Essence of Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 3 September 1892, Page 2

Essence of Parliament.

The proceedings on Wednesday Qpened with a long discussion, raised by Mr G. Hutchison, on the proposed Legislative Council ap pointnients. Mr Hutchison asked whether the Government had sent a telegram to the Agent-General as to the proceedings in the House last week on this subject. The Premiar denied having done so. The Premier in answer to the hon. Mr Rolleston said there was no correspondence with the Agent-Geneval on the subject of the proposed appointments to the post of Governor. He admitted however having written to the Agent-General saying their Ministry would like to have the name of the Governor of the Colony before it was submitted to Her Majesty. The hon. Mr Kolleston asked if the Premier would lay on the table such correspondence he admitted there was, but the Premier declined stating it was private. The hon. Mr Rolleston moved the adjournment of the House to compiain of the extremely unsatisfactory answer

Messrs G. Hutchison and the Premier both spoke, and then

Sir George Grey said the clear course for Ministers to have pursued with respect to their difference with the Governor was to tender their resignations. That would have made the Governor's course more blear. His Excellency was clearly within his light in refusing to appoint a greater number of Legislative Councillors than he thought there was any necessity for, and he had the precedent of Lord Onslow to go by. He thought the position of Lord Glasgow was one of great difficulty, and the reference to him in certain newspapers was most unfair, The Governor was absolutely in the position of having no one to advise him. He also thought the Government made a mistake in asking the Agent-General to go to the Colonial Office and request that the name of the new Governor should be sent to the Ministry. That would have increased the powers of the Government enormously, and would be undesirable in many respects. He again remarked that the position of the Governor was a most unhappy one. He was shut out from communication with anyone, and he thought the Governor should have had the power of sending for some other person to confer with him on the whole matter.

After whioh the Minister of Public Works gave his views which were corrected by Sir George Grey, and then the hon. Mr Eolleston replied.

The following new Bills were introduced and read the first time : — A Bill to enable the Natives to Establish Municipal Institutions in their Settlements, and to make Provision for the Management of their Tribal Estates ; The Washers and Manglers Bill ; The Stock Act 1892 (No.- 2). ■ - ; • : ■ The Electoral Bill was read a third time. This includes the right of women to vote after the first day of June next. • On division it was determined that a Select Committee be appointed, to whom shall be referred the question of the best method of connecting Auckland and Wellington by railway, such committee to consist of Messrs Blake, Carncross, Duncan, Bhodes, Wright and 0. H. Mills. The House then went into Committee of Supply. On Thursday afternoon some local Bills* Were; put through their final stages. The Land Bill got into committee after discussion but not before 6ir George Grey had emphatically condemned the land administration of the Government. He spoke also strongly in favour of retaining the freehold.