END OF THE BATTLE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 702, 30 December 1909, Page 6

END OF THE BATTLE.

1/ ' THE REINSERTED VOTE. , OPPOSIfION'S TELLING "PROTE: j AN ALL-NIGHT SITTING. ,' IMPORTANT RULING BY THE ' • SPEAKER. ' After The Dominion went to pi ess j< ' terday morning the dobato on tho vc for tho office of financial advisei at Hor was continued. r i Mr. T, E. Taylor (Chnstchurch Nort said he did not think tho judgment ono of tho group of members prclcudu I' to discuss the question approved of "th I idiocy." Tho Leader of the Oppositio f whoso; methods. woro as clumsy as. i j Egyptian plough, had mado a blunder, j ' , ho wcro tho 'Government ho would ]ii keol> a llouso mid let- him proceed., TI | last speakor (Mr. G. M. Thomson) mu I ho ashamed of himself, for the!, pait 1 ," had taken in tho debate. « ' Tho Chairman. ..You must withdra , that lcniark. Mr., Taylor. I don't know what tl '■ .objectionable words wore, but I wi [( withdraw them. Mr. Tayloi sa.d that r j: -r~<3aosiion ot punciplo was mw, involve! \JF but tho position was that thoro were, #* group of members promptedvby tho stul ! ' barnncss of a mule. What' was bcfoi the Houso was pure pirjuo. The Gloves Off. Mr. Massey said that ho could appre ' " ciato the tactics of Mr. Taylor at thei • trno valve. Ur. Taylor was tho Ishmac ?, of ParliimeniT-'overy member's hand wn ' against hiS'.. In replj to cries ot "Chan i, chair," Mi Matscy wont on to saj th.i -ho was quito prepared to take all th \, responsibility ior what ho was saying ' Ho was not going to bo put down b -• any bullying tactics. They had had mor - abuse during Mr. Taylor's speech tha during the lest of the dobato. Mr. Taylor. It is hko water on a duck ',< back. | ' ' i Mr. (Massey Why this is tho first oc "casion'that you have been present at i ✓ late'sitting. ,-, , , , , I,' , Mr. Taylor- It is absolutely false. Tho Chairman requested that Hie word . bo withdrawn. , 1' Upon,a division, the amendment to re dnce tho vote by JSM was defeated bj - 87 votes to 0. \ At this stage (310 am) Mr lthodc v (Ellesmerc) moved to report .progress Mr. Taylor •. (Christchurch North) saie ', it'would appeal that the Leader'of the ]"' Opposition had got his temper up Mr - Massoj' came from a country wherothei« , was more temper than judgment Then was not a borough council but would be ' "disgraced if its business were earned out ' ' on such lines » Mr. Massey said *hat Mr. Taj lor'could , bo taken as a judge of loyalty., He ji (Mr. Taylor) had nover been loyal to anj '' party. VVheh he came into tho House ' ' ho was a supporter of Mi, Seddon, but 1 how long was ho loyal to him? Only the * i other night Mr. Taj lor had with two or ;;, three others tried to kill the Defence Bill. Was that an oxample of'loyally? ' Ho''(tho speaker) was judge of the tactics which he was adopting/and he knew who ' 'would come out on top Mr. Taylor was (Ho continued) tho most unpopular mem- - bPr of the House—lie had not a singlo friend in Parliamont. Turther than that, i Mr. Tayloi was tho most unsnccesstul „ man that Parliamont'had ovor seen. Ho had neve? done a single useiul thing sinco J be ontorcd the House. - Mr. Taylor Bonkum. / Kesuming, Mr. Massey said that the '' wuatry knew, what ho himself had done 1 and the-country had over and over again shown that it apprpved of 'his ' actions. > ' >• * ii i > "*• , Mr. j Taylor They won't give jou a majority. ' ' 4, Jlr. Massey (continuing) doclarpd' that there was loss sonso „in Mr Taylor's » speeches than in', those, of most, juvenile of tho House. Mr. Taylor had •< referred to his (the speaker's) nation- - ohty, but ho had worked hard all his *- life with his hands and his brains, , , whoroas 'Mr. Taylor worked with his 1 -'tongue, 'and got other members to uso their .hands and brains. Ho wished Mr. - Taylor to know that ho was. just a 9 good a man as he was„both inside and outside rtho House. > Mr. Taylor Defends His Position. i/ Mr. ( Taj lor. said ho came into Paiha- !" snent a bitter opponent ot the late Prime Minister so far. as administration aas . concerned Ho, too, had worked hard with his brains and hauds, and he was satisfied" with what he had accumulated. 'Mr. Massey wanted to know what he had '' done lor tho benehf of the country He \ (tho speaker) claimpd to have been one -.of the principal causes for tho Old Ago ' i£ en ? lCm3 8111 B° ln 2 'on to tho Statute Book. Then, again, he had dono as much * a ?<.? n W'y to , secure'the sotting asido 1 of the 1 nine millions of acres of tho na- * taonnl endowment. If anolhei insfanco , were netded ho would refer to tho assistwhich iho had lent "when labour f -legislation was before tho country llr ,■ llnssey had more chaiacter than most Men-more than ho needed-but his tac1, tics had been thoso of tho stockyard Ho ■was qirue. satisfied* with tho p6sition which ho occupied m politics. If he had twenty odd men behind him, he would not bo found in tho same position In ,i, which-Mr. Massey now found himself. - 'w. n UaaSey that tte progress of the Opposition was checked as, a result of tho charges brought by tho New Lib j, era! party against Mr. boddon, because the sympathy of the public went out to the late Phine Minister Sinco that date 3 ' the Opposition had greatly improved its position. At the last election, iivo of his side retired but the other cloven came ■ % •?£■ ,?"" brol) eht back sixteen others 5 ,mth them. ' Pnrther discussion on the motion to ; report progress continued, unt-1 i a 111 when it was defeated by J7 votes to 0. rtwi. (Waitemata) then moved ' that tho vote bo reduced by JL3M. r ? Interesting Point of Order. Mr. J Hogan • (Wanganui) rose to a „ point of order. Ho said that ho could - tjl ,?/ ™, Standing Order which permitted the tedious repetition of atnendt ments to reduce a vote. Standing Order Wo i 37 was to tho ciloct that nn nil cases not. previously provided for, tho bpeakor should decide, taking for his guide tho rules and forms of tho Houso of Coinmons so far as the same could be ''SB.' ? d to . tbe Proceedings ot this House. The Lnghsh House had no definite Sland- ""' ">S Order bearing on the point, and as /the Aow Zealand Houso \vas in th 6 eaino position,, tho Now Zealand, House must bo guided by the piactice ot the English House. ' \ Mr. Ma&ey pointed out that whon ho moved the hrst motion ho obtained a -' ruling from tho Chairman, and had been ' guideel by him, in tho matter. The Chairman said he was familiar ,with Standing Order in question In addition, there was in May a ruling to tho effect that a series of motions could not bo made on tho same grant raising substantially the same issue. If he were to decide according to Maj tho 399 diviBMtas could not bo taken. Sir Maurice ' V/k?,™', whcn Speaker, had stated that , tuo Lnghsh Standing Order should be invoked if there wob no custom or practice of the Now Zealand House, but if ' ■ thorp was a custom or practico it should bo tho guide and not tho Standing Order of the Lnghsh House It had been tho , the New Zealand Houso to al--''low divisions to be taken, as was now proposed. He regretted to have had to pivo such a ruling, but ho was bound to give it. It was,competent, however, for the Committee to report progress on Ins TUhng, and take the) Speaker's decolor ' The Hon J\ t A. Millar declared that the present pd.itjon wns unheard of in > tho Paihament ,of Now Zealand The Chairman wns laying down,a piccedent iriuch woud be followed m'latei ycais. 1" Mr. Massey It is not necessary that 599 divisions should be taken, for the - discussion on any one amendment may lie prolonged if it is dcbiied - ' The Prime Minister said ho 'tould move to loport piogiess m older to en--ablo tho ruling of the Speikoi 10 bo taken. If the Spea\ei upheld the Chairman's ruling, it would bo cftute obvious that the House must adjust the Standing Qrdors in'order to piovent tho lopetition of what could only bo dcicnbed us* very Jaaicrotb. t

„;j>. ■-. .Mr..,; Massey: :I. won't. oppose 'it. --v... •-. i : ;■ : During \jfurthe.r. .discussion'■• after '.'tl V;; .Sneaker hadl'-tftjien ; 'tho"Oliilir,'."'.- " ■'■'<>■ ; : ;Jj .v.The; rrXme. 4 'Minisfer '.said- that in ordi •'.;■'.- to mhiiifnin. the-high niinie of the Ne •;,■■•' Zealand -Houso .ho would'-.most'certain! :;.', propose ail-amendment of. the Stiuulir ..A :Orders.i ?:-:'.^.:'- •'. < i'/;'-''''- : - '.-. ;v;. ; v^JUiv^M^asseVi' youi-won't-'niivd' carried ST; by : iioxt';,.Ch'ristmas.;: : .'.: : ; .'v *';. .■'. can give notico ( ,yp it if.l itliink,{fit.- ; :' ,;:". p: j-. Mr.-Herdinah l (Wellington North) riaii ',';'"■ ',taine(l : ;that.:the present;.' position |f hn .;.' -been .brought: about by" tho: Primo Mini: ; -'v rter.'" 1 "- ;•.";; .'/..-':.-' ■"■"..-' ';- ; .'-'.;.',-',-..'■'''■■ ;;.."• j'v : ; : Sir-'-Josuph:i Not at^alk--,'.-.'..;.' ' ; . :■;•; ; :: fMr'.;Herdrhahi"'lf,cannot bqdenied. ./.•-'. '■'Mr.'Masseyji.Wlio put ,: tho'i(em.on th iEstituates'Pr 'wvlv,:.';;.■'•;.:-;•'■;s".-;; ; ; : . ' .' &. I ;^? ; .Speaker's':Decision/- f " ■■ .• "•■ to ;;'.ThovSpeaker'said that iho; must upholi io tlio.ii;uling,,'of., the' Chairmau. of. Com '.: \ mittees. '■'.■- :His ': atterition'had' been draw'] Y' :to the remarks in May'.'■.Members!w.ouli % .see .thaf it! was stated; thatVahy.proposei s .f; reduction..of-'■'«."• grant, niust 'be substan igi ■jtinl-j'v~alsti.-".tUnt;-;.,ni series' of-Jamendmcnt is- cbuUV not be .mado.-on.the sarao gran „■"'■ raising substantially,the same issuo.'.-Tln ; ifo'otnotes.'-showed' that : tho •'decision : sup Ji 'porting.'the'second -proposition.;was comi W" toi-ih JB77,'.whl!st ■tho : division support if ing'the'.first ; proposition iwas.-come to. ii 16.' 1879; • Standing 1 Order' No..'--«7''.-was onb it- applicable, anel' co'ulel orily bo ,used foi 10 .the; :purpbsp;. of,.- reference .to ,th< v, rules, ...form's,-'jand. usages .of ■ th< ;'■!-.' House.: of ,-,Corambns.,wh'ero;' it:,.was; nol IT , in:conflict, .or.where: thero was;no 'decisior '/:■ of .'.tho,; Now -.Zealand House, . 'In.', hii 0 opinion, .the practices,' customs,' or' usage; 11 ■' oi,i:,the .House; in on: proceeding! N 'became;'in .-'his mind precedents .or rules, 0 and consequently, tho/Housp of Commons I,',' practico'and procedure; did not conio jn, a' ; Another i.reason- why, the s -, Chairman-; h- ruling was -correct was this: When 'the e ! Standihg.;Orders-'of the :,New Zealand .. Houso -were first made, ;6ver fifty, years 4/ ag6,': N there.hdd'been.no practices, customs, i - or'iiisages on 1 tho point, and-at-, that time the House had to: gd.strictly, to'•May.'.-.-'At '' that•'. time,'' May -'did • not; contain, : the, rules ■: which -we'reVnow' being quoted' in support of::thb.cbhtention' , that'tho Chairman's s - ruling was : !incorreet'.':With:-regard' tb;a f : rniing: which he-, had given: some'jyeara \ ago;-ho'thoughtithat he.-had■■'strictly iio\ : ".. .lowed,'tho. rule!,to -the, effect that, the ' Speaker.; and-.Chainiian •'of .Committees ,- ivero both:-bound-by the practices end : customs of .the. House of-Commons except where "■'. tho -Standing; Orders.-or practices h or.customs of tho.House were to the.con-, '; trary. '-.Thoro;was,abundant precedent to : show : that.it .had■ been the.'.practico /'to :. the New, ;Zeala'nd House to reduce a vote . asVwas now, proposed. : It was 'not'a proposalto ■reduce'; the 'grant '£1 by £1 i' as"some; members supposed, but votes, to ;' reduce;tho total; by. substantial sums; .'■"■ For ih-stonce; tho .first, amendment: was to '■: reduceiit by: : -£399; the nextlby £3%,- and -. so'on. ji To his mind it. made no difference ; ' as'to'whother. the proposal was-to reduce -,'■ the ..vote- by "i 5" or : ; becausO;it had -: ; t>peh;held'by ( 'tho Hotise of Commons and |: ■tTiffe'r'ent.Speakers.ahd Chairmen.off.Cbmtnittees''that; the. reduction'.:must' be - of ' "a, substantial, haturo,',' which .was, held . to'Jbo'.the'- siim';',of '.\fil,,-and ...upwards. . Further," ho .that the^Standing Order'No; 437 was not applicable ;tb: the : case,hbecause,,-alth6ugh-,tnero -was riO ex- ; press.;. ;'rula ''-there; : ■ wasv express '■ - pre- ; cedenf for, what/'was /being ; done. . It ' was'hbf for 'him-at that stage .to 6ay ' ms'to.:what should bo, done.': in' regard to :': .;am'endmeiit of '.the.^Standing'Orders . to .prevehf a;deadlock'which''ap i peared';to :! -be:approaching,:iri-;reSard',to.ithis. matter. After;tho;'House, hod..gone .again into . ; Committee,-j upon .a diTision.at a.m-. , tho -amendmentwas: rejected by S3 votes • to--'9.v.V. i';'';.:.-'.;'ft■';-;;;-.'■".;.;,;'■:;.:'-;;-.. .'.';■ 7;;>tv'.?'Pravyn:;and; . : '/ '■.; >-~;Mr.;,,Herries. (TaniangaJ'-moved ' to •' re-. • ;porf progress.-Thei.Government members, • no said, were looking drawn and haggard, , and.asif^theyiwantedisome,breakfast.. IvAnvho'nv . member V'.W'e.! can/have break-. : fastvih'batcKos;:y-:!)! : : ; v' ;;: ;' ' ■■' , : r.Mf.'.Her'riesV'But/it'.wbu^dlb'emuch'bel- ' '■ fer'to;harts':one;breakfast'-instead of ; tiro; breakfasts. :/'/';'.'■/ /.;;—;: ; ' ,- '■ .■.Mr: Massey; who had been up all night, never.;leaving• ;his' post, 1 , drew; attention .. ,t6;;!thevci6hditiott':.of'. i h6n.-/rhembers.. :.-,lt • was,trud"theyf had'-'b'eeh.;withoutJa .bath, without'a'shave, and without even chaiig-'- ; urged that;.they shbiild.ireportn'progrfiss, ■. .'go:;;,home, to breakfast, and'sleep..-..;, ,/ -};' The; motion "..was"; lost.: : ... ;,, , 1 i; '.. Mn SMasseyJ-tlieii'' moved "to 'reduce, the; •' ■ ''T*;'''."/ 'V;: /•Meantime it-was"noticeable that: Mr. Buchanan .was;- having."some conference 1 with the' Prime Minister and Mr. Millar. Mr.;..-Buchahon';.returned ..'.to -tho Opposi-.' .tion' benches;: and- shortly afterwards ; Mr. ■'Massey-'agree'd'rto !• withdraw!ihis mbfaon ; ' hiu order) to' '.let.',;tho.'Prime "Minister.;move• ? thafthe'ChairmariUc'ave'.the'i'chair.: :.,.y. -.'.Sir'Joseph i T^ r ai''d''then : moved. that- the /Chairman lea've..;tho''6hair./.tilL ; 2.3o;in the--afternoon."/' '::/:>-/;/■:'7, \;'-'-K '-■.'■'■'■■.''-: ■/iWheh: inemljers reached'the/lobby.'they 'met/the -Obpositibn.;."relief''j, that ;■ : had ' 1 . early, in the morning, and. .. was/liow I ;returning,'fresh and' full: of fight : to'- relieve their.' tirecly fellow-members.. Messrs./ Scott, Malcblrfl.' and Forbes /(who ;had;j'ust;arriye'd.by; : the, : soitthern steamer), "were, also .in.(evidence,-and ;,were greeted: -with;- good-naftred /chaff .by ; - the political ;belligerehtso; ■::<:~f : o. ' ; v-V -'/'"; ; / : "i.;/ ' '■> ■■-.'.' ■ / iHQwJ THE PROTEST ENDED. ! -:"■■ : ;/:/?:.V//X;pNCESSION;,;/;//:'/ ■■':■{ v - • ■'/ :' ! //':;>K"-;i'A':FmAL;HniSlQ^.' : /y 7: ;'/On/..tiio/.resumption/.of /the./ House at /2.30;p.m;/yesterday,./--;:',:;';.;-/'"/. ' - Mi-.,/'Massey,,.said/:-,:he : ''understood the ■Prime -Minister had a statement, to make. • . ; The/Prime.:.Minister said■'..ho -'.'wanted..simply ;to/;stdte,'as ho had stated before, /^'at'ithe,'Government :; .vvbuld'//keep the ppsition/bf -financial, adviser. >in' London ;iipen : /nntilv.'Juno/'3O, /whe'n-p the /'House wduld/ be :giyen' ah/opportunity.; of recon'sid6ri%:,the';'niattef., '-■/'-. 'V/;': '" Mr,'j.Mas'3oy: Does that;mean- that .in. 'case -of /.tho'. House- deciding against, tho ;position,/ thafc|.nt l ',-will:.he-..'nece'ssary ; : to. ;give'."/six ; mbntns' .notice?;-;;,/,'. -, ; ■ ' : -..Sir '/Joseph / AVard: J: repeat':' what T said before;.and;reaffirm.that Tthe ; /MX) on ; .thu : Estimates /is -rccVuircd' to' Carry' out 'aii./engagemoht; that';has been made..;.-. Six infonths'.' notice''is'Required;.;,in.-..' any .case, ,to//terminate ! an. engagement.' .The /Gov-' orhmeht.-'will/keop; the position .perfectly clear/,until,tho. House' has ;an opportunity ,bf:/;;recbnsideri'ng it;in June.i". - ■'-.' -'. :■-■ "■'' Mr./-Buchanan / asked ,if' it could be put ;iii}'this : wnyTT-that 'tho ..Prime.-.Minister /'engaged .or arranged,;/as/;he/;had stated ;previons'ly,/bn/nior^- ; than:.one//occasion,: .that. th'ore'/shqnld :be.: no .further' commit-ment-so far; as:;tho ; financial advisor: was '.concerned' after/ June;3o-rin. other words, ',thaf/the colony/was not -committed: in any, way: after- Juno' 30,' the House being free /to'/reconsider,it thah. : -- ;.;- -.-■;. //rSir.';Joseph/. Ward;..iiaid; he-', ; had': ■'•'al-' ready;,Mentioned-.'.-the",/position : would bo kept, perfectly:clear until the.House.met' in./Juiia, next.-. .What/hoi;had promised ,hefbro',ho;,was/prepared. how itb : carry-out ,wheh-I?arliam(Snt:meton:Juno.3o. '■'•'.'- ; ; Mr.; Massey:;Surely. Parliament will meet.before, then.- ■■ ■ -. •' : ;• •:• Sir JosephvWard:./Well, in June—whenever/Parliament meets;:.-..;..., ,- " •_ Position. - /; ,Mr. ••■.; Massey,;recapitulated ~the. ■'..posi-, , tibh"frohi :his ;point /of •'• view. TheMteui' ih'adibeenstruck outton his'rnotion on Dewmber, 3/ anel to the surprise, and amazement/of/ tho Opposition, they, found ..the' A'pte reinstated, on the Supplementary Estimates/v;lt;:had>been;/struclc out in/,; a /full House, and-the. attempt.was: mado /toreihsertit'in a thiii House. ..-/ -' 'Sir:Joseph-Ward:-.That's not correct. .'Mr., Massey::,The/statement, -is; quite correct.':;./Tho'.item-' was/strnck" out in a House/ of, 01, and; the attempt - was niado ■t"o:,reihstato:itiin : Never in;his':timo/had a;vote"struck off the 'Us;. .tirhates ibeen reinserted' on - tho Supplo"lhentary -Estimates. 1 "..-.'■; ;i£.Ai;Gpyorhmenf/inember: .There has .n6ver.'/been : ''a/;.vbt'o/'.striick. off., i/-.,- ,/.;. ■'•/''. : Mri''.'Maiisey:/Oh;''ittonscks«;'''-..'Wliat : about .'tho.'"sti'ikinJ ; /au';>of :i&t999/in.;the Mcikle caseP'/Thero was-'no attempt to-reinstate 'that.:.;-;;i:.:.. .''''/'::--"-;;■"- ; / ; - /' ; '-; v ' /"Sir Joseph Ward: Tho/ whole vote was , ' not struck out.: '.v--:,- /'/" '/:"'''■;:':"/. .'Mr. l ;;Massey:.. That's a .mere /- quibble. Government proposed to.granfMcikle '^5000,-and'all butsifil.-was- but. '• /:;/: f.v;-:.-'-TKe X /''. ■// -~. , vMr.y. Massey-! ,'iirged. agaur that the pro■perrmethpd ior.reinstating; the vote was. ,by; recommittal.:.;; All'the Parliamentary' /authorities wore/agreed, on .that.'- /Oudor the/circumstances,' the: Opposition would ■ havoif ailed in their 'duty to/'tho country ■ ■'had>:they, ilbt.,inado 0 strong ..and .-deter-' lnincdvprp test—'and,'',,: addee|,',Mr.;;Masv Sey,^"wp, : have.;dqrie.it..;;.-We ~have giveii, . up. oiu'/ Cbriiitmas -holiday&/;ajid -' i regret"'

: that vyo. havo'had. to ;spbil the .Christmas :he holidays of others.'' (Government- sup : , porters: Hear, hear.)'He, however, would lei" take his'full share of the responsibility ew for/that, next to; the responsibility ot ily, the "Priinb .Ministor. for /again placing ng the item/.on the Eftimates.'- That,-/' of .. ■ ■ course,' vivas ...what' liad 'caused > tho real it trouble..--';Tho. PriineV Minister had not '■■'•:' informed' the Opposition that/ho was go- °' ing to-do.: this, and. tho latter had not .'-;-. the. faintest .idea that'ho. was going to ln - d 0,;., this. V Cohsequentlj-, numbers: of -his nc l men had gone' away without .any idea ls " that'an attempt vvould be.m.ade to.'":re.inStato' the, item.- 'The Prime .Minister should havo informed him of his inton-; ; tion before:.he .allowed his. men to leave be for their/homes..';. However, ■ the; Opposition had.made a protest that had ina'do '.-'' the/country ring; (Incredulous ,laughter u from ; Government - benches.) , Ho■',■ hapn. "pened ' to ilnow that such was the; case rll , from: the large number of-telegrams,he Id had received from-all. parts of the .conn-/; 3d try.,' He had just a.fow minutes agon. been handed ono from a prominent conts stituent of the Minister for ■ Agriculture, i,t in which the Opposition were cougratutlo lated -on -the/splendid fight they had p: made.-.' :...;—-'..'''. . : i ie "'The. Hon. -T, Mackenzie: Tou can get t- telegrailis'for anything. You could: get in a telegram.to.support..vou from Meikle., |y :,Mr. Massey:. Well, ho would bo siipjr' porting a. good man.,' There is now a 10 fairly full House,, and/I leave tho rcsporiie sibihty as between the Government and 3t tho;electors,,arid :I..intend,: by:waj' of:n 111 final. motion, to move that the sum of is .fiiOO bo reduced by v£l,. as tin indication 33 that no further commitments for a finana oial adviser in, London -should bo made s,. after June 30, 1910.. -■'-,/:■; f_ t //, Not' Taken by Surprise. 's /; -The Priinp Minister said lie wanted to ie -repeat,'., the position, from which ho did d' not deviate in .the.slightest.. .The amount"] rs was pi iced onj.tho Estimates in confirmas, tion of- what /the House -had' authorised 10 in/'tho.Estlmatesof.l9oß-9,Jand reaffirmed i: in the Appropriation' Bill 'of ■ thfe'' short' is session, carrying .on , the. authorisations, ■f ; Tho House;'as he had stated'before, /ow"-' 's ing to a ' misunderstanding, "■ struck the a item out altogether. There -was no .pro's cedent;, so. far as ho. knew, ,: for."striking I- out ■■a. voto against: which' there was a e commitment of .£-100. His duty; unless s the country/was to'be placed in a wrong d position, or unless the Government was. it tobp forced to pay out of "unauthorised" 3 an amount which had been authorised by 1-, Parliameht; was- to bring forward the 0 item again. There .was a -precedent' for . p what the Government had -done, in the e; case in which Sir John Hall, when a a ilargo umount had: been struckoff the 1 main Estimates,'had the bulk of it put 0 on the. Supplementary Estimates; There ::-. was,-howevor, no precedent:for striking 0 out'the whole vote. If the-country was 1 to keep faith, it/was necessary that the e item, should bo brought down again. He d did. not' bring it down, with the intention J ,° n f , liaviDg .it decided in?a' thin House, i Iho great bulk of ; tho ; members knew - from him personally that-.the item was f coming ;on again, and still .'they went 1 away.': That was their own rcsponsi- • WW. When ho found that a .block ; would take place, ho was anxious to have - i" l , l ' House to ileal,with the matter. - Ho therefore 'communicated' with' .tho : - members on his side of, the-House, and C he 'understood : that tho-Leader of the r. Opposition had done likewise. ) /Mr. Hardy .-Jours heard on .'Saturday; i but ;ours only-; heard : oh; Tuesday./ : ; --, . .-'.-',: '..!>■.. ;I>usting the People.'// ;■':' » /The Priial: Minister said', there- was : ? ow ,?: MLv.House;, and; at no.timo had >. he,, '.get. anything through a' thin House.,:■ i ..r. l iere/was. no.-.satisfaction to 1 him -.in'-tjirying .to ;smother-: /anything '' -. :thrpugh ja.thin Hoiise.-and he'did'not • ,' intend to do so.; -The great'-inajprity of * . the. members of the House' knew within a, few. days .'of, ..December .3 'that-'he' in- -. .tended-to: place: tho item'on'/the Supple- : mentarj ; Estimates. :. So' far.'; as the clec- ■ tors., were concerned,- he too believed "in ' ; trusting'they. people,.and,he felt sure that on this, occasion the people would judge, rightly., /.The-people vvould.never! iapproveof a proposal .to allow an hon-: ; Vpurablo. engagement .such as. the- one. in. ,' question :to; ;be,.'in-any way, even indi-' ■'• rectly;: interfered with on -account- .of ' the House, necessary'' authority. - -;-.',"/: .'.-,;■ \ '■■'-■ . : ,.,. . . . ;..'•'lwish,to repcat"J(Sir, Joseph remarked at .'this istatje), "that-1 havo ,-; . '.been .all /along, willing to keep ithel -.'■■ matter .perfectly,7clear till 'June',3o;-- :- .' withoutany/commitmentbeyond that' "' ■ dato so far'as the Government is ; concerned.":-, :.,:, ; ; '■.'/./'■■.:- .'!The. : .Most ; /.Candfd vStatement.'^/;: . , ; r Mr.:'Massey'/said t!iat'''if /the " Prime' , ;Minister.;b,ad told tho House' that earlier ' initho debate;'the'.obstruction would'not ;havo continued.: Before, tliere had always 1 : been:a;i'«servatibn on'- the'i'point. It was - the -most/ candid 'statement that, had ' 6 : been; made ,by tho Prime Minister; during - , the.debate:; ..'Sir'Joseph.:ha'd seid,that there -was no- precedent .for, the striking '- out of al.total,vote. There was" a great "' difference between ■".'.'! striking;. - , ■' out ■-, - :a total vote and reducing.a vote by £1. ' : In.-;the:,former, case the Houso -took the whole of the: responsibility ; on'its shoul- v . ,ders ;that : something should bo done,' '» whilst in; the' latter . case, it was , only, t aii indication thatsome particular course' \ : should'be adopted. ' When, the Houso t struck out the item ;ih; question it-said I ■that. •; the' position'"of -financial -'a'df. 1 viser-'should. ceaseV. and thct' if the posi-. - ; . •tibn.-were' to ".be/'continued;' Mr. 'Eeeves II wus not to-be-the: occupant.- It then a became' tho -duty Gtivdrnment to I ,bring:dowfn;an/item, for the .liability in- 8 .ourred/'/but-not , to'-.reinstate'/the item a in'its' original, form."- ■/:". :■ :/: f /.Hon. ': T... "Mackenzie:'; .Tweedledum; I - tweedlcdee. '.•.;.'. .■',-.. 0 -Kesuining, ■Mr.rMassey -said: that all s along the; Opposition had beonrquito will-' u ing -that-i'/a. sufficient:; sum-to';: cover the s liability 'should. ;bo'vioted.:: v;V ' '- '■'Hon;. : R. M'Kenzie:': Your apologies are a very:weak.'";:/n;'—: : 4.;:■/(■ -:;■,,-■.,; .'- , ; a ;•; < OppositionjTaken' Unawares. / „■: c •,:Mr./.Massey/ (continuing) denied that a' il majority had, as'tho Prime Ministor n had averred, beehaware of the intention -of. a the .Government; to reinstate: the .items on J the Supplementary Estimates. : Speaking u advisedly,-he ,might|;point. out.that not V a:'single member on ;bis side know of tho ;.b ' intention'of the'Gbvernment-until the ° Supplementary .'; Estimates'' - were.; circii- 0 lated. ..-It would"have'been .only, court- °: eons ./for 'the. Prime .Minister : to,■ havo 'tl informed him as to what,was proposed, h sb/'thathe might have.told his'supporters . ' .before ,thej' left. for. their.'hoines.' ':'■"■"• ~ ;' /-.Sir: Joseph: I did tell-ybu'.-';,. '''j '•vMr; Massey-said-that. hb:,was not told ■. - by; /the./ Prime Minister,. until after, "the ' '■ ° Supplementary Estimates had .been cir- " culated, land one 1 of / his/'colleagues, had -S seon/theitemoh.themi': A/number of his \i supporters had-by that/time left for their' R homes.,:V As-ho 'had"mentioned during '" previous sittings;"he'hajl/'recei-ved a- largo 9. number/of telegrams approving -e|f. tho , he bad adopted.;,in'fact, ho had. el never/receivediso.niany. telegi'ams on any - v one subject .before; One that he had w just received'was':to.the-folloivihg effect:' " "Many ;We3tlahd-electors 'join with me" st in congratulating j'bu and your party in : ™] tho stand.you are taking to prevont the ™ creation of another/shiecu're, position at P Home at the expense - of, tho-.taxpayers." P ; ;-West ; . Coast members: .Who sent it? " '..'.Mr. Massey: Perhaps I'had better I hot- ri: say.; .;;.:'-.;;, '/ ■:■ „v 1; , '...:'/;./ ■;: ','ij / -91 Sir; Joseph: They should' have .diluted oi if with', a little water. / : Tliere ' is, one ?' gentjoinan who.wants water.'for next to. n . nbtnihg./As:-the. member-for. the/', dis-. . sl . trict won't .help-him, ho must, have fallen cl back oh'i.th'e Loader, of the Opposition to d ' air:his views.'/.'"•:- ■■■..., '... ';-,.• ',' ■Mr. Massey: This/is not ■ that-"gentle- " man..- . : ,:'-. ■"/. .;.,',■';.".'/,-;':' '■']', , ■'■ :'/ ' Sir Joseph: If must be.'one .'-'of,'them: f :.:,Mr. Massey:/Not at a 11.,: ; ';.';■■■:' ,'/ :". 1, Sir ■:■' Joseph: Wo could -"ask that -the ■ !? telegrain bo laid.on tho table,' but perhaps it would bo,merciful not to ask that that ™ bo d0h0.,/ ■;"■'. , '/■' '.-/;■'■'."■•-. c ! :':;-: ; '";-;;What;Dtd' : He Say Bofbre?- ; / ! « / The Prime lliiiistersaid that on Friday -V afternoon what lie had' said vyas,that- ho " ,was.qulte. vrilling'/that.. in June next there ': should bo no commitment on tho part of " the Government until Parliamont had an # opportunity to consider tho.matter. 'Then b again,; On Friday; night he had wpeated °' that honvas quito Willing that until June 't he>:t there should be no commitment on J' the, part of the' Government until the ci House had ,'au opportunity to deal with r< the uiattcr. : ..■.■/. .-.,,. ; , ~-, :pi /Mr." Massey: That is nof what you said w to-day:;''>.:■.-::;.';',;:- .'::'' ;,- d' ' Sir Joseph (resuming) said that/ho also w had received a'.number of telegrams ; npproving of his action in reinstating the ■' vote. Ono/gentleman.hhd wired'that al- : ' tliough';'he had /a griovanco. bgainst the " Gdvernriieiit ho .would congratiilato tho jj .Goyei'nmcuit. odwhat.it ;.was /dcung,:. and al

s hoped that-he-would give the-leader of - the Opposition a licking. (Laughter.) 1 .VVJion tho Supplementary Estimates wcro r brought down, lie told Mr. Massoy in f reply .toi an inquiry that: the vote was > on the.Estimates. Mr. Massey had then f said that there would bo troublo over it, to -which, ho'had. replied that lid had t acted in tlio only constitutional way. It ■ ,»'as well known that ho had indicated ; that he proposed to bring the item down > J" "J 0 supplementary Estimates. Both > tho Speaker and thoChairman ,of Com- • m ;p; es had held that ho had acted con- . stitutionally.and had also hold that the • vote could have been reinstated by the .: recommittal of the general 'Estimates. , Ho did not know that it could have been . done, by recommittal 'of tho Estimates i when he brought it down, it In fact, he had.not been aware that a-vote had been ~ brought down in' that way before. He .trusted that the House would not agree ; to the amendment. r ' Should Have Said It Before. . ; Mr. Massey: again pointed out that-the assurance which the Primo, Minister had given that day was quite diffcront from previous assurances. He. should havo given- tho assurance at an earlier period of_ tho debate. Sir Joseph had. now pro-raised'-that there'would bo- no commitment beyond June until the House could discuss tho 'position. -What did • that mean?. Tho Houso. was now having an opportunity to discuss the matter, bnt it was inthe dying hours of .the session. . Tho Primo- Minister, again quoted extracts from his Hansard proofs as to. what he had.said at previous sittings. Mr. Massey: But you made quite a different statement to-day. You have said that there will be no commitment beyond June until the matter has been again considered. ..,.•; _ Sir Joseph: Well, I don't say that. It is nothing-more than a quibble. If I : made any statement of the sort-yon say, I- unreservedly withdraw it. I reaffirm what I said before.... ' ...'.Mr. .Witty: (Eiccarton); said .that the amendment was simply a catch vote; At the previous sitting r Mr. Massey' had in--timated that he 'intended' to move further amendments, but lie had gone back on his.statement. It was not playing the game. .. : - , '' Against Further Strife. . Mr. Buchanan (Wairarapa)- declared that the Prima.Minister had 'now repeated, as far as ho could judge, exactly word for word what he had told him .earlier in the day 'ho. would tell the : House -He hopedi'that,there would be no further recriminations, and that the House would go on with the business as ; speedily as'possible. If the- House fur- ! ther discussed, the matter, as had been suggested by .Mr.,- Witty, it would be a : matter.for regret. : : ■ : ■'■.:'■'..: ; At a-later,stage, the. Prime Minister •' said he had his Hansard proof of his - 1 remarks that'day., ..What he had. aid on the point was that ho had all along '. been quite willing to leave the position ; perfectly clear. -. until,. June,' when ■ the' '■■ House would have; an opportunity to ! consider : the; matter.' , : , ■ ' .-■ .'■'.' , ■■ ■ -.' ' ■ i .The Division.,: I Upon a division; Mr. Massey's amend- ! ment to reduce the vote by £1 as an ' indication that.tho office of financial ad-. ] vkev ,in: London should not bo continued, j was negatived by 38 votes to 27, tho vot-; ' : ing boing as .under— ; ,"•' For the'-amendment (27), ■'.-..'■ j Allen -..■-''" '■■: ;■ -.Malcolm' " ( ;Anderson ,:::;.,, Mander. "- ■ £ .Buchanan . ■''>". Massey.' ! s Clark I.' -Newman ■ c Hive i Nosworthy- ' s Duncan,:!, , ..'. Okey -.•-.■ j Trasor -', ':. Pearce'■'' ■ ■• ( -..Guthrie,: , •'• -i Phillipps. : ; ; ~Hardy •'::-;:,; Poole> '.'* ' -'.: ':. , Vi Herdman . llhodes . ...''■■■ 'Horries -/:,.;• Scott. • ■> iLang -.'■' !'■' ■•■■■. Thomson, Q. 11. '-n :Luke. :,;:: ; : Wright ■.- • ,'M'Lareh •-, :':.-,: ~..,:•• ■;■ j -.-, Against the amendment (38). ■ '-' < m Arnold : ; - -,' 1 . La.wry.-i'- '■"'■ * Brown.. - ..;..; . Hacdoh'atd ' .' J Buddo,- -'.../ " • M'Kenzie, E. - l ißuxton : ;;.., ...Mackenzie,-T. :. • Carroll . '..".Millar. '-.'" \ .Oraigie ': .'■< - - ": :Ngata \ "Dillon ■ ' . .' Parata" ;' Duncan, Hon.'T, Poland * 'EH ■ . ■ -. ~,., , ~'Keed,-. Field- ■': :.VV-'. • Koss ? .Forbes':'... .'. '" Seddoh. '. .-•" > ;a'owlds.-:i.: : -:i.'. :..■■.;■:■ ;Sidoy;.' : ■'■} : ~;■ ... 'V ,; J : .-.otraham. ;..'.■-,.■ .Smith,-■ .j, ..-..- ' •■Greonslade ':■■< :': :: Stallworthy -," ' •Hall ; " , ~ .'Steward '• :' ■ G Hahan .: Taylor, :E. H. -Hogan . Taylor, :Ti,"E," -Jennings'.'. '*; 'Thomson, J. C. ■ ! Laurenson ••■■■, }i\.; : ' .' ' p The pairs'were as under:— : '"' ' 'i'or the amendment: Bollard, Buick, Fisher-..: . . :/• ' a -' Against -the. amendment:.:.Colvin, Eus'-- '■ sell,'Te Eangihiroa. '.'..:'...' | : PRESS OPINIONS, '-; ' : "DUBIbTJS: TACTICS." . (j Eoferrihg'to. the. protest,.in : connection reinstatement; of the .item of MW for hnahcial: adviser in London! n ™t i 'A? cHa ;?,'--.'-'HeraH7 states: VVhat : tho' House found was that the .vote:.of-. '.which, it had : previously.: struefc ■. out .had been- ■ reinstated by methods open to criticism, v . . . Iho Opposition could not allow so ? llagi'aut a procedure/to pass unchallenged, and -as no satisfactory. statement could be elicited-from the Prime Minister .re- ,' garding the, termination of Mr. Reeves's S appointment,' advantage: was taken of the lormsvof the, House to oppose the vote, for this, result :the Government, in our opinion, are entirely to blame. Mh Massey over and oyer-:again declared that an ' uuqualifacd: assurance that Mr. Eeeves's .ji services -as.financial adviser would be dis- 6pensed.with would bo enough; to sUence all opposition to the vote. This assurance, however, was not forthcoming. We beheye that vMr. Massey under the cir- •■■'■ cumstances. had '-a: right, to insist upon 'b it. Neither, armajority in'.Parliament, '; l m v « nt ?r? -to say,..in- the country J approves, of...this: arrangement:.by. which t ilr t Reeves,; on ; ceasing., to : bo. High Commissioncr, became entitled to.an annual C( payment of jw» for services which coufd n be equally..-wel rendered by more.than b office \ h h£ Pa v d , officialintho Lond °D nf ere haa . ¥ ea a regiettaWo-want- / of over 'the ,whole business, 'and ■ hhVo IJ°- S tacti s 3 of the .Government I have nbt improved matters. ■ : - , -I - ; PAELL|MENTAEY CONTEOLi' ,/ 'cc A-question' which! emerged 'out of the SSThW i thß ?OUSe of EePtesenta- f , tives last Friday upon.the vote for the th oayment oftho Financial. Adviser of the >" e rnment,in. London: was that of the < s l Pwi "S? of 4? m , ooratiß government (says ?,' the .Otagp: Daily .Times"). . This is'a th juestion of much greater importance than 5° the matter, which'was more directly re- , =emng. the attention of, the Souse. It fl S»? rr « ll y; stated:;to be the question f, whether Parliament: or the Executive, Is hl to be;, the r controlling authority. It is „, iatisfactory to find that two of the new' ff f r en »fe r f 11 ? f the-H onse) Mr. Wright and tU were among the mast em- „. pnatio. supporters of tho, true democratic S? principle, which is:that, the Ministry is, ™ the .servant of Parliament. .The recog- f r l mtion,of any,other, system is entirely 5" Jpposed to, and subversive of, the theory „, m~ democratic government. If the Exe- J. ?utive;is.to,exercise control and to act in a manner,:that is contrary to the-de- m i ures.iof Parliament itself ..'then 'the prin- „„ 'which our democratic in- f a .titutidns are. established :. is. rejected: ex -.'' — : — in A VEEY ;IMPOETANT PRINCIPLE." i" : Under _ the' hrading,'"The Parliameh- f n a ■?7 : tho .Christchurch : "Press' i°„ states: that; tho,, action of. the Govern- "j ment seems.:, to. us 'desorving :■ of the se- i;, rorost condemnation." The article pro- i leeds: There is a' very, important prin- S,: Jiplo ot Parliamentary, government to be- m considered. .The' Prime Minister,, hav- Z rfi' w CB D6n dofeai < !<l in a toleicably \ f ull Houso,, has endeavoured to reverse ' a \, jtat.dofoat in a very thin House :at a- be time when/many members had beea be- „„ bulled, into leaving, in tho belief that tho jTa ousiness of the. session was practically! pvor. That attempt has been foiled, and tv it now. remains to be; seen whether. Sir tli loseph VVard can cajole or coerce a siiffi- „]. Jient number of his supporters either to L reverse a vote which they have I'elt im- gh [lolled by their consciences to give, or— m, what amounts to; the - samo thing—to in- ] a] luce them to stay away from a division to when the. attack is renewed. ao - ' .' " i.'- .. wc - Messrs. J. W, Braithwaite arid Co. will l?i sell a largo selection of birds, includiuc ' ■" parrots, r canarlos, otc', at the' City. Auction "l 1 Mart, Manners. Street, at -'Z'- o'clock -thin hi, Mtomoon, - ' ..:■.... at