POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 224, 18 December 1897, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(liY TELEGRAM—SPECIAL EEPOKTER), WklunotoH, Last Night, THE HOROWHENUA CASE.

Tiik galleries and precincts of the House were crowded this afternoon in anticipation of Sir W. Buller and Major Kemp being heard at the har, represented by Mr H. 1). Bull. It was pretty wellknown befoie hand that the Premier intended to prevent the order of the House being carried out, if at all possible. Mr Rolleatou put the question direct to Mr Seddon just before the luncheon adjournment, reminding him that, no doubt, the order of the House would be obeyed at 2.30 p.m. by allowing the two people interested in the Horowhenua Blocks to be heard at the bar. The Premier angrily replied : " I shall go on with my Bill " (Technical Education Bill), which had occupied all night in the discussion of the interpretation clause. When the House resumed at half past two, Mr Rolleston made a determined atteir.pt to get the order of the House carried out, but the Prenmr steadfastly resisted it by pleading that the order was only oh tinned by a snatch division, and that he could have defeated the proposal if one or two of his party hid not been absent without beiug paired. Several members pointed out that the Premier was acting most unconstitutionally in refusing to obey the deliberate will of the House, but to no purpose, and Mr Rol'eston's motion was lost by a good mujorit3'. The Premier, however, was forced to admit tint before any Bill relating to Horowhenua wan proceeded with, Sir W. Buller and Major Kemp should he heard at the bar in support of their position. The general impression is that the Horowhenua Bill is killed for the session, as Ministers have no hope whatever of carrying it in the present temper of the House. NATIVE LAND LAWS. Mr Carroll stated in the House this afternoon, while the Native Land Laws Bill was proceeding, that there was a native lady of high position in Hawke's Bay, uamed Mrs Donnelly, who held a large quantity of land, but uuder the present law she could not deal with any financial institution or obtain any advance on the security of her land. He explained that the amendment he moved was meant to enable natives in this position to deal with their lands. Mr Piiani said if Mrs Donnelly and Wi Pere required relief in this direction, the Governmt nt should afford relief in the same way as they would do towards Europeans—namely, by spec : ally mentioning tneir names in the Bill. PARLIAMENTARY AMENITIES. During the debate on the Technical Educaiiou Bill this morning, members referred to each other in such choice language as " senseless bigots," " political cads," " irfidels," etc. Mr Pirani repeated the words " senseless bigots ■' when referring to Mr Hogg, but was promptly called to order by the actingchairman. " Why, Sir," exclaimed Mr Pirani, " the Premier used exactly the same words this monrng, and when I called your attention to them y«u ruled they were quite in order." Mr Joyce explained that he had not heard the Premier'use the words, or he would have stopped him as he had Mr Pirani. THE POMAHAKA ESTATE. The report of the Waste Lands Committee on thb petition of Win. Scarlett and others, settlers on the Pomohaka Estate, praying for a reduction of rents, is that the committee is of opinion that the evidence received as to the circumstances of the petitioners and the rents paid by them shows that a full investigation should be undertake n by the Government forthwith. MR HOGG AND MR PIRANI. The member for Masterton complained to the Acting Chairmau of Committee (Mr Joyce) this morning that Mr Pirani had stuck out his tongue at him, and he asked whether that was in order. Mr Joyce said if it was done in an offensive manner it would he out of order. Mr Pirani aiid he had been accused l.y Mr Hogj of having a foul tongue, aud he merely wished to show that the accusation was quite unfounded. He further proceeded to chaff Mr Hogg for rebuking members about using improper language. " The mem ber for Masterton," sarcastically exclaimed Mr Pirani, "Why, Sir, the honorable member cannot use anything else but improper language." JOTTINGS. The Premier at three o'clock this morning weaiily exclaimed, speaking on the Technical Education Bill: "lam heartily sick and tired of it and nothing would give mo greater pleasure than to make this my last Bill." Mr John Hutchison to-day referred to Mr Hofg as a political " stoucher." The Chairman (Mr Joyce) ruled the words was in order, as it was not in the dictionary. The Premier says he has done more for national education than Mr Meredith will do if he lives until the age of Methuselah.

1 understand that next session the Government intend amending the Shop Hours Act so as to require all chemists and druggists shops to close on the statutory hal'-holiday. Mr Meredith, who is a most pronounced Government supporter, hotly declared this morning that the Technical Education Bdl was " a distinct, a bold, a dastardly attempt on the part of the Government to introduce denominationalism into our system of educatiou."