PEARLS FROM PARLIAMENT

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 9, 1 September 1900, Page 12

PEARLS FROM PARLIAMENT

SO Mr Seddon did not climb down so very much after all on his tariff proposals in response to the Boxers' threat that they were going to shoot. Evidently the Premier held their marksmanship or courage cheaply, or preferred the wounds inflicted by his faithful friends to the degradation of having to climb down in full view of a satirical Opposition. His determined adherence to the remission of duty on agricultural and dairying and portions of the mining machinery will give much satisfaction to the farming and mining interests, though it will not satisfy the ironworkers, while great consideration has been shown to the industries affected by the re-arrangement of candle, match, and other duties. # * • Mr Seddon's firmness against the plotting expedients of the Boxers has pleased a large section of his party very much, and it will please them a great deal more if he invites two of the piominent malcontents to hang up their hats for the future in the lavatory, and constitute themselves a separate party. And there are many things less likely to happen than that. * * • The collapse of the financial debate within two hours of its start constituted a record. It was however a sore disappointment to some of the talkers of the House, who had been preparing speeches to their constitu tents for the last fortnight, and who lost the opportunity of Hansardizing them. The credit for the shortening of the debate rests with the Hon. James McGowan. It is admitted on all sides that his arguments were unanswerable, and that, recognising this, no one had the courage to rise and carry on the debate when he concluded. • # • The latest lobby move is the formation of a Napier Suppression Society, having for its object the political snuffing out of the senior member for Auckland City. It would almost appear as if Mr Napier were a very formidable adversary in debate, when members find it necessary to strengthen themselves against him by mutual combination, but it is said that his lectures to other members upon political science, English grammar and other subjects in which they are deficient have constituted a pin -pricking policy that makes retaliation desirable. Probably Mr Napier will see reason to adopt the suaviter in tnodo, or, failing that, he has troublous times ahead of him. * • * The members have been greatly exercised becanse of a letter sent by Mr Napier to the Auckland Star, accusing his colleague Mr Witheford of disloyalty to Auckland interests, and a round robin has been signed by nearly all the members, and forwarded to the newspaper in question, protesting against this breach of the etiquette of camaraderie that has pre.j vailed in the House, and placing Mr Witheford's actions in another light. There is a convivial spirit about Mr "Witheford, gratefully effervescent, that makes him very pop — ular with members. • # • It is quite on the cards that Mr C. H. Mills will be sworn in almost immediately as the new Minister, and that he will take the portfolio of Justice. There are said to be Cabinet reasons for this change, of which more anon, but Mr McGowan is making a most excellent Minister of Justice, and will not be very much improved upon. * * # Those Boxers can be very satirical when they choose. After telling the Colonial Treasurer, in their famous ultimatum, that he must abandon his proposed remissions of duties, they say, condescendingly enough : "We leave to your discretion the selection of articles on which taxation may be remitted." " Leave to your discretion" is good. What a concession on the part of the Boxers to leave anything to Mr Seddon's discretion. # * • Why are the Government holding back the position of Surveyor-General from Mr Barron, Under Secretary for Lands ? Is it a question of colour again ? Seeing that Mr Barron has been doing the work of the position, and is tairly entitled to the promotion, the appointment ought not to have been so long delayed.

Libel Bills are all the rage just now. No fewer than half-a-dozen have been given notice of, and three-fourths of the Members are burning the midnight oil in the effort to devise fresh shackles for the Press. George Fisher has reached the limit of absurdity by submitting a proposal for municipal newspapers, but he doesn't say whether the Mayor or Town Clerk is to work the editorial bellows, and, in any case, his scheme would necessitate the repealing of all existing libel laws, because the municipal newspapers would simply wear them out. * # • Mr A. E. Atkinson's Libel Bill is already partly framed. The first three clauses are drafted, and would, if adopted, prove very effective. It is entitled a Bill to protect certain Hon. Members of the House of Eepresentatives from having the truth published about them* selves, and the preamble sets forth that it is inconvenient and disturbing to certain Hon. Members of the House of Representatives to have the truth spoken about themselves, and it is desirable that such inconvenience and disturbance should cease. * * # The first clause provides that any person guilty of speaking, writing, printing, or publishing the truth about two members (who are named) shall be liable to five years' imprisonment with hard labour or to a penalty not exceeding' £500. Clause 2 says that in every action for libel brought by either of the said members against the publisher, printer, or writer of any article, paragraph, or letter in any newspaper commenting on the public or private character or conduct of such member the proof of the truth of such comments shall be deemed to be an aggravation of the damages. * • • The next clause provides that in any such action so lost aforesaid, whether otherwise successful or not, the full costs of the plaintiff as between solicitor and client shall be paid by the proprietor of the newspaper publishing the comment complained of. Thus far, and no further, has Mr Atkinson got. The House will look with interest for the appearance of the Bill. " Eiccarty " Eussell was not far astray the other ni»ht when he said that though the Conciliation and Arbitration Act had been framed to prevent industrial disputes it had been chiefly used to create them.