PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1054, 13 November 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Last Night's Proceedings. Wellington, November 13. The debate on the adjourning the privilege question was continued. Messrs Wakefield and Wood opposed, Mr Brandon supported the adjournment. Mr Travers defended his i conduct, as consistent throughout. The House had asserted its privileges, and the | question now was regarding the Constitutional j position of the Ministers. It was this quesj tion the Governor wished to refer to the j Secretary of State. With the House's position i the Secretary of State could have nothing ; to do. Mr Sheehan said the adjournment 1 was sought because Major Atkinson found \ his party would not follow Mr Travers. He ! strongly opposed an ex parte statement of the ! case being referred home. He condemned ' Mr Travers's motion, as inconsistent. If the i House referred its privileges to an outside • authority, to suit party purposes, the iirsc step would be taken to destroy constitutional freedom. Dr. Hodgkinson thought the Governor's proposal to refer the matter to the Secretary of State was a fresh breach of privilege. Sir G. Grey strongly condemned the reference to a foreign authority. It was a shame of the Opposition to countenance such a proposal. If the Governor was entitled to refuse Ministers' advice, because a want of conlidence motion was pending, constitutional Government was at an end. The Governor contended to be responsible I only to the Secretarv of State, when he should ! be to the Queer! and to the laws and constitution of the country they were governing. i Of the Secretary of State the House knew nothing. Another unconstitutional act was the Governor's reference to the Governor of New South Wales. Constitutional liberty was in danger. If the Governors, disregarding their proper advisers were to consult each other, and form an alliance guided by a code of laws and precedents of their own, the House should assert its own right to determine all questions affecting its privileges. Qreat principles were at stake. Major Atkinson denied that they were countenancing any appeal to an outside authority. Sir Q. Grey had done so. The motion to adjourn the debate was carried by 38 to 37. Mr Giiboino then moved that it be reeumccl on Friday, urging the necessity of the House sending its view of the case home by the same mail as the Governor's memos. This proposal was lost by 38 to 37. A long debate cupped as to the date the debate should beadjournedio. lilt tjjjout attributed the conduct of the Opposition to a desiro to get the Canterbury run clauses of the Land iiill passed, For this they were bartering their privileges. Matters hud now come to a mere faction fight in the House, and the sooner the country was appealed to the better. He strongly condemned the attempt to politically OStratizj Sir G. Grey, because of his liberal views and his opposition to cliques and i'higs of all kjacls. After cosfliderablo discus,-

sion, Mr Shrimski moved the adjournment oi the House. The Speaker pointed out if thi motion were carried the matter would dro; i'lfcogether. Mr Travers defended his condue and condemned that of Ministers. Thei position in retaining office was unconstitutional He opposed their party now because he hac been deceived. When he joined them it waon the absolute promise that Sir G. Gre;\ should not be Premier. He warmly eulogised Sir Or. Grey's past services to the colony bufc objected to him as Premier. He did not intend to movo the motion he had given notice of, because the leader ol his party desired him not to do so. Mr Stout, at great length, replied to Mr Travers, pointing out the inconsistencies in his various speeches. Ho characterised the alleged agreement to banish Sir G. Grey from office as m conspiracy. It was evident that the only fault alleged was that he had served hie country well and desired well of it. What Mr Travers said would show the country that the present contest was not one of principle, but purely one of personal antagonism to a man who had rendered distinguished services to the State. Mr Eees strongly urged the necessity for at once referring the question at issue to the decision of the country. After further discussion, in which Messrs Sutton, Gisborne, and Joyce took part, Mr Reid thought too much was being made out of a small matter. Had the privileges of the House been endangered and Ministers resigned in defence he would, and tne House would, have supported them. He thought Ministers deserved censure for recommending Mr Wilson to a seat in the L pper House and publishing the papers. No Secretary of State was likely to attempt to interfere with the House. The privileges and liberties of the House were not in any way attacked or infringed, and the matter should drop. At 12 40 the motion for adjournment of the House was agreed to. The wholo matter therefore lapses. The following is the list of names in the division for the adjournment of the privilege question, moved by Major Atkinson : Opposition —3B Atkinson, Beetham, Bo wen, Brandon, Burns, Curtis, I'ouglas, Fitzroy, Gibbs, Henry. Hunter, Hursthouso, Johnston, Kennedy, Lumsden, Manders, McLean, Moorhouse, Morris, Murray-Aynsley, Ormond, Reid, Richardson, Richmond, Rolleston, Rowe, Russell, Seymour, Sharp, Stafford, Stevens, Sutton, Teschmaker, Travers, Wason, Whitaker, Williams, and Woolcock. Government —37 Bagent, Ballance, Barff, J. C. Brown, Bryce, Bunny, Delautour, Dignan, Fisher, Gisborne, Grey, Hamlin, Hislop, Hodgkinson, Joyce, Kelly, Inrnach, Lusk, Macandrew, Macfarlane, Montgomery, Murray, Nahe, O'Rorke, Tyke, Rees, Reynol Is, Seaton, Sheehan, Shrimski, Stout, Swanson, Takamoana, Thomson, Tole, Wakefield, and W. Wood.