GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1045, 31 October 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[By Telegraph.] [pee pebss agency.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, October 30. CANTERBURY GRAIN TRAFFIC. The Hon. J. Hall moved that the Council Concur in the report of the Select Committee upon Canterbury grain traffic. The Hon. Mr Robinson moved an amendment that the Council recommend the Government to take into consideration the report of the Select Committee upon Canterbury grain traffic. After considerable discussion the debate was djoumed till to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, October 30. The House met at 2,30 p.m. Mr Takomoana was very much pleased at the late Government being overthrown, because otherwise he thought there have been disturbance amongst the Natives. The present Government had done nothing why they should be turned out. He defended the past career of Sir G. Grey, and predicted further trouble if he was turned out. Captain Russell was sorry that on every occasion Takomoana threatened a Maori war if he did not get everything his own way. This was a most dangerous course and might be productive of serious consequences. Major Atkinson had been accused of making a poor speech, but certainly it compared very favorably with the bold speech made by Mr Larnach in moving his want of confidence motion. He thought there were as many apostates on the Government side as on their side, and almost every man who had recently joined the Opposition had done so after refusing a seat in the present Ministry. At present we had really no Government, for Sir G. Grey was not placed in power by a majority m the House, and had not a majority to support him there. There was nothing in the present motion to prevent the Ministry bringing down their policy and Financial Statement now, it they had any to bring down ; and by so doing, if their policy was a good one, they mignt triumphantly defeat the motion. The Government had really adopted the Buis, finance, and policy of their predecessors, even to the desire for political rest. Mr Reader Wood condemned the indecent eagerness of Major Atkinson to return to office as a fatal mistake which, even it succeeded, temporarily, would force him to refer the question to the country. He contended that the Grey party had given the Middle

Party every possible chance, and that it had only made itself ridiculous. It had tried to climb up to power by schemes, and by using Sir G. Grey as a ladder to bo kicked aside as soon as they got up, but they never consulted , the ladder, and when they got up a certain height the ladder had slipped from under them. Mr Travers had tried to get them to sign an agreement to follow Sir W. Fitzherbert because the Middle Party had no leader, and when the others refused the Middle Party got angry, and spoke about being deceived, byjwhom they did not say, for they did not pretend that they had any communication with Sir G. Grey. It had come to this that either Sir G-. G-rey had to come to the rescue, or that Mr Larnach should give up the task of forming a Ministry and allow the late Government to return to office. In no other way than by colonialising the land fund and other resources of the country could a healthy state of affairs be brought about. No Q-overnment not bold enough to face this question could hope for success or a long tenure of office. He criticised Mr Fox’s speech at considerable length, and denied the statement that the figures brought forward by Sir Q. Qrey were to be found in the late Treasurer’s Statement. Sir Q. Qrey was the first man to come down and say that the sham of issuing Treasury bills with the full knowledge that the consolidated fund could never redeem them should cease. For years the colony had been living by this system of flying kites. He quoted Mr Fox’s separation resolution of 1863, as showing that Sir Q. Qrey certainly was not the only politician who had advocated the policy of separation. He drew a powerful picture of the difference between the Fox of the past, and the Fox of the present, concluding with the words of Ophelia as she looked on the wreck of Hamlet. Referring to Mr Curtis’s statement, that he would not suffer Sir Q, Qrey and his friends to retain office, he said that neither the House nor the country would suffer a Government made up of faded superintendents and old officials to either attain or hold office. Whatever the result of the present motion there was no doubt that the ultimate appeal must be made to the people. Whichever side won by a small majority [neither could carry on the business, and a dissolution must ensue. Dr. Hodgkin sojt at considerable length criticised the policy of the late Ministry, and argued that there was nothing to justify the present motion. He also criticised the personnel of the late Government, and contrasted it with that of the present one. The debate was interrupted. PARLIAMENTARY INCIDENTS. THE NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE. [from the correspondent of the press.] Weldington, October 30, 8 p.m. The division on the present vote of noconfidence will be closer than was anticipated. ( Baigent and Tawiti will vote for the Government, and McFarlane will probably not vote. This would give the Opposition a ma jority of two, but I hear Travers is very doubtful. Even after his speech of last night he had promised to support Sir George Grey if the the unification of the colony were not touched, then pledged himself to Major Atkinson, on the understanding Sir G. Grey still supported Separation; but if he declares he will abandon Separation, Travers must vote withjhim. This would leave a tie, and the Speaker would vote to keep the Government in office. It was thought that the attack by Reader Wood this afternoon on Travers would seal his vote to the Opposition, but as I write the Opposition whip is trying to talk with him, but he is receiving his advances coldly. Ballance’s speech last night struck the chord of the Government policy, namely, to ask for a dissolution, and in the present evenly balanced House, it will probably come. After Mr Reynolds’s amendment is disposed of, the Taranaki members will vote with either party who will support their Bill. At present Travers holds the trump card which must win the trick.