PolitiCal Notes.

Manawatu Herald, 30 October 1897, Page 2

PolitiCal Notes.

i The sensation of Thursday's sitting of the House was the amend--1 meat moved in the Financial Debate 1 by. Mr Rolleston. "That, in Ihe > opinion of this House, it is inconsistent with the prinoiples which I should guide the administration of public afiairs that Ministers of the i Grown should hold positions as Di- ' rectors or advisers of syndicates or 1 companies whose business is liable i to bring . them into relations with i Departments of Btate." In a very > few words the ex-Minister asked the House to deal with the matter dispassionately and on its merits. He ■ did not want to elevate it into a party question, and bad not consulted his side on the matter, but was persuaded to act because of the ; importance of the principle at issue. Mr George Fisher followed with his expected attack on the member for Paltnerston, w-hich proved to be of a particularly harmless nature, . con* sitting chiefly of the reading of a speech of Mr Pirani's condemning the Opposition, a reply to a question

at Longburn, when Mr Pirani stated that if Captain Russell proposed a vote of no-confidence in the Seddon Government on the opening of Parliament, he would vote against it, and a tirade against the Hon. W. Gisborne because he included Mr Pirani in his book " New Zealand Rulera and Statesmen" as one of our statesmen. The debate proceeded until 1 o'clock in the morning, the only notable feature being a very powerful speech from Mr T. E. Taylor, mainly devoted to a criticism of the methods of the Anglo Continental Gold Company, and the Premier's oonneotion therewith. Mr Sligo, the new member for Duntdin, spoke briefly and made a good impression. The division resulted in the amendment being rejected by 88 votes to 82, Messrs Montgomery, Pirani, Taylor, Smith, and Kelly voting with the minority.