GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1044, 30 October 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegraph.] [pee pbess agency.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, October 20. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NATIVE COMMUNICATIONS. Mr SHEEHAN laid on the table copies of a number of telegrams from natives to Sir G-eorgc Grey, includ ng one from the Maori King, inviting Sir G-eorge to meet him in November. Sir Sheehan said this was first communication received from the King since the Waikato war in 18t>3. DEBATE OX THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. Mr Shrimski said that attempts to maintain provincial institutions or obtain separation having failed, lie was now prepared to maintain the unity of the colony. He saw nothing in Major Atkinson's speech beyond a desire to get back to office. He thought the manner in which the present Ministry conducted the business far preferable to that of the late Government. Major Atkinson used to set an exceedingly bad example to the House when in office, and he might learn a useful lesson from the conduct of his successors. The policy of the last Government was—" Give us a loan, and let us alone." They had introduced an Education Bill, but they sadly needed education themselves in political honesty and morality. Mr Curtis said it was a remarkable thing that all the speakers on the other side u3ked them to consider Sir George Grey as a new man, and to forget all his past career and past speeches. Had he moved the vote which Mr Larnach did, it would not have been carried, for his views, especially on separation, were well known. Every member of the Government held similar views, and no Government which advocated separation should have his vote, nor could he have confidence in gentlemen who in offico were willing to abandon the principles thev had advocated in Opposition. So far from retrenchment proceeding in the direction recommended by Sir G. Grsy, he thought it would go in another direction—in railways for instance. The cor.:vmittco now sitting' would probably recommend a system of local management. As to tho proposed reduction of Ministerial salaries, a similar policy had gome years ago been adopted in the Nelson Provincial Government. An Executive got into office on a cry of the

kind, and it speedily ended in the salaries of the members of the Government being raised instead of decreased. And Sir George Grey did not venture to say that the heads of departments were over paid, but proposed to reduce those salaries simply because they could afford it. It would gbe a very uncourageou3 thing to reduce salaries which were already low in comparison to those paid in mercantile establishments. Sir G-. Q-rey last year had voted against the seat of Government being retained at Wellington. He objected to Sir G. Grey's proposal to form a separate goldfields department. Sir G. Grey's declarations about representation were also unsatisfactory. He defended himself from charges of inconsistency in 1867 which had been made by Mr Delatour. He then reviewed his own political conduct up to last session, when abolition was carried. This session he had at a meeting informed the Government that he would vote against them for the colonisation of the land fund, but he remained silent while the resolution was passed by the meeting, promising the Government his support. This session he assented to this as against the Grey party, but soon after the Middle Party was formed, and after full consideration, believing a change of Government desirable, he joined that party on the most distinct assurances that neither Sir George Grey nor his immediate followers would either seek or take office. Ho therefore voted for the no confidence motion, and very soon after Sir G. Grey, through his friends, expressed his desire to take office. He and others of the Middle Party at once refused to follow him, and promised to support Major Atkinson in the present'motion, which he hoped would be carried and result in the formation of a really strong Ministry in which the country and the House could have confidence. Mr J. Evans Brown desired to know how many of those who, like Mr Curtis, had deserted the Middle Party expected to be in the new Ministry. Eumor said four at least. Major Atkinson presented a pitiable spectacle, seeking to return to oflice by the votes of those who a for'night before had declared him unfit to hold office, and had turned him out. He declared that the late Government showed the maximum of political profligacy ami the minimum of administrative ability. That Sir G. Grey should have had difficulty in filling the Ministerial seats showed that the party was not hungry for office, but was supporting Sir G. Grey from principle. Sir G. Grey had no sham about him He would not go in for sham finance and if left in office would place before the country a real and fair statement of the position of the country, and boldly ask it to do what was necessary to restore the public credit. Whether it was to generalise the land fund to impose a property tax, he would himself vote for whatever was shown to be necessary to preserve our credit. He strongly condemned the public works administration of the late Government. When Mr McLean in Otugo pleaded want of money as a reason lor delay in carrying on railways, the real fact as shown by the present Government was that £330,000 had been forwarded by the public account from the public works account. That was the reason why money was short, and Otago had to complain of railway works not being carried out. Thus the whole railway system was as bad as could be. He quoted a number of instances, strongly condemning the system as recommended, by the Commission of Heads of Departments. The late Government left everyto their officials. Mr Sutton thought it quite fair to judge Ministers by their past utterances and conduct, without waiting for them to develop any now policy. Sir G. Grey's statements in the House differed from Colonel Whitmore's in the Council in many points, especially in regard to the reduction of salaries. The one announced a radical, the other a conservative policy. From the first, the present Ministry did not possess the confidence of a majority of the House. He maintained that the Native telegrams were simply sent to order. In any case ; these telegrams really meant that the Waikatos hoped to be able to get back their lands from the new Government, having failed to get them from the late one. He complained that the Southern land fund was vanishing by the land itself being allocated for railways. _Since the present Government took office, 750,000 acres of land had been thus appropriated for particular schemes. Mr Thomson ascribed the desire of Major Atkinson to get back to office to something akin to a cat's instinct of locality. He reviewed at some length the travelling ard other allowances received by the late Ministers during their term of office. He reviewed also the policy of the late Government to show how unfit they were to be restored to office. He urged it was only fair to give the present Government a trial to see whether they could not do better than their predecessors. The conduct of the Opposition in the present motion was unprecedented in constitutional history. He believed the country was proud of having Sir G. Grey in his present position. The debate was interrupted by the dinner hour. PARLIAMENTARY INCIDENTS. THE NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE. [PROM THE COERF.SFONDENT OF THE PRESS.] Wellington, October 29. It is doubtful whether there will be a division to-night. Mr Thomson is still prosing away. The Opposition majority will probably be not more than two or three. It is said that three members will not vote, and the Government are working hard to get a majority. The Opposition will not speak much to-night. Mr Fox will folio?/ Mr Thomson, but unless soma good speeches are made on the Government side the Opposition will keep silence. 8 p.m. Mr Fox has risen. Ho s»ys he cannot vote for Mr Reynolds's amendment, as it is not in accordance with facts, as the Government have declared their policy in Sir George Grey's statement. He might just as well be asked to wait for the statements of all the Ministers Public Works, Native, and Lands. Ho would like to hear Mr Sheehan's statement on repudiation. Mr Fox is making an able speech—the best that has been made. Mr Sheehuu v Ml probably reply, nnd o division k>-i>ighL looks uioro limn ever doubtful. [.PER PBLSS A3EICCY.'] It was exported un till this afternoon that a division on the r:o confidence deb-rS; would be taken to-night, but as there is an uneasy feeling on both bides as to certain votes and how the division will be affected thereby, the debate is not considered likely to close tonight.