HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1698, 30 July 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, Judy 29. The House met at 2.30. MISCEDDANEOUS. Mr Seaton presented a petition from Otago, praying that the Lord’s Prayer may be read in the schools. Mr Moss, a petition from Parnell, praying for certain endowments. Mr Sheimski gave notice to move—“ That it is desirable that the Banking account of the colony be divided amongst the several Ranks of the colony, and that a committee be appointed to consider the matter.” Mr Baeton gave notice of motion —“ That a committee be appointed to inquire into the conduct of the Judges in his case ” Sir G. Geby gave notice to introduce an Act to vest certain reserves in the public trustees. Sir O. Geey gave notice that he would ask. for papers relating to the exemptions under the Land Tax Act. The name of Tainui was added to the Native Affairs Committee. A number of papers were laid on the table, including correspondence relating to land taken under the New Zealand Settlement! Acts, 1863-64, the report of the Telegraph office, correspondence from Sir J. Vogel re embarkation of emigrants at Falmouth, re New Zealand Land Association. A number of committee reports were also laid on the table. The report of the Railway Map EnquiryCommittee (Thames valley line) was brought up and read. The report and minutes of evidence were ordered to be printed. Mr Hamdin gave notice to move for the appointment of analytical chemists throughout the colony. Mr Sheehan laid on the table papers referring to the Maori prisoners. QUESTIONS. Dr. Hbney asked the Minister for Public Works if he will lay before the House a return showing the moneys voted towards roads and bridges on Nelson, Lyell, Westport, and Recfton roads last session ; also the precise works on which those votes were expended, and defining the Counties where such works were carried on. Mr Macandeew said the return would be furnished as soon as possible. Mr Stevens asked the Premier whether Mr Larnach. in addition to £2OOO paid to him as one of the Doan agents, has received any public money of the colony since he ceased to be a Minister of the Crown, and, if so, what amount and on what account ? The Peemiee believed no such sum had been paid, but he had been unable to ascertain positively. Mr Bowen asked the Minister for Public Works whether the Government have received a report on the subject of the damage done by railway works on the Waimakariri river to the protective works erected by the Borough of Kaiapoi, and whether such report wi’l be published. Mr Mac andeb w laid on the table the report asked for, as far as Ministers were in possession of same. Mr Bowen asked the Minister for Public Woiks whether there is any departmental report on the drainage of the Mandeville and Rangiora district, and the damage done to railway works by the last flood. Mr Macandeew said the report was being prepared, and would bo brought up. Mr Bowen asked the Minister for Public Works whether provision has been made for the extension of the platform at the station at Kaiapoi, which was to have been carried out when the railway guage was converted. Mr Macandeew said provision had been made for the platform extension and other improvements. Captain Moeeis asked the Government if they will lay before this House the report of the Crowu Lands ranger on Kati Kati, No. 2 settlement. Mr Thomson said the report would be laid on the table as soon as obtained. Mr Richmond asked the Government what action hud been taken under Public W orka Amendment Act of last session, which added the words “ with branches” after the word “ Masterton” in the fourth schedule of the Public Works Act, 1870. Also whether tho expenditure required to carry out the proposal to construct a branch lino from Woodside to Greytown has been brought before Parliament and authorised by it. Mr Macandeew thought the amount wt» small, but might be covered by the amount asked for on the Wellington and Masterton line. If not, a further sum would be provided for.

Captain Eysbell asked the Minister for Public Worts when the promised station on toe Napier-Kopua lino of railway, at Taroha’s bridge, will bo erected. Mr Macandeevv said it was thought that a cattle station and platform would be provided for. . Mr Baeff asked the Native Minister if ho will lay before this House copies of all mops issued under the authority of the Government to various survey offices throughout the colony, showing the results of the survey of the Waimato plains and acreage oi the lands proposed to bo set apart for the occupation of the Native race. Mr Sheeuan said he had maps, and would lay them on the table, but the Government would not be bound by the maps. Mr Eeetes asked the Minister for Publio

Works when Sir J. Goode’s report on the Qreymouth harbor may be expected. Mr MacandreW said he feared it would be some time, as the data had only just been sent Homo. Mr Maoandehw, in reply to a question put .-some days before, ro damage by fire arising from sparks from railway engines, said the damage had been greatly over-estimated, but spark-catchers had now been provided for all the engines, so that such damage would be obviated in future. Mr Barton asked the Premier if he would day on the table the correspondence between ■Colonel Whitmore and himself, relative to the conduct of the Chief Justice between himself and certain clients. The Premier said the correspondence was before both Houses, and he gave notice of motion that the correspondence be printed. DEFEAT OP THE GOVERNMENT. The adjourned debate on the question that an address in reply be presented was then taken. The Premier moved that it he taken at 'the hour appointed, four o’clock. Sir W. Fox said they would oonson to that if no discussion took place at that hour. The Premier said he could not promise 'that. Sir W. Fox said he should object to an adjournment unless that promise was made. Mr Gisborne regretted the extraordinary decision of the hon. gentleman, which amounted to gagging discussion on the matter before the House. Mr Murray trusted Sir W. Fox would withdraw his opposition, Mr Wakefield thought the request of the Premier was that the House should adjourn for three quarters of an hour, rather than have any debating now, and if that was the issue, Sir W. Fox and the whole House would • concur in it. If there was to be any discussion, it might just ns well be taken now. The adjournment till 4 o’clock was carried on the voices. After the adjournment order was called on, and the amendment read by the Speaker. _ Dr. Henry said he would waive his right to speak, and there were cries of “question” and “ divide.” Tho division was then taken •on the amendment of want of confidence in the present Government, with the following result •—For tho amendment, 47 ; against, ■ 33. Majority against the Government, 14. The following is the division list: — Ayes—47. Messrs Adams Messrs Moorhonse Atkinson Morris Bai gent M urray Ay naley Barff Oliver Beetham Ormond Bowen Pyko Brandon Richardson Bryce Richmond Curtis Eollestou Cuttea Rowe Sir R. Douglas Russell Mr Fitzroy Saundeis 'Sir W. Fox (tell Seymour Messrs Gibbs Stevens Green Stewart Hart Stndholmo Henry Sutton Hobbs Tawiti Hunter Tomoana Hnrsthonso Wakefield Johnston (Teller) Kelly Whitaker Kenny Williams Macfarlane Woolcock Noes—33. ; Messrs Ballance Messrs Macandrew Barton Manders Brown, J. C. Moss Bunny Nabe Carrington Rees De Lautour Reeves (Teller) Feldwick Seaton Fisher Shanks George Sheehan Gisborne (Tel'er) Goldie Shrimski •Sir G. Grey Swanson Mesarfl Hamlin Tainui Hislop Thomson Hodgkineon Tele Jackson Turnbull Joyce Wallis Messrs G. McLean and Wm, Montgomery paired. Messrs Driver and Bastings are still absent from the House. Messrs J. E. Brown (absent), MoMinn and Murray did not vote. Mr Hislop rose to review tho conduct of those who, having placed Sir George Grey’s Government in power, had just gone into the lobby with his opponents. If ho were to review the conduct of the Grey Government he should -Bay there was much with which he disagreed, but ho contended that the leader of tho Opposition had adduced no argument to show why this change should take place._ It was' true there was a charge of maladministration, and another directed against the conduct of the Native Minister, but it came with very bad grace from the hon. member for Wangtinni. Ho looked upon this as tho most insincere cry over heard in the House. After the introduction ot the Loan Bill and of measures of policy, it would have been soon enough for such an amendment of want of confidence. After some further remarks, ho said, in order that the Governor might be fully informed of all the circumstances which led to the passing of the amendment, he hoped tho House would consent to an amendment he had to propose to the effect that the amendment had been carried in the absence of full information warranting any such vote. He therefore begged to propose the addition of tho following clause to tho address as an amendment to the no-confidence clause just added:—“ This House also thinks it right to add that tho foregoing opinion has been arrived at in the absence of official papers or information on the several subjects in regard to which we believe your advisers have been guilty of maladministration and neglect.” Mr Rees said they had that day heralded the advent of the noble army of rats, who had enlisted under the banner of the hen. member for Wanganui. They had the spectacle of some ten or twelve members tearing to tatters every promise they had made to their constituents, instead of honestly going before their constituents and asking them to take back their promises. He referred to the hon. member for the Thames, and the hon. member for Franklin and many others, who were pledged to support Sir George Grey, and now turned round, contrary to the advice of their constituents. He contended that insufficient reasons had been shown for the vote given against tho Government. He trusted they would hear the hon. gentlemen who had voted against the Government and against their constituents in explanation of their conduct. If Mr Hislop’s amendment was not carried, it would amount to this, that the House was well informed, whilst he was convinced that such was not the case. Mr Hobi)9 said ho rose in explanation. He had addressed his constituents, and asked them if he was to use his own discretion, or be the tool of Ministers, and he had the confidence of his constituents, who gave him permission to vote as he thought proper. He did not think tho hon. member for City East (Mr Rees) was tho man to question anybody’s honesty, and considered he was a disgrace to any party or Government. The House adjourned at 5.30. Tho House resumed at 7.30. Sir George Grey continued, denying any charges of maladministration that had been made out against the Government, and stating that all charges against himself were untruthful. Respecting the charges against himself for refusing the Governor the Hinemoa, the facts of tho case were that the Governor had boon offered a man-of-war. If ha did not choose that, the Government offered him a handsome sum of money to defray the expenses of tho passage by an intercolonial steamer. The Governor at first declined both, and applied for the use of tbo Hinemoa, but at that time the present Government were aware that at any moment there might bo disturbances on the West Coast, and the vessel might be required to ensure the rafety of the people in the locality. The Hinemoa was only intended for use in New Zealand waters. Ho maintained, too, that the life of a child of tho humblest settler in New Zealand was of more consequence than that of a sick Marchioness. (Laughter.) They might laugh. He cried shame on hon. members for so doing. He believed he was even now trying to influence the Governor in an indirect manner. [Oh.] Ho would ask the country if he was not doing his duty in keeping the vessel in New Zealand waters. [Hear, hear.] Tho hon. gentleman then went on to speak of tho earlier days of the Native Minister, and tho way he had struggled for himself and family, denying that he had ever done anything dishonorable, but that it was a matter of fact that ho had been offered a bribe of £2OOO by tho Natives, and that although pressed for money, he scornfully refused it. [Hear, hear.] If the hon. member for Franklin wore ever tempted in the like manner he hoped he would have fortitude to do as the Native Minister. Every kind of misrepresentation had been made to mislead the country. The ihon. member for Waitemata said[tho Government had failed to carry

out their promise of making great reductions. They had made reductions, but had found it impossible to make great reductions. In that House they had attempted it, and had at once been met with a negative vote. [Hear, hear.] What was the state of the franchise here ? In round numbers there were about 50,000 people who had rates if the rolls were searched, and it would be found there were 66,000 people who ought to be enfranchised. (Hear, hear.) Hon. gentlemen said, “Hoar, hear." "Why, for years past, had they not enfranchised them ? How was it that people had been robbed of their land and ground down by taxation before it was done? They had taken good care there should bo no fair representation of the people. Ho and his hon. colleagues represented a population of 13,000, while Taranaki, with 9000, had three votes. "Was that justice? And the moment Ministers tried to get some justice done they all united to prevent them. [Hear, hear.] And yet they would go to the Governor now and tell him they represented the people. They did nothing of the kind, for they robbed the people of their franchise. He said again thousands of families had been ruined by the land laws and unjust taxation. In the case of public works taxation was placed upon the shoulders of those who could least afford to bear it. They took money from the poor and gave the rich power of spending it. In the immigration too, there had been gross mismanagement. Here again the people had to suffer. With regard to lands, the Native lands had been more unfairly dealt with than the Crown lands. He spoke of a forward member of that House who was to have the right of purchasing certain lands, to the exclusion of all The Natives had, in many cases, been as directly robbed of their land as though the money had been taken from their pocket. When he looked around he saw many men who looked upon him as their enemy, and who would do anything almost to remove him from office. Sir George then referred to the measures introduced by his Government last session, making a few remarks on each. [Applause.] Mr Hislop’s amendment was negatived on the voices, and the amended address agreed to. The House adjourned till 2 30 to-day.