NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XXV, 11 December 1897, Page 780

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

(BY

CLARISSE.)

Wellington, December 2. IVT OT content with monopolising the -i-v time and attention of the House for a week, clause 8, the vital clause, of the Old Age Pensions Bill, was indirectly responsible for one of the most exciting scenes which nas taken place within the precincts of the House for many sessions. Once or twice this session has the leader of the Opposition turned upon the Premier with courtly grace, and protesting expostulation, in answer to some avalanche of scathing wrath or bitter personal attack: but the reprisal was never savage, which, possibly. by contrast, made it the more effective. There has always been about him in the heat of battle a certain chivalry of manner, and in the minutest relationships, a courtesy, inseparable from the person of Captain Bussell, which standard, though unattainable for the average man, has proved a wholesome incentive. Sometimes. under almost brutal provocation. this courtly bearing was almost incomprehensible, and one instinctively longed to see him hit back —give stroke for stroke. The reason for the excusable outbreak which occurred on Thursday afternoon, so memorable because so rare, is not far to seek. Already eight of the precious days of the elosing session have been wasted in acrimonious debate on the Old Age Pensions Bill, the House being physically exhausted after its late protracted sittings, and the speech of the Premier, which preceded the fracas, had been punctuated with cries of ‘Shame 1’ and the wearied members were looking forward to release by the usual adjournment at 5.30, on Thursday afternoon, when Mr Taylor proposed the adjournment of the debate to a select, committee. This brings the Premier to his feet, and in a tirade of angry expostulation, he proceeds to denounce the attitude of the Opposition. During the tirade. Captain Russell is heard inquiring of the Chairman how long the Premier is entitled to speak, and the question and the reply, which is to the effect. ‘That a Minister in charge of a Bill in Committee can speak as often and as long as he likes.’ are. of course, audible to the House and galleries; though evidently intended as an aside. The apparently inoffensive and innocent query has a startling result. The Premier, with great warmth, accuses the leader of the Opposition of attempting to get the Chairman to gag him and make him sit down. Apparently quite staggered by the sudden onslaught. Captain Russell rises to his feet, his courtly forbearance for once exhausted, and in distinct, but most unmistakable. terms accuses the Premier of deliberately stating what he knows to be untrue. Their benches between them, a la barricade, the two leaders face each other. The situation is so portentous that some seconds elapse before t.he astonished members break the spell with cries of ‘Chair!’ and ‘Withdraw!’ The Premier, in outraged tones, moves that the words be taken down, which only entails a naughty renewal of the charge, and an emphatic refusal to withdraw from his adversary. The Chairman reviews the case, and the leader of the Opposition still persisting in his refusal to withdraw, the aid of Mr Speaker is invoke... and in a hush of expectation the House awaits his entry. Having entered, he solemnly proceeds to ask the leader of the Opposition whether he wishes to withdraw the offending words, or. failing that, to make any statement before retiring. His tones as he put the questions are so replete with authority and so awe-inspiring that the silence after them is quite oppressive With dignity the leader of the Opposition justifies his conduct. Though again admonished by the Speaker to withdraw, he regrets his inability to do so. and his determination to submit himself to the decision of the House. Here the Premier makes an attempt to speak, but Mr Speaker interrupts him to order the withdrawal of the leader of the Opposition, who obeys the order, making a profound and dignified obeisance to the chair from the centre of the House before doing so. Amidst a scene of great excitement the Premier then rises and gives his version of the fracas, interrupted by endless cries of contradictory ‘Ohs’ from the Opposition

benches, and finally moves ‘That the House expresses regret that the me inlier for Hawke’s Bay did not see tit to withdraw the expression.’ The Speaker here gives the House the opportunity to adjourn by demanding whether hon. members wish him to continue to sit in the chair, and is answered by decided cries of ‘No, adjourn,’ from all parts of the House. As he, with his usual stately calm, vacates the chair, the excited members tile into the lobbies, eager to discuss the unprecedented situation. News of the contretemps having been bruited about the city during the dinner adjournment, members are besieged for tickets for the galleries; and by 7.30 there is no sitting or standing room to be obtained. In the Speaker's gallery 1 notice Mrs Reynolds. Lady Stout. Mrs Hall-Jones and Mrs Seddon: and among those in the strangers’ gallery Mrs Wason, Mrs Herries and many others. Work is laid aside, and all necks are being craned to catch a glimpse of Captain Russell. Rumours of capitulation have been rife from the lobbies, but as the members take their places it is seen that Captain Russell's is still empty, and immense excitement, prerails as to the sequel of the refusal of the gallant captain to withdraw. Vnt.il the supper adjournment members. with wonderful moderation, discuss the. pros and cons of the situation. and still no definite conclusion has been arrived at. On resuming, the debate continues until a quarter to one. when a division takes place upon the original motion, and results iu its being carried by 36 to 27. Then the Speaker, after an effective pause, instructs the Sergeant-at-Arms to inform Captain Russell that his presence is desired in the House, and after another interval Captain Russell, pale, determined and erect, enters the House, his bow, profoundly deferential. and his soldierly bearing at once enlisting the sympathy of all the occupants of the ladies' gallery. The Speaker then communicates to Captain Russell the resolution passed by the House, alter which the leader of the Opposition with distinct but somewhat different utterance claims the courtesy of the House as he replies. While submitting himself respectfullly to the rules of the House, he claims in extenuation that the Premier had continually strained his powers to the utmost, and that they had at last- snapped; and though not- contending that the censure was undeserved. he could not see that he had committed a wrong against the Premier. In tones of great bitterness he declares that he must submit, no matter what his opinions were, while the Premier had escaped censure. The Premier now rises, and in conciliatory tones denies he ever had auy intention of being offensive to Captain Russell, and had been quite sincere in the opinion that the question was asked with a view to stopping his speech. Amidst the loud applause of the House, he says that it gives him great pleasure to move that the resolution which had just been conveyed to Captain Russell be not entered on the records of the House. This leaves nothing more to be said, and without discussion the House agrees with acclamation to strike out the resolution from its journals, and all eyes turn with relief upon the leader of the Opposition as he gravely and courteously thanks the members for their hearty acquiescence in the Premier's motion, and the House, which has been at high-pressure during the evening adjourns to further discuss the stirring events of the day in the lobbies. All Monday and Tuesday the House is occupied with a determined stonewall on the Old Age Pensions Bill, Mr Seddon turning a deaf ear to all entreaties to adjourn and the Opposition continuing their protest. Early on Tuesday morning the Premier drew the attention of the House to the fact that certain of the doors leading into the Chamber were locked, contrary to all rules and regulations. Mr HallJones thereupon insinuates that he has seen the member for Mataura coming from that direction, and at the same time draws the attention of the House to the empty state of the Opposition benches, charging the Opposition with attempting to count out and kill the Bill. Mr G. Hutchison rises with great indignation to deny the insinuation. and in scathing terms condemns the reflection, and a scene is narrowly averted. Mr Monk creates a laugh by asserting ‘ that the ministry are all

only aliens to this country, and when they have fleeced it they will leave it.’ The long'-promised banking legislation. was brought down yesterday by the Premier and read a first time to an attentive House and galleries. Time for its consideration was promised before the second reading. Great indignation prevails among members at the proposed continuation of the session after Christmas, the general opinion being that the Premier's threat will come to nought, but if so members will have to establish a record in disposing of the business on the order paper; and even then many of the Bills will have to be sacrificed.