POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9238, 16 October 1895, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

(Bt Telbgr._ph.) [from our special corhkspondent.] WELLINGTON, October 15. THE BANKING AGREEMENT. The meeting of to-day between the representatives of the contracting Banks has at length, I am assured, resulted in an adjustment of the diff.rences that no later than last evening seemed not unlikely to bring negotiations to a stand still, with more than a possibility that they would be broken off. The agreement, I believe, is now so far completed that it only awaits the approval of a meeting of the Directors ot the Colonial Bank, woich is summoned for to-morrow. Assuming that the agreement will be en doraed by that meeting, it may be presented to Parliament to-morrow evenicg. When the agreement is before the House there will probably ba a mo ion to refer it to a Select Committee, to be composed of members other than those who served upon the recent joint Committee of the Houses, on the ground that they will be necessarily biassed.

A REBEL LIO US HOUSE.

The new Standing Orders, of which the Government profess to be so proud, were used as a very effectual weapon in the hands of the enemy last night. Many a time this session a Bection of the House has succeeded in protecting itself against late sittings by means of the rule which forbids the taking of new business after midnight. Ministers have hitherto endeavoured to hide their annoyance, but hut night pent-up feelings could be no longer restrained. The Minister of Education, goaded to anger by the annoying interjections of Mr Crowther and others, prolonged his reply upon the Technical Education Bill rather too long in administering a very severe rebuke to the Auckland member. It only wanted about ten minutes to twelve when he sat down. By a couple of unnecessary divisions and other little tactics midnight waa reached before the Premier could move the second reading of tho Local Authorities Loans Conversion Bill. The success of the plot was greeted with hearty laughter, but the Premier was in no humour for mirth. He angrily declared that he would henceforth let things go, and would not put him elf out to bring the session to a close, seeing that members took every opportunity of blocking business, and then went away laughing. They could go away every night at ten minutes past twelve. In answer to this a Ministerialist member ironically congratulated the Premier upon his wise resolve to keep early houra. They had done excellent work that day, having disposed of eight* orders of the day- " And that without the assistance ot the Premier," shouted Mr Crowther (the Premier having bsen away at the Women's Political League social.) Mr G. W. Russell hotly resented the attitude of the Premier in adopting this threatening and dictatorial styie, after enjoying himself all the evening while the rest were working. Mr Mitchelson also objected to being threatened, and Mr Graham straightly told the Premier to stay more constantly in Wellington during the reee.s and get his measures ready to be introduced early in the session. Then they could get away earlier, and the business would be better done. Mr Crowther—"We had better take up a new occupation and go home at night crying instead of laughing." Some plain speaking like the abovs from a few of the Government men made the Premier desperate. This frittering away of publicmoney, he declared, was unedifying. He was not going to be hectored by Mr Graham, aud he significantly warned that gentleman that his constituency belonged to the Government, and not to him (Mr Graham). This session's Hansard was the biggest on record, and contained the greatest tmount of trash. The Government had their business well prepared before the opening of the session, but ihey had had some very critical matters to deal with. After the Premier had done some very hard bitting all round, and the Minister for Agriculture had backed him up by referring to the spirit of larrikinism abroad in the House, the House adjourned. This afteruoon the fight was renewed for a time, the Premier eventually informing the Housa that the session could not well end before the 29 th of the month. A caucus of Government members was arranged for this morning with the object of hastening the end by having another "slaughter of the innocents." The members met in the lobby, but the wrath of the Premier the previous evening had evidently cowed and overawed the most rebellious. Not one could be found daring enough to beard the lion in his den. All with one accord began to make excuse, the gathering gradually dwindiug away till there was no one left to approach the Premier and place bofore him the prayer of his humble followers.

TROTTING MEETINGS,

A deputation, consisting of Messrs Steveus and Waller (Legislative Council), Reeves, Stewart, Russell, Lawry, McLachlan and T. Thompson (House of Representatives) and representatives of all the Canterbury Trotting Club 3, waited on the Colonial Secretary this morning to complain that the totalisator permits are un equally distributed, the Metropolitan Clubs getting more than they should have done and the Trotting Clubs suffering to that extent. Mr Tanner introduced the deputation. Sir Patrick Buckley, in reply, said he had done his best, and could not see his way to make any alteration. The thing had given him more trouble than anything else, and yet he had satisfied no one. He had granted ten permits to the North Island and thirteen to the South Island Trotting Clubs. He was altogether dissatisfied with the Gaming and Lotteries Act, and would do his best to pas. a repealing measure. He recommended a mutual arrangement between tne representatives of the two forms of sport.