A Crisis in the House.

Hastings Standard, Issue 456, 21 October 1897, Page 3

A Crisis in the House.

, A SURPRISE DIVISION SPRUNG ON TIIE GOVERNMENT. AN EXCITING TIME IN THE LOBBIES. A VICTORY FOR THE MINISTRY. (By Teleorjph.) [From ocr Special Rkportkr.J W ellingtox, This day. party division was unexpectedly * sprung on the House at an early hour this morning. Shortly after midnight the leader of the Opposition enquired if private members' business could not come up on the following day. The Hon. Mr Rolleston took up the refrain and asked the Speaker to rule as to whether the Standing Orders should be set aside by motion in this way. The Speaker said it was the invariable practice to permit debates to be carried on from day to day without interruption. Notices of motion always took precedence unless the House otherwise directs. Mr Hutcheson said the debate should be adjourned till Friday. Mr Seobie M'Kenzie complained that nowadays adjournment could not be moved till the questions were disposed of, and said as the Premier made it a practice never to allow all questions to be swept off the order paper the effect was to prevent members exercising their privileges of moving an adjournment, a privilege that they very much prized. Sir R. Stout said notices of motion , took precedence on Wednesday unless the House otherwise directed. There was no " otherwise directed" about Thursday; it was provided that on Thursday local bills should have precedence until disposed of. At this stage it was realised that the Government were at a disadvantage, a large number of their supporters having taken time by the forelock and gone to bed, while the Opposition were present in full number. Mr Lethbridge moved that the debate on the Budget be adjourned till Friday at 7.30. The Government Whips were seen to be very busy, and as member after member got up to air his views the members who had been stirred out of their beds rolled up sleepily and took their seats until, at 2.20 a.m. everything was ready fora division. In the meantime the Premier offered if members would let the matter come on at 2.30 the following day it could be adjourned till 7.30 p.m., but the proposal was not accepted and the House divided with the result that the Premier carried his point by 37 to 29, the only member of the Opposition not voting was Mr Sligo. It is stated in the lobbies that the Opposition carefully arranged this surprise during vhe afternoon.