PARLIAMENTARY.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 173, 2 November 1877, Page 5

PARLI AMENTA R Y.

We give a summary of the No-confidence debate since Tuesday, up to which time a report of the speeches will be found in another page : — Mr Fox considered it unreasonable to ask the House to wait for the Financial and other statements, and asserted that Sir George Grey's intention was to establish two Provincial Governments, with one General Government in Wellington. He ridiculed the idea of the Government being able to retrench in the manner they suggested, and accused them of simply wanting to climb into autocratic power on the shoulders of the people. He accused Mr Laruach of only turning round when a liberal land law was introduced. Mr Ballancc said it was quite worthy of Mr Pox to conclude by ridiculing a liberal land law. It was because Provincialism was dead, and because they felt that Sir George Grey's principles (of which his Provincialism advocacy was only an accident) were those which they felt shonld rule tlie i country, that he and others followed Sir George Grey. Those principles were not to be upset by mere ridicule, which seemed the worst Weapon Mr Fox could use against them. Had not Mr Fox, for years, been setting class against class? There were some who thought greedy land sharks a more dangerous class than the publicans against whom as a class Mr Fox waged war. He denied that Sir George Grey endeavoured to set class against class. If the Land Bill was liberal, &v its libeTcAity iiafl ]>een introduced in the Waste Lands Committee. Sir George Grey might have been autocratic to those who had tried to overreach him, but he was never autocratic to the people, who knew well who was their friend. Mr Vahe supported tho Government. Mr Wakefield compared Mr Fox's performance to those which delighted tho' audiences of Transpontine theatres. His speech was a tissue of envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness against Sir George Grey. It was nuts to him, no doubt, to do this —to drag up all old stories to rsvile an old enemy k It was the greatest claptrap from beginning to end. He had never heard so Weak a speech on so great an occasion as Major Atkinson's.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31. Mr Takamoana said had the late Government not been overthrown tliere would have been another native disturbance, and predicted trouble if Sir George Grey wero turned out. Mr Reader Wood condemned the indecent eagerness of Major Atkinson to return to office as a fatal mistake, wliich, even if it succeeded temporarily, would force him to refer the question to tho country. He drew a powerful picture of the difference between the Fox of the past and the Fox of the present, concluding with the words of Ophelia as she looked on the wreck of Hamlet. Mr Tawiti said although his tribe had telegraphed to him i:o support Sir George Grey he intended to support the late Government of which he had been a member. Mr Bowen regretted tlie disgraceful scenes witnessed, and the disgraceful imputations cast during the debate, and said it was high tithe to express tho disgust that was generally felt at such conduct. Those 01 H s'de of <h.t House were not anxious for office, but he did not think an appeal to the country would be desirable until the representation was' readjusted, which, however, should be done as soon as possible. Mr Hees wondered at Mr Bowen, when talking of exhibitions, had noftremombered the exhibition made by Mr Ormond some time ago. and by Mr Fox the previous night. He had cheered those exhibitions, and yet presumed to lecture others. It was evident that the late Government had forfeited the confidence of tho majority of the House, and L* the present Government did not possess it, then there was only one course open, and that was to appeal to the country. He challenged the other side to agree to this. If a dissolution took place, he believed that only a miserable remnant of those who had heretofore exercised political power in the Colony would come back to that House. Mr Larnach explained tlie difficulties he had had to contend with in his efforts to form a Government, and«*aid he had only been a whole fortnight in ofiice, but Major Atkinson in his anxiety to get back a lawful and visible means of subs ; s*ence, had not given him time to prepare a financial statement. He had been 23 years connected with banking, and four years he had the management of probably tho largest commercial firm in the Colony, so perlli-ips his experience in finance was equal to Major Atkinson's, and his name would probably command more confidence in the London market than Major Atkinson's. The present indebtedness of the Colony he made L 24 ,200,000 if aB- were funded. To meet liabilities a loan of five millions would .be required. " Aftei* some further _ explanations regarding 'lhe financial position, he referred* to -Mr Fox's extraordinary speech, and said that if a land or property tax were proposed he would support it. Mr Whitaker professed astonishment at Mr Larnach's statement of colonial indebtedness. His information did not accord with Mr Larnach's. '-'"He contended that Sir George Grey would not have a right to demand a dissolution Until Major Atkinson had tried and failed to form n. Ministry, He agreed that separation waa impossible, and said Sir George Grey was wise in abandoning that which it Wak no nai fighting against. If he had but acknowledged Ihis truth earlier 'he; would have been on the Treasury -benches*, backed by a strong ma jdritj*, *-.'>' -a, Mr Barff Kpoke in support) 6f> the Goi Vernment. : . • „ . .