GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1699, 31 July 1879, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

.HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, July 30. ■The House met at 2.30. MISCELLANEOUS. Several petitions wme preeented. Sir G. Gkky laid on tho table a copy of tho Appropriation Act, after which he announced that his Excellency had fixed the hour of 0 quarter to threo to receive the Speaker and hon. members of that House de- - 8 :-ous of presenting the address in reply. Dr. Wallis gave notice to ask what steps have been taken to inquire into the case of Mrs Croker, wife of Major Croker, who is 1 alleged to have been wrongfully imprisoned by the judges. ADDBESS IN BBPLY. Members having vißited his Excellency and . returned to the House, The Spbakeb intimated that his Excellency ' had been pleased to make the following reply to the address from that House—" Mr ''Speaker and Gentlemen of tho House of Representatives, I thank you for this address and for the congratulations which you are so good as to offer me on my appointment to the Government of the colony. I fully realize the necessity of my advisers possessing the confidence of tho representatives of the peoplo in Parliament, and I shall not fail to give to the views you express on this subject immediate and careful consideration. ADJOTTBNMENT. Sib Geo. Gbey said, having regard to the ' State of affairs under which they were met, and being desirous that no delay in future proceedings should take place, with the consent of the House he wished to propose an adjournment until 7 30, when he would have .4 communication to make to the House. ' Sib W. Fox said he did not rise to oppose 'the motion, but to suggest that the hon. gentleman should avail himself of the opportunity of sending up supplies to the House. Sib Geo. Gbby said ho would do so if it -was the wish of the House. The motion for adjournment was then formally withdrawn, in order to enable the Premier to give notice of his intontion to bring up a Supply Bill, and to ask for a committee of the whole to consider the same next Bitting day. The House then adjourned untu 7.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7 30. MINIBTBBIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. Sir G. Gbky said :—Sir, I ask the House for a short indulgence in order that I may make a statement to the House as to the present position of affairs, and as to the course the Ministry might think it their duty to follow. Sir, I waited to-day upon his Excellency the Governor, and related what had transpired in the House Ist night, and then I tendered to the Governor the advice on my Own behalf and that of my colleagues, that he should grant a dissolution of Parliament. [Hear, hear] —in order that an appeal might be made to the constituencies. Sir, the Governor was pleased to reply to my advice, at the same time stating that he was anxious that the decision at which he arrived should be conveyed to Parliament in his own words. I therefore, sir, move, with the permission of the House, for leave to read the reply, which his Excellency gave to me in writing. His Excellency's replv is to this effect: —" I have carefully considered the position in which Ministers are placed by the defeat which they have sustained in the House of Representatives upon a no-confidence motion, and am clearly of opinion that they have a fair constitutional claim to a dissolution. [Tremendous applause from Government supporters.] No doubt a general election would be inconvenient at the present moment, having regard to the financial depression, and in the circumstances of the colony generally, and especially to the Native difficulty on the West Coast. I therefore presume that Ministers have carefully considered the consequences of such a step before tendering to mo the advice, and I am, therefore, prepared to accept their recommendation —[renewed and long continued cheering on the Government side]— leaving with them tho entire responsibility of such proceedings. At the same time, I think it right to stipulate that the well-recognised constitutional principles which govern events like the present should be strictly adhered to. Ministers havo lost the confidence of tho representatives of tho people, and are about to appeal from them to the country. [Cheers.] A majority of the House of Representatives has declared that Ministers have so neglected and mismanaged the administrative business of the country that they no longer po?ses3 the confidence of Parliament. It is indispensable under such circumstances, if Ministers do not at once resign, that Parliament should be dissolved with the least possible delay, and that, meanwhile, no measures shall bo pi'Oposed that may not be imperatively required, nor any contested motion whatever brought forward. It is necessary nlso, and in accordance with an established Constitutional precedent, that a new Parliament shall be called together at tho earliest possible moment at which the writs are returnable, and, if Ministers accept a dissolution upon this understanding, I beg that any explanation the Premier may make to Parliament of the answer which I have given upon his tendered advice may be road in my words. (Signed) Hebcttles Robinson." ["Loud cheering and cries of Sir, I have only, under such circumstance, to add that we havo tendered our advice that this dissolution shall take place. It will require some time to decide what measures we may feel it our duty to bring before Parliament previously to dissolution. I called tho Governor's attention to the wores " contosted motion." He understands that does not embrace the Loan Bill or the Supplies necessary for carrying on the public services. [Cries of "Oh ! Oh! " and "Hear, hear."] Sir, wo shad be happy to communicate with the Opposition and to act in the most cordial spirit, in simply bringing before Parliament such measures as are absolutely necossary for tho welfare of the country. We will carefully abstain from pressing any matter upon the attention of this House which is not absolutely necessary for the immediate welfare of the people of New Zealand. I now ask the House to agree to an adjournment until Friday next at half-past seven, to enable us to dotermine exactly what course wo shall pursue in reference to the public businoss before a dissolution is actually carried out. Sir, I move that this House do now adjourn till 7.30 on Friday. [Loud, prolonged cheering]. Mr Babpf—Sir, in speaking to the queß■tion of adjournment— The Spbakeb I havo not stated tho question yet. [The Speaker then put the motion far adjournment]. Mr Bab?:?—I was merely about to suggest to the Premier the advisability of supplying the leader of the Opposition with a copy of the communication received from his Excel«ncy.

Sir W. Fox—Sir, I trust that the suggestion which has been made by the hon. member for Hokitika will not be thought unworthy of notice by the members of the Government. I think the proper course will be to lay the letter on the table of this House, that it may bo printed and placed in the hands of members at an early hour tomorrow. I can say that the course which his Excal'ency has adopted iB one strictly in accordance with constitutional practice. But, in his acquiescence in the advice to grant a dissolution, he loft it for this House to consider the question of supplies, and that will be brought before the House before the other question of a dissolution. Under these circumstances, I have no objection to the adjournment. [Hear, hear.] Sir G. Obey—This being only a record copy I can only lay it temporarily on the table, on the understanding that it will be replaced by a copy, so that it may be printed immediately. I will have it printed to-night, and send tho leader of the Opposition a copy. I do not wish it to be supposed, sir, that I acquiesce in the statement that tho Governor has made the granting of supplies necessary as a condition of dissolution. I only guard myself against being supposed by silence to acquiesce in the statement made by tho hou. membor who leads the Opposition that the Governor had made supply a condition necessary to dissolution. There is nothing of that kind in tho memo. Sir W. Fox—l did not intimate that was a condition in tho memo., but I intimated that constitutionally it was a condition of a dissolution.

The proposal that the memorandum bo printed was agreed to. Mr Babton—l only desire to call attention to one matter arising out of the words " contested motion." Sir, I presume that these words simply refer to tho matters to be brought forward either by the Government or the Opposition. But, Sir, Ido not understaad that this will prevent any hon. member, who has a griovance to bring forward affecting the country, or persons who may have a grievance which it is pr >per to bring forward, from doing so, either boforo or on the motion for supply, if the hon. member thinks proper to do so.

The Peesiier —If I may'be'allowed to explain to the House, the words " Contested motion" mean motions apart from those which are always made under such circumstances as have arisen, end havo been agreed upon by the leaders of the two parties in Parliament, who always settle what matter shall be taken by the House. This refers only to Government measures, bnt no person has any power to interfere with members of the House bringing forward any motion they like. An adjournment to 730 on Friday was agreed to on the voices amidst loud cheers from Government supporters.