PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 317, 1 August 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

THE NO-CONFIDENOE MOTION.

DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Of coarse, while the great No Confidence motion has been pending, the business in each House has been of a purely formal nature. On Tuesday afternoon, after a few questions had been asked and answered, The Premier asked that' the hp-confi-dence debate be adjourned for nalf-an-hour. He explained that it was understood that the debate would be resumed that day at 4 o'clock, and relying on that understanding, members might be absent. Sir W. Fox objected to the adjournment unless they gave a pledge that they would proceed to divide without further. discussion. The Premier undertook that they would not speak to the amendment further on their side of the House, and the motion to adjourn was given effect to. On resuming,, Dr Henry said that he would, in compliance with the general wish, waive his right to address the House. He wished to show that tbe Opposition had no wish to delay the business of the country. The following is the division list: — Ayes. 47. Messrs Adams Messrs Morris Atkinson Murray-Ayns-Baigent ley Barff Oliver Beetham Ormond Bowen Pyke Brandon Richardson Bryce Richmond Curtis Rolleston Gotten Rowe Sir R. Douglas > Russell MrFitzroy Saunders Sir W. Fox (teller) Seymour Messrs Gibbs , Stevens Green Stewart Hart Studholme Henry Button Hobbs Tariti Hunter Wakefield Hurethouse (teller) Johnston Whitaker Kelly « Williams Kenny Woolcock Macfarlane Tamoana Moorhouse Noes, 33. Messrs Ballance Macandrew Barton Manders Brown (Tuapeka) Moss Bunny Nahi Carrington Bees De Lautour Reoves Feldwick Seaton Fisher Shanks ' George Sheehan Gisborne Shrimski Sir G. Grey Swanson Messrs Goldie Tainui Hamlin Thomson Hislop Tole Hodgkinson Turnbull Jackson Wallis Joyce Pairs.

Ayes, M'Lean Noes, Montgomery After this discussion, Mr Hislop rose to propose a futher amendment. This was done apparently with the object of giving Sir George Grey an opportunity of making a final reply. In speaking to this amendment, Mr Rees said they bad that day heralded the advent of the noble army of rats, who had enlisted under the banner of the hon. member for Wanganui. Thoy had the spectacle of some ten or twelve members tearing to tatters every promise they had made to their constituents, instead of honestly going before their constituents and asking them to take back their promises. He referred to the hon. member for the Thames, and the hon. member for Franklin and many others, who were pledged to support Sir Goorge Grey, and now turned round, contrary to the advice of their constituents. He contended that insufficient reasons had been shown for the vote given against the Government. He trusted they would hear the hon. gentlemen who had voted against the Government and against their constituents in explanation of their conduct. The amendment was lost on tbe voices. On Wednesday afternoon, after some formal business had been transacted, the Address in reply was presented, and his Excellency's reply received and read. $ir G. Grey then asked fqr an 'adjournment till the evening. at Sir W. Fox's suggestion, the Premier moved "That a supply be granted to Her Majesty," which was ordered to be taken in consideration on the next day. At the evening sitting the Premier made the following MINISTERIAL announcement. Sir G. Grey said;— Sir, I ask the. House for a short indulgence in order that I may make a statement to the House as to the present position of affairs, and as to the course the Ministry might think it their duty to follow. Sir, I waited to-day upon his Excellency the Governor, and related what had transpired in the House last night, and then I tendered to the Governor the advice on my own behalf and that of my colleagues, that he should grant a dissolution of Parliament, (Hear, hear)—in order that an appeal might be made to the constituencies. Sir, the Governor was pleased to reply to my advice, at the same time stating that he was anxious that the decision at which he arrived should be conveyed to Parliament in his own words. I therefore, Sir, move, with the permission of the House, for leave to read the reply, which his Excellency gave to me in writing. His Excellency's reply is to this effect:—

" I have carefully considered the position in which Ministers are placed by the defeat which they have sustained in the House of Representatives upon a " No Conr fidence " motion, and am clearly of opinion that they have a fair constitutional claim to a dissolution. No doubt a general election at the present moment would be inconvient having regard to the condition of public business, the prevailing financial depression, and the circumstances of the Colony generally, especially the Native difficulties, upon the West Coast; but I presume that Ministers have carefully considered the consequences of such a step before tendering to me advice to dissolve and I am therefore prepared to adopt this recommendation, leaving with them the entire responsibility of such proceeding. At the same time I think it right to stipulate that the well recognised constitutional principles which govern cases like the present shsll be strictly adhered to. Ministers have lost the confidence of the representatives of the people, and are about to appeal from them to the country.

A majority of the House of Representatives has defelare,d, , that Ministers have so neglected and mismanaged the administration of this country that they no longer possess the confidence of Parliament. It is indispensable in such circumstances if Ministers do not at once resign that Parlia--Bhall be dissolved with the least possible delay, and that meanwhile no measures will be proposed that may not be imperatively required, nor any contested motions whatever brought forward. It is necessary also and in accordance with established constitutional precedents, that the new Parliament shall be called together at the earliest moment at which the writs are returnable. If Ministers accept a dissolution upon this understanding I beg that in any explanation which the Premier may think proper to make to Parliament, the answer which I have given to his tendered advice may bo stated in my own worda " Hercules Robinson." After a brief discussion as to what constituted "contested motions," and on the question of supply the motion for adjournment was put and canied.