Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1893.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4494, 11 August 1893, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1893.

A somewhat exoiting game is being played in the House of Representatives, between the Premier,and Sir Robert Mont, on the licensing question. The Premier permitted Sir Robert to lead oil, believing that he would be beaten. Sir Eobett, however, to his consternation, got what is called, in fporting parlance, "one legi in." Then the Premier warned Sir Robert that he waß leading the House, and that he could not permit him to to do this, Sir Robert Stout, of course, rejoiued that the Premier having allowed him to start, had no tight to stop him, The Premier, h)wevor, regarded might as' right, and called upon his trusty followers to smother the Bill. Temperance reformers of the oalibre of the member for Masterton responded to the call, and hustled the Bill out of the House. Even then, ihe Premier had but a majority of two on bis side, who saved him from defeat and contumely. Sir Robert is not the man to submit to this kind of treatment. Clearly he ought to have been stopped in the first instance, or not at all. The Government did not expect the second reading of his Bill to be carried and therefore allowed it to be treated as an op?n question. After the second reading oE the Bill was carried it was too late for the Pie« mier to put his foot down and say " this shall not be an open question." The Premier would have acted very properly in taking up tniß position in' thefirstinstance, butnow be is looking the stable door after the Temperance sited has bolted, Tho Government is embarassednnd intense bitterness is manifestedbyitßorgan,iheA Tew2efflland Times, which writes ofsome of the most respectable members of the House, "No honorable men will, on a political question, ever believe them again, even if they swear on the Bible." The Premier has placed his pwty in a false position; even a thickand thin supporter like Mr Hopg will not care to have put Mb knife into Sir Robert (Jtout's Bill. Ac for Sir Robert he has now to choose between party allegiance and his pledges to the temperance cause, The Premier has put Mm in this position, and bos tied his hands. The chances are that Sir Robert will extricate himself Irom ; tbe difficulty by withdrawing his support from'the Ministry. .