Parliamentary.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 5 July 1901, Page 4

Parliamentary.

(Our Parliamentary Eeporter.)

The Address-in-Eeply.

The interest in the debate on the Address-in-Eeply was already flagging when it was resumed yesterday afternoon by Mr Flatman who continued the discussion in a somewhat humorous strain resenting the satiric references by Mr Eiccarton Eussell to Sir Joseph Ward's K.C.M.G., and the titular honors conferred upon other members of the Legislature and the wearing of Windsor uniform. He said if the member for Eiccarton once donned the dress he would be so proud of it that he would never take it off. Waxing eloquent on the subject of middlemen who rob the poor farmer, he was interrupted by Mr Allen, (Bruce) with the query : " Who are the middlemen P" The question seemed to stagger Geraldine for an instant, but quickly recovering his balance he retorted drily : " Well, I am inclined to think you are one of them or you wouldn't take the matter up." (Laughter). Mr Fowlds, the well-known Auckland draper, was the next speaker, and he delivered a characteristic speech, moderate, practical and full of Scotch canniness. He strongly advocated a rebate on rents to Crown tenants, meeting their payments with promptitude which he pointed out had been promised last session, but had never been carried out. He also advocated .an increase of onepenny in the land tax in order to prevent a land boom and gamble to be followed by a burst. Mr McLachlan (Ashburton), in the course of his remarks, pronounced a high eulogium on Sir Joseph Ward, who lie regarded as the greatest postal and telegraph reformer in tho Southern Hemisphere. Mr Stevens (Eangitikei) expressed unqualified approval of the Government policy and administration. Mr Hogg continued the debate on the ministerial side up to dinner adjournment.

Continuing the debate at the evening's sitting, Mr Hornsby criticised the defence ef the administration and attacked, in vehement terms, the treatment of the volunteers at Newtown camp and cadet* at Ohristchurch. He urged that Colonel Penton ought to have beon suspended, pending an enquiry, and was surprised at the Defence Minister shielding him. Messrs Buddo and Steward threw little fresh light on flagging discussion, but the Member for Wai aki warmly defended the Commandant of Forces from the attack made on him on an ex-parte statement.

The Premier rose a little after nine o'clock amid cheers from his side. He said that the Opposition had come in the political arena like roaring lions, but they had been absolutely subdued by the lion tamer—in the shape of Public Opinion.

The keynote of the hon. gentlemans' address was a pardonable crow over the ] extinction of his opponents, and ho hinted at probability of Government acquiring vessels of their own in consequence of high freights. He dealt unmprcjfully with the member for Riccarton whoso criticism, he said, was one to malice owing to his failure to force a reconstruction of the Ministry. Mr Ell hailid With satisfaction tho abrogation of their functions by tho Opposition, as a step in advance in the direction of abolition of Party Government. He staunchly supported the establishment of a State Coal Mine, and of a State Fire Insurance Department, and congratulated the Minister of Lands on the introduction of the Fair Bent Bill.

At 11.40, tho Minister of Railways moved the adjournment of the debate, which had been fanned into life by his chief's speech.