because he was thwarted, it was reducing Party Government to a farce. Members of the House were scolded and driven like children. In former times a certain amount of courtesy was observed in the House and the Opposition was taken into consideration when an adjourn ment was arranged, but it seemed now that Ministers and Whips were to say when the House was to rise, and now they were told that the gag was to bo put in the mouths of those who wished to •apport the bill. Mr Seddon said the Government had no intention other than to ask for a fair and reasonable debate on the measure, which contained a great principle, but in order to get through the work a sacrifice must be made, especially at the end of the week. He strongly supported the action of his colleague, saying the bill was an important policy measure and they would know how to treat opposition to it. The Hon J. McKenzie, in replying, said the position of a Minister of the Crown was not an enviable one and when bo desired to push on the bill, in order to save it from its enemies, if he was not backed up by the supporters of the Government the sooner he left the Ministerial Benches the better. Ho would not care if he left the benches to-morrow morning. He wished to God be could leave them with honour. It would be to his own personal interests in every shape to do so. He wished the Government party distinctly to understand it was no favor for him to sit on these benches, and if they thought they supported the Bill as a personal favor to bimself they made a great mistake. Sir Robert Stout and others were roally giving the Upper House the lead to throw out the Bill, and some members who professed to support the Bill were deadly opposed to it, but were afraid to spßak their minds. (Cries of name, name). Mr McKenzie ‘‘Well I name the hon. member for Wellington, Sir R. Stout.” The Speaker said Mr McKenzie should not attack another hon. member in his absence.

In conclusion the Minister of Lands *Bain stated he was quite willing to leave the benches. The House rose at 2.30 a.m.