THE ENDOWMENT BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2225, 31 October 1907, Page 3

THE ENDOWMENT BILL.

(Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 30. While the House of Representatives was considering tho schedule of the Endowment Bill last, evening, an amusing incident occurred. Mr Hardy, tho member for Solwyn, had been keeping his eyes open, and when Sir. Graham, the member for Nelson, proposed to reduce the 'area of tho Nelson endowments, Sir. Hardy rose, and drew attention to tho fact that, except in one case Sir. Graham had all tho evening been voting against North Island members who had endeavored to get a reduction in their districts. He had not only seen the member for Nelson going into tho lobby against reductions, but he had heard him inducing another member to go in. He (Sir. Hardy) liked to see consistency in a member, and lio did not know what the people of Nelson would' say about a member who went on in such a way. “I don’t believe in tin-pot politics,” added Sir. Hardy; “what is sauce for the- goose should bo sauce for the gander.” Tlio Government, ho thought-, had taken a good deal out of the Nelson district already, no doubt- as a sop to the member for Nelson. He had noted that the member for Nelson voted against all the North Island reductions, ‘ except on one. The reason of that was it was getting near his own. (Laughter.) “Well, sir,” concluded Sir. Hardy with emphasis, “I bate that sort of thing, and the lion, member is a man of intelligence and a good speaker, but there is such a thing as consistency, and ‘a. member who is consistent is always respected.” (Hear, hear.) Sir. Graham rose amidst a burst of laughter to reply to Sir. Hardy. .The hon. tho member for Solwyn could not keep things to himself, and he (Sir. Graham) had heard what he was going to do. Sir. Hardy (emphatically): I am always straight, and I always tell a man what I think. Sir. Graham: We all know the lion, gentleman’s bark is a good deal worse than his bite. Sir. Hardy: Y r ou take care now! (Laughter.) Sir. Graham explained that liis idea was that there was too great a disparity in the areas as compared between tho North and the South Islands. (Hon. members: Oh.) Sir. Thos. Mackenzie: Why did you vote on tho last division (a North Island one) for a reduction then. («Oh, oh,” and laughter.) Mr. Graham: I voted to support my friend, Sir. Remington. (Laughter.) Sir. Hardy said.it would have been better if Sir Graham had not spoken; liis excuse was such a larno one. He (Sir. Hardy) was not in favor of endowments. It- was tho principle adopted by tlio lion, member that lie objected to. He was only opposing the Government now because liis own district was being affected. “That,” said Sir. Hardy, “is what I call a selfish way of supporting the Government.” .. On Sir. Graham calling for a division, nearly all tlic Opposition, by w<ay of protest, walked out of tlic Chamber, and Sir. Graham could only get tour members to vote with him. His amendment was lost by 39 to 5. The result -was received with laughter.