PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5190, 9 November 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, November 8. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. PAPERS AND RETURNS. By permission of the Council, the Hon. Colonel Brett laid on the table some photographs of a bridge over the Waimakariri, Certain papers, which had been asked for in the form of a return by the Hon. Mr. Hart, ■were laid on the table by the Hon. Colonel Whitmore. reports. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN brought up the reports of the Waste Lands Committee on the following Bills;—The Waikato Hospital Reserves Exchange Bill, the Wyndham Show Ground Reserve Bill, the Port Chalmers Compensation Bill, and the Public Reserve Sale Bill. The reports were read, and the Bills ordered to be committed next sitting day. MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE. The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE moved, and it was agreed to, that the Council at its rising should adjourn till Monday next. The Hon. Dr. MENZIES moved for the production of a certain plan mentioned in the 35th section of the Bluff Harbor Board Act. —Carried. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE. The Hon. Sir E. D. BELL said that he would like to ask the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, with reference to certain reserves, which, so far as he could make out, had been set apart in Otago for the purposes of constructing the Tapanui railway,—(l.) Whether the Government considered it sufficient to obtain the consent of the House of Representatives to reserve so much laud, without any reference to the Legislative Council ? (2.) Would the Hon. Colonel Whitmore tell the Council under what authority of law snch reserves have been made or are being made ? The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE replied that he would, by permission of the Hon. Sir F. D. Bell, refrain from giving any answer Tint.il next sitting day. BILLS. The following Bills were received from the House of Representatives, read a first time, and their second readings fixed as under The Christchurch City Reserves Act, Hon. Captain BaILLIE, Wednesday next ; The Thames Water Supply Act Amendment Act, Hon. Dr. Pollen, Monday next ; The Crown Redress Extension (No. I) Act, Hon. Colonel Whitmore, Tuesday next ; The Canterbury, Rivers Act Amendment Act, an early date. MESSAGES. A message was read from the House of Re-: preaentatives to the effect that permission had been granted to Mr, Bunny to attend and give evidence before the Waste Lands Committee on the Wellington City Reserves Act; also a message stating that the House of Representatives bad agreed to certain amendments made by the Legislative Council in various Bills. MOTIONS. The Hon. Mr. EDWARDS moved, —That leave of absence be granted to the Hun. Mr. Edwards for ten days, from the 9th inst., on urgent private business.—Agreed to. The Hon. Captain BAILLIE moved,— That, with a view of remedying the inconvenient and unhealthy state of a portion of the Parliament buildings, it is desirable to make additions and alterations therein as shown on the plans accompanying the report laid upon the table on 7tb November inst.—After considerable discussion, the further debate on this question was, on the motion of the Hon. Dr. Menzies, postponed till next sitt ng day. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed:—The Havelock Commonage Bill, the Dunedin Gaol-street Bill, the Special Contracts Confirmation Bill, and the Slaughterhouses Bill. ORDERS OF THE DAY. Tho Wyndham Recreation Reserve Bill was read a second time and, on the motion of the Hon. Dr. Menzies, ordered to be referred to the Waste Lands Committee. The New Plymouth Harbor Board Ordinance 1875 Amendment Bill was ordered to be committed next sitting day. The Otago Girls and Boys High Schools Bill was, on the motion of the Hon. Sir F. D. Bell, ordered to be further considered in committee on Monday next. The Education Reserves Bill was further considered in committee, and progress being reported, leave was obtained to sit again on Monday next. The Auckland College and Grammar School Bill was further considered in committee, reported with amendments, and on the motion of the Hon. Dr. Pollen, ordered to be read a third time on Monday B The Council then adjourned till the usual hour on Monday afternoon. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, November, 8. The Speaker took the chair at half-past two. ADJOURNMENT. Sir GEORGE GREY moved,—That the House at its rising adjourn till Monday next, Friday being the anniversary of the Prince of Wales’ Birthday. Major ATKINSON hoped the motion would not be agreed to, as there was a large amount of business to be disposed of. Certain bon. members had decided to treat the majority of the House with contempt. Beside the noconfidence motion there was a large amount of private business. Mr. STOUT supported the adjournment, and accused the hon. member for Egmont of obstructing the business of the_ House. It was rumoured in the lobbies that the names of certain gentlemen had been joined together under the leadership of the member for Egmont to make an assault on the Ministerial Benches with a hope of displacing the present occupants. It was an unprecedented thing that a no-confidence motion should be brought forward the day after a similar one had been negatived. Mr. ROLLESTON aid a few days ago the House adjourned on the privilege question. Before another adjournment was asked for till next week the House should be placed in possession of information as to the position of the Government in relation to his Excellency. Sir GEORGE GREY was understood to say that the repl v of his Excellency would bo laid on the table that evening. Mr. REES spoke of the inconsistent conduct of the hon. member for Avon, in stating a few

weeks ago that the members of the late Ministry were unfit to be trusted by the country, and in his now being prepared to vote for their reinstatement on the Ministerial benches. - Bid the late Premier think the supporters of the Government were mare children, and that they would let his motion come on for discussionHe could rest assured that he would not change his position during the present session. Mr. THOMSON said that if the House sat the following day it would be guilty of disrespect to the Queen and the Royal Family. Messrs. Barff, Murray, and Shrimski also supported the adjournment. A division was called for, with the following result : —Ayes, 37 ; noes, 38. MASTERTON RAILWAY, Mr. BEETHAM asked the for Public Works, —If the Government are in a position to call for tenders for carrying on the formation of the line of railway from Featherston to Masterton ; and, if not, whether they, will state what is the earliest date at which tenders can be called for ? The Hon. Mr. LARNACH replied that the plans were now in course of preparation. If the direct line were adopted, tenders would be called for in a month’; but if that by way of Greytown was decided on, it would be three months. In a few days he would be in a position to give a more definite answer. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. Major ATKINSON asked what facilities the Government intended to afford for the discussion of the no-confidence motion? Sir GEORGE GREY replied that the Government had stated the previous day that the business would proceed in the ordinary course. PARIS EXHIBITION. Mr. REES moved, —That this House will, on Wednesday next, resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider of a respectful address to be presented to the Governor, praying that his Excellency will cause a sum of £3OOO to be placed upon the Supplementary Estimates for the purpose of providing funds for the due representation of New Zealand at the Paris Exhibition. Mr. Rees spoke for over an hour.—Mr. De Lautoor followed, and continued till the usual adjournment hour. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. On resuming at 7.30, The Hon. Major ATKINSON moved the postponement of all the orders of the day, for the purpose of considering No. 3 of the notices of motion. Mr. O’RORKE argued that such a motion was altogether out of place, inasmuch as it interfered with the privileges of the House. He instanced various cases in point, and concluded by stating that the motion should not be entertained. After some remarks from Mr. Stout, the motion was postponed. BILLS. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the following Bills were agreed to ; —Havelock Commonage Bill, Dunedin Gaolstreet Bill, Special Contracts Confirmation Bill, and Slaughterhouses Bill. QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. On this question being called on, the correspondence was read at length which had occurred between his Excellency the Governor and the Ministry in regard to the late political situation. Mr. STOUT moved that the message he referred to the committee at present sitting to inquire into the question of privilege. He thought it but right that the subject should be fully dealt with, and therefore his motion, the question involved being of the most important character, comprising, as it did in his opinion, the first principles of consitutional law. He moved that the memorandum from his Excellency should be taken into consideration on the following day. Mr. BARFF supported the motion, arguing that it was the bounden duty of the Government to have the difficulty at present pending settled as soon as possible. Mr. TRAVERS contended that the Ministry had been themselves to blame, and he quite appreciated the “spirit in which his Excellency had spoken.” He went on to observe that the conduct of the Government had been altogether uncommon, and that it well deserved the remarks which were passed upon it by, as he believed, both sides of the House. (Ironical cheering.) The hon. member was further proceeding to deal with the matter, when Mr. WAKEFIELD rose to order, and pointed but that the whole question was being re-opened, therefore the hon. member (Mr. Travers) should not be heard. Mr. HAMLIN followed in. a similar course, after which Mr. TRAVERS continued: He argued that his Excellency the Governor had placed himself in thu hands of the Ministry ; that they were bound to defend him ; and that in every respect they were liable for the effect of the present position in which the country was placed. He therefore moved that the message from his Excellency the Governor should be taken into consideration on Monday next. Mr. REES argued in a lengthy speech that the present Ministry had only acted in a constitutional manner, and had no other course open than that it had adopted. He challenged the members of the Opposition with their want 1 of consistency, and especially referred to Mr. Travers, who, he remarked, should have known better than to take the action he had. Mr. GISBORNE contended that when a Ministry placed itself in an antagonistic position with the Governor for the time being, its duty was to resign, as otherwise it could not continue in office with satisfaction to itself and the country. He therefore hoped that the Ministry would consider the matter and come to a decision at once. Mr. REYNOLDS remarked that the session had already been to a great extent wasted through the various frivolous motions which has been brought forward, and he therefore thought that the Government should be allowed time to consider on the subject. Mr. WHITAKER contended that there was no reason why the Government should ask for delay in the matter. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN held that the members of the Ministry were by no means deserving of the remarks which had been applied to them from the Opposition. He charged Mr. Whitaker with extreme inconsistency, as also Major Atkinson, and in referring to the matter concerning Mr. J. N. Wilson observed that Sir George Grey had little or nothing to do with the suggestion then given the Governor. The hon. member went on to criticise the actions of various members of the Opposition, and held that the Ministry was quite justified in holding its own as against the opposition endeavored to be established on the other side. Notwithstanding the action of Ids Excellency the Governor, he considered the Government were quite entitled to their own opinion, and in following out that he considered they had the feeling of the country behind them; therefore the Opposition had but small cause for complaint. He contended that if the Opposition meant that the business of the country should be proceeded with, there should be no objection to an adjournment of the question until the following week, when it could no doubt be disposed of to the satisfaction of both sides of the House. The Government of which ho was a member were anxious to have the business carried out, and if they were allowed the opportunity he felt sure they would be able to do so to the satisfaction of the country at large. They were bound to support the privileges of the House, and therefore the action they had taken in securing that the constitutional rights of the Ministry were respected. Major ATKINSON stated that seeing the importance of the question, he fully agreed to an adjournment until Monday next. Notwithstanding that, however, he wished to test the question as to whether the Ministry bad or had not a majority of the House, and until that question was settled he was certain that no business would be proceeded with. Business would he kept at a standstill, and the country would be the sufferers. Sir GEORGE GREY replied in a pointed speech, in which he taunted the members of the Opposition with having neglected when in office to attend to those general wants they now sought so zealously to administer themselves. The hon. member instanced the forgetful efforts of various members

of the Opposition, and held that he and Ills colleagues possessed, at all events, the confidence of the country, and were quite prepared to test the question. Respecting the opposition which had been raised up, he stated that bribery was visible in every direction in which it was possible to be introduced. Major ATKINSON moved that the words be taken down. Sir GEORGE GREY stated that he had not been allowed time to finish his sentence, and he would conclude it with the words I by promising boroughs and road boards,” (Cheers.) Major ATKINSON withdrew his motion. Sir GEORGE GREY reviewed the tactics which had been shown by the other side in offering, as he considered, bribes to road boards and other corporate bodies iu order to gain support. He contended that the Opposition had forgotten their conduct when in office, and had plunged the colony into a position of extreme difficulty ; in fact placed it in a position in which it should not at present have been situated, involving as it did the most serious results- He explained that he had retained office with the view of serving the best interests of the country, and that it was better for them to settle their questions amongst themselves rather than appeal to the Secretary of State for the Colonies ; also arguing that the policy the Government had to propose comprised the settlement of the land question and the other questions of local and general taxation so necessary to be brought about. Mr. DONALD REID proceeded to review the conduct of the late Government, and held that the course of business adopted by the present Ministry showed most mxmistakeably that office, and not policy, was the prevailing medium. He pointed out that in many respects changes had been promised that had never appeared ; the Counties Act required amending iu various ways, but nothing had been done in the matter, and therefore, for the present, the country was left undecided. Promises given had been forgotten, and in many directions the internal business of the country had been x*etarded. He contended that the position of the Government was a most dishonorable one, and that if it did not possess a majority of the House, it should at once resign, its present position, in his opinion, being even distasteful to the smallest Road Board iu-the colony. Place and power, he considered, was their sole aim, and in endeavoring to attain that they had forgotten those high and distinct privileges they were commissioned to see carried out. Mr. DE LAUTOUR taunted the Opposition with a want of sincerity, and in speaking of the Hon. Mr. Reid observed that he had played into the hands of the squatters more than any other member of a previous Government had done. Regarding the want of confidence motion by the Opposition, he considered it was of the most trivial character, and had apparently originated from purely selfish motives, there being really nothing to sustain such a motion before the House. Dr. HODGKINSON moved that the debate be adjourned until the following day at half past seven o’clock. Mr. DONALD REID suggested an adjournment until Monday, and moved an amendment accordingly. On the question being put, the amendment for the adjournment until Monday was carried on the voices, and subsequently agreed to. Major ATKINSON gave notice that on the following day he would move that the’ orders of the day should be postponed, and that the House should resolve it had no confidence iu the present Government. The hon. member questioned the remarks of the Speaker, that the motion ‘of no-confidence would not be allowed to supersede the orders of the day but would have to follow the usual course. Mr. STOUT, taunted the Opposition with undue haste in regard to bringing another no-confidence motion forward before the Ministry had had time to submit its policy. Mr. MOORHOUSE held that the Government had no reason to ask for delay in the matter, but should come to the point at once, and have the question tested as to whether or not it really possessed the confidence of the House. He challenged the members of the Government with adapting the rules of the House so as to prevent the question being brought to a decision, and accordingly characterised the conduct of the Government as despicable in the extreme. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN spoke at some length in reference to the tactics adopted by the Opposition, after which the Hou=e adjourned, at twenty-five minut’ S past 2 o’clock a.m., until the following (this) day.