PARLIAMENTARY

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 34, 29 August 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

NO-CONFIDENCJii DEBATE,

[PEE ONITED PBEBB ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington. Augs.st 27

Major Atkinson opened the debate by asking whether the Government would take one debate on the whole of the resolutions, or whether they would debate on each of them. Mr Stout did not give a direct reply to the request. Major Atkinson said he desired to save the time of the country by having only one debate. He described the position of parties in the House, and said that the Government sat on the branches at the dictation of the Opposition. He referred at some length to the Public Works Fund, which more immediately concerned his first resolution, and said there was no difficulty in reducing the expenditure under this head if the Government so desired it. He was asking the House to pass a resolution that the expenditure for the year 1885-86 should not exceed £1,000,000, which he considered was perfectly reasonable.

Mr Stout followed and said the House and country would be greatly disappointed with the speech of the honorable gentleman. A large portion of it was devoted to the history of the intrigues that had been going on during the session, and attacks on the Colonial Treasurer. Mr Stout contended that the House had passed several useful measures. As to the Public Works Fund, when Major Atkinson was in office he had frequently incurred liabilities in excess of the votes of the House. In 1884 his expenditure was £1,700,000 a year. When the present Government took office they had reduced it to £1,300,000. Mr Stout denied that the Government proposals were either extravagemt or unfair, and concluded by saying that the Government when the time came, would not be ashamed of the record they would leave behind them.

Mr Macandrew said he desired to move an amendment that a discussion should take place on the Estimates in the form of a resolution, that it was undesiriable to raise the question of a new loan till the necessity for it had been shown.

Mr Wakefield. defended Major Atkinson from the charges made by the Premier, that the Major was seeking office. He deprecated {the constant reference made by the Premier to the continuous Ministry. He thought the House should insist on reduction of expenditure, and refuse to allow any extra taxation.

August 28

Sir J. Yogel defended the action taken by the Government,, at considerable length.

The House then divided on Major Atkinson's motion: —

Ayes, 39. — Atkinson, Beetham, Bruce, Bryce, Buchanan, W. Buck land, J. Buckland, Conolly, Dargaville, Dodson, Fergus, Fisher, Fulton, Grey, Hamlin, Hirst, Hislop, Hobbs, Hurst, Johnston, Lake, Macarthur, Mitchelson, Moat, Newman, Ormond, Pyke, Peacock, G. F. Eichardson, Rolleston, Eeid, Boss, Eussell, Sutter, J. W. Thompson, Trimble, Wakefield, J. B. White, and Wilson.

Noes, 5 1 . — All wright, Ballarice, Bar* ron, Bevan, Bradshaw, Brown, Gadman, Cowan, Duncan, Fraser, (Jarrick, Gore, Grace, Guinness, Hakuene, Harper, Hatch, Holmes, Hursthouse, Joyce, Kerr, Lance, Larnach, Macandrew, Levestam, J. McKenzie, McMillan, Monteafch, Mongomexy, Moss, O'Callaghan, O'Connor, Pearson, Pere, FitzHerbert, Bees, £. Bichardson, Smith, Samuels, Seddon, Steward, Stewart, Stout, Te Ao, T. Thompson, Tole, Turnbull, Vogal, Walker and White.

Wellington, This Day.

Mr Pjrke strongly opposed the Government, and asked member* not to be afraid of threats of lUselution.

At 1.30. this morning, the Hour* divided on the Amendment of MrHislop, "and until the Ministry is s* constitated as te possess the confidence of the House," which was lost by 39 to 43.