THE LIQUOR QUESTION

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 974, 21 August 1903, Page 4

THE LIQUOR QUESTION

ANOTHER NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. When the House met on Friday evening' (wired the Wellington correspondent of the Hawke’s Bay Herald;, the Arbitration Court Emergency Bill was at the top of the Order Pa'per, b(ut, on the Anoti'on of Premier, consideration of the measure was postponed in order to go on with the financial debate. Sir William Russell Was the first speaker, and as soon as he sat down Mr Taylor rose and sprang a surprise on the and the House Ihy moving : ‘f That this' I-Jouse is of opinion that the interference of the Executive with the right of the police to seek; the enforcement ofi the licensing law in the Newtown electorate is unjustifiable and subversive of popular rights 'and liberties.” Ho said lvo was submitting bis' amendment at this stage because it could not ; bie thlVkejd opti]fc could (not hb 'get rid of i'n any way i;i there yfould have to be a vote upon it. The Premier : What members have you consulted about the amendment?; Mr Taylor : I have spoken to three or four, and I can undertake to say the Premier -knows exactly who they are, 1-Ie is never asleep in this House. I daresay the Premier will do the same old trick, and make this a nc-confidcnce motion. ,Thc Premier dare not get up in the House, and tell members that lie leaves them perfectly free to vote as they! please.. It would be impossible for the Premier to live unless he was perpetually bringing his supporters into a state bordering on the most abject slavery. The Premier : I would like to know, who Mr Taylor has consulted in addition to Mr Duthie and Mr Massey? Mr Taylor : I have asked no man about my right to move this, amendment. I am quite competent to act in this House without consulting either the Premier or Mr Massey., This motion comes from myself, independently of either party in the House. The Premier : I want to ask Mr Dutliie whether he was consulted. Mr Duthie : What right has the Premier to put that 'question to me ?

The Speaker : I-Ie has a perfect right to ask it, hut it is not necessary for the member to ans/wer it. (Laughter.) The Premier asked Sir William Russell was lie consulted. Sir William Russell : No. The Premier : My trouble is there is no leader of the opposition—(Hear, hear.) An lion. member : That’s' your trouble. Another lion, member : 'And a very good trouble, too, just now. The Premier : I ask the lion, member for Franklin was lie aware that this amendment was to be moved ? Mr Massey : I do not support It. The Premier : Were you consulted? Mr 'Taylor rose to a point of order. He wanted to know if there wes any precedent for the Premier’s heing allowed to interrogate members of the House in regard to conversations one member had with another. Mr ITardy : Terrorism* (Laughter) The Speaker said it was usual to allow the leader ol the House to ascertain whether an amendment such as this was supported by the Oppositipn, a/ndi there {ferng no I polder of the Opposition the Premier had not exceeded reasonable latitude in endeavoring to find out whether he would declare this a no-confidence rrction or not, but he did not think lie could allow the Premier to go much further. The Premier said the stutodinig of Mr Taylor in the House and the colony would not warrant him in taking this seriously or as a no-c'onfi-dence motion, but he was indirectly, aware that there had been a consultation with Mr Duthie, and in the circumstances he could accept the amendment. The Speaker : I ask the Premier if he accepts this as a motion of want • of confidence ? ' The Premier : Yes, sir. !

The division on Mr Taylor’s amendment was taken at a quarterpast eleven, 23 members voting in favor of it and* 43 against it. The ' sniprises of the division were the voting of Mr Arnold against the Government and the fact that Mr Fowlds voted with the Government. There were, excluding the Speaker, thirteen members not accounted for. Of those two were paired. Mr Barber, the member for Newtown,whose constituency is the one most affected, and whose political somersault the other day will still he fresh in the memory of those who follow: politics, was amongst those who did not vote. The no-confidence qiueation having been got rid of, there ensued a game of bluff. No sooner had the division been announced than the Premier was on his feet and commencing his reply ; hut Mr James Allen .intervened. He was, however, evidently handicapped ill not having his notes at haad, and, ascertaining that 'Mr Ileidni'an was ready to fill the gap, he gave way to that member. There was a laugh at the Premier’s expense, and it was repeated when Mr E. M. Smith rose and claimed precedence of Mr Herdm'an. Mr Herdman promptly, gave way,hut Mr Seddon waved Mr Smith down. For a minute or se, there was apperently no one ready to continue the debate. The Speaker twice called on Mr Smith, but the member fjr Taranaki now failed to toe the mark, and Mr Herdman had to be again called on. Though taken somewhat unawares, he now promptly rose, and efuite distinguished himself by delivering a slashing speech a long way above the average of anything usually given by new members.