A BREEZE IN THE HOUSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2189, 19 September 1907, Page 1

A BREEZE IN THE HOUSE.

CHANGING THE ORDER OF BUSINESS. A PROTEST FROM THE OPPOSITION. . (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. i The Government so far this session has stuck by its Order Paper, and has dealt very fairly with the House in giving it duo notice of the business to be taken. To-day, however, members had just reason to complain of the Premier’s tactics. The corrected copy of the Order Paper submitted to members showed the Land and Income Assment Bill fifth on the list of Orders of -the Day. Ahead of it were four other Bills. Two of these in the ordinary course of events would not have taken up much time, but tho two others, the Coal .Mines Act Amendment Bill .(to be further considered in committee) and the Factories Act Amendment Bill (second reading), would have absolutely prevented the tax Bills being reached tonight. Members, or, at all events, Opposition members; were therefore naturally surprised when the House met at 7.30 p.m. to find the Premier proposing to postpone all the Orders of the Day down to No. 5 in order that the secoind reading of the Land Tax Bill should be taken. The Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues had been getting ready for the other Bills, particularly the Factories Bill, so that they were quite taken unawares when the land tax surprise was suddenly sprung upon them this evening. The Leader of the Opposition warmly nrotested against such tactics. ,He had expected other Bills, and naturally he prepared to discuss them and not the Land Tax 'Bill.

Air. IJerrl . was equally vigorous. Ho complaii.-. i at the Opposition being thrown oil’ tlioir guard in such a manlier. Tho Government supporters had been told of the change during the day, but not so the Opposition. Sir Joseph Ward said Government members liad not been told. Air. Horries: AVell, they all know

Sir Joseph Ward: I expect you did, too, if tho truth is known. Air. Herries: No. Air. Alassey: Wo know nothing about it. , , , , Air. Laurcnson urged that members should be allowed to speak for an hour on such an important matter. Air. J. Allen said be only knew of the change twenty minutes boforo. Ho admitted that the Premier, had kept faith right up till the presont time. Tlio House bad always put faith in him (tlio Premier), and hon. members liad therefore all tho more reason ,to put faith in bis writtpn statement in tho shape of the printed Order Paper. . The Premier, in reply, said this was the first time there had been any postponement, but there was nothing unusual in it. It was done in every Parliament. He gave a good reason for tho postponement of the first four Orders of the Day—that ho had not anticipated the" delay there was that afternoon. As a matter of fact, ho

liad not intended going on with tho Factories Bill that day. Ho had a porfect right to take up the Land Tax Bill. Air. Alassey: But why not put it on top of the Order Paper? The Premier said„mcrabers had had the Bill before them for some time, and should know all about it. No doubt the member for Bruce and tho member for Wakatipu, who had been on tlio Public Accounts Committee, knew more-about tho-Bill than ho did. Air. Alassey: No doubt they do. The Promior: As far as the Leader of tho Opposition is concerned, I havo been, perfectly courteous all this session.' Air. Alassey: Until to-day. The Premier: The lion, member could easily havo ascertained the position without any loss of dignity by asking wliat .was coming on. Air. Alassoy: Invent iutio tho lobby, and looked~at the Order Paper to find out. The Premier said he could not agree to Air. Laurenson’s suggestion that mepibers should bo allowed t'o speak for ail hour. On the question being put, Air. Massey, by way of protest, called for a division.. The postponement of the Orders of the Day was agreed to by 45 voes to 13/ Tlio Premier then proceeded to explain the cardinal features of his Bill, seemed rather surprised when after speaking for twenty-five minutes lie was pulled up by the ringing of - the Speaker’s hell. He said he thought lie was entitled to speak for an .hour, hut it was explained to him that he could speak for only half an hour. The Leader of the Opposition said lie had no objection to the Premier’s getting an hour in which to. explain his Bill. With the leave of the House the Premier was allowed to speak for an hour. Afterwards the Speaker said he had overlooked a certain Standing Order which entitled the Premier to an hour’s speech.