HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3790, 7 September 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday. The House resumed at 2 p.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said the Government could not promise to give all railway workmen their holiday every year ; it was not true that detectives were dodging the steps of Angclique Therasse ; the Government had no copy of the original agreement with the Bank of New Zealand when that bank first toak the public account, but would ask the bank for a copy. THE END. The House went into Committee of Ways and Means, when the usual resolutions making good the Supply were passed, after several members had called attention to grievances about bills thrown out by the Council, motions crowded off the Order Paper, &c. On the resolutions being reported, Sir George Grey moved that they be not agreed to until the Government produced a copy of the original agreement with the Bank of New Zealand.

Several members drew attention to the neglect of their districts in matters of public works.

Sir George Grey's amendment was negatived, and the resolutions were reported, The Appropriation Bills were then brought in, read a first and second time, and committed.

On the motion for the third reading Mr Montgomery moved that they be postponed until all the other business was done.

After considerable discussion the third reading was carried by 27 to 13. Further discussion then arose on the question of agreeing to the title of the Bill, .Sir George Grey and others objecting to the bill being finally passed until all tho business of the session was over.

The discussion was interrupted by the dinner hour.

On the House resuming at 7.30 both the Appropriation Bills were passed without further debate. rUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. On Major Atkinson's motion tho Public Accounts Committee was discharged. THE DARGAVILLE COMMITTEE. Mr Mason then moved that the report of the Dargavillo Committee bo adopted. He said tho report was unanimously arrived at, and the committee had shown neither personal nor party feeling. Mr J. Buchanan urged members on tho eve of separating to let tho dead past bury its dead. It would be well to let the matter drop. He therefore moved the previous question. Mi- Montgomery thought the report fully vindicated the Treasurer, and it would now be a wise, generous, and kind thing to lot the matter rest where it stood. It was not necessary for the House to pass any resolution to enable the committee to judge of the facts. Mr Bryce quite agreed that, if possible, they should part in peace. The slightest acknowledgment that ho had made the charges he did in error, or the least expression of regret from Mr Dargavillo would at once end the matter. Mr Dargaville said he would be unworthy to sit there if he withdrew one word or uttered any regret. He had made the charges because they expressed his convictions, and he claimed tho right of free speech. He called the committee a packed one, but was called to order by the Speaker, and withdrew the expression, saying it had not fairly dealt with him. He had been tied down to a single charge, and that charge the evidence amply sustained. It would bo a bad day for the people when freedom of speech was denied their representatives under terror of select committees and political ruin. He was acting according to his conscience, and Ministers wero trying to screen themselves from tho consequences. Let them declare his seat vacant, and on this one charge of political corruption he would meet the best man the political ring of Auckland could send to oppose him. He cared not for the verdict of the committee, he appealed to the higher tribunal of his constituents, and any decision the House might arrive at he would treat with the contuniely which, in his opinion, it would deserve. Mr Turnbull said the report was moderate and fair. Mr Dargaville was apparently very anxious to be made a martyr of, but really it was not worth while to make him one, and it would bo well to lot tho matter

Mr Seddon vindicated tho course Mr Dargavillo had taken in showing the courage of his opinion. Mr Moss urged tho necessity of preserving freedom, of speech in that House, and hoped the previous question would be carried. Mr Hursthoiwe Mr Shaw, and Mr Shephard pointed out that this could not be done after such a speech as Mr Dargavillo'a. Mr Dodson thought Mr Dargaville was simply anxious for notoriety, no matter of how unenviable a character, and they should not gratify him by going any further.

Mr J. C. Brown and Major Harris defended Mr Dargaville. Mr Sheohan said far worse things had been said in the House, and it was unfair to pick Mr Dargaville out as a victim. They should be very careful of interfering with the liberty of speech in debate. Mr Joyce and Mr Barron hoped tho matter would bo allowed to drop. Major Atkinson had been amply vindicated. Captain McKcnzie and Mr Stevens thought Mr Dargaville had made matters much worse by his speech, and tho House was bound to assert itself. On a division Mr Buchanan's amendment was lost by 30 to 17. The original question, that tho report bo agreed to, was then put, when Mr Montgomery, and all those who in the previous division had voted to let the matter drop left the House, with tho exception of Mr Barron and Mr White. Major Atkinson also left. The motion was then carried by 29 to to 2. Tho House then njournod at 10.30 to Saturday at 3 o'clock for the prorogation.