STONEWALLING IN PARLIAMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1904, 28 July 1888, Page 3

STONEWALLING IN PARLIAMENT.

(fkom our own correspondent ) Wellington, Jaly 27, At no period slnoe the commencement of the session has there been the same politics] exoltement as has prevailed m the lobbies alnoa the House went into Committee on Me PyWa Otago Oentcal Bill, Throughout the day speculation was rife as to what position Government would take np In regard to the matter, and there was a good deal of unrest experienced as to wi.at would be the upshot of affairs. This afternoon, when the Souse resumed, Mr Tanner, In a mildly , deprecatory speech, broke ap the debate, and then Mr McKecz'e stepped into the breaoh, and # it appeared any odd«| he would keep things lively for an hoar or two, as he announced that he had bad seven hours sleep, and was quite fresh agalD, He, however, stopped rather short, and suggested that Mr Pyke should compromise and relieve from their tiupport of the Bill all who had, through personal friendship for him, been induced to vote for the measure, though opposed to it, co that the Bill might be dealt with fairly on its merits. Mr Pyke rather astonished the House by announcing that if there waj anything of a peisonal nature m the support accorded to his Bill by members, he woald »t onoe relieve any of them from their pledges, and he asked the House to deal with the measure fairly on its merits. After Mr Pyke's declaration Mr Soddon auggeated that the House should adjourn for a time to enable the parties interested to effect a compromise, if possible, and the Premier approved of the eugt^estlon and this course was agreed to. In the interval strenuous efforts were made to . secure some sort of an understanding. Toe opponents to the measure wanted more than Verdant Vincent wan Inclined to oonoede and the absence of Mr Flah and one or two other members was mado an excuse for not coming to an arrangement. On resuming there appeared a much less amiable feeling amongst members than had been evinced 1 previously and the debate -,waa marked for a rather personal encounter between the Colonial Secretary aud Mr W. P. Reeves. Mr Seddon made a further effort to get the debate ad j jurned till the evening sitting, stating his belief that the matter oould be satisfactorily arranged, Mr Pyke appeared both to agree to this and several other members expressed the opinion than an adjournment was only a dudge to enable the atone wallera to refresh themselves and oome back ready to resume the fight. This unpleasant feeling was enhanced by Sir G- Grey, who expressed the opinion m effect that his friends would fight the Bill out to the bitter end, but after some conciliatory speeches from the Premier and other members, an adjournment to 7.30 was agreed to. Shortly after .the rising of the House, a meeting of opponents of the Bill was held with the result that a joint Conference of both opponents and supporters of the measure was held and considered it. The outcome of the Conference was that a series of resolutions wera arrived at, the effect of which was as follows; (1) That m the opinion of the meeting the Otago railway be extended to Ewburn a point on the proposed line about 8 or 1Q miles beyond Talerl lake, (2) That Government snail construct the fine and shall set aside sufficient lauds for the purpose, the lands to be disposed of under the land laws of the colony then In force. (3) That the extension of the railway should be commenced and completed with the least possible d'jlay. (4) That the Chairman of the meeting (Mr Scobie McKeczie) should report these resolutions to Government. When the effect of these resolutions beoame known It was generally stated that Mr Pyke refused to accept the proposed arrange' ment, but that his supporters were decided to throw the Bill over if he would not do so, At 7.3Q pm. qpon. the question being put thqttho Chairman do now leave the chair, whloh If carried meant throwing out the Bill, Mr Samuel eald an explanation was due to the Committee as to what was the result of the Conference whloh bad been held. Mr Richardson expressed the opinion that it would be better to delay the motion before the Committee until a member of the Ministry was present. It waß theq explained that Ministers were m Cabinet deliberating upon position. Mr Samuel suggested It would be better In that case for the Oomrrittee to lake half an hour's adjournment till the CJabJnet had deolded u,pop. thelf aptloo, but while this wag bolpg digouaaed the Premier Bn 'a othe? laaembarß of the Ministry took" their pUoes In the House- Mr Scobie McKeizle then stated the nature of the resolutions agreed to. Mr McKenzle explained that the effaot of the resolutions was that one hundred mileß of lines an Intended by the Bill before the Committee had been abandoned. Mr Pyke was understood, to. say he was no party to th,o qo.-ealled compromise. He was willing to. let an expression of opinion on, the part of the Committee be taken as to where the term'nus of the line should be. They would pass clause 3. Mr Seddofl suggested going to the schedule of the Bill at once, but Mr Flah said the opponents of the BUI were not children, and to paea clause 3 meant to affirm the principles they objected to. The Premier stated that Government had not bad time to oonalde? the Important resolutions referred to them. He suggested the adjournment of the debate to 2 30 on Monday, and moved that progress be reported, which proposal appeared to §ad, general support, and before the motion was put Mr Pyke heartily thoae who had so val^ao,tiy stood by him. In reply to Dr Newman, the Premier said he would try to give members an Idea of the ooat of constructing the line to the point referred to on Monday. Mr Samuel pointed out that the Committee were not to be considered to be bound to any decision Government dame to on these resolutions. Mr JJirron plainly intimated he would be no party to the resolutions, and Messrs O'Connor and Taylor objeo'.ed to reporting progress before the question had assumed a position where some finality might reasonably be looked for. On a division the motion to report progress was carried by 03 to 7, progress was then reported, c,nd leave given to alt again on Monday at 2 30 p.tn