PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4941, 10 November 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegbaph. (feom oue own coeeespondent.)

Wellington, This day. The debate on the Federal proposals of the Government on Saturday night took rather an unexpected turn. Up to a late hour the debate ran very smoothly, but just upon midnigh; motions and amendments were as thick as blackberries in March, and for about an hour there was a very animated scene in the Chamber. Many members desired to kill the debate by adjourning for a fortnight; others wanted to adjourn for a week, which would have had the same effect, while others, recognising the importance of the question, and the necessity for calm and dispassionate discussion on a subject in which such great interests were involved, thought it the doty of the House to remain until the question had been fairly dealt with. Upon the motion for the adjournment of the debate, Mr Samuel moved that it be adjourned for a fortnight, and as this meant stifling the discussion and killing the propcs iU, all members who were anxious to reach their homes voted for the amendment. It was, however, lost on the casting vote of the Speaker, and after several further umendments had been moved, the House ordered that the debate stand adjourned till 11 o'clock to day. Sir George Grey, who advocates full and free discussion of the question, but no action whatever in the matter either of the establishment of a Federal Council or acquiescence in the proposal to contribute to the cost of tlie New Guinea protectorate, threatened the Government that if they meant to push the discussion to a premature conclusion to~day, he will move a direct want of confidence motion. Between the anxiety of members to close the debate and get away this afternoon, and Grey's determination to bring members to a sense of their duty, it is hard to say how things may go. There is almost certain to be trouble, however, and as the resolutions are to be put seriatim, Sir G. Grey has an opportunity of speaking on all of them, and the debate may thus be prolonged almost interminably. The Appropriation Act has to be returned from the Council this morning, and then all business is finished with the exception of the debate on the Federal resolutions. Both Houses are sitting at eleven this morning.

I informed you the other day that Mr Montgomery, leader of the late Opposition, had sailed for Lyttelton, en route for England. A testimonial has since been forwarded to him from here. It is signed by about 50 members of both political parties in the House, including Sir J. Vogel, Major Atkinson, Messrs Stoat, Macandrew, Ballance, Peacock, Rolleston, Bryce, Richardson, Tole, &c. The following is the text:—" Dear Sir, —We cannot permit you to temporarily leave New Zea land on your visit to other lands without expressing our deepest regards towards you. You have been for many years a recognised leader in the House of Representatives, and have so acted as to win our highest feelings of respect. We hope soon to see you back agaiu amongst us, taking the high place in our own political affairs in the future that you have done in the past. It is unnecessary for us to add that we wish you a pleasant voyage and every enjoyment on your trip."