GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 535, 30 August 1881, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

In the Legislative Council, on Thursday the debate on the second reading of the Tiinnru Harbor Board Endowment Bill was resinned. The Hon F. Whitaker supported tho Bill on condition of the endowment clause boing erased. Several members spoke for and against the Bill, its opponents urging that the harbor was bound to silt up. On a division tho Bill was road a second tamo by 17 to 11. In the House of llepresntatives the now clause giving a leasehold franchise was added to the Representation Bill, having previously been amended on the motion of Mr Lundon hy substituting twelve months for three years tenancy. The Fencing Bill was committed and the discussion in committee continued until 2.30 when .all the clauses were got through with unimportant amendments. A new clause was added, and progress was reported, on tho understanding that tho Bill would be reconsidered in Committee. At 2.35 the House rose. The Hon J. Hall stated, in reply to a, question put during the earlier part of the day concerning the new clause inserted last night in the Representation Bill, that they had now had time to consider tho point, arid they had come to the conclusion to consent to its withdrawal. (j JOri Friday in the Council, on tho motion of the Hon G. M. Waterhouse, without notice, a Select Committee was appointed to inquire into an allegation that last j'ear while there was considerable doubt what would be done with respect to tho honorarium of Councillors, one Councillor had sold his chance to a member of tho Lower House. In the House of Representatives, On the Orders of the D/iy being called on Mr Speight moved the adjournment of the House, stating that he did co for tho purpose of ventilating a grievance in connection with the pension question. After having spoken for about an honr,

Mr Bowen rose to a point of order. Ho asked the Speaker to rulo whether the J onus of the House could be lakm advantage of for the evident purpose of stonewalling.

The Speaker replied that it wns not for him to assume the object of any member and he did not feel called upon to interfere so long as a member did not attempt to anticipate the dismission of any Bill or motion on thn Order Paper. He was quite in order in moving the adjournment ol the IIou;-e. Mr Speight thanked the Speaker for his strict impartiality, and in proceeding said he was not making a speech to tho galleries, nor yet did lie desire to make use of th* , pages of Hansard to speak to his constituents. Mr Speight continued speaking till the 5.30 adjournment. On the House resuming at 7.30, The lion J. Hall gave notice of a draft code of Standing Orders, with reference to the wilful obstruction of the business of tho House, based upon those adopted by the Imperial Government in February of last year, enabling the Speaker to put an end to discussions which may be considered by the House irrelevant or mere repetitions on tho part of the speaker addressing the House, the said power to bo exercised in virtue of and upon the vote of two members to one. He asked that their consideration be made an order of tho day for Monday. Sir Gγ. Grey felt a serious step was being proposed, and he suggested they should adjourn at once to consider their real import upon the business. The lion J. Hall submitted that they would have Saturday and Sunday to think over their effect, and that ought to be sufficient for all the requirements of the case. The Speaker ruled that any proposal for adjournment could not be entertained in in the face of a discussion going on for the adjournment of the House. Mr Speight proceeded with his speech, which ho concluded at 8 p.m. Mr Gibbs followed in a similar strain.

Sir G. Grey appealed to Government to consent to an adjournment. The motion tabled by the Premier during the earlier part of the evening was one of grave responsibility, and might induce a complete alteration in the mode of procedure. Major Atkinson could see no reason for the adjournment, insisting that plenty of time would be afforded for considering and determining the prospects of affair.

Mr Soddon spoke for about two hours on the Public Works policy and a variety of subjects. Messrs Pitt, Shepherd and Levestam also spoke on the question that the House adjourn. Mr George said that motives, had been freely imputed and denied, flfow, lie was an Auckland member, and he had a motive. They knew that it was proposed to give the balance of power to the South Island, and ho was determined it should not.

The Hon J. Hall said there could be no doubt but that the sole motive was to obstruct the business, lie believed he was expressing the opinion of nine-tenths of the country that the forms of the House had been abused to .such un extent that coercive measures should be resorted to. Members must know that they could not force the views of tho minority on the

majority, mid most assuredly they would not succeed on this occasion. ~ Mr lleevos .said it was well known [that Govermentintended to prevent an adjournment of tho House until they had got through their Bill. Now, i£ the course .■followed had not been taken they, would have bad ,to remain there till to-morrow night, and perhapsali through Sunday. <It was therefore a most proper course to pursue. Mr Ilamlin denounced followed by the Opposition. Mr Hursthou-se challenged'*them to dissolve the House and allow them to appeal to tho country, and then it would be seen whether or not the was in the right. The Hon W. Rolieston said they were reasonable beings, and as such it was not due to them to obstruct tho business by more physical force. The Government had no fear of going to the country, but they would be 'if they went to the country without securing the re-adjustment that was demanded. Mr Moss defended tbo course pursued by the Opposition. He was taking no part in the debate himself, but ho gavo those who did every credit for the purity of their motives.

The Hon.e rose at 1.10 a m

The following ia "the account by the Press correspondent of the Premier's rejnarks towards the close of the sitting :— Tbo Premier then rose, and in carefully chosen words " deplored the wicked, waste of the time of the country caused by this deliberate attempt on the pat of a small minority to coerce the majority in Parliament with respect to an important measure of public policy. Ho had been a member of the Legislature Cor a great many years, and had Been similar attempts made again and again, but had never soon one of them succeed, tie and his colleagues arid stippoiters and thoso who were acting with t'lem were detei mined that this one should not succeed. (Oheers.) Ho felt certain that be was expressing the views of ninetenths of the people of New Zealand— (dissent 'from the Nelson members) —in condemning the obstruction of the whole business of Parliament—(loud cheers from all parts of the House) —and he trusted that he should bo supported in any steps that might be found necessary for overcoming teat obstruction if it were persisted n." (Cheers.)