General Assembly.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 395, 20 August 1856, Page 2

General Assembly.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (From the " Southern Cross. ") July 1. PRIVILEGES Of MEMBERS. ilr. J. Cargill wished to bring a question of privilege before the House, and would ask the advice of Mr. Speaker as to wliat course should be pursued in the matter. It was relative to a. statement which appeared in the ' Lyttelton Times' of the ISth June, gravely compromising the characters of three members then present. In stating so much he felt assured that the House would grant him that indulgence which it always' shewed on occasions when matters personal to any of its members were brought before it. There was nothing particularly captivating in the position of a member of that House; it was a severe tax both on the time and purse; the only reward to which they could look was the consciousness of having performed a public duty. He, for one, would regret to see a system of politics pursued in this country by which a seat in that House would be considered undesirable; and such would be the result if the characters of members were attacked instead of their arguments. The letter he alluded to was dated from Auckland and concluded thus:— '•' I decline making any remarks with reference to : the conduct of the Canterbury members further than that I have supported Mr. Sewell throughout, and that Mr. Hall and Mr. Cuff have opposed him. 1 am quite prepared to justify the course I have taken. " From that it was evident that it was written by one of the Canterbury members, or if not, then the hon. member indicated as being the writer was grossly libelled. The words of which he (Mr. Cargill) complained were these : — " And in the rear were the Otago members, Toting, as they thought, for themselves, and no one else. To explain in full the manner in which they sold themselves would make oneablush. '•

He (.Mr. Car^ill) characterised this attack as not only untrue, but the mode in which it was made most uufair. It was circulated through the Canterbury Province, on the authority of the writer of this letter, that the Otago members had sold themselves, not for anything specific, but in a manner which the writer blushed to mention. He (Mr. Cargill) was glad that this letter had fallen under his observation before leaving Auckland, as it was not by a uewspaper correspondence that such, a matter could be satisfactorily settled, but there, on the floor-of that House, he desired to challenge and rebut the absurd statements contained in the letter referred to. But not only in Canterbury, where they were comparatively unknown, but through the province of Otago, which they represented, would that obnoxious statement calculated to injure them, both politically ' and socially, he circulated for two months before they would have an opportunity of refutino- it. He need not point out th& difficulty of removing an evil impression after so long a period had elapsed during which it would pass unchallenged. He felt assured that not even by the poiitical enemies in that province of trie members affected would the statement be received with exultation; he believed there was that " esprit de corps."—that feeliim- of '' Nemo me impune lacessitj "distinguishing "the inhabitants of that settlement^ which would prevent. them from glorying in any imputed misconduct of their representatives. He (Mr. Cargill) desired to enter or, th« groundwork of that matter, which was the politic. 1 part taken by the Ora<ro members in t.Jie early part of the session, when they stood in the >a:ne position as tne Nelson members* who arrived by the Zingnrt, afterwards did, th-it of turning the scaie by their votes, yet no one attributed such mean and paltry motives for tha part they (the Nelson members) acted on the occasion. The real f.-.cts of the alleged compact Were these: on their arrival in Auckland, after the session commenced, the Otago members agreed to support the then S^veil ministry so-far as. might be necessary to introduce iiesp.-^sible Government by forcing tiie i'eusion Bill, but when tl.ev learned from his t.iree h xirs speech what his general policy was, . tuey were anxious that he should nuke such a mo-uacruion of his policy and of his ministry as might enable them to support him ; taking ' for granted that on the land question they should be f-ijreed. But they found he was averse to either imiifrs were in that stats when the hon. member for_ ,Var,ganui (whom .they had hitherto rather avoided, from the hearsay reports of his Republicanism which they had heard circulated, and his .u.epa shark-iike views . 0:1 the land fund of the -uid.le Island) asked thsm whether they would support him in overturning the Seweii policy They hesitated-to join Mr. Fox for this purpose until tnev knew what liis views were on the all-important quo ition of the >liddle Island Land fund. Mr. Fox asked'whether,.'they..-ignored- "the liability of the Middle -hhndSj&ud fund to contribute anything to the general burdens of the colony ? T'v^y answered Otfrtainly not; they objected to tha v.'hole bein-r

| swept away as it arose, but nol to making an equitable payment, which would be fair to the Northern Island and not unduly weigh on the resources of the Middle, and they proposed 2s. 6d. an acre as a final contribution from all the waste lands in the colony. Mr. Fox took time to consult his friends, who, desiring to protect the Customs revenue of the Northern provinces in the same manner as we desired to protect the Land revenue of the Middle Island, stipulated that 2s. 6d. should be considered as an equivalent for one third the net Customs. He (Mr. Cargill) still adhered to these views, which he believed would be an equitable settlement of the much vexed financial question, not of Otago only but of the whoij colony. In this view of course he might be mistaken, but the scheme was adopted with as " bona fide" a view to the interests of the whole colony, and as little regard to mere personal or local interests as was doubtless shewn at the Council boardof the present Government when they were discussing their views of financial policy now before the House^ He (Mr. Cargill) would appeal to the House whether there was anything censurable in that line of conduct of the Otago members, and whether it deserved to be characterised as mercenary and unblushing. He would faiii suggest some excuse for the writer of the letter • probably he was a youthful politician, and might have imbibed the notion that all was fair in love, war, and politics, a sentiment which it was to be hoped would find no response in this House. ,It might be that he had promised to write to the ' Lyttelton Times,,' and, knowing that the public was a dainty as well as voracious animal, required its food highly seasoned ; or, what is more probable, he had written without due reflection, had discharged a political squib without calculating on the combustible natare of the material on which it might alight, and, treating the rumours and tittle tattle which arise during keeiV political strife as matters of fact, on the spur of the moment had unwittingly misrepresented the true state of the case. If these surmises were correct, he (Mr. Cargill) would suggest that the best course for the hon. member to pursue would be to express his regret. Such a course would doubtless be satisfactory, not only to the Otago members, but also to the House.

The Speaker here intimated that the most convenient course to the House would be to make a motion on the subject, when the following was submitted:— "That the hon. member for Christchurch Country District (Mr. Brittin) is guilty of a contempt of this House, in his letter printed in the *' Lyttelton Times,' of the ISth June.". Mr. Britti.nt rose and was about to speak, when, — The Colonial Treasurer said that the charge was an allegation of a fact which did not constitute' a breach of privilege—that of writing a letter to a newspaper. A charge of this nature could only be based on something that had been said in the House. To proceed with the present proceedings would be to stretch tl-e privileges of the House to a totally unwarrantable extent. Mr. Merrsman was perfectly astonished that on the letter referred to should be founded such a charge. It was for the hon. member to bring it forward against the press, and see whether the press of the colony would brook such preposterous interference. Mr. Brown said that be could not admit that.the press was warranted in publishing a private letter. Still less, that the writer of that letter was answerable for its contents. Major Greenwood said that the charge was no charge at all. They all knew what newspapers were in the colonies—that they contained much that was untrue. "Not only did any one whochose to call himself editor, think himself justified in filling his paper with a parcel of lies, but in odiously dragging in people's names. Notice anything in newspapers! Faugh !_and the style'of newspapers too! It was preposterous. It was monstroiu- to take notice of a matter contained in a paper which was not worth that (snapping his fingers). (Laughter). Mr. Bell said that nothing more utterly ridiculous or preposterous had ever been brought before any House. Had the House nothing else to do than i entertain such trumpery charges—listen to such silly stuff"? When hon. members came there, they should be prepared for comments in newspapers, and had no right to make whining complaints about everything that appeared in the public prints to their prejudice. He and some other hon. members,' in a letter recently published, and signed W. Fox, had been designated traitors to their country, but they did not, in consequence, feel that their privileges had been invaded. The matter was not one tiat should be seriously entertained; if persisted in, it should be met with contempt and ridicule, for— and he had no hesitation in saying it —what had fallen from the hon. member for Dunedin Country District was the most trumpery, paltry, ridiculous stuff that had yet been spoken in the House. Mr. Fox rose to order. The lan-mage used by the hon. member was not such as would he tolerated in private life, and should certainly not be employed by

one lion, member with reference to another, on a motion before the House. Mr. Hall was sure that the lion, member, when he was not in the excited state he appeared then to be, would feel himself pained at having used the words. Mr. Bell denied being under any excitement and proceeded to dwell upon the fact that the hon' member, in his speech, had admitted a compact—' admitted that lie had made certain conditions, and thus substantiated the tenor of the letter. Mr. Hall asked the hon. member for Dunedin to withdraw his resolution. There seemed no difference of opinion as to the impropriety of the charge, but as the letter was not signed, it did not perhaps subject any] particular member of that House to the charge of contempt. The letter referred to himself, and the member for Akaroa, in very guarded terms; because probably they would have an opportunity of exposing* any unfounded statements- But other members, the whole of the representatives of a neighbouring province, who would have no opportunity of defending themselves the writer had deliberately accused of selling themselves in a manner that would make one blush. To do this, under-such circumstances, arid in an anonymous letter, appeared to him a cowardly proceeding. Mr. Bell rose to order. The word used was'a gross reflection upon the character of the hon, member referred to. Mr. Hall' said that if any hon. member admitted having written the letter, he would at once withdraw the expression. Mr. Bell would insist on its withdrawal, or would move that the words be taken down. Mr. Wells asked the Speaker if it was competent for the House to'discuss a letter in a newspaper. The Speaker said that thay were discussing a specific charge against a tnemberof the House. He thought the word 'cowardly' had better not be used. Mr. Hall said that that was a matter on which he was compelled to exerebe his private judgment. The question was, did the Speaker rule that it was outof order. The Speaker thought the word-should be -withdrawn. . „.'.. Mr. Hall would withdraw it immediately. The speech of the hon. member (Mr. Cargill) had conclusively proved that the imputation conveyed in the letter was without a particle of foundation. As, however, there was no proof by whom the letter was written, he would suggest the withdrawal of the motion. Mr- Fitzherbert said that anonymously to charge an hon. member with having bartered his dearest privileges was to plant a stiletto in)his breast. They were, not certainly in a position legally to prove the authorship of the letter, but would any hon. member lay his hand upon his breast, and say that he did not know who the writer was ? "Were such a charge, made against him (Mr. F.) he would at once get up^ and either flatly deny the allegation, or make a suitable apology. The hon. member then showed, by extracts from • May,' that a charge of the present nature was quite in consonance with parliamentary usage. Mr. Curtis thonght the time of the House was being wasted. Were newspaper correspondence to be the the subject of discussion, he might raise one upon certain imputations cast upon himself and Mr. Travers, in a letter recently published by Mr* Fox. Mr. Carleton said that, arguing on the assumption of that House having which was a doubtful matter, the publication of that letter did amount to a breach of privilege. Also, had the letter been forwarded for publication by any member, that would also have been a breach of privilege. But be believed the letter to have been a private one, which had found its way into the newspapers. That was the truejjquestion|for consideration; he cared little f.>r the trifling point which hid been raised, that no signature was appended. The letter bore internal evidence of the authorship. He thonght that the publication of the letter displayed a want of editorial tact. He would be sorry to see that bon. member singled out upon the present occasion, when he remembered how many other breaches of privilege had lately been committed. He had seen three Wellington members stigmatized as traitors by the hon. member for Wanganui; and he had heard the ministerial scheme of finance characterized by the hon. ("member for Wellington Country District in terms which he would not again repeat. Mr. Cargill had stated that he was " inclined to make some excuse for the writer of the letter in question, as coming from a young member, who maj have thought that all was'gfair in war, love, and politics.1' He (Mr. Carleton) would say the same for the hon. member, Mr. Ward, a young member, who had probably been only trying to turn sonorous phrases, without a .clear perception^of the gravity of the words he was using. On that account, "he (Mr. C.) regretted the severity^vith 'which he had commented on the speech of that hon. member; but, towards any member of more than one.Session's standing, the criticism would not have been at all too strong. In regard to the question immediately before the House, he would

advise the House not to, proceed without first ascer- | taining what their powers really were. Mr. Travers believed, that the charge was a ridiculous one. The letter complained of was evidently the emanation of wounded political feeling—one of those vague, stupid things that, people' are in the habit of doing. 11 was unworthy the notice bestowed upon it. Mr. Merriman moved, as an amendment, that the House, do proceed to the orders of the day. It was derogatory to the House to discuss an anonymous letter published in a newspaper. Tjie charge itself was paltry in the extreme, and he advised the hon. member to treat it with silent contempt. Mr. Ward had been referred to in the course of the debate, and desired to say a few words in expla-. nation. On the occasion mentioned, he had been thoroughly irritated by the. manner in which his province had been mentioned, and he had spoken warmly and strongly; but he did hot believe that a single member in that House supppsed that the language he then used was. intended to convey a personal affront. He could imagine a member rising to notice a warm or hasty expression 4 in debate at the time of. its.utterance,, with the tone, the manner, and the spirit of a gentleman, and such a man he could esteem and respect, even if his rebuke were directed against himself. But he could also imagine a man rising to notice a hasty, expression twenty four hours after it had been used—rising at a time when reply was impossible —and taking that occasion to make a virulent,personal attack ; and if he further imagined that |the individual attacking gave, both by language and simile, the clearest evidence of his own innate mental vulgarity (oh !), heSvould correct,himself, and say coarseness—in such a course, he would say .that he should treat both the rebuke and rebuker with the most supreme contempt. But this even was not so bad as an anonymous] slander, thoroughly circulated for months, it might be, before, the possibility<of refutation. He thought it a legitimate subject of inquiry by the, House. After a few words from Mr. Stafford, virtually in support of the amendment, the debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr. Fox.

July 3. NEXT SESSION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY. The House went (into committee for the consideration of his Excellency's Message, No. 26, relative to the next session of the" General Assembly which was as follows :— No. 26.—In..reference to the resolutions of the House of Representatives, dated Monday, 26th May 1856, informing him, " That it is the opinion of this House, that the next meeting of the General Assembly should be held in such more central place as his Excellency shall deem most convenient," the Governor thinks the amount of population at Wellington, which is the next greatest to that of Auckland, entitles that settlement^ a preference. He learns, however, that, by successive votes, the Hou.se has decided that the next session shall neither be held at Wellington nor Nelsor. The Governor therefore requests the House to give him some more distinct intimation of their wishes". Should the Assembly hold its next session in another province, it will be necessary to consider and provide for the removal of all the establishments, without which members could never he supplied with, the information they will require. If the measure is only temporary, the expense will be considerable. IJimculties among the natives are of frequent occurrence in the neighbourhood of Auckland, and, if the Governor is obliged to b,e absent, some person to whom" he may delegate his powers, should be present in Auckland. The Governor, therefore, trusts that this subject will be considered if the House resolves on requiring his presence, and that of his advisers, in any of the Southern provinces. Government House, Auckland, 2nd July, 1856. Mr. Cuff said that as the session was'not to be held .'either at Nelson or Wellington, he should move that it be held at Akaroa. Mr. Fox moved " that this committee concurs in his Excellency's opinion, in adopting the resolution of this House that the next session should be held in a more central place, that Wellington is the best place lor the purpose ; and it recommends,his Excellency to summon it to meet at that place, and this, House pledges itself to make the necessary arrangements in the interval to enable the session to be held there without detriment to the public service." The House having determined that the. Assembly should meet next time at a more , central place, it was the general opinion that that central place should be Wellington. Should the Government not be prepared to provide the necessary accommodation, the Provincial Council was prepared to do so. _ Mr. Stafford said that, until read in the House, his Excellency's advisers were quite unaware of the contents of his Excellency's message. They would tender no advice upon the subject.

Dr. Featherston confirmed the statement of the lion, member for Whanganui, with respect to the intention of-tlie Provincial Government. Major GpEENWOOD would support the motion of the hon. member for Whanganui, provided he would substitute " Epsom" for "Wellington," and permit the Assembly to meet in Potter's barn. That would unquestionably be a more central place. He knew .of no deliberate vote that Auckland should not be the pluce of meeting, but there was a deliberate vote that Wellington should not. Mr. Lee raised the question that the dei-.ieion already arrived at with respect to Wellington, precluded the. Committee from entertaining the amendment. Mr. BaomE said that, last night, it had been determined that the resolutions of the House shonld bo held inviolate. Ho opposed -the proposition to have the next session held in Potter's Barn, because ho considered the Half Way House was a more central place. "the Chairman left the chair with the view of referring to the Speaker the point of order .raised by Mr. Lee. Messrs. Traveks, Bell, Fox, Fitzhebbert, Sewell, and Smith, maintained thut the co tjiduration of his Excellency's message was a different question to that which had been put before and negatived. Major OrBEENvroQjD and other members took an opposite view. The Speaker ruled that it was quite in order to consider his Excellency's message, even though that consideration might result in nullifying a former resolntion of the House. The House again went into Committee. , Mr. TAYLOnsaid that there were many (important considerations—that, for instance, of a " locum tenens" to his Excellency. He thought this point should first be considered. Mr., Hall thought also that a decision in this matter, at prssent, would be a leap in the dark. He would ask the Government what the cost would likely be, and what arrangements conld be made in his Excellency's absence. Mr. East thought that New Plymouth was a moro central place than either Wellington or Nelson. Mr. I.UDLAM alluded to the very great sacrifices which Southern members had incurred, by coining up to Auckland during four consecutive sessions. The South had a fair claim. Mr. Beckham, while admitting that inconvenience, said that the question was whether the absence of the Governor, and the difficulty—perhaps impossibility, of getting a "locum tetiens," would not prove a greater inconvenience. Were the session held in Nelson 29 members would be taken from their homes, at Wellington, -iSjarid, if at Auckland, only 23. Mr. Smith referred to the fact that Sir George Grey had been absent two years, without any danger ; also, that his present Excellency had lately paid a visit of some months to the South, without any injury to the interests of the Colony having resulted. Mr. Bell said that an occasional visit to the South was indispensable on the part of the.. Governor, and why not fulfil that visit when the Assembly was in session.. The remark of the hon. member for the City of Auckland was a fallacy, when it was considered the disparity in distance that hon. members would have to travel. He believed that the time had arrived when the necessity of part of the sessions of the General Assembly beiug held in the South, bad become an essential to the safety of the country. Mr. Lee said that the difficulty would be.obviated by memorializing his Excellency to request of the Home Government the appointment of a Lieutenant Governor for Auckland. Mr. Fitzherbep.t said that many Southern members could not come agiin to Auckland, and, in fact, would not. Were the Auckland members, and two or three stray members, prepared to transact the whole business of the country ? Major Greenwood gathered from-the Message that his Excellency foresaw insurmountable difficulty in moving the Assembly from Auckland. Hon. members were too fast in assuming that his Excellency had recommended Wellington. It would also.bs remembered that during Sir George Grey's absence there was a Lieut. Governor. The plaiu fact was that hou. members from the South were welKaware of Auckland being the best place, but were now- talking bunkum. Were the removal to Wellington resolved upou, he would recommend the establishment of an electric telegraph, and the purchase of the steamer Great Britain or Great Republic. Mr. Traveks remarked upon the fact that hon. members came there pli;dged to vote for the removal of the Government to their own provinces, instead of being prepared to act.upun priuciple. The question, in consequence, had been much complicated. He believed it was indispensable that a more central place should be selected, and, if Wellington could be shown to be the bast place, he was prepared 10 vote for it. But it had not been so shewn. Mr. Hall would like an answer to the question of expense. Was the advantage to cost thousands of pounds- ? The hou. member spoke in favor of Akaroti, as being free from proviueial influence, and as being even more accessible from Auckland. Mr. Stafford would express no opinion on behalf of the Government. His own opinion wua that to convey papers, &c, to and from the South,would not cost less than As the merits of different .places were being discussed, he \yould name a, place that was intended by nature for the purpose —Quphu Charlotte's Sound. Ie was still more fre^ frjm po i icial influence. (Laughter.) The town had many advantages,-—such us large public reserves. Capt. Cook had declared the hurhour to be the iinest that ho had ever seen. He was not prepared to support either of the propositions before the house. Mr. Cuff withdrew, his motion that the next sitting should he at Akaroa. Mr. Fox offered ruusous that Wellington was the most favourable place for the next sitting of die Assembly. It had already.a very comfortable government house, a domain, garden, itc. This would at least save au expense of or .£'sooo. That province wus prepared to provide the buildings necessary for thu sittings of the House, and this accomodauou for offices, it having already voted ■^"4000 for that purpose. Another grout ground was this-. Much hud beeu said of the disturbed .state of Native affairs in Auckland. Now Wellington was situuted in the inid>t of the Native population in the South, and should therefore have a share of his Excellency's attention. A fourth reason was that Wellington was geographically situated iv

the centre of the population. The population of New Zealand was rapidly extending to the .Ha»t<;rn coast, which, gave' Wellington the advantage, so far as facility of ';o:u----munication with Hawko's Bay, Ac, was concerned. With regard to expense, what should it be ? Why, putting 4 or 5 tons of papers in a few casus at 10s. each. The whole cost of transmitting the goods would be about 50/. and the total cost of removal about 400/. or 500/. Mr. Merriman pointed out that the question was simply where the next sitting of the Assembly wax to be held, und not whether the seat of government should be removed. Hon. members had professed to bring this matter forward from feelings of patriotism, yet the House had that'day heard an actual bid for it made by the Province of Wellington. The hon. member pointed out the complete confnsioa that -would follow the proposed removal. The Colonial Tp.easui'.ei'. said that it was his intention to vote for the motion of the hon. member for Whanganni. He believed that the unijy of tne colony depended upon the result of the motion, in one shape or other. Unless the proposed concession was made, there would be an end to the working of the Constitution. Southern members would experience a feeling of intolerable disgust, and would refuse to fulfil their legislatorial duties. He believed it w;is impossible to overrate the importance of his motion. The aciiori of the Assembly would be paralysed, wore this motion to be negatived; and the ultimate result wonld be thut the colony would be dismembered. He did not think Wellington.the most suitablu place, hut, of two evils, he was prepared to adopt the lesser. The hon. member proceeded to combat several'objections that had been taken to the proposed removal, —those oa the ground of expence, appointment of a locum tenens &c. Mr. Daldy moved, as an amendment, " That an address be presented to his Excellency th* Governor,requesting him to appoint such place for the next sitting of the General Assembly as may appear to him most conducive to the interests of thi» Colony." Responsible Government had declined to interfere. The House viewed the question in a provincial point of view. He thought, thereiore, that an arbiter should be named— that whs, that the matter should be referred to oue who would give the question impartial consideration Mr. Williajisox believed that hon. members from Wellington considered that Wellington should be permanently the seat of Government, and that the present motion was getting in the end of the wedge. He thought, therefore, that the whole matter should be left to a gentleman who was above all suspicion of provincial tendencies—his Excellency the Governor. In his despatch, he presaged many difficulties attending the proposed removal; and :he Home Government, in contemplating the possibility of a removal, had expressly provided that Auckland should become a separate colony, with a Lieutenant Governor. That was the inevitable result. The hon. member then answered the arguments of speakers on the'other side, ridiculing the idea of serious inconvenience being sustained by the Assembly meeting in Auckland, and showing the practical evils that would follow such removal. Mr. Baowx wou'.d only say that he had made up his mind two hours ago, as, indeed, hebeliuved that every member in that House had. Dr. Campbell replied to an observation that Southern members wonld not again come up to Auckland, showing that the difference was not really more than 48 hours journey. The question was now put —that the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question, on which the Committee divided: — n Noes 16 Messrs. Graham, Greenwood, Hendorson, Williamson, Stafford, Taylor, Curtis, Beckham, Travcrs, Campbell, Lee, Brodie, Welis, Domett, Daldy, Merriman. Ayes, 19—Messrs. East, Macandrew, Hall, Ludla'm, Cargill. Brittin, UaraiH, Brown, Feathurstou, Smith, Beil, Clifford, Fox, Cuff, Fitzgerald, Sewell, Bichmoud, Ward, Fitzherbert. Mr. LKEhandndin a motion byway of amendment, to the effect that a Lieut. Governor should be appointed to the Province of Auckland. The Chairman ruled that such motion could not be put by way of amendment. Major GueexwOOD then moved, by way of amendment, " That, provided his Excellency the Governor should decide that Akaroa ba a more convenient situation for the meeting of the General Assembly than tne Ueiul Quarters of the various departments, this House will not oppose uny such expression of His Excellency's opinion." Upon this amendment, the Chairman was required to put the previous question. He ruled that such question would be out of order, and put the amendment iv lieu thereof. The Committee divided :—Ayes, 1 ; Noes, 23. Mr. Lee moved another amendment to the effect that the next session should be held at Nelson. Committee divided: —Ayes, 14 ; Noes, 19. The main question was then put, with the following result: —Ayes, 19; Noes, 16. The Chairman reported the resolution to the House as recommended for adoption. On the House resuming, a division again took place upon the question that the resolution of the Committee be adopted:—Ayes, 18 ; Noes, 15.