THE ’FRISCO MAIL SERVICE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 19 October 1901, Page 3

THE ’FRISCO MAIL SERVICE.

Government Beaten Twice

Service Saved for Eighteen Months by the Speaker’s Vote.

An Exciting Evening Debate.

[OCR PARLIAMENTARY RETORTER.]

Wellington, This Day. There was an unusual scone of excitement in the Chamber last evening, reminiscent of old times, when a close division was anticipated on a Nou-Confi-dcnce motion The test division was taken at 20 minutes past midnight, and resulted in the renewal of the San Francisco service by 35 to 28. Wi Pere who had only arrived that evening voted along with Messrs Haitian and Hoke for tbe Government, . * Though the Postmaster-General scored the first blood, the next honors went to the opponents of the service.

Mr. Millar moved to strike out the ■ term three years with a view to reducing the period of contracting. This was affirmed by 36 to 28, Then Mr. Millar proposed to make the term one year, and was again successful, winning to the tune 34 to 30.

Both these results were received with much cheering.

The Postmaster-General who seemed to be very sore at the turn of events, moved to make tbe period one year and six months, declaring that a twelve months’ contract was impossible, and a tie resulted, the Government being saved by the Chairman’s (Major Steward) easting vote, thus eighteen months was fixed as the term of the contract.

It was an exciting evening so far, but the rqst of the proceedings dealing with matters of detail proved very uninteresting.

The following is the division list on Millar’s motion to strike out the paragraph authorising Government to enter into a contract for the renewal of the ’Frisco service:—

For the motion (28) —Allen E. G., Arno'd, Atkinson, Barclay, Buddo, Collins, Colvin, Ell, Fisher, Flatman, Fraser, Gilfedder, Graham, Hornsby, Hutcheson, Laurenson, MacKenzie T., McKenzie R., I\{cLachlan, iWcNah, Meredith, Miller, Parata, Rhodes, Russell G. W., Smith G. J., Tanner, and Wilford.

Against the motion (35) Allen J., Bennet. Bollard, Carncross, Carroll, Duncan, Field, Fowlds, Fraser W., Hall, Jones, Hardy, Hike, Herries, Hogg, Houston, Karahu, Lang, Lawry, Lethbridge, Massey, McGowan, McGuire, Mills, Monk, Napier, Palmer, Pere, Pirani, Russell W. R., Seddon, Thompson R., Thompson J. W., Ward, and Witheford. No pairs available.