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

Our readers will find an interesting record of the business (1) transacted in tho House of Representatives during Saturday. Daring the earlier days of the present debate, or rather series of speeches by the Opposition about nothing, tho record of the proceedings was reduced in our pages to tho smallest possible dimensions. But in order, to show how the time and money of tho country are being recklessly wasted by Sir George Grey and his followers, wo publish • to-day accounts of tho occasional incidents which in some respects have tended to enliven the dreary monotony produced by Messrs. Thomson, De Lautour, and Company. It will bo seen that some members on Saturday expressed a regret that the good humored but incongruous nonsense talked by Mr. Rees and tho vapid raaundorings of Mr. Thomson had not been taken down, and wished to have this state of things remedied, being supported

therein by Mr. De Lautour, who indulged in a kind of flaccid impudence towards the Speaker. As Mr. De Lauxour’s turn forevolving droning platitudes was approaching, he was doubtless anxious on the subject. The House very properly refused to order Mr, .Barron and his staff to do impossibilities by reporting such a flood of talk with the staff at his disposal. Not but that on other grounds, even if M!r. Barron had a staff sufficiently numerous, there is no doubt the House would refuse to encumber Hansard, with a report of all this talk against time. Indeed, Mr. Tribe, as representing the sense of the House, put this matter very clearly to Mr. Stout, who constituted himself the representative of the nonsense of the House. Mr. Stout had complained that the New Zealand Times had not reported the arguments made use of by the Opposition during Thursday’s and Friday’s sittings. Mr. Tribe replied in effect that he had not heard a single “ argument’’ made use of that had escaped being reported. The Ministry, we have been informed, have shown every possible disposition to act so as to prevent the unpardonable expense and delay to the country now being incurred. On Saturday the Opposition were very anxious for an adjournment, in order that they might meet together and consult as to some proposition to bo made by them. The Government very fairly pointed out that the Opposition could not possibly require an adjournment for consultation,, inasmuch as it was the Government party that had to keep a House, and therefore the Opposition, with the exception of some one long-lunged person to talk against time in the interests of humanity, might meet without any fear of the House breaking up for want of a quorum. But the Government, anxious to meet the Opposition’s wishes so far as possible, expressed their willingness to agree to an adjournment on the following terms; The motion of the Opposition for the adjournment of the House, which is at present being talked to, to be negatived ; the debate on the amendments of the Premier and Mr. Ballancb to the Disqualification Committee’s report to be adjourned until half-past two o’clock on Monday, and the House to be then adjourned at that hour, when the debate on the amendments and on the Indemnity Bill should be conducted simultaneously without any talking against time, and to bo concluded within one sitting of the House. An honorable understanding was to be come to that on none of the Government measures now before the House should there be an attempt during the rest of the session by the Opposition to talk against time or give factious opposition. The Government were willing to agree to these on a written understanding, or on Sir George Grey’s stating his agreement to them in his place in the House. It cannot be said in the face of this that the Government desire to stifle discussion, or to impede the business of the country. The position was very properly put to the Opposition by Mr. Donald Reid when he pointed out to them how utterly purposeless was their present line of conduct. They were not prepared to take the places of the gentlemen nowon the Ministerial benches, and yet they were determined in the most unconstitutional manner to hinder and impede those gentlemen from conducting the business of the country. What Mr. Reid told Sir George Grey and his followers is also about to bo told to them by Dunedin. Our own correspondent there sent us a telegram, which appears in another column, that should have some influence with Messrs. Macandrew, Stout, and Larnacii. The letter which these gentlemen will receive will be of a far different character from the resolutions passed at public meetings carried amidst excitement, and by people possessing, many of them, no interest whatever in the country. As will be seen by our telegram, the letter is the result of calm deliberation, and the signatures are of course appended, not in the heat of political excitement, but with a full consideration of the present political position. Such of the signatures as are telegraphed will be recognised as those of men occupying leading positions in Dunedin, and should carry weight with them. It is to be hoped that they will have their proper effect.