PARLIAMENTRY ITEMS

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 314, 22 July 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTRY ITEMS

In the Legislative Council on Friday, July 18, SirF. D. Bell, at the wish of Mr Bichmond, explained re the non-ap-pointment of Mr Bichmond as Speaker. He read an extract from a letter from Sir George Grey to Mr Richmond. Sir F. D. Bell made strong comments on the action of the Premier. Colonel Whitmore" considered the Premier had done nothing wrong. Mr Bichmond wrote asking for the Speakership. The rule in England was to bestow patronage on political friends. The subject dropped after a short discussion. Mr Buckley moved the address in reply. The Bills to beintrodnced were a continuation of the great liberal policy.

Mr Waterhouse made a vigorous speech, in which he condemned the whole policy of th*e Government, especially the Native part. He sat down amid loud applause. The debate was then adjourned. The Council adjourned at 5.30. The House of Bepresentatives met at the usual hour. At the afternoon sittings number of questious were asked, some new Bills were introduced and read a first time, the Convicts Prevention Bill was read a second time, and the House adjourned at 3.30 tillthe evening. On their reassembling Mr Shanks moved the address in reply. .The motion was seconded by Mr Beeves. The speeches of both mover and seconder were, of course, chiefly echoes of the Governor's speech.

Sir W. Fox congratulated the ■ members who proposed and seconded" the Address. He was not going to discuss the question of policy in the Governor's Address. There was nothing in the great liberal programme developed in the speech. It was a re-echo of the Premier's stomp two and a half years ago. He referred to tlie Electoral Bill and other measnres of last session, which there was nothing to prevent being' carried but the caprice of the Premier. They were all ready to aid Government in carrying their measures, but they were not passed into .law. The funeral meats of last session had been, again put forward to do service at this session. This great liberal programme was that which they had seen so often. The circatnstanc.es of Colony were too. grave to enter upon the amelioration of our social condition until they had first decided whowas to conduct the adminstration. The Colony was in great danger of a tsTative war, and the finances were in a serious condition of disorganisation. On 150 miles of the West Coast the Natives were in a state of disaffection. He stood up to arraign the Government; in a variety of charges of incapacity and unconstitutional proceedings. These were serious prospects, and no time was to be lost in placing, other men in their benches. All they succeeded in doing was the passing- of a wretched Land Tax, which in nine! monthe time could not be collected. They had twothirds of the House with them last session, and yet they did nothing. Whichever branch of adminstration they looked at, public works and everything else, (showed un utter incompetency. Their conduct had been characterised throughont by unconstitutional proceedings. In support of this bill of indictment the speaker referred to the Premier's action with regard to the Waste Lands Bill, which he compared to tnta of "a trickster atcards." The railway policy was next attacked. j Government had entered into railway con- ■ tracts at extravagant rates without Parliamentary sanction, and the Minister for i Public Works had told them he was proud of what he had done. The Premier was growing more and more autocratic every day. First he showed that deportment towardshis Cabinet, then towards this House, and in another case towards the. Governor. The whole proceedings had tended to Bet up personal. Government in the ColonyGreat pretences were made about the rights of the people, but these rights were to be cast by tor one individual will. Then again, the disorganised state of the Civil I Service was another charge brought forj ward. Sir William next referred to the alleged dissensions in the Cabinet, and the I scene lately enacted between Sir George Grey and the Treasurer. He alluded to the miserable mismanagement of Native affairs. On this head Sir William made some very strong remarks as to the personal conduct of Sir George Grey and the Native Minister among the Natives. He would not go iuto particulars, but would tell them that in the Maori country the scandalous stories of what had been enacted were fearfully humiliating. He thought the country from end to end had made up its mind that some greater administrative minds than those upon the Government Benches would have to be entrusted with the Government of the country. H« concluded by moving a resolution to the effect that the Governor's present advisers do not possess the confidence of the House.

Sir George Grey spoke in reply. The speech to which the House had just listened was, ne said, considering the circumstances of the case, a piece of buffoonery, and one which was altogether unworthy of the occasion. ' He had been charged with unconstitutional conduct, and otherwise with having abused the functions of Government. He was ready to nieet these accusations, and to show that the realobject was to hunt him down to satisfy the re-, venge of individuals. He stood there ready to meet the accusations of his opponents. He had been instrumental in preventing four million acres, being ob--taiqed by one party more than "they were entitled to. The members froni Canterbury might laiigh, but he knew full well . that what he now stated was the'truth, and he would first of all proceed to deal with some of the more recent accusations that had been brought against him. In advising the Governor not to assent to the Waste Lnnds Billl, he believed he was acting in the interests of the people. He contended that the people of New Zealand ought to have a chance of securing theso lands, and that they should be broken up into small sections, on which hundreds of families ought to be comfortably settled and not monopolised by a few men to the prejudice of the country. After referring seriatim to the various charges brought against him, the honorable gentleman went on to say that the land speculators from whose grasp the Government proposed to wrest Native lands would, of course, oppose the Government, but the people of the Colony wonld stand by the Government in putting down the disgraceful system of dealing with Native lands which had so long prevailed. He was prepared for the v dying enmity of the land speculators. Tire Government also intended to mate thoee

who had acquired enormous tracts, rendered valuable by public works expenditure, contribute fairly to the revenue, and were prepared for their enmity. He did not fear the result of the present contest. He waa content to trust the people of the Colony, and he doubted whether any constituency in the Colony would ever return Sir William Fox. The question now for the people was whether they should grasp, and now haye or not have their rights and privileges to which they were entitled. Mr Rolleston rose next and spoke in answer to the Premier. He dwelt especially on Native affairs and Canterbury lands. Afrer a speech from Mr Moss who made an earnest appeal on behalf of Sir J3eorge Grey, the> dabate was adjourned Tuesday on the*motion of Mr Seymour George, and the House roße at 12.45 am.