IN THE LOBBY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1001, 21 July 1883, Page 3

IN THE LOBBY.

[ffBOU OUB PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT. ] Wellington-, To-day. Piqued at the humiliating defeat in the no-confidence motion so unexpectedly moved, strange to say, by a member of the Government party yesterday afternbon, during the consideration of the Estimates, the Opposition manifested their displeasure by stone-walling the Estimates for the remainder of the sitting, which lasted for some time after daybreak this morning. The Opposition, it seems, are very fond of preaching economy but rather backward in practising it,, for the unnecessarily protracted sitting for which they alone were re-ponsible must' have cost the country some hundreds of pounds. After all, not a single item in the Estimates, so far as they have gone, has been reduced. An attempt, indeed, was made to reduce by L 37 10s the salary of a poor Auckland electoral officer, who after twenty-tour years of faithful service had fallen sick unto death, but fortunately was not successful. The history of last night’s proceedings, of which my duty compelled me to remain an eye -Jwitnees throughout, differs in no respect from that of similar nights waited during previous sessions Mr Montgomery, the silent leader of the Opposition, quitted the scene about four o’clock, saying that his health would no allqw him to remain longer, but it w.u evident be was thoroughly ashamed of thi Unties of his party, and declined to en dbrWeor assist them. Meanwhile th obstruction was . carried on by Messr ; Seddoo, Fish, and Turnbull. Mr Fish’ f vituperative remarks induced Mr M. W Green to relate the history of his politica conversion, which he said commence) from the date when he knew Mr Fish bat i decided to give hla adherence to the Op

position side. He twitted Mr Fish with having boasted in private conversation of being a clever man, and with having stated at the same time that all clever men were unprincipled a theory which lets a peculiar flood of light on Mr hish’s political conduct. Mr Fish denied this, and in so many words called Mr Green a liar. Mr Green was ready to name time and place, but on the representation of friends wisely consented to allow matters to rest as they were for the‘present. Mr feeddon and Mr Fish took turn and turn about in keeping up the talk, which, if reported, would undoubtedly make the country blush with shame. When they became exhausted, Mr Turnbull took up the running, and commenced reading Dr Grabham’s voluminous report on the hospitals of the colony—the vote for hospitals being under consideration. Thus at least two hours were wasted. Mr Turnbull did not by any means confine himself to hospitals but entered into a bewildering variety of subjects, from political perfidy to Terawhiti diggings. Frequently he gained a few minutes for taking breath by calling attention to the state of the House. Members were rung up time after time, provided principally by the Government supporters, and it ought to be known as a matter of fact scarcely half a dozen of the Opposition members remained true to their posts throughout the night. Mr Fish became enraged at some sarcastic interpolation on the part of Messrs Fergus and Munro, and ex pressed his disgust at their conduct by remarking that in his opinion Bellamy’s «ught to be removed to some distance from the House. However, the Government side was victorious at last and made fair progress with the Estimates. As they issued from the building and the glare of the electric light into the morning and sunlight, stumbling across officials of Parliament on their way out, who had come to commence their daily duties, there could not have been any feeling in the breasts of those who had taken part in the wretched proceedings but one of the most intense disgust, mingled with a pang of sorrow 'for the enormous expense to which the country had been unnecessarily put by the mere handful of rabid obstructionists.