GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1049, 7 November 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegraph.] [PEB PBESB AGENCY.] HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, November 6. DIVISION ON THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr MCLban resumed the debate on the no-confidence motion. He challenged the accuracy of Mr Lamach’s figures. The statement of the debt on the 30th June was the same as Major Atkinson’s figures, but the cash on hand, £980,000, £350,000 of balance of loan, and accrued sinking fund, were not taken off as they should hare been when the indebtness was put at £19,895,000 less the million from the Banks, Mr Larnach had, however, added to the total a number of independent sums which were also included in it. The amount borrowed from the Public Works account was authorised by law in the Public Revenues Act, and there was therefore no shifting of figures. The Speaker here interrupted Mr McLean, and ruled that the question having been put, and the voices taken before Mr McLean rose, the debate was at an end, and no further speaking could be permitted. Mr Reid, Mr McLean, and Major Atkinson rose to points of order, and were ordered to sit down, the Government side all calling “order,” “order,” “chair,” and a tremendous row took place, Major Atkinson persisting in speaking, and the Speaker’s voice being completely drowned. As Major Atkinson persisted in speaking, there were cries of “adjourn,” “adjourn.” The Speaker, in a very loud voice, called out “ I will proceed to put this question despite this unseemly interruption.” The voices were taken while Major Atkinson and Mr McLean were on their legs, and the Speaker declared that the “ Noes ” had it. Major Atkinson called for a division, which resulted thus ; —Ayes, 39 ; Noes, 39. The Speaker said he would give his casting vote with the “Noes,” in order that the House might have further opportunity of knowing its mind. Major Atkinson’s motion, “ That this House have no confidence in the Government,” was accordingly struck out, and Mr Reynolds’s amendment became a substantive motion. Major Atkinson moved an addition to this —“ That the Government not having a majority in the House, it should immediately resign.” As some question of order was raised,'Mr McLean moved this instead of Major Atkinson, but was ruled out of order. Mr M'Lean, resuming his speech previously interrupted, said —This division which has just taken place was a catch one, three of the Opposition being absent. No men with any self-respect would sit on the Treasury benches by the Speaker’s casting vote. He continued to criticise Mr Larnach’s figures. These showed that Mr Larnach intended to borrow to make up this year’s deficit. Major Atkinson had shown how this could have been avoided without borrowing £167,000 to make good the revenue for the present year. All Mr Lamach’s figures were in Major Atkinson’s budget, and theiormcr added them again. If the interest on the proposed loan were made sufficient, it would be taken at par, so the £300,000 would not be required for discount. He said Mr Larnach had no right to take any notice of claims which were under litigation now, much less to count them as a liability. They were for claims on railwaj contracts, and if Government lost them they would have to be paid out of the loan. To recognise them now was to encourage litigation. He defended the conduct of the late Government in borrowing from banks. _ It showed people in London that we were inde pendent of them, and that we could get what money we wanted from institutions intimate!} connected with the colony. He had never heard the wisdom of jthe transaction impugned before. Hd thought Major Atkinson had done a great deal to simplify the public accounts. Sir George Grey, he contended, had got inti office under false pretences, many having voted against the late Ministry on the distinct assurance that he would not take office. He at some length criticised Sir G. Grey’s statements and toe conduct of Government since

he took office. The Natives thought that at Sir G. Grey and Mr Sheehan were in offio( there was no law, and that they could do a; rhey liked. It was absurd to say that tin late Ministry wanted to precipitate war, although in all cases they had done their bes' to vindicate and enforce the law. Ho con demncd the action of the repudiation party The policy of the late Ministry was decentralisation. Their desire was to throw all possible functions on counties, which, having to raise money for themselves, would be ven careful how they spent it. The late Mimstrv had never bought votes. Eve*, a bribe might have bought one, but they did not give it [Cries of “ Name.”] Mr Wakefield said this was a libel on members. The Speaker ruled the remark improper, Mr McLean withdrew it. The late Government had done nothing of which they were ashamed, and their whole administration was open to the strictest scrutiny. He moved the amendment, “ That as the Government have no majority they should immediately resign.” Mr Reynolds and Mr O’Roeke contended that the words were contradictory to Mr Reynold’s amendment, now the substantive motion, and practically identical with Major Atkinson’s motion which had been negatived. They contended therefore that the proposed addition was out of order. Mr Reid contended that ordinary rules did not apply in motions of no-confidence. A long discussion ensued, in the course of which it was stated that the Ministerial party had refused a pair to Mr Gisborne, who was ill, and also to Mr Johnston, Ultimately the Speaker expressed the opinion that the proposed addition was inadmissible, both as being in object identical with what the House had already decided, and the words being repugnant andirreconcilablc with the sense of the words to which they were proposed to be added. At the same time, before giving a final ruling, he desired to take time to consider the matter more carefully. He would give a final decision on resuming the chair at 7.30. The members of the Opposition who were absent at the time of division were Messrs Travers, Johnston, and Gisborne. Evening Sitting. The Speaker ruled that Mr McLean’s amendment was inadmissible and out of order on both grounds. Mr Reynolds’s amendment, as a substantive motion, was then put, and a division was called for, but after the doors had been locked the Speaker declared that the “Noes ” had it, and the decision was not challenged. Mr Reynolds’s amendment was therefore negatived also. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, November 6, The Volunteers and Others Land Bill, Wakapuaka Telegraph Station Site Bill, Dunedin Town Hall Site Bill, Waiwera School Glebe Exchange Bill, and City of Wellington Loans and Consolidation Act Amendment Bill wore read a third time.