GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 939, 3 October 1879, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, October 2.

The debate on the Address in Reply was resumed by the Hon. Mr Fisher (Heathcote), who spoke against the amendment.

Mr Murray (Bruce) was in favor of amendment.

Mr Barron (Caversham), although returned pledged to no party, would vote with the Government.

Mr Masters (Grey Valley), rose to explain that aa assertion made by the

previous speaker, to the effect that bef was returned to support the Ministry, was incorrect. During his candidature' he told tbo constiHencies most distinctly he would be an independent member ; he told them further that although he had persued the speeches siven on the last no confidence debute, ho wna unalde to make up' iris mind how lie would act; but tihit when he? got to Wellington he would be tetter able to judge. Now, however, he had made up his mrrid. He sat* 1 gentlemen on the Opposition benches who" ■wore well able' to form a Government, iin<i he hud made up hte mind to support the amendment. At the evening sitting, Mr Seddon (Uofeitika) rtfcumed fcfte debate on the tto-coufidence amendment. He contended that the result of the appeal made io the country showed that the voice of the people was with the Government. It was in mining centres they could see what would be* the effect ofnmnbobd suffrage where the miners' right franchise existed in- deration. He, the speaker, went on to review the various points discussed by previous speakers. He took Mr Masters to tasfe for having deserted his hustings pled-' gcs, insisting that he secured bis election under a direot pledge of BiT|fpbrt to thtf Government, and he appealed to the 1 Opposition to rtfieVe him fro»Y thtf pledge he bad gitfeu to support their* cause.

Mr Whibiker (Waii-a)said that ha intended voting with thV Oppoeftiop; The previous speaker had taken Mr Masters to task for having dared to avow' himself favorable to the Opposition/ His speech on that had led him to sup-* pose that what,her airasd at was to hand a block vote from the West Coast over to Government i» consideration of some-' thing like a million of money being apeut on the Grey Valley" KaiJivay.