THE CLOSE OF THE SESSION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 353, 19 September 1889, Page 3

THE CLOSE OF THE SESSION.

ANOTHER SILLY EXHIBITION. THE MELBOURNE CUP HERO GETS A DRESSING DOWN. DISOWNED BY THE OPPOSITION. MR BALLANCE AND THE PREMIER.

[from our own correspondents.] Wellington, last night. The Session of Parliament was brought to a close on Monday night, about half an hour after midnight, when both the Appropriation Bills passed through all stages. There was a good deal of delay occasioned by the differences between the two Houses in reference to the Land Transfer Bill, which were not settled until two conferences had been held. When the Appropriation Bill was passing through the Lower House, Mr ■ Fisher took occasion to make a savage attack on the Government, and more especially against the Premier, on whom he poured out his vials of wrath to such an extent that the Speaker interfered, and the member for Sydenham, a strong Opposition member, said he felt sure the Opposition did not want men of Fisher's stamp, and it was quite time that the House heard the last of Fisher’s personal quarrel with the Government ; while Mr Fish declared that Mr Fisher was deserving of the contempt of all hon. members for disclosing cabinet secrets. The Premier replied to Mr Fisher very effectively in a speech not lasting more than ten minutes, in the course of which he reminded the House that Mr Fisher's remarks came from a man who had been turned out of the cabinet Subsequently, on the motion for the third reading of the Appropriation Bill, Mr Ballance took occasion to refer to the business of the session, pointing out how few of their policy measures the Government had passed, and how much they had failed in their administration. He expressed great regret at the population leaving the colony, which he said the Government looked at with light hearts, never thoroughly grappling the matter though It oould easily be prevented by a liberal policy ; but the land laws had been made for the benefit of the capitalists, and in their interests those laws were administered by the Government. Sir Harry Atkinson denied that such was the case, and claimed that the Government had carried out, in a fairly satisfactory manner, the policy they had initiated of reducing the expenditure and restoring confidence and the credit of the oniony. At the conclusion of the business the House adjourned till Friday, but the Premier announced that the prorogation would be made by proclamation, so that the House would not meet again,