WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 204, 27 August 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(From oar own correspondent.) [By Telegraph.] Friday 11 p.m. Tha sole topic tc day is, of course, the political deadlock in regard to the Representation Bill. Thß plan of operations which I mentioned last night as haying been decided upon wa9 duly commenced on the House assembling this afternoon, Mr Speight at once beginning to speak against time^and in ipite of all attempts to atop him on points of order he continued until tbe dinner adjournment at half-past five, and then for half-an-hour this eTeniDg. The object, as I explained last night, was to prevent the Representation Bill coining on again this week by blocking the way until the hour after which no new business can be taken, and it soon became clear that this could and would be effected with little difficulty on the part of the stonewallers. On the House resuming tonight, however, a new and startling feature was introduced into the situation by the Premier giving notice of motion to introduce the cloture in the form recently adopted by the House of Commons. This created immense sensation on both Bides of the House. Opinions differ widely as to its prudence but, go far as I can judge, the preponderance of feeling is that its introduction at so comparatively early a period of the obstruction is somewhat precipitate and may prove prejudicial to the cause it is designed to serve. lam now giving merely the weight of general opinion as gathc ed from searching enquiries and many conversations with members on both sides. Of course, there are some on one side who -warmly oppose and advocate the cloture aa imperatively demanded hy the circumstances, and in viovr of the factious obstru--tion of the minority. Others again are most violent in tbeir deuunciation of such interference with the freedom of debate, and predict fatal consequences to the Ministry that just seeks the aid of the cloture in carrying on the business of the country Apart from these two extreme views of the question, there is no doubt that many members regret that resort to such an extreme remedy was not deferred until stonewalling had been carried beyond its present stage, heeling is greatly embittered on the main question and autagonism is growing up between the belligerent parties. Further correspondence relative to the inscription of stock was laid on the table to-night, a large proportion of which merely gives information already published The total amount of the last loan converted is £4,476,000, which becomes £5,371,200 of inscribed stock. The half yearly charge by the Bank of England for management Cat £600 per million) is £1611. There is a very tong letter from Sir D. Bell, the Agentbeneral, explaining the process of inscription, »nd enclosing correspondence with the governors of the Bank of England, tbe latter stating that the Bank will o «ry out arrange! ments (ror inscription) without making w»y

further charge than hat already quoted, and that the Bank does not foresee any duties arising out of future conversions which would not be covered by the agreement of November 1875. A return of lands purchased and leased from the natives in the North Island Shows the following negotiations to be completed :— Auckland 1,982,324 acres; Hawke'a Bay 140,852; Wellington 735,754; Taranaki 559,087. Negotiations in progress :—Auckland 1,740 347 acres- Wellington 1,208,153; Taranaki 264,570. The expenditure On the above account (shillings aDd pence omitted) has been Auckland £494,024; Wellington £222,089; Taranaki £86.238 ; Hawke'a Bay £34,202. Total £836,555. The return of uncertificated teachers employed by the Education Department was presented to-night* The total number is 308, exclusive of pupil teachers, vi 2., 303 head or sole masters or mistresses, and 205 assistants. Auckland has 195, Taranaki 22, Wanganui 34, Wellington 31, Hawke's Bay 18, Marlborough 15, Nelson 3B, North Canterbury 40, South Canterbury, 17, Westland 17, Otago 46, and Southland 27. Of these, 167 failed in examination, 68 were only partly successful, 24 failed to attend examination, and fi refused the classification offered. In 210 cases the qualifications are not officially known to to the Department— The Petitions report that the petiition of the •New Plymouth Harbor Board against the cessation of works is informal, not being duly signed in accordance with the order of the House.— The following circular issued by the Under Secretary for the Colony was laid on the table :— « The Hon. the Colonial Secretary directs it to be notified to the Under Secretary that the refund of the deduction of io per cent from their salaries is not to be made to officers who lost their appointments or suffer reduction of their salaries by reason of reductions in the Civil Service or amalgamation of offices. [Signed] G. S. Cooper, Under Secretary." This Day 1 p.m. Much excitement prevails regarding the proposed introduction of tbe cloture. A strong feeling is generally expressed against it as quite a needless encroachment on the liberty of debate. The J\'ew Zealand Times, in a leader this morning, says :— " We have already expressed hearty concurrence in the opinion manifested in the House that the Representation Bill is objectionable, becauss it proposes an increase in the number of members, for an increase in numbers ought not to be thought of unless there is a proportionate decrease in the amount of honorarium now paid. We have also objected to the system of "stonewalling" adopted to thwart the progress of the Bill as being outiida the pale of constitutional procedure and we suggested as a means out of the difficulty that the consideration of the measure should be relegated to a Committee whose duty it would be to transform ie into a generally acceptable one. The time for this has apparently gone by, for there is no inclination to compromise. The opponents of the Bill yesterday recommenced their stonewalling tactics and the Government ventured on a form of unexpected reprisal. The Premium tabled a notice of motion to introduce new standing orders, an adoption of the cloture system recently introduced in the House of Commons to meet the obstruction to business raised over the discussion of Ireland's grievances and the factious opposition of certain too impulsive members of Parliament . We say at once, and in saying so express the opinion both within and without the House, that the Premier in seeking to introduce the cloture system at tho present juncture of affairs has been altogether too precipitate, and he does not appear to have considered whether the Standing Orders necessary in the House of Commons at a time of grave emergency are applicable to the comparatively petty circumstances of our colonial House of Representatives. At all events, he might have waited a little longer for the issue of events instead of rushing to an extreme and provoking increased hostility while a chance remained for the acceptance of conciliatory proposals." The article concludes "We deprecate the present stonewalling tactics as also too rigid an attitude to assume. The Bill should be discussed in Committee and every disposition shown on both sides to make concessions and amicably endeavor to perfect * satisfactory measure." Tbe Canterbury and Otago members talk very loudly and violently about the stonewalling which they characterise as " disgraceful, infamous, unheard of," and so forth, but there is a growing sympathy in Wellington which promises to result in substantial aid to the little hand of Nelson defenders. The Post this afternoon : condemns Mr Hall's cloture proposals in very severe terms as indicating pitiable weakness and loss of temper on the part of the majority, and contrails the conduct of tha Home of Commons which bore with obstruction not merely two days but two years, even though associated with murder, outrage, and incipient rebellion. It remarks that for the Btrong to bully the weak is not usually considered courage, but another term is ccmmocly applied to such conduct. It ridicules the idea of the Representation Bill being treated a« " urgent " in the event of tbe cloture resolutions beiog carried and characterises the proposal of the cloture under the present circumstances aa one of those fatal blunders which a great diplomatist tells are " worse than crime." 2 p.m. The Standing Orders Committee is sitting to-day to consider the Premier's " cloture " resolutions. The result is not yet known, but it is understood that the Committee will probably agree to recommend the cloture for adoption by the House. It is rumored today that the Government may content themselves with holding out the threat of the cloture and may not proceed with it but merely hold it out as a threat to induae good behaviour. I strongly Buapect Ministers would gladly hail any opening for a compromise, but for the over-bearing attitude assumed by tho Canterbury and Otago members.