Parliamentary Notes.

Manawatu Herald, 23 July 1892, Page 2

Parliamentary Notes.

(The Pont.)

THE TWO MACS

Mr T. Mackenzie was in great form last night. He told how, when the Miflfeter for Lands had gone to ? his district, be (the member for; Clutha) had endeavoured, to meet jim on the platform, but this the Government supporters would not agree to. Subsequently he met^ a farmer, who had been to the Ministerial banquet, and had not quite recovered from its glamour- Said the farmer, "Eh mon, yd should just meet Jock. If ye'd only have; a talk wi' him, I'm sure ye'd be wi' his Party." "Well," was tie reply, ' ' I don't knew that there's much between us beyond this freehold business." ' " Eh, but I've jeest been speerin' wi' Jock aboot r that, and he te't me a mon couldna be expected tae clear his land if he didna see a prospeekt o' owing it." " But that's just what we want, and he refuses." " Aye, aye, Jock telt ' me no to lees 'en tae Tarn Mackenzie an' the ither members if they telt me that." Mr T. Mackenzie said he then thought he would appeal to a Scotchman's pocket, so he offered to write out one cheque for £100 while his farmer friend wrote out another for £1, and to place both: with the landlord, to become the property of the man who proved to be right as to " Jock " M'Ke&zie'a . views. The canny : Scottish c.^*" racter came out then, as the fanhO? scratched his head, and, declining" the bet, sen ten tiously summed up his opinion of all the Maokenzies — " Weel. weel, ye poleeteecians are, all dommed loe-ars 1 " •

"THE ONLY CALF IN THE HOUSE.'*

Mr Buckland was rushing off at a. tangent on the iniquity of Ministers, and the sycophancy of their followers. " Even the member for Butler/* he shrieked, "even the member for: Buller, Sir, goes down on hjs, : kno"es, *, to worship the golden calf of rthjs^, Ministry!" Then there/ was ft,, pause for oratorical effect, in whiph.] the member for Buller, in.., tha blandest of . tones, .interjected,. •'There is only- one calf in this House ; " and "this House" roared as members seized an application. The laughter aroused the ramping bovine in Mr Buckland. "If he will make that remark outside, it'a a wild bull he'll have against him.'* The Speaker mildly asked what the honourable gentleman had said? "He said I was a calf, sir,'* roared the member for Manakau, and the House soared too — but with a difference. " Did the honourable member say the honourable member for Manakau - was a calf?" queried the Speaker.!,; " I made no such statement regarding the honourable member" replied the elect of Buller. VThen '," the honourable member did not call the honourable member for Mana* kau a calf " said the Speaker ' with an air of relief, as he sat down. " He did, sir," persisted ..Manakau-rn doggedly, " and if the' atatenjjpjt [ were made outside the House I , would return it with a blow. ?l J "Threats cannot be allowed" said " Mr Speaker, and. it had to b© jwitli- r--drawn. ■ ' ' • ■•■•• '■•■> : ; *.., (The Press) ■„ - The character of the candid friend *' was filled to the letter yesterday afternoon by Mr W. Hutcbinson. The tables at the end of the Financial Statement was characterised by him as a perfect muddle," and he'de* • '■■ scribed himself as waiting uneasily,, for a Treasurer who would riseV' superior to the system of book-keep- . ing of which Mr Ballance is a pillar.

The Government claim unlimited. 'Credit for their efforts and achievements in the cause of settlement, "but Mr Duthie cites, as proving tho iollowness of their claim, the fact that the importation, of fencing material has fallen off greatly of lute'. There can be no actual progress in settlement, .urges Mr Dnthie, without an increased demand for fencing material, and as tbe importation of that lias fallen off, it follows tha>. the progress vaunted by Ministers is le^s a matter of fact than of fiction.

Mr Duthie's logic is equally fatal in anothor direction. The Government's policy bjib not, and does not •ncourage enterprise, hence money lies, more or less, idly in the banks ; and, therefore, in so tar as it is a fact that interest has not risea, it is due to (he antecedent fact that the Government policy discourages the demand for money in the developetoAtxt of the country's resources.

" A political cripple helped into the House on Ministerial crutches," that, according to the member frv Clutha, describes the parliamentary genesis of the junior ra^mbar for. Wellington.

"An octopns spreading its arms in every direction, and sucking up by means o{ many sponges, the money which, should be lot free to .circulate throughout tbe country as oil for the wheels of industry"— that is the figure whereby Mr r \\ iMcKenzie hits off the character and desoribes t'ne action of the financial policy of the Government.