PARLIAMENT

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 8, 17 November 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington’, Nov. 15. Tlio Council met at 2 30. Numerous petitions iu favour of Bible reading in the State schools were presented. Mr Stevens moved a motion for the appointment of a Joint Committee for dealing with tlio rabbit pest, which was agreed to after a debate, in the course of .vliielv the speakers advocated the appointment of an English expert. The debate on the motion of Mr Whitaker for the reduction of the members of the Council was resumed by Mr Richmond, who urged that no deadlock or collision between the two chambers was likely even to occur. While not absolutely favouring nomi-ueeh-m, he thought that the majority of the present members would adorn any Chamber of Legislature. After further discussion the debate was adjourned to next dayThe Coivcil, at 4.45,; adjourned until next day. HOUSE OF EEPRESENT ATIYE3. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICES OF MOTION Mr Joyce gave notice to ask Government whether in order to maintain the Education system they would move in the direction of imposing an annual tax of £1 per head (for three years only) upon the adult male population of tho colon}’; also the sum of it2 per head on the bachelors over 30, and also i! 5 per head upon all bachelors and spinsters who possess property worth £SOO and upwards Mr Moss moved, That the report from the Public Petitions Committee on a petition from 825 residents of Auckland praying for the tariff revi sion to bo set down for tho consideration of the House on Thursday next. Ho considered that the report of the Committee referring the matter to the Government for consideration meant shelving tlio question. Mr Moss’s amendment was lost after a long discussion by 47. against 3(3. Captain Bussell moved for an extension of time of one week to bring up tho repot of the Midland Railway Committee. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated that Government proposed to place tho balance of tlio loan of 188(3 for the Greymouth-llokitika railway.

1 A SCENE IN T FEE HOUSE. 1 __ ! SIB JULIUS VOGEL NAMED | BY THE SPEAKER, j ('Special to Chronicle,) I j An unprecedented scene occurred in the House this evening, Sir Julius Vogel was named hy the Speaker, the galleries wore cleared, and a bitter fight followed, when the greatest sensation of the session occurred. Mr B. Thompson, member for Marsden, asked the Government as a favour if it were true that the services of two public servants had been retained by Sir Julius Vogel since the resignation !of the late Ministry to the present dare, and at public cost. , The Premier explained the situation as follows:—One A C had been employed by Air Julius Vogel since the resignation of the late Ministry, but Ids services had been paid for by Sir I Julius Vogel. A messenger also had | been occupied by Sir Julius Vogel in j consequence of the latter’s physical desirabilities. Sir J. Vogel followed the Premier, ! and said he wished to make some reI marks on the question. He referred to the constant persecution he had been made the subject of by his political opponents, and dealt at some length with (he circumstances relative to the employment of the two men complained of. lie then went on to blame the member for Marsden for having placed such a question on the order paper, ami the Government for having permitted it to bo so placed. Having referred to Mr Thompson as being evidently not a man of the world, and ignorant of men and manner. He was promptly pulled up by the Speaker. ‘ There then occurred a most painful scene, which will never bo forgotten by those who witnessed it. The Speaker called Sir Julius Vogel to order, but tho latter only made the matter worse by stating that he would have his say out come what may ; that the member for Mar-den was evidently a man unaccustomed to the usages of society After fa t her remonstrance from the Speaker, and a throat of naming him, Sir Julius proceeded to refer at great length and considerable warmth to the fact of his having a special messenger. lie said he could not understand how he was singled out for reference in a matter of this, sort when messengers had been and were employed by men whoso lives wore characterized by tho lust for liquor. He was then proceeding to say that the proceedings of certain high otiiciuls of the House had been worthy of .great blame, involving as they did the service of a speci 1 messenger, when he was again stopped by tho Speaker. Again an a tercatioa oc curred, tho result being that Sir Julius Vogel was named by the Speaker. At this stage air Fergus drew tv tendon to tho fact that there wore strangers in tho House, and consequent'}' tho Hansard and special reporters and tho

tenants of the strangers and hones galleries had to withdraw. Of course the expulsion of the repoiters is pure humbug, for they learned from various sources pretty nearly all that goes on alter the galleries were cleared and Sir Julius had left the House. Pend ing decision of the House, the Premier moved, That Sir Julius he asked to make an apology, -vr Seddon then moved as an amendrneu , That the debate be adjourned a.ftcr dinner the debate was continued, a whole host of mo!ions and amendments being l (b ah with. Messrs Monk, Hutchison, Downio Stewart, and Scobie MoKlenziq blaming Mr Thomson lor haying!

brought a ques'ion at all. Squabbling and wrangling took up-the time until 9 SO, when it was decided that the debate should be adjourned. The reporters were then admitted, and another row occurred. The first business was a motion bj the Premier to give Government business precedence to morrow, thus doing away with all private members’ day. Mr Seddon contended that the previous debate on Sir Julius Yogel’s alleged wickedness had only been adjourned on condition that the House should adjourn itself. He said that Major Atkinson could not bring on his motion The Government of course opposed, and the re- i suit was a division, and a Government victory by 15 votes. Sir George Grey then took np the running, and attacked the Government right and left. The right of private .member's' day was one of the greatest and most cherished privileges of the House, and of the greatest importance to the country. Ho attacked the Premier as being actually desirous of tyrannising over the House. Messrs Turnbull, and Mdss backed up Sir George Grey, and Mr Samuel defended the Ministry. Mr Moss did his old Cassandra like croak about the wretched depression, and hostiled the Premier with bogus self sacrifices in wishing to get rid of members whilst drawing a big fat scrw himself He favoured an adjournment at the beginning of December, and a return early in January. The work must be done. He would always strongly oppose any robbing of the private members’ day.