POLITICAL NOTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2544, 19 August 1893, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

Parliament has been nearly two months sitting now, and until last Wednesday the Hon. John McKeuzie escaped abu.se. This is a fact worthy of record. In previous sessions the Honorable John had been the bete noire of the Opposition, but until last Wednesday he passed unscathed this session. Mr McKeuzie is a genial, good-natured, kindly man, but a tartar when provoked, and on last Wednesday those who annoyed him came off second best. One of these was Mr McGuire, who apparently is not easily satisfied. He complained that "poor deluded humanity" in hi 3 district were neglected in respect of roads ; but Mr McKeuzie informed him that his district had already obtained £43,309, and if that did not satisfy him he must provide money himself. The offensive point in Mr McGuire's question wa3 the allusion to " poor deluded humanity." There are several settlements in his district iu which the people took up land recently, and the-.insinuation'was that they were delnded;to do so by Mr McKenzie. This was an -irnpertenen.ee deserving of a rebuke, and coming from a professed Liberal it) was unpardonable. However, Mr McGuiro's political " color " is very doubtful. It can at any rate be said that it U a little shady. Mr MuGuire jumped u> and made an attack on Mr McKenzie, complaining that he was uncivil to him, and said that nothing would please him unlaw members were fawning on him. Mr McKeuzie replied that nothing would satisfy Mr McGuire, and reminded him of the time when he assisted him to get into Parliament by going to Egmont and speaking in his favor. Mr McKenzie was Heartily applauded for the way he snubbed Mr ::: ( * uire -

Tho irritation caused by Mr McG aire's conduct was intensified by an attack on the Minister of Lands by Mr Duthie. Some time ago theiO appeared m the papers published paragraphs to the effect that some British farmers were Oil their way to New Zealand. These paragraphs appeared on the authority of a received by the Government from the Agent-General. The immigrants have now arrived, and it appears that they are not farmers but a mixture of all sorts, ar£ that they have been induced by a Mr Courtney to come to New Zealand. _ IVJr Duthie proceeded to heckle the Minister of Lands about .them, and Mr McKenzie told himthe Govern merit had nothing to do with them, but thatif Mr Courtney did not provide land-for them the Government would. These immigrants brought £9OOO with them. He told Mr Duthie also that he was wasting time by asking absurd questions founded on newspaper paragraphs. This brought Mr Duthie to his feet later on, arid he attacked the Minister for his jn civility to Mr McGuire and himself. Mr Duthie used language so insuiting that he had to withdraw it, but Mr McKenzie paid him back in his own coin, and told him that he would take no notice of the admonition of, an "ignorant purse-proud merchant." This brought Mr RoUestou into the ecrimage. Ho characterised the language c£ the Minister as a gross violation of the dignity of Parliament but Sir Robert Stout defended Mr McKeuzie on the ground that Mir D»»shj.e was the aggressor. A great deal of tima .wwyoated and a lively scene was the result; Theve *ftu be »° doabt but Mr Rolleston was right iu ficndemning such conduct, but why did he not eondeinti the conduct of Mr Duthie also. M? Holleston's sense of justice is an uuknown Viwtj.ty, Ho sees nothing right on one side and nothing wrmg on the other. Mr RoUeston has besr? yery quiet latelf, probably because lift u&9 the Liberal house divided against itself and thinks that enough.

It will W i-Atfte.mbered that in the beginning of the session the Piumier was charged with hiving prodits&d a false Public Works Statement last year, 'file Premier explained that it was a mistake; Mr Blow, uuder-seeretary to the Department, submitted a statement to that ell'eer, but all to no purpose, they would not be bviieved, Mr Boli.'stou said the alteration was stealthily and eormptly done, and the matter wa< submitted to a committee. Mr Blow has now sworn that the mistake was made by himself, and that Mr Seddon knew nothing about it. This ia the only charge, so far,

brought against the present Government, and it has completely fallen through.

Mr O'Conor's Bill, if given effect to, will sweep out of existence the present form of Government. The measure is termed the Elective Executive Act, and it provides that there shall be six Ministers and two members of the Executive without office, the House of Representatives to appoint five Ministers and one Executive Councillor without ministerial office, the Legislative Council to appoint one Minister and one Executive Councillor. The elections are to bo by ballot of the House, the right of annulling any election at any time being given to the Lower House. The minutes of the Cabinet are to be laid on the table of both Houses. No Cabinet and no Minister shall recommend that the House of Representatives be dissolved without the consent of such House. Every Minister shall have the right to speak in both Houses but the right to vote in neither. This is a novelty which ought not to be accepted without great hesitation. Party Government, when abused, as it frequently is, is bad, but we believe that it ist he most progressive, and should not be done away with in a hurry.