PARLIAMENTARY PROGEEDINGS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 732, 7 August 1852, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY PROGEEDINGS.

[From the Observer, March 21.] House of Lords, March 19. — Policy of Government. The Duke of Newcastle presented a petition from the Commercial Association of Manchester, praying that the country may be speedily relieved from the anxiety prevailing amongst all classes respecting the course which the present Ministry means to adopt. / The Earl of Derby hoped it woujd not be considered as treating either the noble duke or the petitioners with disrespect if he declined to renew a discussion on a subject on which he had lately addressed that house. The noble lord proceeded to say : I stated the other day, and I repeat now, that there are questions, important questions, too, on which the opinions of the Government are not shared by the majority in the other house, and 1 am not sure that they are shared in by the majority in this house, and that if they were pressed to division, the Government would be-in a minority; and * that upon these questions we had to rely upon the forbearance of our opponents and upon the indulgence of our friends ; but I did not, and I do not say, that on such questions as the Government chooses to submit to Parliament theie is any proof that either here or in the other house Government would be in a minority (Ministerial cheers.) 1 do not deny the inconvenience of carrying on business for any lengthened period without the confidence of a majority in the other house ; but the danger to the country from the existing state of things is less than wo*uld result from a premature stoppage of business in the other house. I am not acting on the precedent of Mr. Put in 1784-, which, 1 admit, bears no very close analogy to the present position of affairs. I refer to a case more recent. In 1834 Sir Robert Peel was at the head of a Government which did not command the confidence of the House of Commons, and he was placed in a minority on the address in answer to the speech from the throne on a question regarding the Irish Church. The noble earl described the occurrences to which he referred as affording a precedent for his present course, and then said : I do not hold it consistent wish ray duly to offer any specific pledge as to the precise time when I shall humbly advise the Queen to dissolve Parliament. Circumstances may occur to render that dissolution dangerous to the welfare of the country. But I will go thus far — I am as anxious as possible that, at the-earliest period consistent with the good of the country, the constituencies shall be. enabled to express their opinions upon the principles upon which and the men by whom the Government shall be conducted. And, further, I think that next autumn ought not to be passed over without a new Parliament having an opportunity of pronouncing judgment on the policy which may be proposed on the part of her Majesty's Government. I will give no pledge that in the month of April, or May, or June, that that appeal shall be made to the country. I say that before the ordinary time of commencing the next session of Parliament, this question shall have been so far decided and adjudicated upon by Parliament that the ordinary and current business of the next session shall not be interfered with by discussions on the general financial policy of the Government. Further than that I will not give any assurance. It is with my duty, as a Minister of the Crown, to say that I will advise her Majesty to dissolve Parliament at any particular time; but I will say generally that I desire to pass in the present session such measures as will be for the good of the country. I [ will not distinctly specify such measures, except by saying that among them, differing from the noble Duke, perhaps, I do .consider of paramount necessity the organization of the internal defences -of the country, but I do say lhat, having discharged the duties of the present session, I am as anxious as the noble duke that an early | appeal to the country should be made, and that Parliament in the tourse of the ensuing autuma should give its decision (cheers.)