Parliamentary.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 975, 3 September 1881, Page 2

Parliamentary.

[from OUR own correspondent]. STONEWALLING OF THE REPRESENTATION BILL STILL CONTINUES. Wellington, August 31. The proceedings of the Lower House confined to stonewalling. The other day, no sooner had the Speaker uttered the last word of prayer for wisdom to carry on the affairs of the State, than Mr. Pitt moved the adjournment of the House. The Speaker pointed out that business not having commenced, the House could not be adjourned. The Speyer then referred to a resolution tabled by the Premier to introduce the clotura said he had carefully considered the notice of motion, and had come to the conclusion that the proposals of the Premier amounted to altering and annulling certain standing orders. To his mind the adoption of the standing orders of the House of Commons, would be the creation of a new standing order here, and that would require four days’ notice. Sir George Grey presumed that the proposals had been brought down with the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown, and he thought the House should know on what grounds they based their recommendation. He protested against the cloture as being inapplicable to the Colony of New Zealand. Major Atkinson laid on the table the report of the English Actuaries, re Government Insurance. It is arranged that all opponents of the Representation Bill will leave the Chamber on any attempt being made to amend rules. It is intended to continue the present plan of obstruction to allow the Bill to go into Committee, as, if the latter were permitted, the House might sit without intermission till the Stonewallers talked themselves to skeletons. It is thought by the Obstructionists to be only a matter of time for them to get a majority. At present the party appear to have everything their own way. Were the Bill committed, they would be able only to speak to a particular clause, whereas, now, they ean speak upon every subject under the sun, save and except the business on the Order paper. One member proposed to read the Financial Statements for the past 13 years, merely givfrig an introduction to put himself in order ; this, he says, will occupy 26 hours, and which might afford a good six months’ talk. The Nelson men have again received an encouraging telegram from their constituents. Seymour George has been requested to throw his weight into ths Opposition scale. September 1. The stonewall proceedings continue. Ths Speaker, having ruled that the orders of ths day must be proceeded with. At 7.30, he left the chair, and the House went into Committee on the Representation Bill, and has continued day and night up to the present hour. There was a scene in the House when the earthquake occurred. Mr. Reeves had spoken about fifteen minutes, quoting largely from books to a very thin House, and most of the members sound asleep, when at 2.30 a.m., two distinct shocks of earthquake were felt, which caused the building to shake severely - the effect was, at once, ludicrous and magical; recumbent forms at once jumped to their feet, and, headed by Reeves, rushed frantically to the door, where they remained for a minute or so, intent on seeing the effect produced. Having satisfied themselves that all was right, they returned slowly to their seats, and Mr. Reeves resumad his speech. The occurrence, he said, was, no doubt, a dispensaiton of Providence, sent in respect of the devious paths into which Parliament had been driven, and would, therefore, move that progress be reported. Ayes, 3 ; Noes, 24. Mr. Sheehan next proceeded to improve the occasion, and concluded by moving that the Chairman do leave the chair. Ayes, 4; Notes, 22. At 3 p.m., Mr. Bryce took the chair, and Mr. Reeves rose to a point of order; he said that, prompted by the earthquake, the Chair- ; man left the chair, and rushed round the i corner, resuming it again, without being pro- ' perly voted into it.

Mr. Seymour, from the floor of the House*, denied having left the chair, and as the point was not insisted on, Mr. Reeves continued to talk, or rather, make quotations from books ; ultimately moving that the Chairman do leave the chair. The Chairman ruled that the motion Could not be put. Mr, Reeves then moved that progress be reported, the division was : Ayes, 4; Noes, 21. Between 4 and 6 o’clock, the talking-mongers consisted of Lundon, Reeves, Sheehan, and Shepherd ; some halfdozen divisions took place. Mr. Hamlin took the chair at 5 o’clock, relieving Mr. Bryce, and kept members very closely to the question. At 7 o’clock, Mr. Reeves concluded, and Mr. succeeded. Of 23 members present, 7 were asleep; several dozing, and, with the exception of the speaker or talker, the remainder were reading. Mr. Lundon followed, and was called to order by the Chairman, who ruled that the schedule of the Bill could not be discussed on a motion for leaving the chair. Mr. Sheehan held that the whole policy of the Bill could be traversed on a question for reporting progress, or that the Chairman do leave the chair, that had been ruled previously by Mr. Seymour. Mr. Hamlin declined to alter his decision, and this kind of proceeding is still continuing, and will continue until Saturday at midnight. Friday, 8 p.m. There is nothing fresh political to report. Stonewalling still continues and is fearfully monotonous.