POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2606, 14 August 1882, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

f>BOM THE "P8885."3 WELLINGTON, August 12 A curious rceno occurred in the House this morning, just after the result of the noconfidence division had been declared by the Speaker. While the division was being taken, an excited altercation was noticed to be proceeding between Mr Sutton, who was reoording his vote, and Mr Montgomery, who was one of the tellers. Mr Montgomery told Mr Sutton he was "paired," and had no right to vote, or if he did, be must vote on the other side, as he had " broken his pair." Mr Sutton replied that his pair had been cancelled, and the whip bore him out in this allegation. Great excitement and angry feeling prevailed, and what with the loud talking on both sides (several joining in the dispute) and the fierce expression of everybody's faoe, I began to think that the "arm of flesh " was about to be appealed to, and that a free fight on the floor of the Chamber was imminent. However, Mr Sutton insisted on recording his vote for his side, and from subsequent enquiries I have made, I am perfectly satisfied that ho acted quite rightly, and in thorough good faith, his "pair" having been distinctly canoelled on the whip's list by mutual agreement. Just after the retult of the division had been declared, Mr Sutton got up and made a personal explanation. He said he had " paired " for the evening with Mr Joyce, who having been absent for most of the evening an hour ago returned, and he (Mr Sutton) said to him that as he was there both might as well record their votes, to whioh Mr Joyce had agreed, and the " pair" was cancelled by the whips. Mr Joyce entered the chamber at this moment and said Mr Sutton ought not to have boen in the House when the division bell rang, as he had paired with him (Mr Joyce), and if he voted he had done very wrong. Mr Joyce's manner and behaviour at this stage excited a great deal of remark. His statement produced considerable uproar, cheers and hisses being mingled. The Speaker managed to restore older. Then Mr Fish rose and complained that Mr Fitz Gerald had acoueed him of displaying impudence and bad taste in his three hours' speech on Thursday. He contended, however, that in not one single expression used by him on Thursday night had he infringed the forms and rules of the House, other wise the Speaker would have called him to order, whioh he had not done. Mr O'Galloghan said he would like to ask the Speaker whether the following expression used by Mr Fith at a former stage of the debate was not quite as muoh out of order as " impudenoe " and " bad taste," vis. :—" The supporters of the Government have not within them one spark of prinoiple." The same hon. member had also referred to the Ministry as "as all honorable men," laying suoh emphasis on the word " honorable" as to imply that they were dishonorable. Mr Sad don expressed his astonishment that Mr O'Callaghan should thas invite the Speaker to plead guilty to not having do»a his duty. For his own part he was very sorry there had been any personal feeling in this matter, for he was prepared to take his licking like a man. [Cheers."] Mr Beetham, the Government whip, confirmed Mr Sutton's statement of his pair being cancelled, and expressed his opinion that Mr Sutton had been perfeotly right in voting as he had done. Mr Joyoe then asserted positively that the hon. member had given bis word of honor that if his (Joyce's) engagements did not permit him to be present at the division, he (Mr Sutton) would not be in that House. Mr Allwright remarked that before the division he had asked Mr Joyoe whether he had paired with anyone, to whioh the hon. member had replied in the negative. Mr Joyoe said'.the hon. member was stating an untruth, on whioh he was rebuked by the Speaker and ordered to withdraw the offensive word, whioh, after a little hesitation, he did. At this juncture Mr Holmes, who had been absent, arrived in the House and said he had paired with Mr J. B. Whyte, who had voted for the Government. Mr Whyte said he was not aware he had paired with anyone. Mr Holmes said the arrangement was with one of the Government whips —Captain Morris. Captain Morris said he was not surprised there had been several misttkos, as some of the pairs bad been for on* hour, and some for two, and they were constantly being altered. The Speaker said the Houee knew nothing about pairs, but in oases of mistakes members were allowed to make explanations. It turned out that the whip had paired Mr Holmes with Mr Whyte, but had forgotten to tell the latter of the arrangement made on his behalf, and on his return, after being absent all the day, he came in and voted quite innocently. Mr Sheehan made a strong speeoh, deolaring he would never again give a pair to anybody after that night's events. He then favoured the House with a long and somewhat egotistical statement about himself and his doings. He denounoed the eonduot of several members, who had made elaborate explanations and excuses for voting as they had done. Ultimately peace was restored, and after a short but sharp discussion on the Loan Bill, its second roading pasßed by a mojority of 22.

Much sympathy was telt with Mr Hursthouse, who, in the no confidence divieion, voted against tho Government in fulfilment of his husting'e pledge, although expressing his conviction that his constituents would have released him had he asked them. He deemed it a point of honour, to vote aa he did, inatead of resorting to any casuistry to justify his breaking his pledge. He has gained much kudos from both sides by his conduct. Fortunately, the Government had a safe majority without him, or the incident would haTe been a gome- , what disastrous one. However, all's well j that ends well, and the result was never really doubtful. I hear, by the way, that Mr Montgomery has sinoe deolared his complete satisfaction with Mr Sutton's explanation about about the " pair" difficulty, aad has promised that the Opposition whip shall join the Government whip in a united letter exonerating him from any imputation on his good faith. Most of the Opposition have stated they will cordially assist Ministers in pushing through the work during tho rest of the session. A long Cabinet meeting was held this afternoon, lasting from three till nearly six, to arrange the future programme, but no final deoision was oorne to, and the Cabinet meets again on Monday morning. It is almost settled that the Now Zealand (General) Loan Bill shall eome on first on Monday evening, and afterwards the Consolidation Bill or othor formal business. I underatMid the anti-borrowing party will oall for division against the Loan Bill, but they will o 0 beaten hollow.