PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 258, 31 October 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, Tuesday. The House met at 2-30 this afternoon. Mr Takamoana opposed the motion brought forward by Major Atkinson. Had the late Government not gone out of office, disturbl ances would have occurred, and they would occur if the present Government were turned I out. Mr Russell deprecated the last speaker's constaut habit of threatening native disturbances. He did not see why, if the present Government had any policy or finaucial statement to bring down, they should not lay it before the country iu the course of the present, debate. It seemed, however, that they could do nothing but take up what their predecessors had prepared. Mr Header Wood condemned the indecent eagerness to regain office shown by Major Atkinson. Even if the present motion was carried it could only result in an appeal to the country. He ridiculed the tactics of the i Middle Party to keep Sir George Grey out of office, and declaied that as for Mr Curtis saying he and others would not accept a Government led by Sir G. Grey, neither the House nor the country would stand a Government of faded Superintendents and old officials. The generalisation of the land fund was, in his opinion, the only means by which the colony . ould be relieved of its difficulties, and uo Government which was not hold enough to propose this could hope to last long. He criticised at some length Mr Fox's 3peech and past political career. Mr Hodgkinson criticised at great length the policy and personnel of the late Ministry, contrasting both with the present Goveru- | meut. The debate was interrupted by 5-30. Wednesday. Mr Gibbs continued the debate, and said i the Government supporters affected a monopoly of all the patriotism iu the country. He thought the course taken by Major Atkinson was perfectly justifiable, as Sir George Grey had ample time to declare his policy if he had one. Mr Tairoa supported the Government. He appealed to whatever Government was in office to redress the grievances of the Middle Island, and also those of the north in regard ! to confiscated lands. Mr Tawiti had been asked by his tribe to support Sir George Grey, but he intended to vote with Major Atkinson as he had done before. Mr Bryce said the question was confidence in Major Atkinson as well as no confidence iu Sir George Grey. He saw no reason to reverse the decision come to a fortnight ago. The hon member reviewed and strongly condemned the policy of the late Government, especially in Native land matters, and taking Messrs Whitaker and Keid into the Ministry! Ml- Eowen deprecated the couducfc of certain members in makiug disgraceful imputations against their opponents. The Opposition from the beginning of the session had shown a determination not to allow the measures of the late Ministry to pass and to prevent them going into supply. It wa s partly because of this a middle partv was formed and a change of Ministry decided on. A Ministry had, however, seized the reins of power in an unconstitutional way, and it was therefore quite right to immediately test the questino whether or not the Governmeut commanded the support of the majority of the House. The middle party had now broken up, and this was a good thing, because there could really be only two parties in the House. He strongly condemned the efforts made by Sir George Grey to set class agaiust class, and the rights of man'against the rights of property. There was no antagonism between them. Sir George Grey'B views ot: separation were also dangerous to the colony. If the present Government had a mnjority iu the House no factious opposition would be shown. A dissolution was not desirable till the representatiou was readjusted. He contended that of the imputations were cast by members of the present Opposition, pointing to Mr Ormond's celebrated speech and Mr Pox's speech last night as samples. The middle party was split in time. Those who supported the Government did so in honorable fulfilment of their word, those with the Opposition in violation of solemn promises. If the hue Government had forfeited the confidence of the House the present one did not possess it. The only remedy was to appeal to the people, He challenged the other side to the conduct of the Hawke's Bay repudiation party as having averted war, and taught the natives to look to the courts instead°of I taking the law into their own hands. He I denied that his side had been obstructive in 1 opposition. A dissolution he regarded as iu- 1

evitable, and had confidence in the verdict ! of the people. Mr Larnach moved the adjournment, and ! the House ro3e at 11 '35.