POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2678, 7 December 1909, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES.

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

“You would believe in any cock-and-bull story.”—Hon. R. McKenzie, on the Leader of the Opjiosition. “If the . people of this country have not free access to the land and the water-power, it is impossible for the country to prosper.” —Mr. Massey. It is considered necessary, said the Prime Minister, in answer to Mr. Witty, to publish ,a Civil Servant’s Nominal Roll this- year. “If some of the members of this House had to do as much for 14s a day as the State coal miners do, they would have struck years ago.”—Mr. T. E. Taylor. Replying to an interjection, Mr. T E. Taylor said Mr. Ngata might be very funny, but he must remember that he was occupying a position that he would never have occupied had it been leit to the members of the House to decide. In refering to a remark by an Opposition member the Prime Minister said: “When the proper time comes I am quite prepared to say what took place in the Lands’ Committee., and to sa; it straight out. 1 did not do anything that was not quite, right and proper, or anything that I would not hesitate to do again under similar circumstances." Mr. T. E. Taylor-.—Things have come to a pretty pass when Opposition votes have to be brought to the aid of the Government by telegraph. Sir Joseph Ward: That’s not true so fa>- as I am concerned. Mr. Taylor: That may be so, but a few days ago only the Prime Minister and the Almighty had the slightest notion of what the land policy of .the Government was. (Laughter.) And the Almighty had' not taken us into his, confidence at -all, nor had the Prime Minister. (Laughter.) The great dominating party in New Zealand politics could not have told what the land policy ot the great Liberal party was. No cne knew now. tyAIROA HARBOR BILL. The Wairoa Harbor Board Empowering and Loan Bill, which provides for the borrowing of £78,000 has been amended by the Local Bills’ Committee. Nearly all the clauses have been struck out and the others considerably amended The franchise has been broadened bv the substitution of electors for ratepayers in tlie case of the Wairoa borough and the Waikaremoana riding and the Maliia riding. Provision is made for a special rate not exceeding one penny in the £ on the capital value of all rateable property m the harbor district. CAUSE OF MR. MILLAR’S SILENCE. “It is) an appalling fact,” said Mr. T E. Taylor, “that the Labor partyshould find the Minister for Railways, who, time after time, has declared Ins absolute hostility to any further alienation of the "public estate, sitting silent oil this’ issue, whereas he should nave led' the forces of the £>pnosition to the proposal." Is the mere fact- of his occupying a. Cabinet position a justification for the abandonment of his Principles?” asked Mr. Taylor, with a dramatic gesture. “Is.th.is_ Cabinet position to be the price of his silence? We claim liis assistance ! We have a right to- it. We ought also to have the assistance or Mr. Fowlds.” THE MEMBER FOR LYTTELTON AND HIS LAUGH. Mr. Laurenson has an irritating laugh, which is generally loudest when some member of the Opposition is making a telling point against the Government.; The laugh was a good dealin evidence when Mr. Herdman was speaking on the Imprest Supply Bill. At last Mr Herdman, referring to the member for Lyttelton. said: “I always think when I hear his laugh and see him crouching m his seat there that he ought to have., lived years ago in the time of the French Revolution, and I can imagine, with what delight on meeting the Leader of the Opposition he would have hurried him to .the nearest lamp-post and looked about for a. rope to string him • up with.” “Some day, perhaps 1 ,” added Mr. Herdman, “the Ihon.. member for Lyttelton would give the members of the Opposition credit for being sincere in their criticisms.” Mr. Laurenson, in replying, said that if he was guilty ot such an action as Mr. Herdman had imagined there was one tiling he could not go wrong about. He would get the lion, member for Wellington North to defend him on his trial and he was sure the hon. gntleman would so blacken the faces of the witnesses that he (Mr. Laurenson) would be found not guilty. It was, however, left to Mr. Herries to get property home on Mr. Laurenson. To hear the member for Lyttelton talk, he said, one would imagine that he was the only member in the House who knew anything. He had also the faculty when'he talked of making people believe he was in earnest. Yet, when they saw him, an avowed leaseholder, supporting a free-bold Government, they could judge of his earnestness —(hear, hear 1) —and) when they saw him as Whip of liis party having to go to the Opposition/to support the party’s existence and 1 still remaining Whip of that party, they could judge of his sincerity.: He had gone about the country denouncing the Farmers’ Union, yet that organisation was so strong ias to be able. to., dictate a policy, to the Government lie supported. v< ‘lt is not words that speak,” added Mr. Herries, “it is actions that speak, and the hon: member for Lyttelton will .be judged' more by his actions than his words.”