HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XL, Issue 192, 4 August 1876, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellihgton, Iminy. The House met at 7-30. After the preliminary business was disposed of, Sir George Grey moved his resolutions in a long speech Hn main arguments were that the Government proposals were not acceptable to tic people; tint they were forcing upon the country petty institutions without hiviog given fur warning ; that nothing could be fairer than his proposal tint each island should manage its own flffairß; that nothing was more likely to restoru the crojit of the colony; that bis plan had the one great recommen.-laiion that it would relegate the question to the people of the colony to decide as to the exact form of Government they would have. In the course of his sp-e;h he said that the fin mcea of the colouy were in the most uisastrous [condition, that the Native Department was corrupt, that the natives generally wore dissitisfied with Sir DjnwlJ MLean, and that the Government were setting up a new province where Tawhiao reigned supreme; tb.it ihe C'Vil Service was monstrously ovtrgrowu; that the constitution of ihe Upper House was a «ros3 injustiuo to the colony; that the increase given io representation laet year was given with a view to increasing the ranks of the Government supporters. He strongly objects*! to civil servants being in the Government as in Dr Pollen's cage, and he referred to Sir J. Vogel's expenditure while at home as extravagant. In conclusion he denied thut his resolutions would affect the unity of the colony. The st-uggle was one of civilization, culture and happiness against wealth arid degradation. Personally he did cot wane office, but wou'd be satisfied to Srcure tor the people the priceless boon of freedom. Tiie Premier characterised Sir G.. Grey's speech hs wild, visionary, and unworthy of an answer. The resjlutions were in themselves crude and unintelligible, and the interpretation necesa »ry to their comprehension had not been furnished by the mover. There was, in fact, nothing to answer, and it was scarcely likely the people would psrt with the Constitution they had uutil they knew whit they were going to get. The chauga proposed by the Government was clear, and had alreaiiy been affirmed, and was in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution, as it had always been understood that Provinciaasm was temporary. The counties of the future woald be greater than the provinces of the pr.Bt. Hi twitted Sir G. Grey with the absence of all details in explaining bis resolution?, and com; ated thy attitude he took last year with the present. He was ardent in his defence of the civil servants, and maintained that Dr Pollen had been a va'uable public officer tj the colony. He reiterated that carryiug the resolutions would lead to separation, tie believed that many of those who would rote tor the rew.utions would rather cut oif their right hand if they thought Sir George Grey would be placed at the head of affairs. He declined tj discuss the reference to his expenditure while at Home, saying that Sir George Grey had a very ignoble id-.aof the public men of the colony in thinking that mo ey was their chief object. He defended the Upper Ho ate, saying tuac it did not <le;erve the aspersion cast up jn it. Ag to the financial position of the colony there was no occasion to be ashamed of it, provided the whole truth was told, hs tha expenditure had been immt-nstly reproductive. Mr Uej-mlds announced that he would not vote for the measure on that occasion as hi* sympathies were entirely with the gentlemen on the Govern men; benches Mr Tribe strongly opposed the resolutions, anl the debate w&s; tutu aojourned on the motion of Mr Rees. The House aijourned about 1 a.m.