PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIL, Issue 267, 10 November 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Thursday night. On the House resuming Major Atkinson moved the postponement of the orders of the day to allow his no-confidence motion to come. on. A discussion ensued as to whether this was a possible proceeding, when Sir George Grey brought down the Governor's message about the privilege case. After this was read Mr Stout moved it be taken into consideration next day.

A long debate, which lasted till one o'clock, ensued, the subject of privilege and of bringing on the no confidence motion being mixed up inextricably. Mr Travers was alarmed with Ministers more than with the Governor for breach of privilege, and accused them of having laid a trap for the Governor, whom it was their duty to defend. Sir George Grey indiguantly denied any trap being laid. Mr Sheehan did the same, both defending their conduct warmly; they had acted in good faith. Major Atkinson taunted Ministers with retaining office in defiance of the will of the majority, and challenged them to an immediate division on his motion to test this. Until the question was settled the Gpposition were determined not to allow any business to proceed. Sir G. Grey replied that the Government relied on a majority on going to the country, and they intended to use every form of Parliamentary Government to recain their seats till they could appeal to the country. The discussion proceeded warmly till about one oclock, when it was resolved to cake the privilege case into consideration on Monday. The original motion about postponing the orders of the day was then reverted to. The Speaker ruled that except with unanimous consent this could only be done on notice. Mr Moorhouse charged !the Government with resorting to technical forms to defy the will of the majority, and said the Opposition had a majority of seven. Mr Sheehan replied that the want of confidence motion would have to take its regular turn. Government would give no special facilities. He challenged the Opposition to consent to go to the country, and said he would flght Major Atkinson for the representation of Egmont. If there was to be a fight to the bitter end Government were prepared for it, and relied on the support of the country, which wonld see it was not they who were obstructing business. Mr Gisborne blamed the course adopted by both parties, and urged that some compromise shonld be come to in order to enable public business to proceed. At 2.35 a.m. a motion for adjournment was agreed to and the House rose. Friday. The House met at 230. Mr Lusk made a long personal explanation in reference to privileges for which he had been fined in his absence. He complained of having been treated unfairly, and defended his conduct. To show that he was not guilty of the alleged offence, he read a letter from Mr Tonks to confirm his statements. The Marine Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Mr Sheehan. The Speaker said he thought it was competent for Major Atkinson, having given notice, to move that all orders of the day be postponed in order to bring on his no confidence motion. Mr Stout argued that this was contrary to the Standing Orders and precedent. Saturday. On the House resuming at 7*30, after a short discussion, the Speaker ruled on the points of order raised in reference to the possibility of Major Atkinson moving that the orders of the day be postponed to enable the want of confidence motion to come on. He said such a motion was quite admissable under ordinary circumstances, as the House had the power to regulate its own business if notice was given of intended alterations in order, but under the present circumstances the notice given was that on the first order of the day being called onj Major Atkinson would move. Now, the first order of the day was Committee on the Land Bill, and the standing orders were clear that on an ordinary motion for going into Committee on a Bill being called on, the Speaker should leave the chair without the question being put. So soon therefore as the order was called on he had to leave the chair, and he did not see therefore how, looking to the words of the motion, Major Atkinson could possibly find an opportunity to move his motion. The orders of the day were then called on, and the House went into Committee on the Land Bill. Considerable progress was made, a large number of clauses passing without amendment. The Canterbury new clauses were postponed. The House rose at I*s a.m.