Essence of Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 25 August 1892, Page 2

Essence of Parliament.

The whole of Tuesday was occupied by a debate on the correspondence on the Legislative Council appointments.

lhe Hon. Mr Rolleston said he desired to approach the question devoid of party spirit. If tbey could not approach it in any other way than as the moving of a vote of no-confidence, he thought it would be an ill thing for the country. The advice given to His Excellency was, he said, misleading, and the correspondence contrasted unfavourably in its sfcyle with other similar corres -. pondence which he had seen in this and other colonies. The correspond dence seemed to him to show an abdication of their functions byMinisters, and an unconstitutional position which Ministers seemed to have taken up in refusing to accept, nine members because: they said their measures could not at present be properly discussed. As to the constitutional part of the 'matter, if they were prepared to defend it their position might be tenable, but in the correspondenoe'" Ministers had sheltered themselves from blame in an extraordinary manner 'for the* course they were pursuing.' *■ ' The neoessity of resignation; depended! upon the importance attached by Ministers to the advice; they weretendering, and their estimate' of the policy they were advocating. He referred to the legislation of last session to show tha't the ' Council had with very few exceptions passed the measures of the Government, and went on to say that party feeling should be kept out ot the Upper Chamber, and that the constitution of it would entirely break down if these party appointments were frequently made. . Th« correspondence showed a want pf consideration to the people; and to His Excellency who had so recently landed on theh?> shores. ' ' '■'"■■■'■•»

The Premier in' reply "said tha Leader of the Opposition' had professed to approach this question in anything but a party spirit, but he was very doubttul about the genuineness of that statement. They had abdicated no functions of responsible government, and they had undoubtedly tried to maintain the principles of responsible government — the responsibility of Ministers to this House above ; and -before all other considerations, and thßf£__s%> long as they had a majority there they said that it was the duty of mi representative of ; Hw ■ .Majesty ... to take the advice of Minister*.' If they were right time would show ; if jtjbey were wrong they would be sbdwn tobe wrong, but even then the power remained intact of settling the matter among themselves.

Mr O'Conor moved as an amendment, * • That the Government be requested to introduce as' soon as possible this session, a measure to provide for the J election" of members of the Legislative Council, and that pending the legislation' upon' this

subject no further appointments be made to that Council.' * Mr Mackintosh opposed the amendment. Sir George Grey said if this question had been settled early lasfc session ifc would nofc have been hanging over their heads now. He contended that the matter should have been placed before Lord Onslow, who knew the country and the House well, and he deprecated the action of the Government in leaving the matter to be settled bj a Governor who had but just Arrived in the Colony and who kji ew nothing whatever of the state rji affairs. He thought Lord Gl^gow had wished an opportunity 0 f consulting some member on the other side of the House, p, 0 d he thought if the Premier had £iven him some such opportupj'ty the Governor, would have S'^en his way iu the matter much more clearly. Many othor members having spoken the amendment was lost by 81 to 8. The House rose at 1.80 a.ra