New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4833, 18 September 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18.

When tho debate on the question that tho House do now adjourn was interrupted at twelve o’clock on Saturday night by tho Acting-Speaker reminding tho House of tho announcement made by the Speaker at ten o’clock, namely, that tho chair would bo vacated at midnight, and taken, at ten o’clock this forenoon, the hon. member for the Dunstan, Mr. De Lautour, was making some observations, and expressing a hope that some course might be adopted by which the House could got out of tho position in which it was placed, so that ordinary and necessary business might be proceeded with. Wo feel persuaded that both parties would bo glad to put an end to the

existing state of things; but we cannot agree with Mr. Ds Lautour in thinking it is one of those cases in Which both sides are in fault. The Opposition, or perhaps it would be more correct to say, a section of the Opposition, are clearly to; blame; and as the subject is one that is engaging the attention of the public, and not properly understood, it may be well to explain as briefly as possible how the present complication originated. On Wednesday when the House met, Mr. Wason, the member for Coleridge, moved that fresh writs be issued for the seats occupied by the members of the Ministry. The Speaker ruled that this motion could not be put, as there was no proof before the House that the seats had become vacant. On this the Premier, Major Atkinson, offered to move, without notice and as a matter of urgency, that The report of the Disqualification Committee bo considered at once; and this course was approved by the House, and dealt with as a question of privilege. A motion that the House concur with the report brought up by the committee was virtually negatived, having been intercepted by an amendment proposed by the Premier to the following effect: —“That this House is of opinion it is expedient that a Bill should be forthwith introduced and dealt with as a matter of urgency, to indemnity members of the Executive Council from the disqualifications and penalties imposed by the Disqualification Act, 1870, and the Civil List Act Amendment Act, 1873, in respect of their appointments.” The amendment was carried by a considerable majority. Mr. Stout, one of the members for Dunedin, endeavored to get an addition made, but the Speaker ruled that the words he wished added were not in order. After this the member for Rangitikei, Mr. Ballance, in accordance with an intimation he had given when speaking to the amendment proposed by the Premier, got up and moved that the following words be added to the resolution agreed to by the House And further, ilThaving been referred to the Disqualification Committee, No. 2, to consider whether any of the provisions of the Disqualification Act of 1870 have been infringed by the then existing Government, and = the committee having reported that the provisions of the Act of 1870 have been infringed, this House resolves, under the special circumstances, the seats of the hon. members should not be vacated, and are not vacated.” On this, the question of adjourning the House was discussed; but the feeling of members was against this course being adopted, and shortly after the hon. member for Tuapeka, Mr. J. C. Brown, got up and proposed the adjournment of the House. Mr. Hunter, one of the members for Wellington, at once pointed out that this was a course in which the Government could not concur, as if carried it would virtually shelve the question. Mr. Brown then offered to withdraw his motion, provided he was permitted to propose instead, that the debate be adjourned. A number of the supporters of the Government refused to agree to this, and insisted that the motion that the House do now adjourn should be put, so that it might be negatived; and then it would have been open to put the motion that the debate be adjourned, or proceed with the discussion. Finding that the majority would not give way, Mr. Rees, the member for Auckland City East, intimated his intention to commence speaking against time—a threat which, as our readers are already aware, he carried out until he was perfectly exhausted. Mr. Thomson, the member for Clutha, followed Mr. Rees, and occupied the time of the House until nearly eight o’clock on Saturday evening, when he sat down. Mr. De Lautour commenced addressing the House, he spoke until midnight, and it is understood will continue his speech when the House meets this forenoon at 10 o’clock. This is, we think, a fair narrative of all that has taken place since the commencement of the debate.

Proposals have been made by the Opposition to the Government, all of which the Executive and their supporters feel themselves bound to reject. The question at issue is one of the greatest importance; it is simply, are the majority and the Ministry to rule the country. Much as we wish to see what we are almost justified in calling the present disgraceful position of affairs put an end to, we cannot recommend the Government to give way, the position must be fought to its bitter end and the power of the majority upheld. If the Government give way on this discussion, the experiment will be repeated every time the minority find they cannot get their own way, and we see no alternative but to let the Opposition exhaust their speaking power, and then endeavor to devise means for preventing a recurrence of such scenes as have taken place during the past week. Mr. Dk Latjtour counselled moderation, and gave good advice; but how can he expect to soften the feelings which have been excited by such a course of procedure as calling attention to the state of the House as frequently as ten times within one hour, thus unnecessarily disturbing the Government supporters, and obliging them to show themselves in the House. Ho and those who act with him must lay their account for such proceedings being resented when the occasion arises. As a proof of this we may mention that there was a strong objection on the part of a number of members to the proposal of the Speaker that the House should not meet yesterday. Thanks to the good judgment of this gentleman, such a scandal was prevented; but on other occasions it may bo more difficult to suppress the bitter feelings which to some extent have up to the present time been kept within bounds. And it would bo well for the members of the Opposition to bear in memory the remark made by the Speaker on Friday evening, when replying to an appeal made by Mr. Thomson, the member for Clutha, that although he might be acting in strict accordance with the rules of the House in following the course ho was doing, still a very serious responsibility rested upon him.