POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2660, 30 July 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(uv TEL KG 11A X' H. — OWN OORRKSPON DKNT.) Wellington, Monday. CLOSED GALLERIES. WHRNthe House met this afternoon there was somo speculation as to whether tho proceedings would be open to the press and public, but all doubts 011 that head were quickly dispelled when the press reporters found their gallery locked as well as all the other galleries, with the exception of that set apart for ladies, who, it appears, do not come under tho designation of "■strangers." It having, also, been decided by the Speaker that tho ladies gallery is not in reality part of the House, members of the fair sex are, therefore, more privileged in this respect than the dignified representatives of the Upper House, who are rigorously excluded from their own gallery during the "stonewall" debate." THE OPPOSING PARTIES. A meeting of both town and country parties have been held to day, in order to arrange their respective programmes for the waek. The first caucus was convened by

the country party presided over by Mr Seymour. There were present Sir John Hall, Messrs Anderson, Buxton, Cadman, liobbs, Fulton, Saunders. Cowan, Eraser, Kelly, l'arata, Thompson, Fitzhorbert, Moat, Seddon, Duncan, Lanoe, W. F. Steward, Valentine, O'Connor, Atkinson, Harkness, Buchanan, Wilson,E. Richardson, J, McKen/.ie, Kerr, S. McKen/.ie, Tanner, .1. C. Brown. Guinness, Verrall, Bruce, Monk, McArthur, McGregor, T. McKenzie, Graham, Grimmond and D.\ Hodgkinson. It was resolved that the motto of the party should be "No Surrender" and it was resolved that the Executive of the party should take immediate steps to make known throughout tho colony the reasons of the country members for taking the stand they did as regards the matter under consideration. This course was considered necessary as it was ascertained that the town members' side of

the question only had baen circulated abroad by the Press. The feeling of tho meoting was one of determination to stand to their guns in the matter of the quota. It was also decided that steps should bo taken to publish throughout the colony the reasons given by the country members for pushing this mattei to the utmost, as it was considered that in this respect the town members had all the advantage hitherto through their news being so largely circulated.

TOWN V. COUNTRY. A meeting of the town members was held nt noon, Mr Moss being Chairman. There were 22 members present, and it was rewired (1) That the constituencies who have spoken having endorsed our action hitherto, and requested us to continue it, we will pursue the same course in order to give sufficient time for the rest of the country to express its opinion on the Bill; (2), That all unanimously accept this position (3). That every member present agrees to place himself at the disposal of the committee of management, which will consist of l.)r. Fitchett, Mr l'ercival and Mr Allen.

THE OTHER SFDE. A Southern member to-day received the following telegram from a gentleman in UunedinAll bunkum about excitement here except amongst supporters of Fish and Fitchett; outside them people are all unanimously in favour of the amalgamation of city electorates and consistence or reduction oi number of members to 71. Traitors to the latter need not seek re-olectton. Outsidoof tors no one cares anything about quota." A further telegram to the same member from another source says that the meeting in Duntidiu on Saturday night on the Representation Bill was a small one, the hall being only half full, and no enthusiasm was displayed.

PROBABILITIES OF A DISSOLUTION. The opinion is pretty freely expressed in somequarters that the only possible outcome of the present difficulty, as I mentioned a week ago, is a dissolution, and many members profess to believe, at any rate, this is a consummation devoutly to be wished. I am informed by a country member, who has studied the whole question very closely, that lie, with others of the country party, quite anticipate that there will be a general election this year, t> be followed by another short session of Parliament. There is no doubt that if the faintest idea that the Representation Bill would have created such a strong opposition from town members, as it has done, they would never have introduced the Bill tliis session, and in this respect the Premier has displayed very faulty generalship for such a veteran politician. Tho position now is that while the Government have incurred the bitterest opposition from the town party thecountry nieinbersexpress their determination to force tho Bill through in spite of Ministers, with a quota of 33.V per cent, if they can possibly extort so much. The Government, of course, will not sanction that and they are consequent ly remarked as being rather in the way of this country members receiving what they consider tiiey are really entitled to.

EARLY SITTING. A proposal has been suggested that while the " stonewall" lasts the House should rise at half-past ten each night and meet again at ton next morning. The idea originated with the country party, who are beginning to fear that they will be unable to hold out physically, if they aro compelled to keep a quorum in the House night and day. As I have previously pointed out the town members have an immense advantage over thsir opponents in this respect. Nothing has yet been decided upon, however, as to whether or not they will agree to the proposal.

TH K MINISTER AND HX-MINISTEF

A very pretty quarrel is now going on between' the Minister for Justice and his lntn c illoague, Mr Fisher, over the alleged slip made by Mr Fergus in calling the Wellington electors " a mob." Mr Fisher to- lav in a letter to the "Post"_again reiterates the assertion that Mr Fergus mod the words complained of; he also alleges that he (Mr Fisher) took shorthand notes of that part of Mr Withy's speech relating to the inseting of Wellington electors which was about to be held t.) discuss the Representation Hill and that the Premier interjected that they were "not electors." Mr Withy asked 11 what then," to which the Premier replied 11 a mob," and the Minister for Justice »dd«d, " a mob led by a demagogue." Mr Fisher tlicn continues the narrative of what took place as follows:—" When Withy sat dt.wn Mr Fish at once resented the manner in which these two Ministers had insulted the electors of Wellington, whereupon Mr Fergus gave further evidence of his vulgarity by making some unwarrantable personal allusions to myself. This vulgarity Mr Fish resented in tonus which I think Mr Fergus will remember for the remainder of his life. I observe that Mr Fergus in his letter of Saturday, instead of apologising to the electors of Wellington, says ho onlv said, "We could not have mob rule. Surely, the deliberate use of these words ill a printed letter is a serious aggravation of the original offence. I hope it will yet be my pleasure to give Mr Fergus many turther useful lessons.

THE STONEWALL DEBATE.

Mr Moss spoke for some hours this afternoon anil evening ; lie was followed by Messrs W. I'. Reeves and Percival. After the lattei had concluded his remarks at 10.20, the Speaker made some reference to taking the usual supper adjournment, when Mr Mitchelsnn said that tho Uovernment had 110 objection to adjourn till half-past ten to-morrow morninpr, which was aereed to, and the House rose, This adjournment was the outcome of tho representations made by the country members to the Government, that they were unable to keep a quorum in the House for so many hours together, which I referred to in an earlier message.