PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2527, 14 June 1909, Page 6

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

LAST 'WEEK’S STRUGGLE.

(Special to “Times.”)

WELLINGTON,' Juno 12. Tho political week just ended has been one in which all parties have struggled in troubled waters; the Premier has had .an anxious time. Tho Opposition have had a trying time, because they have had to fight against long odds in a united Government majority. Although organised obstruction was not made <a plank in the Opposition’s platform, freedom of speech was reckoned upon, and speech has been free. Tho Government decided to sit tight during the . Address-in-Reply, but their hand was early and easily forced; and the Premier and several of his colleagues spoke at length. So 'false did some of their supporters. ‘ln the main the Opposition had the greater run. There, has been nQthing fresh in tho whole discussion, for all that was say able was said at the informal conference; but, nevertheless, a considerable number of speakers on both sides took the full hour allowed each member in debating the Address-in-Reply. Despite the “damnable iteration” which has characterised the speeches, there has been a constant full attendance of members. From early afternoon to-day the “discipline of silence” on the Government side, was enforced, and the whole of the business of talk was left to the men on the left. THE MINISTERIAL HEAVY COMEDIAN. N

Tho Hon. A. AA r . Hogg created great amusement during his speech to-day. He was dealing with the land question, and suddenly made a wide divergence and . proceeded to entertain members by reading a menu for a “swell dinner.” He toiled valiantly with tho French, and endeavored to show that any of the items named could be grown on a twenty-acre farm. Mr. Hogg’s pronunciation or French had the effect of causing members to lie prostrate in their seats, convulsed with laughter, but still the Minister went on with renewed vigor to the edification of everybody except his Ministerial colleagues. The analogy had nothing to do with tho subject under dis--cussion, but as one critic put it, “it served to introduce to the House the new heavy comedian of the Ministerial troupe.” The debate, closed just before 11 tonight, and the result was the defeat of tho Opposition’s amendment by exactly the same number as at the informal meeting. ACCESSIONS TO THE OPPOSITION. Coing events may cast their shadows before. The Opposition, strengthened by the election,' has been further strengthened by recent events. Mr. Fisher, an Independent, has declared himself Opposition right out; Messrs Wright and Luke, also Independents, have shown strong leanings in the. same direction, but Mr.. Graham, always a loyal follower of the Government, tonight described the Cabinet as the most incongruous he had seen for 16 years, and his speech indicated a possible, complete change of his views of his duty to the Ward Ministry.