THE REPRESENTATION BILL.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 277, 29 August 1881, Page 3

THE REPRESENTATION BILL.

The Pokl gives the following description of the renewal of “stonewalling tactics in the House on Friday evening : Mr Speight commenced “ stonewalling the Representation Bill as soon as the formal business had been disposed of. He moved the adjournment of the House, and proceedcil to speak upon the question of pensions. He was soon pulled up by Mr Bowen, who wished the Speaker to rule whether a member could block the business upon a motion for the adjournment of the House. The Speaker said lie could not he supposed to know what Mr Speights object was, and so long as lie did not discuss any question on the order paper he might proceed. Mr Bowen wished to know whether the question of pensions could not he held to be a notice of motion, seeing that the Government intended to ileal with it. The Speaker said it did no' appear on the order paper. Mr Speight resumed, but was soon after stopped by a message from thevf Jovernor. recommending the House to con; dor the Pensions Bill. This made any further reference to the subject one of order and Mr Speight was requested to desist. He then went on to deal with native affairs, and spoke up to 5.30 without interruption. At 7.30 the Premier gave notice to move on Monday next the “cloture resolutions adopted by the House of Commons during the Parnell obstruction. Sir George Grey wished theJGovcriiincnt togrant an adjournment, so that members might consider the proposal, as the House could not do any business with such a threat hanging over it. He was about to speak on the subject when lie was ruled out of order, and Mr Speight was called upon continue his speech. This j he did till S. 10 p.m. He was followed by j Mr Gibbs, then by Sir George Grey, then j by Mr Seddoii, who kept the ball rolling till the supper adjournment. Sir George Grey only spoke for a minute or so, expressing sympathy with those who opposed the bill. At 11.30 Mr Pitt commenced, and was followed by Shepherd at 11.;>•>]>.in. His theme was the necessity for the Ministry considering their position. After speaking half-an-hour he said lie would have to reserve many cf his remarks for a future occasion. Mr Lcvcstam then got up and said^h at early in the afternoon he agreed that the motion b»forc the House would lead to waste of time hut after listening so long to the speeches of lion, members, lie was of a different opinion. There were so many matters for the Government to consider arising out of the debate that it was really, in his opinion, time the House did adjourn. Jfe then went oil to speak of education, when Mr Dick said there was an Education Bill before the House. The Speaker ruled that that subject was consequently “tabooed.” Mr Lcvcstam then went into the question of beer tax, remarking that there was no beer tax question on the order j paper. Mr Fulton said there was a Lfcen- , sing Bill, but the Speaker ruled that that j had nothing to dr, with the Licensing Bill, j and clearly the lion, gentleman might speak I on the subject of the Beer'Tax. Mr Loves- i tan having entered a bogus protest against j taxing beer, at 112.-15 Mr Lcvcstam sat down j and Mr Hall rose to protest against the “ wicked waste of time ” which had taken place. He believed lie expressed the opinion of nine-tenths of the people of the country when he said that they had abused . the privileges of the House. It showed tlio j necessity of an alteration of the rules to j prevent it. Mr Hursthouse was not all s ire that there was any waste, of time. He thought that if the “powerful arguments” u?4Ptliat niglit were repeated for two or three weeks they would have some good results. He wished to know why, it the Government felt they wore in the right, they did not appeal to the country, and let the people settle the question. Mr Ilollcston a lid the. Government would be sadly neglect ing its duty if it allowed the House to prorogue without passing this bill, and it would most assuredly be passed before the House prorogued. The House then adjourned at 1.10 a m.