An Angry Minister.

Manawatu Herald, 31 July 1894, Page 3

An Angry Minister.

The <( inevitable majority " is just getting a little out of patience, and the Minister of Lands even a little

more so. " R.A.L.," the descriptive in the N.Z. Times of the Parliamentary proceedings thus sketches what appears to have been an undigriififed scene in the House on Friday night :— About this time an idea is abroad

that the d9bate is to go on till two

But at half-past twelve Mr Miller moves to adjourn the debate, and gets plenty of support — in spite of the Minister, who announces the 2 o'clock determination, and pleads danger — from Messrs Pirani and Smith (G.J.). Division gives 27 to 25. It is a narrow escape. The debate runs on accordingly. But many Ministerialists retire in dudgeon, and the whole of the Opposition moves off also, leaving Captain Russell alone with the faithful McGuire, who is fast asleep, to represent them. There is a bare quorum. At two, Lands moves the adjournment, shows himself very angry at the treatment he has received, and delivers his soul. He is here at the risk of his health ; as Minister in charge of the Bill he is entitled to be considered. "No time-server, sir." If the party won't support him, he will leave those benches. When he makes an arrangement with the Government whip for the sake of the safety of a Bill, the party must obej hioi or take the consequences. He lashes the party with his stockwhip, and the party doesn't like it at all. Mr G. J. Smith hits back at him. This making no confidence out of nothing is playing it low down, he declares. He is sick of it. Captain Russell dresses the Minister down magisterially. " Chidden like naughty children !" Most ridiculous, sir, it id reducing party Government to a farce. As for the autocracy of the Premier it is nothing to the autocracy of the Minister of Lands. He objects to being driven like this. " When I look round for my own friends "—the House laughs, and so does the Cap tain-at the empty benches. " Well, I expected commiseration, not laughter, remark* the smiling Captain," and then he has a good five minutes at the Minister's methods. •'Because J wish it, every debate must go on."' It is too absurd. The Premier allows the Captain every Jatitude, just what an Opposition leader ought to do. He talks to

the party in a different strain ; jokes them, 'laughs at them, tells them his colleague w.as perfectly right, assures Hiliem they ought to better their nianjagrs JL _ He does not forget to reraiiid^Be^Captain that two nights all hi^ne^ple were here, and very active tiiP» J a/aii. And what about ? Compare' the two subjects — a quibbling demand for small information — 41 Which we couldn't get," puts in the Captain— anil the most important subject of the day. Mr McGuire, who has wakened up and doesn't seem sure of the fact, says a dozen words, principally against the curse of party government. . After him, Lands relieves his soul again, and once more stockwhips the mutinous herd. First he says a Minister's life is not a happy one. From morning till night, not a moment to himself. For the leader of the Opposition he compliments him ; he has only done his duty to take advantage of the split in the party. But for his own, he eyes them with great wrath ; many of them cordially detest the Bill, but are afraid to say bo ; they pretend to find fault with details.

' "Name them," puts in Mr Tanner, sharp, wide-awake, direct as uiuftl.

, " I name Sir Robert Stout." i Before be can get any further Mr Speaker intervenes : You shouldn't attack a member in his absence. &»mlB goes vehemently on, talking about the* behaviour of these men. Mr 'Speaker again pulls him up. •" Gan't discuas the Bill."

liands insists that he has a right to the support of his party when he is in charge of an important Bill. If they don't he won't, with all his other worries, stand it. He would rather leave the Government benches.

. ;it l wiih to God I could leave them frith honour to myself, sir," he shouts in a vibrating voice, heard afar off. He points out the grave ifranger the mutinous ones have Ja^ought to the Bill. He dwells on the subject a little, and ends his reply — more apparently in sorrow than in anger.