GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1701, 2 August 1879, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, August 1. The House met at 7.30. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Kelly asked for and received permission for a Private Bills Committee to sit on two Bills before the House. Several petitions wore presented, including one by Sir George Grey, from Charles Goodhue, R. J. Feltus, and Charles Kerr. Mr Macandrew presented one from 900 electors in Dunedin, and one from Kaikoura, praying that the Bible may be read in schools. Mr J. S. Macfarlano presented one from A. Smith, contractor on the Kaipara railway, for compensation for loss on the contract. One was presented by Mr Pyke, praying that the price of deferred payment land may be reduced. Mr Sheehan presented two petitions re land claims from Cleary and Kerr. Mr Babton gave notice of motion re his committal to prison by Judges of the Supreme Court to stifle the free expression of opinion, and pointing out that such Judges have no right to remain in their present position, and that a written Judgment condemning a man to death had,been produced from the pocket of a Judge, and concurred in by his fellow Judges, and other charges; calling for the removal of such Judges; and praying that inquiry be made into said matters. The Speakee pointed out that some of the matters should be eliminated, and would not be allowed to appear on the order paper. Sir W. Fox pointed out that much of it was libellous and scandalous. Mr Babton asked that the offensive matter should be pointed out to the House. The Speakee called Mr Barton to order. Mr Tole gave notice of a Bill to amend the Slaughter House Act, 1877. Mr Rolleston gave notice to ask a question re the publication of a letter to Rewi Muniopoto in January last. The Speakee suggested that the matter should be brought before the Reporting Debates Committee. Mr Sheehan laid several papers on the table. Dr. Wallis asked the Minister of Justice whether a letter from Major Croker to the Premier, respectiag the conduct of Judge Gillies on the late trial of his wife, and requesting his removal from the Bench, has been received ; and if so, what course the Government intend to pursue in the matter, and whether the correspondence will be placed before tl* House. Mr Sheehan said the letter had loan received, but the correspondence was so libellous that he doubted if he could lay it on the table of the House. Mr Feldwick asked the Commissioner of Customs if he will lay before the House a copy of a circular letter dated 6th March, 1877, addressed to various Collectors of Customs, instructing those officers to make an alteration in the method of making returns of exports and imports coastwise, and at the same time to state the reasons for such change. The Pbemiee laid on the table the return asked for, and it was ordered to be printed. Mr Geobge asked the Colonial Treasurer — (I) The number of persons who held land in the colony and are taxable under the Land Tax Act; (2) the number of persons who hold land in the colony but are exempted from the land tax under the exemption clause. The Colonial Teeasubeh replied (1) 15,452 and (2) 67,050. Mr Qisbobne laid on the table papers re Kumara Education Reserve. Leave was given to introduce the following Bills: —Mr Curtis, a Bill to Amend the District Courts Act, 1&57 ; Mr Gisborne, a Bill authorising the Governors of High Schools to realise on their reserves and endowments and to provide fo r the investment of the proceeds thereof. MINISTBBIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. Sir G. Qeey said he wished to state to that House the result of his consultation with the hon. gentleman the leader of the Opposition relative to the document sent to that House by His Excellency the Governor. He stated that it was thought expedient on the part of the Government that they should not proceed to other business under the circumstances in which they found themselves than the mere passing of the Loan Bill and granting of supplies. But it was suggested and thought desirable that the Electoral Bill, Representation Bill and Chinese Bill might be allowed to pass the House before dissolution, of course without any conflict of opinion arising thereon. He had consulted the leader of the Opposition on the subject, and would read the correspondence which had passed between them on this matter : —“ The Premier presents his compliments to Sir W. Fox, and begs to inform him that otherwise than the Loan Bill and Supply the Government does not propose to ask Parliament to consider any measures except the Electoral Bill, Representation Bill, and Chinese Immigration Bill, which from their Justice and importance at the present time, the Government have no doubt the Opposition will permit to bo introduced without contest.” “ Sir W. Fox presents his compliments to the Premier, and begs to inform him that he has received, at halfpast ten this morning, his letter of yesterday, and will immediately consult his friends and reply as early as possible. ” The next letter road was “ Sir W. Fox presents his compliments to Sir G. Grey, and in reply to his memo, desires to state that, the Governor having clearly defined the terms upon which a dissolution is granted, the Opposition do not presume to take the matter out of his Excellency’s hands. The Premier having informed the House that the Loan Bill and Supply are not deemed by the Government as included in the words * contested motion,’ the Opposition are prepared to assist the Government in passing them. But as to the other measures, the Opposition are agreed as to their importance, but consider the terms of the Governor’s memo, precludes them from being brought forward by a Government which does not possess the confidence of the House.”

The Pbemieb then proposed that the House go into Committee of Supply and ask for an imprest on next sitting day, when the estimates had been prepared and submitted to the House.

Sir W. Fox said before the Opposition could deal with supply, they ought to have some sort of statement of finance before them and would ask for a brief statement of the same. The Pbemieb said the Government did not intend to ask for supply without affording such information in a brief form.

Mr Sheekan said he wished several private Bills to be brought forward before the House dissolved.

Sir W. Fox said the Opposition would like to know what Bills were referred to. Mr ShbehAX said he would name them next sitting day. Sir W. Fox said, before going into Committee of Supply, he wished to state that when intimation of the dissolution was given, he said there was reserved to the House the right of refusing supply if it thought proper. His opinion was that if the House refused supply, his Excellency would not feel himself justified in granting a dissolution. That was his reading of the document laid before the House and it was borne out by the example of New South Wales and Lord Carnarvon’s despatch on that occasion. If he did not grant it he would ask the Opposition to form a Ministry, and if they declined then he (the Governor) might to the dissolu tion. But the party of which ho (Sir W. Fox) was leader had a constitutional precedent, and would be no party to such a course as would lead to what had taken place elsewhere, and were known as deadlocks. They would use every moans to prevent such a state of things occurring in this colony, and would not allow any obstacle to stand in the way of tho necessary grant before dissolution, and of passing the Loan Bill; but would not admit any business which would delay tho dissolution of tho House, or imply that the Ministry had the confidence of hon. members. He quoted authority to show that no Parliamentary act implying confidence in Ministers under such circumstances could bo admitted, and said supply could only be granted for such short period as was necessary before the House could bo again assembled, and at as early a period as possible. They must also stipulate that no contracts should be entered into in the meantime, and no additions made to the Upper House. They should also ask that tho Bay of Islands electoral roll should be purged, and the default of a county clerk on the West Coast in not sending in certain returns to the Returning Officer, by which a member of the House was disqualified, should bo put right by a short amending Act. He trusted tho House would agree to these small matters in tho interests of tho constitutional privileges of the country. [Cheers,]

Sib G. Gbey said they stood there, EngJ liah gentlemen, with an English before them. They wore asked to believe that a certain document so written meant something else. The Governor knew well what he was about, and no question of supply was ever thought of. He dared the Opposition to refuse supplies, and they would be told that Ministers did their duty when they forced on a dissolution. He said the Opposition should grant supplies. He dared them to refuse them, because it was the country’s money and not their’s, and they dare not inflict the misery of refusal upon the country. Ho contended that the passing of the Bills asked for would make very little difference in the time of re-assembling, and if the Electoral Bill was not granted, 60,000 persons would bo disfranchised. Ho saw hon. gentlemen laughing who represented some 300 electors against those who represented thousands. The time necessary for the return of members under the new Bills would only he three months, when a great boon would have been conferred upon the people of New Zealand. If this was not consented to the constituencies would remain unrepresented, instead of the fullest representation being secured to the country. The hon. gentleman and his friends had brought New Zealand constituencies to this shocking state of things. It was proposed thut they should prevent his Excellency from nominating members to the Upper House. Sir W. Fox said ho only asked them to refrain from advising his Excellency to nominate.

Sir G. Geey said that was a mere evasion, and on behalf of his colleagues he would state that no such condition would be consented to, and supplies should bo granted. [Loud cheers ] Mr SATJNDEK3 said his party were not prepared to retard the business of the country by adopting any such course as that intended by the Premier. But they were confident that when the electors returned them to their seats the reign of the Premier would have terminated for the term of his natural life. Every elector not on the roll had to thank Sir G. Grey. If he had allowed the Bill of last year to pass those electors would not now be disfranchised. Then why should the Opposition side of the House now be blamed as the cause of the very evils which he himself had brought about. It might be a very good election cry like the Chinese question, but could certainly not be passed through that House without question. Mr Rees rose to speak, when the leader of the Opposition and a number of his followers left the House.

Mr Rees spoke in favour of the reasonableness of the Premier’s request re the important Bills he had asked the House to pass. Ho trusted the Premier would ask for supply, and leave the responsibility of refusal upon the Opposition. He did not believe they would refuse supply. Mr Woodcock spoke of his disqualification through the neglect of a certain official. Mr Sxewaet characterised the leader of the government as the reckless leader instead of the Liberal leader. He felt relieved that there was some prospect of returning to. the country under the circumstances, and felt sure the result would be in favour of the Opposition. Mr Adams spoke in favour of Sir W. Fox’s proposal, and condemned the course the Premier had adopted. Mr Qisbobne supported the Premier’s proposals. Mr Wakefield spoke at seme length, contending that the odium of not passing the Bills referred to by the Premier rested with him, and stated that he could secure the passing of those Bills at once if ho would write half-a-dozen lines tendering his resignation. He argued that the Premier’s intention was to urge the working man’s dodge. He hoped he (the speaker) would die before he became such a working man’s friend, and contended that the working man of New Zealand was quite a different person to what the Premier supposed him to be. Mr Moss accused the leader of the Opposition and his followers of destroying the Constitution, of which he prated so much. He contended that the Opposition were to blame in not waiting a few days before bringing in their amendment of dissatisfaction with the Government, instead of tacking the same on to the reply. Supposing they had not done so, and allowed the Imprest and Loan Bills to pass before bringing in their no confidence amendment, he felt sure the Opposition would have got no further. He proceeded to speak of the various charges brought against the Government by the Opposition, and made special reference to the capital which the Opposition had attempted to make out of what he characterised as a very misleading report of Tawhiao’s speech when addressing Sir G. Grey at the Kopua meeting. He said he was present at the meeting, and had, therefore, a right to challenge the statements of the Opposition leader and the member for Egmont on this subject in their eagerness to cast ridicule on the Premier. Ho referred these hon. members to the reports of the speech of Tawhiao and the proceedings generally, which appeared in the “ Thames Advertiser ” and Waikato paper, each of which had their special reporters and separate interpreters present to enable them to give accurate and independent reports of what toot place. If hon. members would read these’reports they would come to a different conclusion, and no longer attempt to oast ridicule upon the Premier for what ho was not responsible for. The speaker continued to address the House until the hour of adjournment, 10 30. Mr Moss continued after the adjournment, contending that the foundations upon which the no-confidence charges were based were false and frivolous. But for the success which attended the proceedings at the Kopua meeting, they would have to deplore the existence of war at present, although he believed that the outbreak on the West Coast was largely fostered by interested persons for political purposes. He was sure the people would return to that House members thoroughly imbued with the policy which the Government had enunciated.

Oapt. Russell spoke at some length, contending in terms of the Governor’s memo, to the House, that tho new elections should take place at the earliest possible moment, and that it was inconsistent with such stipulation that Government should ask them to pass the Electoral and Representation Bills, the former of which might have been in full force in the colony at this moment if Ministers had not withdrawn tho Bill passed by both Houses last session—an Act very slightly differing from the Bill they were now asked to pass to their great inconvenience. Mr Baeton next spoke in support of the Premier’s request, and contended that the Opposition would not now pass the Electoral Bill because they feared the result of the elections. The question was then put, and tho House went into Committee of Supply, and it was resolved that Supply bo granted. The House then adjourned until 2.30 on Monday.