POLITICAL NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 317, 5 July 1912, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

SIGNED ARTICLES. [ (By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Jul}' 4. One of the features of Mr. Laurenson's speech last night was his appeal in his earlier remarks for the maintenance of the dignity of Parliament, and his subsequent references to the Dominion newspaper. "We are not going to attack every one of these creatures" (meaning newspapers), he said, "and going to make them sign their articles. These men who got at public men from behind a hedge would then be shown in their •identity, and their meanness would be exposed, and readers would then be aole to say, 'Oil, this is the thing who wrote this.' The only way they could get at these little creatures was to do what they had done in France and what Australia had already partly done, but was going to do to the whole extent. If a man were half a man he would not object to sign what he wrote in good faith." fJ THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL. MR. SAMUEL EXPLAINS.

The following is the full text of the Hon. 0. Samuel's remarks at the opening of the Legislative Council on Tuesday:—

"Before any business is proceeded with, and before I perform any duties appertaining to the office of leader of the Council, I think it is due to the Council that I should say a few words in explanation of why I occupy the seat on this bench instead of that\vhich I have been used to occupy on the other side of the chamber. I think w.e all recognise—at any rate, I recognise to the fullest extent—that under our present system of Government it is highly desirable that there should be always present in this chamber one who is not only a member of the Government, with a seat in the Cabinet, but one who also holds a portfolio. So far, I think the Council has always on every occasion upheld that view; and it is a view to which I readily subscribe. Most honorable gentlemen will realise that I have very pronounced views on the opinion of party Government, and they will be surprised to find that, holding such views, I should be here holding such a position as leader of the Council. I have to explain that j my leadership of this Council is of a j temporary nature, and the result of cirI cumstances. I could not see my way j to accept office as a member of either j this or any other party Government; but I when, subsequently to my declining, the | offer with which the Government honj ored me of a seat in the Ministry, I was asked if I could see my way inthe circumstances to follow the example of the late Hon. Mr. McGowan, by placing my services at the disposal of the Governs ment and of the Council, for a temporl ary purpose only, and until other perma- [ nent arrangements could be made in orI der that the business of the country j should suffer as little as possible. That j which the late Hon. Mr. McGowan deem- | ed was the fitting thing to do in precisej ly the same circumstances was that which I ought to do. I cannot but express the hope that it will not be long before these exceptional circumstances ( will not longer apply; and I feel certain I in my own mind that no Government will , fail to realise that it is desirable that i at the very earliest opportunity possible I definite arrangements should be made for the representation of the Government for the time being in this chamber by a member of the Government, and one who holds a portfolio in the Government. Sir, as soon as that time arrives —and I cannot think it will be long under any circumstances—l shall vacate the office I hold, and once more resume my position as a private member. I have been encouraged to accede to the request made to me to undertake this task not only by feeling, as I know you all feel, that it is the duty of every member not , to refuse to be of use if it is thought he can be of use to the country and to the Council, but also by the knowledge that you will extend to me your kind forbearance, and, what is more, your cordial co-operation. I trust that whatever I may do in this position will be in the best interests of the country and of this 1 Council."

THE STATE OF THE PARTIES. WHAT WILL THE "INSURGENTS" DO? In view of the uncertainty attaching to the results of the forthcoming no-con-fidence division, it is interesting to consider once more the state of parties. Since the short session of February, there lias heen a good deal of changing about, -with—as far as can be seen—the following result:— GOVERNMENT. OPPOSITION. ATMORE ALLEN BROWN ANDERSON BUDDO BELL BUXTON BOLLARD, J. CARROLL BOLLARD, R. F. COLVIN BRADNEY. CRAIGIE BUCHANAN DAVEY BUICK DICKIE CAMPBELL ELL COATES FORBES DICKSON GLOVER ESCOTT HANAN FISHER •HINDMARSH W. FRASER ISITT GUTHRIE LAURENSON HARRIS MeCALLUM lIERDMAN MaeDONALD HERRIES T. MACKENZIE HINE MYERS HUNTER NGATA LANG PARATA LEE PAYNE MALCOLM POLAND MANDER RANGIIiraOA MASSEY RHODES NEWMAN, E. ROBERTSON NEWMAN, Dr. RUSSELL NOSWORTHY SEDDON OKEY SMTTn, R. W. . PEARCE THOMPSON, J.C. POMARE VEITOT-I RHODES, R. H. WARD SCOTT WITTY SMITH, F| H. STATHAM SYKES THOMSON, G. M. WILSON I /'• YOUNG DOUBTFUL: CLARK McKENZIE, R. REED SIDEY WILFORD MILLAR Totals, 34—39—6.