PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 186, 6 August 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE. Wellington, Tuesday night. An inquiry was asked for into the cause of the dismissal of Captain M'Kersie from the Stella. Notice of motion was given for the suspension of all private Bills until next session.; Mr Murray asked if the subsidies were 'to be continued to the local bodies. The Premier declined to answer until ;he knew whether he was going to be at the head of affairs or not. Sir W. Fox gave notice to ask in what papers advertisements had been inserted during the year, and the amounts paid. Mr Macfarlane withdrew the Bill for purging the Bay of Islands electoral roll. The Five Million Loan Bill was passed through Committee. Mr M'Lean asked the Government for an assurance that no gentleman would be sent Home to negotiate the loan, the Premier having promised to reply before the Bill passed. The Premier said that the pledge asked for by Mr M'Lean could not be given, but uniil the matter was mentioned neither he nor his colleagues bad thought of such a thing. The Bill then passed. As they were not ready with the schedules to the Financial Statement, the Premier asked for a day's delay. He would lav the Statement before the House on Thursday. It wa3 rather a complicated one and unusual in form, and the clerks could not have it ready before Thursday, and the prorogation would take place on Friday. Mr Stewart, in Committee, moved that the wriis for the new Parliament be issued within three days after the dissolution, and made returnable within 30 days, the new HoDse to meet on the 20th September. The Premier eaid it was impossible for bim to fix any day under the |circumstances, but he would do the best he could in the interests of the country. The debate was interrupted by 5-30. Wednesday. On the House resuming at 7.30 last night Sir G. Grey defended himself against the attacks made upon him which, he urged, were merely attacks on Liberalism generally! He charged those who made the laws of the colony with having made them for their own benefit and for the purpose of acquiring the lands of the colony. He undertook to lay on the table a return which would prove this. He defended at length the policy he was an advocate of and believed that himself and his friends would come back with a triumphant majority. He concluded by again moving that the House go into Committee of supply. Mr Saunders considered Sir G. Grey insincere in his professions of Liberalism, and said hi 3 demand for a dissolution showed that he was an autocrat. He admitted that runholders of , the early days had had too much power and made laws to suit themselves, but denied that such was the case now, and he alleged that they were now the most downtrodden people in the colony. The Premier was merely getting up a party cry without reason. He charged the Premier with iliiberality in the education votes, and ridiculed the small allowances made in abating the taxes, &c. Sir W. Fox moved that the following words be allowed to be placed before Mr Stewart's resolution, " That a respectful address be presented to His Excellency the Governor informing him this House is of opinion.'* Sir G. Grey would be very sorry if His Excellency would lead anyone to suppose that he had been [careless of the education of the children of* the people. Hansard would show that he had been the leader of a movement for educating the children of the people. It bad been said that he had brought forward a motion to permit the plurality of votes amongst the people in the expenditure of their own rates. This was in reference to the counties which were largely subsidised from the general revenue, and that was the point on which he objected. . Nothing more unfair than this system had ever been adopted in New Zealand, and that was the system be had endeavored to remove. Mr Saunders said if the Premier's views were carried out it would practically disenfranchise them in the distribution of their own property. The motion to insert the words as above i was then put and declared to be carried on

the voices. A division was called for, and resulted as follows. , Ayes, 43: Messrs Adams, Atkinson, Barff, Baigent, Beetham, Bowen, Brandon, Bryce, Curie, Cutten, Douglas, Driver, Fox, Gibbs, Green, Hart, Henry, Hobbs, Hursthouse, Jackson, Kelly, Macfarlane, M'Lean, Moorhouse, Morris, Murray, Murray-Aynsley, Ormond, Oliver, Richardson, Richmond, Rolleston, Rowe, Saunders, Stevens, Stuart, Studbolme, Sutton, Tawiti, Tamoaca, Wakefield, Whitaker, and Williams. Noes, 28: Messrs Barton, Bastings. J. 0. Brown, J. E. Brown, Carrington, De Latour, Feldwick, Fisher, Gisborue, Goldie, Grey, Hamlin, Hislop, Joyce, Macandrew, Nahe, Kees, Reeves, Shanks, Sheehabi Shriinski, Swanson, Tainui, Thomson, tote, turnbvill, and Wallis. Mr Barton then asked to be allowed to move his motion regarding his charges against the Judges and the maladministration of justice, especially in Wellington and Taranaki. Mr Stewart objected to Mr Barton being allowed to bring forward such vague and ex parte statements, but ultimately Mr Barton was allowed to proceed with his allegations, a great number of the members leaving the Chamber. At one point Mr Bowen rose to a point of order, and said it was contrary to law to make such charges and not to name the offenders. The Speaker said Mr Barton would not be allowed to read any further unless he laid the papers on the table and gave up the name of the author. Mr Barton did so, and continued, saying that the conduct of the police to the poor of the country was brutal, un-English, and unjust. After a number of members had spoken in condemnation of the motion, hoping it would be withdrawn, the motion was put and negatived on the voices. Sir G. Grey then moved that the House adjourn.till 2 30. on Thursday, and in doing so the Government proposed to ask the House to pass a lump sum that would last until the 30th September. The amount would be decided upon by Thursday. There woulti be two lump suras, one for ordinary expenditure, and the other for public works. Mr Saunders protested against a scheme of surprises being practised by the Government. Even that day they had been asked to pass a most important Bill without seeing it, and it seemed the same thing was about to be done with the Financial Statement. Mr Rees described these continued naggings against the Premier as very discreditable, and simply meant to annoy. Mr Rolleston considered it the duty of the House to thoroughly consider the Financial Statement, and to that end the Government should give them every assistance. The House then adjourned till 2.30. on Thursday.