HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 259, 1 November 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Wednesday. The House met at 230 this afternoon. Mr Larnach resumed the debate. He said before moving the vote which turned the late Minis-try out, he stipulated tha*t he should not be required to take office, but he had been forced to do bo. Hfe had only been able to form a Ministry with Sir G. Grey's assistance. The fortnight he had been in office had not enabled him to prepare the financial statement; he had only obtained returns of the proviucial liabilities on Friday last, and other returns were not even yet ready. As to his capabilities for office, he held that he had certainly neglected no duties during his term; and after 23 years banking experience, and four years as manager of probably the largest firm in the colony, possibly he knew as much of figures as Major Atkiuson, and his name would carry more weight on the London Exchange. The present liabilities of the colony were, he fouud, £24,200,000. A loan of £5,00u,0ii0 was wanted for immediate liabilities, and many mo,re millions would be required to complete the public works. Instead of going into pawnbroking finance in back streets they should go openly and boldly to those in London who had already lent them all they had wanted. Ou Saturday last tho public account had £12,600 17s 2d to debit, and £108,000 was wanted to remit to London to meet the interest clue on .February Ist.

Hj) had been attacked in reference to the Land Bill. Nearly all the land he had was freehold. He desired to see that Bill become law, and having no selfish interests to advocate there, he was prepared to support a property and inconie tas. Mr Whitaker doubted the accuracy of Mr Larnach's statements. As to the accusations ; made against himself by Mr Ballance, the tranaaction in questiou had beeu investigated by a Select Committee of the House, and the evidence there was the best answer to the charges made. The facts alleged by Mr Ballance he flatly contradicted and he believed the report of the Committee would fully justify his action. He could uot understand Mr Ballance, who had supported the late Government so long, now taking up the tone he did. He contended that Sir George Grey would have no right to demand a dissolution until Major Atkinson had tried and failed to form a Ministry. His sympathies were with Sir G. Grey in giving up separation, for he was now convinced that it was impracticable. If Sir George had abandoned this earlier, probably the present motion would not have been brought down. He thought the land fund mu3t be colonialised. The exigencies of the colony's position demanded this. If the Government did not, he would next session raise the question. The consolidated revenue could not bear the presept burdens, and local bodies would have to del»end on local taxation. Even if the present motion were carried he would not again take office. Thursday. Mr Barff continued the debate,— criticising the conduct and policy of the late Ministry. The feeling of the country, especially on the West Coast, was decidedly in favor of Sir G. Grey. Separation itself would scarcely be a greater evil than the restoration of the Atkinson Government, as that would even endanger the peace of the colony with the natives and injure its credit abroad. Mr Fitzroy knew enough of the principles of Sir G. Grey and his colleagues to oppose them. The cry about fair play was only got up to excite public sympathy. Sir G. Grey had appealed to the gallery but the working men of the colony were too conservative to be deceived by him. Ministerg could not reconcile their views on the land fund question and though they offered a sop to the Canterbury run holders, he remembered how Sir G. Grey had talked about those run holders last session. Mr Fisher thought the yiewsof the present Ministers on the land fund question quite as easily reconcilable as those of the late Ministry. The Government would give the Canterbury run holders justice. They would have a fair valuation and a fair rent fixed. He condemned the miserable country policy of the late Government and felt proud of his own position, which he owed to his honest advocacy of the rights of the people. He was a man of the people, but no violent democrat. The people were tired of being governed by men who thought they had a vested interest in the Government. Since «Sir J. Vogel left, the late Miuistry was always willing to chum up with any dangerous opponent, as it had neither brains nor policy of its own. If given a chance the present Ministry would show that they were notsuch duffers as some people thought. Mr Murray urged retrenchment by reducing the number of. members of the House. Either the land fund would have to be seized or additional taxation imposed to reconcile the difference between the ordinary expenditure and the income. He accused Mr Roive of having attended meetings of the Middle Party as a spy and betraying all he heard ,to Major Atkinson. The dread of such misgovernment as that of Major Atkinson's was what would bring about separation most quickly. He had no fear of Sir G. Grey promoting separation as a Minister. Mr Swanson thought Sir G. Grey was the only mau in a position to effect real retrenchment in the Civil Service. If Major Atkinson pot back, and Mr Whitaker was nd*. to return, how was Auckland to be represented in the Ministry. Only Sir R, Douglas, and Messrs Rowe, Morris, and Williams would be available, and certainly ,nona of theua would do. He strongly condemned Mr Rowe's boasting at the Thames of having got things in the House by scheming. He would rather go without them than use such means. What was Mr Rowe's chance to get justice for tb.e Thames by working with his present colleagues ? The country would insist on the present Ministry getting fair play. Mr Hamlin moved the adjournment, and the House rose at 12*5.

Papers were laid before the House yesterday afternoon, relative to calling Mr J. N. Wilson, of Napier, to the Legislative Council! Memo. No. 1 is directed to the Premier, and signed by Messrs Sheehan, Macandrew, Fisher, and Larnach. It advises that Mr j. Wilson, barrister, be summoned to the legislative Council, and urges that it ia desirable the Council should have further legal assistance in its discussions, adding that Mr Wilson stands high iu his profession, and it would be a great advantage to the Council and country if he were summoned. Memo. No. 2. is from Sir George Grey to the Governor, as follows; — " His Excellency the Governor is respectfully informed that— notwithstanding the opiuion yesterday expressed by his Excellency that notice of a vote of want of confidende in the Government having been given, he ought not to accept the advice given for calling Mr J. N. Wilsou to the Legislative Council until the decision of Parliament upon that vote had been given, when, if it was favorable to the preseut Government, his Excellency would, in pursuance of the advice then given, call Mr Wilson to the Legislative Council— is is thought necessary, hoping this can be done without causiug embarrassment to his Excellency, respectfully to advise the Governor to sign the accompanying writ summoning John Nathaniel Wilson to the Legislative Council. a. Grey." Memo. No. 3 is from his Excellency the Governor to Sir George Grey: — " The Governor presents his compliments fco Sir George Grey, aud in reply tohis memo ou the subject of the appointment of Mr Wilsou to the Legislative Council the Governor regrets, after the opinion expressed by him yesterday to Sir George Grey, the Government should have considered it necessary to press this appointment upon him, and he can only repeat in a more formal manner what he said yesterday. If Sir George Grey informs the Governor that he requires this appointment for the purpose of enabling Mr Wilson to take office in the Government he will make it at once If, however, it is as Sir George Grey informed him yesterday, simply for the purpose of adding to the Legislative Council another gentleman belonging to the legal profession, there cau be no pressing urgency for the appointment, and tbe Governor is of opinion that itwould be uuadvisable to make it at a time wheu a vote of want of confideupe is pending. IftheGovernmeutare supported by the majority of the House, the Governor will be happy to accept their advice and appoint Mr Wilson to the Legislative Council, but pending the decision of the Assembly, tbe Governor must decline to make the appointment. Normanby."