GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1035, 19 October 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegraph.]

[per press agency.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, Oct. 17. —Evening Sitting, MR. LUSK. The debate on Mr Lusk’s case was resumed. Mr Sheehan would support the original motion. He did not think the case one which should be severely dealt with. He believed many legal members of the House besides Mr Lusk had received payment for drawing Bills and petitions. He had very nearly done so himself. The dignity of the House did not require the in/liction of any heavy penalty. It was now made clear that conduct such as Mr Lusk’s w T as improper, and that was the most important object to accomplish. He urged Mr Rolleston and Mr MacFarlane to withdraw their amendments.

Dr Hodgkinson thought Mr Lusk had erred through ignorance.

Mr Macfaelane asked leave to withdraw his amendment. The Speaker ruled that the House had no power to pass a resolution declaring a seat vacant. It could only expel the sitting member.

After some further discussion, Mr Deiatour moved an amendment, declaring that, having considered the report of the Privilege Committee, it be resolved that it appeared that Mr Lusk had been guilty of a breacli of the privileges the House, but that there was nothing proved showing any corrupt conduct on Mr Lusk’s part such as to demand any further action on the part of the House. After further discussion, Mr Rolleston’s amendment, that Mr Lusk be adjudged guilty of contempt and fined £SO, was carried on a division of 34 to 30.

Mr Stout declared that the House, in gratifying party spite when discharging high judicial functions, was derogating from its dignity more than Mr Lusk had done. Public opinion would not sustain such action, and without it the House would ultimately bo powerless. If questions of disqualification and privilege were to be discussed and settled in a party spirit, he warned members that they were only at the beginning. Mr Roileston objected to Mr Stout lecturing the House. As mover of the amendment, he denied being actuated by any party spirit. He simply desired the matter to be dealt with according to the Standing Orders.

Mr Fox said no more baseless accusation was ever made than that party feeling had anything to do with the matter. He had acted at the unanimous request of the committee, on which there was actually a majority of Mr Lusk’s own friends. He thought they had acted with great leniency towards Mr Lusk.

Mr Gtsbobne contended that Mr Lusk had been dealt within a strictly judicial and not a party spirit. Mr Rues endorsed Mr Stout’s remarks. He maintained that Mr Lusk had not acted as stated in. the resolution.

Mr Sheehan said he thought Mr Stout mistaken in characterising the division as a party one. He urged the House to bring the debate to an end, and not descend to personal recrimination.

Mr Hopg kinson confirmed what Mr Stout said. Mr Lusk’s character would compare favorably with that of most of those who voted to line him.

Mr T havers, as member of the privilege committee, thought Mr Fox’s motion did not tally with the report of the committee. The resolution charged Mr Lusk with corruption. The committee only agreed that lie had committed a serious error, but not corruptly. He thought Mr Lusk sufficiently punished already without either direct censure or pecuniary penalty. Mr Macaxuruw thought such a penalty as was proposed was vindictive, and regretted that the standing orders prevented any amendment to reduce it.

Mr Curtis denied that any one of the committee wished to attribute corrupt motives to Mr Lusk, but simply to make it understood that it was improper for a member to take payment Tor professional services rendered as a member of the House. Mr Travers, like other members of the committee, had seen and approved of Mr Fox’s original motion. After further discussion, the House divided on the motion as amended, which was carried by 33 to 2S). BILLS. The following Bills were read a second and third time, and passed : —Pa tea Harbor Board Bill, Havelock Commonage Bill, Christchurch T)is rict Drainage Act AmendmentBill, Roxburgh Recreation Reserve Bill, Waiwera School Glebe Exchange Bill, Mataura Reserves Bill, Peninsula County Libraries Bill, Auckland Harbor Bill. The Riverton Harbor Board Land Bill and Riverton Grammar School Bill were read a second time, and referred to the Waste Lands Committee. The Wanganui Harbor Endowment and Burrowing Bill was reported with amendments. The House rose at 12.25. Thursday, October IS. The House met at 2.30. MB. WHITAKER. Mi- Rees brought up the icport of the Disqualification Committee re Mr Whitaker. It briefly stated that in the opinion of (lie Committee he was not disqualified by his connection with the Piako Swamp transaction, Mr Rees intimated that ho dissented, and refused to attend the committee. The report was ordered to be printed. IMEREST SURELY. An imprest supply bill for £250,000 was brought down. In reply to a question by Major .Atkinson Mr La reach said the Government intended to bring down the Financial Statement next week. Alter going into committee, Major Atkinson proposed that the amount bo reduced to £IOO,OOO, objecting to the larger sum till the financial policy was disclosed. Mr Stout declared such opposition unprecedented, after the manner their side had granted four imprest bills without objection, ft was the first time he had ever known such action ns that of Major Atkinson, and he hoped the present Government would not forgot the lesson when they wero again in Opposition. Mr Reynolds thought Major Atkinson’s proposition reasonable. Major Atkinson replied that the present Opposition would certainly not follow the example of their predecessors in offering factious opposition—impeding business for the sake of talk.

Mr Larnagh replied that before Tuesday £IOO,OOO would be spent. Mr Bud thought Mr Laraach'a rcipiui

unreasonable before they had declared the policy of the new Ministry, Mr Sheehan replied that it was quite proper for the late Government to ask for £350,000, but it was a scandal for their successors to do the same thing. As to their policy, the House knew as much of that of the Grey Ministry as of the Atkinson Cabinet, for he never could find the policy of the latter.

Mr Whitaker replied that the proposals of the late Government were before the House before they asked for money. As to their policy, it was declared in their Bills. Mr Stout denied the statement of Mr Whitaker, pointing out that on the 27th of July, before the Estimates were brought clown, or any policy declared, an Imprest Supply Bill for a similar amount was allowed to pass without opposition. Mr Bowen replied that Mr Stout’s argument was not to the point. As the Government had been in power during the recess the House knew their policy. It would have been a most indecent thing to oppose the first supply, as money had to be sent away per mail, but there was not such haste in this instance.

Sir G. Grey said the total present sum to the credit of the Government was £IIO,OOO, and all of £IOO,OOO emergency money, all owed by the House, was expended before the new Ministry took office. It was not to the credit of the House or the country that the Government should be in the position of beggars, especially when that was due to the improvidence of their predecessors. In fairness, £970,000 should be at once voted to make up the emergency vote. The late Government exhausted ibhe country coffers, so their successors found no means at their disposal. They then turned round and attempted to stop supplies, A full Financial Statement would be made in a few days without that concealment which had been practised by the late Government. The House should not have placed the Ministry in power if it was not prepared to grant them money. His position was this —Until he had made a Financial Statement, which ho should do with the greatest rapidity, he should not move from the Treasury benches.

Major Atkinson, amid uproar, said Sir G-. Grey was an unconstitutional autocrat. He must have been laboring under some peculiar excitement before he would threaten to defy the House. It was evident that Sir G. Grey did not quite know what lie was talking about. It was doubtful if he oven knew the A B C of finance. He did not wish to hurry on the Financial Statement, blit he was anxious to know how the Government proposed to make up the small deficit of £IBO,OOO if they did not take the Canterbury and Otago land fund. As to emergency money, that was easily explained. All votes ceased on the 30th June, but the House did not meet until the middle of July, so the Government had power to draw £IO,OOO without a, vote. It would be found set down as unauthorised expenditure, and was in the same position as an Imprest Supply Bill. The statement had been industriously circulated that there was a deficiency 0f'£330,000 on provincial liabilities. This was absolutely incorrect. What were provincial liabilities'? He had been trying hard to find out, but had not yet succeeded. There was great difficulty in deciding whether some items should be set down to general or provincial expenditure. There was a mass of items which Ministers bad to wade through and decide which should be put under provincial liabilities. So elastic was the dividing line that the total could be varied to the ext ent of about £250,000 at the will of the Minis) ry.

Mr Montgomery charged the late Government with being ungenerous in opposing supplies, and unjust in expecting Sir G. Grey to solve in a day questions which Major Atkinson confessed lie had failed to grapple in years. Mr Sutton said £IOO,OOO would last five weeks.

Mr Reader Wood said Mr Sutton was the only man in l ire House who seemed to really understand finance. Even his chief did not suppose the grant he proposed would extend over next week. Sir G. Grey’s statement the first night he held office was sufficient to show the general financial policy. Mr Whitaker had told thernithe policy of the late Government was in their Bills. Well, they had let all their policy go very fast when it was dangerous to their existence. He suggested that £150,000 should be granted as a compromise which would carry on the Government for a week, which would give Sir G. Grey time to bring down a proposal. Mr Rees moved an amendment to that effect.

Major Atkinson said the expenditure of the colony must have increased greatly since lie left office, if £150,000 was required for a week.

Mr Fisher said Major Atkinson’s tactics seemed to be contained in one word —obstruction. The conduct of the Opposition in this matter was a disgrace to the House. Mr Stout attacked the financial policy of the late Government. They at the beginning of the session telegraphed to England saying they had a large surplus, while now he spoke of a small deficit of £IBO,OOO.

Major Atkinson replied that that was only in case of the land fund being left untouched. Mr Gisborne believed that when a true statement of Provincial appropriations was made, large sums would be found to have been illegally and unconstitutionally expended. He thought a great deal too much was made of these Imprest Supply Bills. As, however, so much money was granted, it must all be accounted for during the same session.

Sir G. Grey, holding a paper in his hand, wished to say that there was an already ascertained deficit of £273,000 on Provincial liabilities.

MaJ (jy At KJNSON again declared this to be an error. IT tlie Government otiicially slated tint they needed £150,000 to carry them over next week he would withdraw his amendment. Mr Larnach replied that he had been so informed. Major Atkinson then withdrew his amendinert. Mr Ilccs’s amendment was agreed to, and tlio Bill passed all its stages. MISCKLTANEOTJS. Mr Bolleston gave notice that lie should ask if the Government intended to cause inquiry to he made into the case of a woman being sent to prison and three months’ hard labor at Christchurch for stealing a few liowers.

In reply to Mr Stafford, Mr Fisher stated i hat if a suitable site could he obtained, now Post Office buildings would bo erected at Timaru.

In reply to Mr "Wasou, Mr Mac an drew said instructions had been issued to construct a station at the Christchurch railway station speeeially adapted for hopper coal wagons. In reply to Mr J. C. Brown, Mr MacAKDSzAv glad the GoVlmaihat iut'eia'dhd to

take steps to open up run 200 on Miller’s Flat, Otago, for agricultural settlement. Mr Stout withdrew his motion that the constitution of the Legislative Council is unsatisfactory, until next session.

The adjourned debate on Mr Larnach’s motion for fully insuring all Government buildings was resumed by Mr Reid, who moved its further adjournment for a week. Mr J. C. Brown, Mr Manders, Mr Pyke, Mr Larnach, and Captain Russell spoke, the latter moving to discharge the motion of adjournment. Carried. Mr O’Roeke moved that next session a Bill should be introduced for the revision and expurgation of the Statute Law of the Colony, with a view to the publication of a revised issue of the same. This was agreed to. PARLIAMENTARY INCIDENTS. COLONEL WHITMORE JOINS THE MINISTRY. NEW COALITION OPPOSITION. [pee press agency.] Wellington, October 18. The Hon Colonel Whitmore has been sworn in as Colonial Secretary in the New Ministry, vice Sir George Grey, who resigns that ofllce. [feoji the] special coeeespondent of the PEBSB.J The intentions of the Opposition are maturing. The late Government party and a large number of the Middle party have amalgamateed. They claim, combined, a majority of ten, and are waiting an opportunity of showing it. So far has it gone that the names of the future Ministry are already given, namely, Major Atkinson, Mr Rollcston, Mr Bowen, Mr Gisborne, Mr Curtis and Mr Ormond. Mr Stafford is not to join, many of the party not having confidence in him. As the Government have promised the Financial Statement on Monday or Tuesday, we may expect a further development of the plot, shortly. The Ministry are fearfully w T eak. The speeches on the Imprest Supply Bill this afternoon were weak, through ignorance of the subjects they vrere speaking to. Major Atkinson apparently avoids a collision till the right time. The difficulty in the Upper House has been got over temporarily by Colonel Whitmore joining the Government as Colonial Secretary, as he says, to avoid complication. He made a very weak speech to-day, following Sir George Grey’s announcement of policy. There is nothing on the Order Paper tonight over which a party collision is likely to arise.