HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4090, 30 August 1884, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. DILLS. The following bills were introduced and read a first time:—Bill to repeal the Property Assessment Act and to substitute a land tax ; bill to regulate tho admission of persons to practise in Courts of Irav ; bill to substitute affirmations in lieu of oaths ; bill to reduce any sum that may be payable and receivable by certain members of the Legislature for their expenses or honorarium during the present session ; bill to provide for the construction of a harbor at Gisborne (Grey) ; bill for better securing the purity of intoxicating liquors (Levestam) ; Win ton mid Port Chalmers Borough Empowering Bill (Cowan) ; bill to amend tho Licensing Y Act, 18S1 (SteAvard) ; bill to amend the ■ Auckland College and Grammar School Act, 1877 (Largaville) ; bill changing the trusts of tho Christchurch market reserves (Holmes) ; Napier Harbor Board Empowering and Loan Bill (Smith) ; bill to amend tho Anatomy Act, 1875 (Fulton); bill to amend tho Employment of Females and Others Act, ISBI (BradshaAv); Napier Hospital Bill (Smith) ; bill to define and regulate the hours of labor within the colony of New Zealand (BradshaAv); School Committees Election Bill (Steward) ; Hokitika Racecourse Reserve Bill (Bevan) ; Presbyterian Church of Otago Act Amendment Bill (Larnach). The House adjourned at 3.5, and resumed at 7.30. NO-CONFIDENCE. Mr Stout in moving tho no-confidence motion, said the Atkinson Government did not possess tho confidence of the country, and ridiculed the idea that the policy of tho GoA'ernment was not the same as the continuous Ministry, and the House would not do its duty if it did not record its vote against it. There were good reasons why a change of government should take place, and new blood infused. He attacked the Government on its public works policy, and hold that there was discontent from Invercargill to Auckland at the raihvay administration. Charitable aid also ought to he , put on a better footing. What ho would like to see Avould bo the formation of a strong and stable Government capable of carrying on tho business of the country. Mr Wakefield replied, and stated that there was no cause for complaint against tbe Government, and he hoped tho fullest discussion would be allowed. He denied that this was the Continuous Mihistry. The father of the Continuous Ministry Avas _ Sir Julius Vo_el, who was in office for eight years. Tho last speaker said new blood should be infused. Well, when he had the chance, did he do it ? No, he took as members of his Government members Avho Avere Ministers in 18G4 and members of the Grey Ministry of 1877. Ho would admit the countryliad returned a number of gentlemen to support Sir Julius Vogel, but they had not reckoned on his allying himself Avith tho party ho had. He thought the opportunity should be given to the Government to bring doAvn a policy. He defended the public Avorks policy, and would, if he remained in office, endeavor to bring about a change in the local government question. The charge that because Major Atkinson Avas at the head of tho Government he could not change his policy ' was absurd. He himself would have formed an entirely different Ministry from the present if he had had its formation. The brows of Sir George Grey Avould bo crowned, and not those of the other section of the Opposition. The hon. gentleman (Mr Stout) Avould once again, with his small compact of followers, seize the of victory, while others would have nothing but blows and scars. Several members had come to the cast-iron rule to support no ministry of which Sir Julius Vogel was not a member. This he thought Avas an unsatisfactory state of things. He argued that the Ministry was a moderate one, and Avas what the colony had asked for. In conclusion he hoped hon. members would go into the lobby with the party his conscience directed him. Sir Julius Vogel was not sorry to see new blood on the benches. Scant courtesy was extended to tho last Government, and the present one was not entitled to further consideration. Very feAv members had thought that the uoav Ministry Avould bo virtually the old Atkinsonian Government now on the benches, that has been Avarned away again and again by the country. The reason of this avus because tho colony was getting

in a Avorse condition year after year, and // because the Government had refused to open pnths of progress. If anything should have told Major Atkinson that tho country had no confidence in him, it Avas after his stuir.p tour round the colony. There could be no doubt that Avhen the people found out that tho titles to their property Avere to be jeopardised, and intimidated, their departure for another country, where their binds would bo secure, tho time avus rapidly approaching when the government of the country must rest Avith the people. Conservatism of the future would be a substantial quality. The late Government came doAvn Avith a Aery substantial bill of faro in a Speech Avhieh dealt with matters of the utmost importance to the colony. The fulfilment of the policy thus sketched out depended on the Financial Statement, and the greatest compliment that had been paid to them was in the fear

exhibited that they would command tho

approval of the country. He favored a _ land tax, and censured the public works policy. Coalition he thought necessary, and one which Avould form a Government which Avould be a benefit to the colony not like the present one. Major Atkinson denied that the title to

the land Avas jeopardised. His statement bad been that, if large estates Avere impeding, they ought to be resold by the State, and compensation paid. He could not admit that capital ceased to be used, and that enterprise was dead. The only enterprise that was dead Avas land speculation, and this Avas not to be regretted. He did not know what the Continuous Ministry meant, but felt proud that he had so retained the confidence of the House. No doubt the electors were against the Atkinson Government as then constituted. The country wanted a new Government; they had it, and he asked the House to consider Avhat they would do if the Government Avere defeated. It did not want the StoutVogel party. He had endeavored to bring about coalition, but obtained no assistance from the opposite side of the House. He said all the money of the Public Works fund was spent in accordance with the schedule passed by Parliament. In conclusion ho said, if tho vote Avent against him, and he believed it would not, be Avould boAV to the decision of the House; it Avould relieve him of much anxiety, and whoever succeeded him would not have an enviable position. Mr Guinness moved the adjournment of the debate to enable tho Government to develop a policy. He expressed himself favorable to the present Ministry. Mr W. F. Buckland, seconded tho amendment. Fie said this Parliament was a concentrated essence of scheming and dodgery. Ho Avould support the present Government. Mr Shrimski objected to a further adjournment as Avaste of time. Mr Menteath supported the adjournment. Mr Gillies objected, and spoke strongly against tho Ministry, urging coalition. Hakuene and Wi Pore also spoke against tho Government and further waste of time.

Mr Bcvau Avould vote against the continuous Ministry. He Avould support the present Premier if a member of a coalition Ministry. Mr O'Conor faA*ored an adjournment, as it Avould enable him and others to form better ideas of the capabilities of the Ministry. Mr Macarthur objected to the Government being turned out. A division on the amendment Avas then taken and lost by 43 to 37. Mr Pyke would like to sec time given to the Government to develop a policy. Mr Fergus spoke in favor of tho present Government. Mr Hursthouse claimed that the Government as at present constituted was a moderate one, Avith originality. Every attempt had been made to form a Coalition Ministry, but the other side of the House did not want it.

Mr Stout replied briefly, after which the division Avas taken as follows : —

Ayes, 43. Allwright ■""■ Holmes ~,, Richardson E.*Ballanco • Joyce _ Samuel Barron "' Lance _~ Scddon Beram * Larnach ..- Shepherd _. BradshaAv - Mackenzie --Shrimski — Brown " M'Kenzie J.-Steward - Buckland J. C. "Montgomery -...Stout™--' Cadman __ Morris - Sutter Dargavillo -- O'Callaghan. Taiaroa Duncan -. Pearson -- To Ao •--■ Garrick - Pcre W. — -ThompsonGillies _ Pyko .„. Tole --- Gore —- Reese . Turnbull — Grey — Walker -■•- Harper ~._< White ... Noes 35. Atkinson / Hatch .-. Moss Bruce - x Hirst __.. NeAvman Buchanan / Hobbs ,_ ■ O'Connor Buckland *■" Hursthouse Peacock ■*-*• Connolly -»- Hurst ~-- Richardson ~, Cowan .- Lake — Rolleston Dodson -— Xjeve.vtcvm. — Jioss Fitzhcrbert ""Locke — Russell — Fulton Macarthur . Thomson, J. W.** Grigg ~-~ Munteath - Wakefield -" Guinness ... Mitchelson . Vhyte, J. B.— Hakucne — Moat Pairs. Ayes. Noes. Vogel "-- Johnston -** Smith — Hamlin *■- Stewart, W. D. «* Trimble ' Coster _ Ormond *" —•* McMillan -*-- Bryco - - Macandrew -—* Beetham • . Fisher -- Wilson Eraser *-- Fergus __ The result was received Avith Opposition cheers, and on the motion of the Premier the House adjourned at 3.10.