PARLIAMENTRY ITEMS

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 315, 25 July 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTRY ITEMS

-_ « ._ ..,-After the formal business on Tuesday gjlMßiodn, the Speaker looked to Mr Geprge ymo't oh* Friday .last, rnoved'the adjdurnxnent of the debate, but as he did not rise, Mr Barff, who was anxiously watching his opportunity, at once declaired his intention to vote with the Opposition. In a labored speech, partaking much of the character of Sir W. "Fox's, inasmuch as it was of a personal nature, and embodied charges without any attempt to bring forward confirmatory evidence, he reviewed the administration of Government, carefully avoiding any allusions to their policy. He spoke for upwards of an hour, but from first to last his remarks elicited no expression of interest. Dr Wallis followed on the side ■of the Government, and the Opposition - still declining to reply, Mr Gisborne rose, and made a.telling speech,. in the course of which he pointed out the weak- ■ riess of the Opposition in their evident dread of tackling the Ministerial, policy, and charging them with being desirous of stealing the clothes of; Ministers with a view. of wearing them themselves. He ■was listened to with marked attention, and resuming his seat at the dinner adjournment, it was evident he had made a strong - impression.

- On resuming after the adjournment, the House was crowded in every part. In the anticipation of a warm debate, the members of tha Legislative: Council mustered strongly, and hundreds- were unable to gain admission to* the public gallery. At 7.30 Mr Sannders resumed the debate, at once attacking the Government on their Native policy, but doing so only in abuse, anc| advancing nothing in the form of argument. His speech was interspersed with namby-pamby platitudes and weak, pointless anecdotal; illustrations, and fell flat on the House and galleries. Referring to Sir G. Grey, he said that men who had previously differed would combine in onecommon cause to defeat one common enemy. (Hisses.) On attempting a peroration he broke down miserably. Mr Rees, on commencing his reply, characterised Mr Saunders' speech as a mere tirade of meaningless • abuse, and

charged him and his friends with being like an assassin in attempting to stab those who had raised them to their present position. He scathingly referred to Mr Saunders' ad misericordiam appeal to consideration on the. ground of his old age. His allusion to the triviality and bad taste of Sir W. Fox's speech was received with applause by two-thirds of the House, and with ominous silence by Sir, W. Fox's immediate supporters. When alluding to Sir W. Fox's speech he said, "A weaker attack could not be made, " ejaculations of assent arose from both sides. The most powerful portion of his speech was on Native affairs, especially when referring to the killing of the Natives in connection with William King's land at Waitara, which he compared to the infamous massacre of Glencoe. In scathing language he refered to Sir W. Fox's contemptuous mimicry of SirG. Grey's manner and. language, contending that the noblest 4hing that could be said of any man as it would yet be said of Sir G. Grey was, that he had lived for the amelioration of the human race. It was Sir G. Grey's sole aim to frame just laws for tho carrying out of righteous measures. Mr Rees' peroration was really a magificent eulogy of Sir G. Grey, and was received on all hands with loud and prolonged aplause. Mr Jackson announced his intention to vote against Sir W. Fox's amendment. On Wednesday evening the debate was resumed by Mr Sheehan, who said that before proceeding to deal with the merits -■ of the case, he would point out that the gentlemen on the other side of the House were entirely responsible for preventing the Government trom getting a supply of money requisite for carrying, oh the ordinary service. They had expressed their entire concurrence in the policy set forth in the Address. In that case it was their duty to allow the Reply to the to go by default, in which' case 'it would have been quite competent for them _to have brought down a no-confidence motion the very next day. No one however would believe these professions, howevr plausibly put; they were simply acting the wolf in sheep'B clothing. Their statement about,their acquiescence in the policy, was simply an attempt to baulk that policy. The hon gentleman went on to refer to the various counts in the indictment prefered against.the Government, renting to Native affairs. He maintained that it was the promises, made by former Governments, but not fulfilled, which had led to the present difficulties. It would surprise members to find how many well-founded causes of complaint existed amongst the Natives. In the Wairarapa District there were upwards of 25 promised reserves which had actually been sold to Europeans, In referring to matters on the West Coast, he. contended that it was the Government, of'which the leader of the Opposition was a member that had begun and left undone the negotiations with the -Natives. Then there were large Native claims all over the Colony requiring-settlement. Future pro- „ aspects were in favor of peace.' He trusted " thejja would be arranged, but.if we did go -to.war, let us go with clean hands. "Thrice armed is he who hath his quarrel

just." : Referring to the Waimate prisoners, he stated that at the present time there were 'thirty : four who had throughout been loyal to the Crown. These men.years ago bad .been promised, land, but those promises remain" uhredeeiried. Mr Wakefield rose to support the amendment. He attacked the administration of the Government on various heads. During the two years the Governmeut had been in office they had actually ruined the affairs of the country. -If a course of that kind were tolerated, it would put an end to Parliament representation altogether. Last session they found that nearly all the promises of the- recess- bad been abandoned, and just enough of them remained to secure a vote here and there. He only - wished to show, that the.Premier had from the beginning never merited the confl-- • denee he claimed. Mr Wakefield next referred to the dissensions in the Cabinet, to the appointment of the Speaker of the ! Legislative Council, Ministers " rushing about from place to place at lightning speed." It was positively dangerous to cross a railway line for fear of being run down by a Minister of the Crown and his special train. Partiality in Public Works expenditure and in advertising was next referred to, and the Land Tax Act and the method in which it had been worked were ' attacked. The speaker severely animadverted on the management of the Departments of Immigration and Justice, and

said that the Native Department ought to be swept away altogether. • ; At 2 a.m. Mr Wakefield was still'speaking. Mr Macandrew was to move the adjournment.