PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1046, 1 November 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Last Eight's Proceedings. Wellington, November 1. Mr Barff continued the debate. He criticised the conduct and policy of the late Ministry. The feeling of the country, especially of the West Coast, was decidedly in favor of Sir G. Grey. Separation it self would scarcely be a greater evil than the restoration of Major Atkinson’s Government, as it would even endanger the peace of the colony with Natives, and impare its credit abroad. Mr Fitzroy knew enough of the principles of Sir G. Grey and his colleagues to oppose them. The cry about fair play was only got up to excite public sympathy. Sir G. Grey had appealed to the Gallery, but the working men of the colony were too conservative to bo deceived by him. Ministers could not reconcile their views on the land fund question, and though they offered a sop to the Canterbury runholders, he remembered how Sir G. Grey had talked of those runholders last session. Mr Fisher thought the views of the present Ministers on the land fund question were quite as easily reconciliahle as those of the late Ministers. The Government would give the Canterbury runholders justice. They would have a fair valuation made and a fair rent fixed. He condemned the miserable county policy of the late Government. He felt proud of his own position, which he owed to an honest advocacy of tire rights of the people. He was a man of the people, but no violent democrat. People were tired of being governed by men who thought they had a vested interest in Government. Since Sir J. Vogel left, the late Ministry was always willing to “chum up” with any dangerous opponent, as it had neither brains nor policy of its own. If given a chance, the present Ministry would show that they were not such duffers as some people thought. Mr Murray urged retrenchment by reducing the number of members of the House. Either the land fund would have to be seized, or additional taxation imposed to reconcile the difference between the ordinary expenditure and income. He accused Mr Rowe of having attended meetings of the Middle Party as a spy, and betraying all he heard to Major Atkinson. The consternation caused by such misgovernment as Major Atkinson’s was what would bring about separation most quickly. He had no fear of Sir G. Grey promoting separation as a Minister. Mr Swanson thought Sir G, Grey the only man really in a position to effect any real retrenchment in the Civil Service. If Major Atkinson got back, and Mr Whitaker was not to return, how was Auckland to be represented in the Ministry. Only Sir 11. Douglas, Messrs Howe, Morris and Williams would be available. Certainly none of them would do. He strongly condemned Mr Rowe’s boasting at the Thames of having got things in the House by scheming. He had rather go without them than use such means. Now was Mr Rowe’s chance to get land and justice for the Thames by working with his colleagues. The country would insist on the Ministry getting fair play. Mr Hamlin moved the adjournment of the House, and it rose at 12.5 a.m.