THE REPRESENTAION BILL. SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2200, 14 August 1886, Page 2

THE REPRESENTAION BILL. SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

(BY TELKGRAPH— SPKCIAL COUBKSI'ONDKXr.) Wki.unoton, Friday Night. ONK ot the, most exciting that h.ivo been witneshed in the Hou^e for year* oc CHrred to-night, out the defeat of the Representation liill by three vote*. Tt wa.s expected all the, evening that the committal of the Hill wo'ild be parried, but by too -mull a uiajonty for the Premiei to go on with it. When th'j division was taken, the Kppaker'declared the result, the opponents of the liill set up a loud cheer. M.iior Atkinson then rose and, in a voicequivering with excitement, said he hud never w tn B<od s c ) a disgr.ceful ptoc<eiing a.s h.ni just occurred. He said : "Theie, Sir, is the Picmier of the colony, who informed the House that this bill was a meaMire necciiary for the good of the country, and yet three of his colleagues voted against it." Thi* wnn received with tremendous cheers and counter cheers, the noise of which at once brought a whole batch of Legislative Councillors into their gallery, who eagerly watched the proceedings. Major Atkinson then delivered a moot trenchent speech on the action of the (lovernment, which wnn warmly clieered by the Opposition, and just as vigorously -Applauded (derisively of course) by the (lovernment .supporters. The scene throughout was of the greatest excitement, the Hnufie being a \eiv full one. Sir J. Vogel's reply was singularly weak, and he harped continually on'the statenient^that the cause of .ill Major Atkinson's anger was jealously of himself, and a desire to join the Pieinier if he would have him. It was very noticeable that when the Treasurer concluded thore was a single cheer from the Government supporters, while Major Atkinson was cheered all round the H"Uae when he resumed hi.s seat. The Premier's reply yras far more dignified, and waa . marked by an absence of the biliou«aesh h and ill-temped that characterised the Treasurer's remarks. The whole affair, however, v\as not calculated to raise the Urtie of the New Zealand Parliament in the eyes of the people. The Premier i« distinctly committed to the promise that he should bring down the Representation Bill as a Government measure at an early period next session.