GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 724, 14 October 1876, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

{Per Press Agency ,) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, October 13, The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS. In reply to Mr Lumsden, the Premier said Dr Monckton had not fulfilled the conditions of the lease of the Auckland Islands, and the matter had been referred to the law officers of the Crown, with the view of determining the lease. ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. The names of Messrs Rees and Reynolds weie put on the accounts committee. ADJOURNMENT. It was ordered that the House on rising adjourn till 2.30 on Monday for Government business only. EXPLANATION. To put himself in order, Sir G. Grey moved the adjournment of the House, aud then said he was sure the House would agree with him that he must have been dreadfully shocked at the despatch laid upon the table last night. He did not consider it a fair representation of the facts of the case, and had not the slightest idea that such was in existence. The hon member then proceeded to show in what respect the despatch was deficient and not fair. There was, for instance, no reference to the composition of the Legislative Council, as regards representation. He took particular exception to the tone of the document. No one could rise from the perusal of it without coming to the conclusion that it emanated from a political partisan; but he did not feel at all affected by it, because, upon reflection, anyone who road it must see that it redounded to his credit and the cause he advocated, The hon gentleman then went on to comment

on the impropriety of-a person being trapped into a private conversation, and that conversation being sent to the Private Secretary of the Governor, who was authorised to show it to the Governor. That was an act of gross treachery and injustice to himself. The writer and those who advised him must have known that there were statements contained in that letter that were untrue. The Premier here called the attention of the Speaker to Sir G. Grey’s impugning the Governor, and deprecated such practices being tolerated. Mr Pyke said he had been punished for using the word “ discreditable,” but was that any more unparliamentary than to say of the Governor and those who advised him, that certain things were “ untrue.” Sir G. Grey resumed, saying that all through the session the Premier had endeavored to compass his destruction. He submitted that a man pleading for, he might say his life, at any rate his honor, should not be subjected to such interruptions. The hon gentleman then went on to comment upon the conversation related in Mr Dargaville’s letter in relation to the control of the police. The Government ought to have seen that the letter was untrue. He regretted to say that a system of espionage had surrounded him fo'* a long time. His ruin was being plotted. For his own part he would never have entertained such private accusations. He would have shrunk with abhorrence from such a thing. He might say that the writer of the letter was absolutely unknown to him. He never met him in a private house, and used to have to avoid the club as much as possible, so as to escape the persecution he was subjected to by this man in asking hipi questions. Referring to that paragraph of the Governor’s dispatch which accused Sir G. Grey of being the author of what was called the “ bombardment rumour,” he distinctly denied that such rumour emanated from him. He pointed out that the reports were in circulation simultaneously in Auckland and Dunedin, and it was the duty of the Government at once to have contradicted them, and not to have allowed such a letter to be sent home to the Secretary of State. As for the statements in Mr Dargaville’s letter, he had no recollection of them. At any rate, he ought to have been afforded an opportunity of contradicting or explaining those statements going farther. The hon gentleman remarked that Government had used every means at their disposal to damage him. They had bribed the press to ruin him with his sovereign, to lower him in the eyes of the people of the colony, and even in the eyes of the people of Great Britain, by means of the great Times newspaper, whose aid against him had also been purchased. He appealed to the House to do something to throw the shield of protection over him and his friends to protect them from the malignity with which they were being pursued. Mr Thomson, who followed, said the despatch was written in a party spirit, and he believed by Sir Julius Vogel himself, for it was just in his style. The document ought to have been laid on the table the day after it was written, and Sir George Grey allowed an opportunity of repelling the charges made against him. The Premier said although Sir George Grey complained of being slandered he did not hesitate to slander Ministers, and say they were shameless, or to use the words themselves “shameless with greed in providing estates for their friends.” Sir G. Grey denied using such words.

The Premier felt almost positive he had heard them, and thought he could trust to his memory. The hon gentleman did not hesitate to say that Ministers bribed newspapers and employed spies to entrap him. The hon gentleman scarcely ever rose in his place without attributing the most shameful corruption to Ministers, therefore they did not feel that sympathy with him which they otherwise might. Let them remember the nature of the despatch sent home direct to the Secretary of State, in defiance of all constitutional usage ; and that despatch was written and sent without giving the Govern or an opportunity to send a despatch along with it; and the hon gentleman, who ought to know better, thought it right to do this. As to the despatch, the Premier qaid he would inform the House that the Governor sent his despatches home direct, and without the knowledge or assistance of Ministers. The reason the despatch was not laid before the House sooner was, because his Excellency wanted it to be received at home first, and it would not then have been tabled had not Sir G. Grey asked, a few nights ago, that the despatch be produced. Mr Sheehan thought that if they had not the statement of the Premier that the Governor wrote his own despatches, he would have said he recognised the Roman hand of the Premier in the despatch. With regard to the statements as to using force should abolition be resisted, he must say he had heard the Government supporters state in all seriousness that force would be used. He held that Ministers should bear the responsibility of the despatch, which he regretted to say was more in the tone of a would-be smart article than of a State paper. With regard to Mr Dargaville, those who knew him, knew that anything emanating from him should be received with caution. The Governor was not justified in making a serious charge on unreliable testimony. He desired to say with respect to the resolution regarding abolition, passed in the Provincial Council, that Sir G. Grey had nothing to do with that resolution. It emanated entirely from himself (Mr Sheehan). The hon gentleman pointed out to House the long and honorable career of Sir G. Grey, and asked the House if the document of the Governor, which was the work of an unknown person, was to upset that reputation. Mr Rees did not believe the Governor ever wrote the letter. He complained of the despatch being hidden from Sir G. Grey for four months. This was clearly a case of the engineer being hoist with his own petard. If there was any condemnation attached to the Governor’s despatch the Premier was the only one to blame, for allowing a secret letter to be written behind Sir G, Qrey’a back. Mr Seid regretted that the Governor could have written such a letter. Nothing could justify the tone of the despatch, and he regretted to have to stand up and say so. There were paragraphs in it that suggested to him the idea of the late Premier haying had a hand in it. Mr Lusk followed in a speech of a similar tendency, and said a protest ought to be recorded against these secret and defamatory despatches being sent behind others backs. Mr B unter said it seemed to be lost sight of that something was due to the people of New Zealand, who had been libelled by the letter sent home by Sir G, Grey. He ought

to have known, and must have known—none better—that there waa not a shadow of foundation for thinking that any of the people of the colony would fly to arms. He also pointed out the expression in Sir G. Grey’s telegram of October 7th, when he speaks of disturbances being ‘imminent,” To make such a statement as that would have been reprehensible in the most insignificant member of the House. How much worse was it in one of Sir 1 G. Grey’s rank and ability. The effect of Sir G. Grey’s telegram waa to strike at the root of all constitutional government, by asking a foreign power to interpose in the affairs of the colony, by preventing those constitutional changes which the majority of the representatives decided upon. Mr Swanson, in criticising the despatch, took exception to the words used in the despatch, “I distinctly charge Sir Geo. Grey.” That was too strong. His Excellency ought to have referred to the matter by citing Mr Dargaville’s letter, beause no evidence waa taken upon it, and it might have been the greatest lie that ever was. The Speaker left the chair at the usual hour. LAST NIGHT’S SITTING. SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. The' House resumed the debate on the Hon Mr Whitaker’s motion re San Francisco service. The Postmaster-General explained the particulars of the service, and adduced elaborate compilations to show that the service was efficient and inexpensive, but if the colony insisted upon the coastal service the contractors would have to throw the whole thing up. Under the circumstances, he thought we should not do anything that would jeopardise the service, and he therefore urged the acceptance of the modification proposed by him, and informed the House that the Sydney Government was pressing for an answer. A long debate ensued, and a variety of amendments were put, the ultimate_ result was that the Hon F. Whitaker’s resolutions were passed in the following amended form “ That the service be direct from San Francisco to Sydney, calling at Honolulu and Auckland, or Bay of Islands ; and, at the option of the contractors, that the coastal service be performed by ten-knot boats, to be approved by the Government ; that the share of New Zealand’s contribution be reduced by £7500, if calling at Auckland, and £IO,OOO if calling at the Bay of Islands.” THE GOVERNOR’S DESPATCH. The debate was resumed on the Governor’s despatch to the Secretary of State. Mr Delatour, in a speech condemnatory of the Governor, and laudatory of Sir G. Grey, moved—“ That the House regrets that the Governor’s despatch was ill-advised.” Sir G. Grey supported this in a speech of considerable length, in which he _ spoke in terms of reprehension as to the action of the Governor in relation to the despatch, and of the Government generally as to their persecution of himself. Their whole course was dishonourable, and full of the poison of malice; and yet they expressed not a single word of regret. He prayed the House to rise to the occasion, and, despite the frown of power, do justice to one who had been cruelly wronged, and set an example to future time. . The motion was put and lost by 34 against 25. SUPPLY. The House went into committee of supply, and sat till 2.35. A number of items were PI On the motion of Mr Sheehan, the item £6OO for Inspector-General of Prisons was struck out by 32 against 19, The item £7OO for Lunatic Asylums was Struck out. .... aOn coming to the provincial charges, bir G. Grey moved that progress be reported, and insisted upon a division, which was negatived by a large majority. Messrs Sheehan, Swanson, and others opposed; and voted with the Noea. Sir G. Grey moved that Mr O’Rorke leave the chair, and was again defeated. In reply to Mr Swanson, Sir G, Grey said he was tired, and wished to study the items proposed to be passed. Several members expressed their disapproval, amongst them Messrs Sheehan, Swanson, Rolleston, and Reid, who protested against his action and the obstruction of business. Sir G. Grey again asked that progress be reported, but did not press for a division, A few more items were passed, and the House adjourned.