PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5783, 11 October 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, Ocxornu Iffi The Speakkr took the chair at hall-part two o'clock. GENERAL. Several petitions were presented, notices of motiiai giwn, and returns and reports brought up and laid. no-confii>fnce motion*. Mr. M \CANDREW cave notice that nextsitting day h? would move, —“That the Government do?> not p.v>e« the confidence of this House." , Applause, and cries of “Oh I") In giving this norice the mover said perhaps*, with the indulgence of the House, he might be allowrd to say a few words, with a view cf expediting the business of the country. (Applauded t The Hon. the SPEAKER said Mr. Macariarew could only address the House bv full consent. (Louj cries of “No, no.”) Mr. MACANDKEW said be would more the adjournment of the House, which would entitle him to speak. He presumed tho Government wished to act constitutionally, and not to delay the business from being gone on with. The Opposition were exceedingly • nxious to get on with the business of the country. (One* of “Oh !oh !'* and “ Hear, hear.’’! For that reason they would like the want of confidence motion to come on at once. If the Government were so disposed they would not object to go to a division that day, and would abide loyally by the result. At the sam« time, the best laid schemes were not always’carried out. If defeated, they would do their best to carry out the important measures before the country. Perhaps it was too much to expect the Government to go on with the debate at once ; but he might say that if the Government were defeated that day their successors would be able to com© dawn on Tuesday prepared to go on with the miriness of the country. If the Government did not agree to the debate going on at once, the Opposition would be satisfied for his motion to be taken on Tuesday. He had no wish to press the motion for adjournment. FINANCE OF THE COUNTRY. In asking leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Public Revenues Act, Major Atkinson took the opportunity of ata'big that the financial condition of things was very unsatisfactory. He should be prepared at an early data to go fully into the affairs of the country, (Hear, hear.) WASTE OP TIME, The Clerk to the House (Major Campbell) read a letter from a tribe of Maoris, complaining of the great waste of public time there had been, and pressing tho House to get on with the business of tho country. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. Mr. FINN asked tho Government,—-When thev intend to throw open for settlement all ; available agricultural laud at the head of. Lake Wakatipu, Otago • The Hon. Mr. ROLLESTON said the Government were anxious to afford - increased facilities for settlement of land, and bad the question under consideration. With regard to the special question a*ked, he trould be prepared to answer it in the course of the week. TELEGRAPH STATION. Mr. SEYMOUR asked the PostmasterGeneral, —If he will cause a telegraph station to be opened at Renwick Town, without insisting upon a large money guarantee T The Hon. Mr. HALE was understood to reply in the affirmative. NATIVE RESERVES ON THE WEST COAST. Mr. TAINXJI asked the Government,— When they intend laying before this House tho report of Mr. Commissioner Young on satire reserves on the West Coast, together with all correspondence and minutes relating thereto ? The Hon. Sir. BRYCE said the returns were being prepared, and would shortly belaid upon the table of the House. RAILWAY UNIFORMS, Mr, ANDREWS asked the Minister for Public Works, —(1) If he will cause all railway passenger tickets, for use «n the New Zealand railways, to have the amount or value of such ticket printed on the back thereof ? (2) If it is the intention of the Government to take any steps to cause the whole of tho officials on the Government railways to wear a distinctive dress or uniform while on duty t The Hon. Mr. OLIVER said he could not at once give an answer to the first part of the question, but with regard to the last, he might say that the guards of the South Island railways wore such uniforms, and no doubt it would be the same in the North. The matter would be considered. s TELEGRAPH LINK. Mr. H. HIRST asked the Commissioner of Telegraphs,—Tf any steps have been taken to erect, a line of telegraph from the Thornbury Junction, to Otautau, in the County of Wallace ? The Hon. Mr. HALL replied in the affirmative. RULES FOR THE RAILWAY LINE. Mr. H. HIRST asked the Minister for Public Works.—lf any steps have been taken to relay the Rivcrfcon-Invercargill railway with 401 b. rails, as recommended by the engineer ? The Hod. Mr. OLIVER said the line wa» now being relaid. THE LAND TAX. Mr. BOWEN asked the Government,— Whether any instructions were sent by the Land Tax Department to the Deputy-Commis-sioners as to the principle on which valuations should be made ; and, if bo, whether a r *py of such instructions will be laid before this House ? The Hon. Major ATKINSON laid the information sought for on the table. Mr. JOHNSTON asked the Government, — If they will give instructions that the land tax in each county may be paid at any post office savings bank within such county ? The Hon. Major ATKINSON replied that it would be impossible to do that, but it was proposed that the tax might be paid by post office order free of cost, so that practically it could be paid at any post and. money order office. NEW BILLS. The following new Bills were introduced A Bill to amend the Mines .Act, 1877 (Dir. Reeves); the Mining Companies Act 1872 Amendment Bill (Mr. Reeves); the Oamaru Harbor Board Bill—m .committee (Mr. Shrimski); the Waitara Harbor Board Land Grant and Loan Bill—in committee (Colonel Trimble); a Bill to amend the Masterton and Greytown Lauds Management Act, 1871 (Mr. Bunny) ; a Bill to amend the Execution of Judgments against Real Estate Act, ‘lß67 (Mr. Stewart); a Bill to amend the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876 (Mr. Shanks) ; a Bill to amend the Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough Rivers Act, IS6B (Mr, Fulton). MINISTERIAL STATEMENT, . . The Hon. JOHN HALL said before the orders of the day were called on he‘was desirous of making a short statement. He was afraid that on Wednesday last he did not altogether do justice to the motive* of the hon. gentlemen who objected to the adjournment of the House until Tuesday next. The object of the hon, gentlemen was a desire to expedite the business of the House. (Hear, hear.) Well, that was exactly what the Government wanted, and they were anxious and prepared to go on with the business without delay, and without interruption. In justice to himself ho might be allowed to explain why Ministers were not sworn in before the sitting of the House on Wednesday last. It was said by the other side that this was done with a view of evading an immediate motion’of want of confidence which it was known was to be moved by the Lon. member for Port Chalmers, There was no foundation whatever for such a statement. The explanation was as follows”: They were made acquainted the day before the House met that Imprest Supply was wanted, and it was agreed therefore that they should allow the Government to take their seats on that day bo that Supply might be granted. The gentleman who represented the present Government in the Legislative Council had not arrived. They (the present Government) had heard that the Council might object to pass a money Bill, unless recommended to do so by the Grown in the person of the Government’s representative in that Chamber. /They had to choose between two alternatives, cither to postpone the question of Supply, or to allow it to stand over till next week. He himaclf communicated this to the hon. member for the Thames or for Christchurch —he did not know which to call him —(A Voice : Both) — and he thought that hon. gentleman must have forgotten this when he stated that he was not aware why the new Ministry was not He was obliged to the House for having allowed him to make this statement, as the reasons adduced for their not having been sworn in were not fair. He might now explain to the hon, gentlemen that the Government were prepared to go on with the business of the country —(hear, hear) —and before doing so he would make a short statement to the House, as far as it could be done,'as to what it proposed to do. It was obvious that the absence of the Attorney-General interfered with the work of the Cabinet, but Mr. Whitaker would probably be in Wellington on the following day. With regard aUo to the question of finance, hi* hon. friend Major Atkinson h&a

been busily engaged in doing Ids best to investigate it, so as to bring his Financial Statement before the House. He was endeavoring to obtain clear and correct information to put b-focthe House the state of the country, as it actually existed. Ho was not yet prepared to do tills, but lie had got .sufficiently far to find that the financial position of the country world require the most serious consideration of the House. '.More than that he could not say, but on Tuesday next or on the following day he Would make a pretty full ftatement to the House of what the financial condition of the country was. They felt that the House and the country should know the true financial condition of the country with tho least possible delay. With regard to native affairs, his hon. friend the Native Minister had been actively cir'agert obtaining the fullest information on the .subject. Owing to the peculiar way in which native affairs had been conducted, it would not be possible to make a statement now on native affairs, but on Tuesday uext his lion, friend the Native Minister would be enabled to speak generally on the subject of native affairs, and to state what they believed to be their present condition, and what steps should be adopted. They would also be able to refer to the question of the purchase of native lands generally, and the purchases that were" now going on, and it was obvious that they could not do that then. There were other subjects which would be dealt with by the Government, and among them would be tho large question of electoral reform. It had been the fashion of hon. members to throw doubts on the sin* cerity of the members on that side of the House in their desire'to pass Liberal measures. There was no question whatever about that. They proposed to dispel that opinion and remove those doubts by at once proceeding with the important measures demanded by the country, notably, electoral reform ; and presing those measures on without interruption. He hoped and believed that hon. members on the other side would not allow any doubt on their part to lead them to offer any obstruction to tho Government. The Franchise Bill had not yet reached the House, hut was in type, although not complete. He had given notice that day for leave to introduce that Bill on Tuesday. At prerent he could only say they did not in many respects approve of the Bill introduced by the late Government. It was not really a Liberal measure ; indeed, some of its provisions were very illiberal. What the new Government proposed was to go back to the Bill of 1878, as a basis on which to found the new Bill. They hoped also to embody in that Bill a clause relative to the Maori qualification that would be fair and reasonable, and meet the views of both races. (Hoar, hear.) He would briefly refer to tho Triennial Parliaments Bill, the second reading of which he proposed to move forthwith, as they believed that measure to bo needed. In one respect they differed from the lata Government. There was this remarkable feature in the Bill of the late Government, and he thought the House and the country should know it.. (Hear, hear.) It was that the measure was to take effect alter the expiration of the present Parliament, or other determination of the General Assembly. That was tho liberality of the late Govorament. Mr. GISBORNE ; That was meant for the last Parliament. (Laughter.) Thu Hon. Mr. HALL could only say that they had sent to the printing office for the Bill which the Government had ready, and the Bill he held in his hand was the Bill that had been sent.

Mr. MONTGOMERY submitted that the Hon. Mr. Hall was transgressing the rules of order. •

The SPEAKER did not think so. Mr. HALL continued : He wished to explain the question, ao that the House might know that the Bill referred to was the Bill of the late Ministry that was to have been introduced by Sir George Grey. The next question the Government wonld deal with would bo a readjustment of the representation of the colony. They entirely agreed that this readjustment was necesssary. Rut it was a work of difficulty. They believed that population should be the first consideration, but not the only one ; and therefore they objected to the Bill of last session, by which readjustment was made a mere mechanical matter. They hoped to have the Bill settled on the floor of the House, and to give a just representation to every part of the colony, so that they could have no right to complain ; —not to carry a Bill which would go the length of disfranchising some parts of the colony, as would have been the case if the Bill of last session had been carried. (Hear, hear.) With regard to native lands, they believed it was a mistake to suppose that the lands should not be settled. It was necessary for the good of every class that the lands should be settled as speedily as possible. The Government believed also that an improvement could be made in the land laws. No doubt the experience of the last two years showed that greater facilities should be given for the acquisition of land on deferred payments. The present conditions were too onerous, while the prices charged were excessive. The whole question therefore required readjustment. As they would come down to the House as early as possible with a measure on the subject, this was all the Government was in a position to state at the present time. It the House would allow them time they would be able to come down with a full statement on the various matters to which ho bad now briefly alluded. They expected their colleague (Mr. Whitaker) would land in Wellington the next day, and they would then devote themselves to preparing the various matters that would have to be brought before the House, which they would ask to go on with in order that hon. members might not be detained there a longer time than was absolutely necessary. Sir GEORGE GREY asked in whose hands the Triennial Parliament Bill was.

The SPEAKER : I should say in the hands of the Government. The Hon. JOHN HALL said that it was with no want of courtesy that the present Government had taken up the Bill, but it was the usual course adopted. Speaking to the Bill, looking to the old Provincial Councils elections, the term of five years was not perhaps too long for the House of Assembly, but since abolition had taken place an alteration was needed. Greater interest was now taken in the House than formerly, and therefore and for other reasons it was advisable that they should have shorter Parliaments than five years, and he therefore moved that the Bill be read a second time.

Mr. JOHN SHEEHAN said it had been said that silence was silver and silence gold, but it seemed to him that the remarks of the bon. gentleman at the head of the Government, in reference to Mr. Macandrew, was brass. They had received a fair challenge, and they ought to take it up. If the House was now adjourned until Tuesday, and then the challenge was taken up and the matter fought out, if the present Opposition was defeated they would give the Government a cordial support. The whole question might be decided in four or five hours, so that the House and the country might know who was to be the Government.

Mr. MURRAY rose to a point of order, — Was it competent to discuss a question that was not before the House ? The SPEAKER ruled that Mr. Sheehan was out of order.

Mr. SHEEHAN then moved the adjournment of the debate.

Mr. WHITAKER was sorry fox- the asperity shown by Mr. Sheehan when speaking of the Leader of the Opposition and the hon. the Premier. They had heard nothing from the Opposition bxxt that they (the present Government) did not intend to carry out these measures, and now they brought them forward they were met by opposition. He might tell them that this very Bill emanated from his (Mr. Whitaker’s) party. They had come straight from the people, and the Opposition now would not give them an opportunity to carry out the measures desired by the counti’y. ■'And yet the Opposition had already commenced to obstruct the business of the counti'y. Such a course of conduct was most unfair. They had been told by the Government what they proposed to do, and had told them fairly the measures which they would bring down in a short time. The present motion of the hon member for an adjournment was most unfair, and he appealed to the sense of the House not to allow it to be carried. Mr. TURNBULL supported the motion of Mr Sheeehon. Mr. McLEAN said that the late Government dared not bring in the Triennial Bill, and this was the way they now tried to shelve it.

Sir GEORGE GREY denied that any member of bis party had threatened to leave him if the Bill was brought in. Mr. McLEAN continued his remarks. The Opposition we re determined not to have triennial Paiiiaa:-As. For his own part he should assist the Government to carry out this- Bill. The Government should be allowed to place the state of the finance before the House, for it was well known it was in a most deplorable condition. It was very good of the Opposition to want to go to a division that day, when it was well known that three or four of the Government party were not present.

Mr. HE LAHTOUR rose to a point of order. Mr. McLean was not speaking to the question. Mr. McLEAN continued. He repeated that several of the hon. members who bad promised their cons 1 ituents to support this Bill intended to do nothing of the kind, but would if it came to a vote walk into the lobbies. And they had it embodied in the Bill that it should not come into law until after the present Parliament. Let them legislate for themselves, and not for future Parliaments. He should support tho Government to carry the Bill through the House. Mr. SWANSON said (here was no doubt tho country wanted the Bill, and he should support it ; but at the same time, the sooner this fight came off the better, and they knew what Government was to stand. Mr, BOWEN would remind hon. members that there had been a fair fight and a division already. Was it necessary always to have two want of confidences .' It was a monstrous proposition, and was an unconstitutional proceeding. It had been over and over again laid down that Ministers should have a fair trial.

The SPEAKER ruled that Mr. Bowen was travelling bovrmd the strict rules of order.

Mr. BOWEN continued that it was unfair to oppose this Bill ; it was a factious obstruction of the House. (Hear, hear.) He had too much aeuse of the loyalty of the House to believe tho motion for adjournment would he carried. Mr, REAPER WOO!) said whatever was unconstitutional, came from the other side. Governments always proposed that business .should cca“e when a vote of want of confidence Was brought down. Mr, Woed was called to order.

Mr. WAKEFIELD thought the two questions—that of adjournment and that of want of confidence must naturally be mixed together. The SPEAKER ruled that the House could not discuss then a motion which was fixed for Tuesday next. Mr. WOOD continued ; He would ask when had present Ministers given the late Government a fair trial. Last session the Government was not allowed to bring forward their measures, which we re now adopted by the present Ministry. He contended thatjdie Ministry had been placed upon the benches by false pretences. If a complete vote of want-of-con-fidence bad been passed, he could have understand it. The Ministrv had placed themselves on the benches, without first attempting, as they ought to have done, to make a reconstruction. The placing of many of the Ministers on the Government benches was most objectionable to the House. The whole troubles had been brought about by the failure of the financial scheme of 1870, which had been administered by some of the very gentlemen who were now on the Government benches. He maintained that the sooner the no-confi-dence motion was disposed of the better. Major ATKINSON said it was an extraordinary thing that the very member who had moved this adjournment had on previous occasions opposed. He would ask the House if there was not something underlying this opposition. He would tell the House that there was not one measure of the late Government fit to be brought to the House; many of them, after two years, never having looked at some of those measures. He would undertake to show that the finances were in a wretched state. The gentlemen on the other side of the House were utterly insincere. The Government had entirely to recast the Bills, some of which were simple nonsense ns they stood at the present day. At the very time that the Grey Ministry was saved by the casting vote of the Speaker, the Government whip refused to recognise a written pair of the other side, which, if allowed, would have defeated the Government. Thus, for that occasion, the want-of-confidence motion was shelved. Then last session by an overwhelming majority they declared that they had no confidence in the Ministry, and he maintained that they should have resigned then, when they found that the country was against them. (No.) No ! then how was it that they had changed places? (Applause.) They conld not go anywhere without hearing of the uselessness and incapacity of the late Premier. But if a Ministry got into their places it would be by the will of Sir G. Grey, who, so far as they were concerned, was master of the situation. He did hope that hon. gentlemen would set aside party feeling, and go to work on the business of the country. They must not suppose tho Ministry would be prevented from inquiring into the state of the country by this motion of want of confidence. If the late Government were the men they represented themselves to be, they would be only too delighted at anybody being willing to make such inquiries as they proposed to do ; and he would assure them that the inquiry should be made and the facts be made known. (Hear, hear.) Mr. MACANDREW said ho had been looking over Hansard, and could not find that he had for years past voted against the triennial Parliaments. But this question of adjournment had nothing to do with the Triennial Parliaments Bill. It was unconstitutional and unworthy to shirk the want of confidence motion, and he trusted no attention would be paid to the childish statements that had been ma-le.

The Hon. Mr. HALL said that constitutional rules and practices were entirely against the course now pursued by the Opposition. What was this want of confidence for ? Was it for their policy ? (Mr. Macandrew : You have got none.) It was simply a desire to turn the Government out without giving them a chance of bringing forward their measures. They asked, and the country asked, that they should have an opportunity of bringing their measures before the House, and it was utterly unreasonable that they should be tied down to such a short time as Tuesday, . It was unfair that an attempt should be made to hustle them out of the office before they had had an opportunity of making certain inquiry. If they refused to do so the House and the country would place their own construction on it. He would say at once that they would not be able to go on with the motion of the hon. member for Port Chalmers on Tuesday. He hoped the motion for adjournment would be inflicted by the House.

Mr. MO3S spoke in favor of the adjournment, and said it was not the practice in the old country to review the acts of their predecessors.

Major ATKINSON would inform the House that the last time the Triennial Parliaments Bill was before that House Sir George Grey, Mr. Macandrew, and Mr. Sheehan had voted against it, while himself and Mr. Bryce had voted for it.

Mr. GISBORNE said the hon. member for Mount Egmont was very inconsistent, as he had voted for the Bill in 1878. He maintained nothing could be done until the question of no confidence was dealt with. Mr. DE LAUTOUR said the issue of this vote was clearly a vote of confidence. It could be nothing else ; it must emphatically be as to whether that House had confidence in the Government or not. He maintained that it was perfectly constitutional to bring down a no confidence motion at the present time. They were entitled to meet the Government on their own ground.

The Hon. Mr. ROLLESTON did not think the House was likely to accept the advice of Mr. De Lautour in regard to the way the vote should be taken. They had in this debate learned for the first time that the hon. member for Port Chalmers was the Leader of the Opposition. Had it come to this, that Sir George Grey’s flag was to be paraded, and then that the members were to come there and set aside their leader ? (Applaxxse.) Such political perfidy would be deemed an insult by the country? (Applause.) With regard to triennial Parliaments, he stated at once that he had thought that the measure was.one o! doubtful expediency ; but he had come to alter his mind on the subject, and should now support the Bill. So long as they sat upon the Government benches they woxxld act unitedly. The statement of Mr. De Laxxtour that the Triennial Parliament Bill was not their policy was i-idiculous. They had a duty, as Ministers of the Crown, and representatives of the people, and they would do that duty faithfully. But they would accept no motion for adjournment as being equal to a motion of want of confidence.

Mr, KELLY urged upon the House the unfairness of the tactics of the Opposition. The debate this cut short by the hour for adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr. KELLY resumed the debate. He thought it was very evident that the Government should have time given them to enunciate a policy, and he deprecated obstructive tactics on the part of the Opposition. He wanted to know what the financial and land policies of the new Government were, and thought he should not be called upon to pronounce judgment upon the Government before their policy was known. He referred to the unsettled state of affairs at the West Coast, and thought native affairs should be dealt with with a firm hand. He appealed to hou, gentlemen to act in an independent manner in voting upon the question, and not to be deluded by either side*

Mr, ACTON ADAMS pointed out that the

result of the general election had been against the Government, and the hon. member for Port Chalmers should accept that verdict, and not waste the time of the country further. He thought the Government should have an opportunity of showing what _thoir policy was. He deprecated the idea of the motion being treated as one. of no confidence, for it did not express anything of the kiad. Ho contended for a fair trial being given to the new Government. He had never seen or road of such au improper proceeding as tablin'' a notice of a want of confidence motion before the new Ministers had taken their scats. (Hear, hear.) He quoted from authorities in support of toe contention that no vote of want of confidence should be given until a fair trial had been granted Ministers. He thought now or never, when all parties were agreed upon the subject, was the time for passing Liberal measures. He thought the question being debated should be treated as a matter of principle and not one of party. How would members explain their conduct to their constituencies if they voted against the second reading of the Triennial Parliaments Bill > If they voted for the postponement of the measure they would have something to answer for, and he hoped members would carefully consider the subject before doing so. It was a sham and a delusion to say that the new Government had no intention of carrying out Liberal measures. TheHon.-Mr. Hall had brought down one of the most important measures of the liberal programme, and the speaker would not be a party to puttingthat hon. member s Govern merit out of office until ho saw whether they were In earnest over these measures or not.

Mr. SAUNDERS spoke against the adjourn* merit, and said he would take no part in ob* strnotional proceedings, but be had risen to offer his vote to one party or the other. They had heard Ministers dedred to investigate certain matters which were said to be discreditable to the late Government, and late Ministers said, “ Let us get back into office before you are able to do so.” He (Mr. launders) thought it was discreditable that Ministers should not be allowed to investigate those charges. The late Government, if they were honest, should give them every opportunity of fully investigating the matter, and making them either prove what they said or retract it. (Hear, hear.) Ho concluded by saying that he for one would give Ministers every opportunity of fully enquiring into the matter, and if they could not prove what they said, his vote would go against them. (Applause.) The question was then put to the vote, and was about to be declared by the Speaker when

Mr. WAKEFIELD rose to address the House, but the Speaker ruled that he had risen too late.

The House then divided on the question that the debate be adjourned, with the following result:—

Ayes, 38. Andrews Harris Shephard Ballance Hislop Shrlmskl B-irron Hutchison .Speight Brown Ireland Stewart Bunny Lundnn Swanson He Lautour Macanclrew Tainui Finn McDonald Tawbai Fisher, J. B. Montgomery Te VVheoro Fisher, J. T. Pyke Thomson George (teller) Reeves To’e Ghborne Reid Turnbull Grey Scddon Wood, Hamlin Sheehan (toller) Nobs, 30. Adams Hursthouse Richmond Allwright Johnston Rolleston Atkinson Kelly Saunders Bain Kenny Seymour Bectham Levin Stevens Bowen Masters Sutton Brandon McCaughan Tomoana Bryco McLean Trimble Fulton Mo uhonsc "Wakefield Gibbs Murray (teller) "Whitaker (teller) Hall Oliver Willis Hirst Pitt Wright. Pa ms. Foi\ Against, • Colbeck White Wallis Driver Moss Dick Shanks Mason Hurst Studholmc. The result was received with cheers by the Opposition.

The Hon. JOHN HALL said that two gentlemen had just entered the House who were supporters of the Government, but who had not been present during the division and who were not paired. Mr. ALLWRIGHT rose in explanation of his vote against the adjournment, on the ground that he was pledged to support the Triennial Parliaments Bill. When, however, the motion of want of confidence was brought forward by the member for Port Chalmers he would probably vote for it.

The Hon. J. SHEEHAN moved that the debate be adjourned until Tuesday next, and in doing so his party intended to give the Ministry fair play. (Ironical cheers.)

Mr. WAKEFIELD then rose to address the House, and in doing so referred in ironical terms to the number of members of the great Liberal party who had stopped his mouth before the division. The member for Akaroa had shouted, “ No, you can’t speak now,” as if he was afraid he (Mr. Wakefield) was going to say something shocking about him. (Laughter.) He then referred to a speech of S«® George Grey’s, in which that hon. gentleman had said that if he found there was a majority of members against him after the election, he would not wait for the meeting of the House, but would at once resign, so that the new men might get to work as speedily as possible. When he heard Sir George say this he felt that there was still something in that hon. gentleman that he could admire, and his heart warmed towards him. He thought Sir George Grey by doing this would be setting a bright example, which ought to be followed by all public men in the future. [Mr. Wakefield here complained of the interruptions of the member for Auckland City East, Mr. Speight,] Order having been restored, he proceeded to say that upon the meeting of Parliament he had felt that Sir George Grey was going to carry out this pledge when the amendment was moved to the Address in Reply, but he now found, judging from the present tactics of Sir George’s party, that they were not prepared to carry out that view. He referred to what appeared to be the disorganised state of the Opposition, as they appeared to have several leaders, and each was jealous of the other. Every dog had his day, and every leader of the Opposition should be allowed to have his day. He quoted from a speech of Mr. Sheehan’s made two years ago, to the effect that the order of Government business should not be interfered with ; and also quoted from other sayings of the same hon. gentleman to the effect that it was unwise to stop public business in order to press forward a want-of-confldenoe motion. The hon. gentleman had gone right round the compass since then, and now appeared to hold opinions exactly the opposite, but he (Mr. Wakefield) thought now as he had always done upon the subject. He referred to the fact that some members who had voted for his party on the no-confidence vote, who had attended the caucuses of the party, and who had even been present at their banquet—(laughter)—were now voting on the other side. He said, however, that those members would come back again were the same consideration offered them as that which had made deserters of them. Referring especially to one hon. member, Mr. Wakefield said be would oscillate between the two parties until his political career came to an ignominious termination. He thought the result of the elections was pretty conclusive. The late Government got a dissolution under extraordinary circumstances, and the elections, carried on under their auspices, had resulted in a majority being returned against them. The House had the measures and policy of the late Government before it for two years, and knew as much about them as it was likely to know. He referred to the course taken by the Government which preceded the Stafford Government, and was proceeding to enlarge upon the subject, when The SPEAKER drew the hon. member’s attention to the fact that he was travelling away from the subject. Mr. WAKEFIELD bowed to the ruling of the Speaker, but said he was happy to believe that his observations had been so far interesting as to have led the Speaker to listen to them for so long a time while they were out of order. (Laughter.) He continued to say that the present Ministry had been entrusted with the power of carrying on the business of the country, and they should not be obstructed. The reason for the violent course taken by the Opposition was because they knew that in a week hence they would have no majority, for by that time the spirit of fair play would assert itself in a number of the present members of the Opposition. Ministers were not the men he took them to be if they were going to be jockeyed, and they should not “budge” from their seats until it suited them. He was, however, sure that the hon. member for Selwyn would not stay in office in the face of an adverse vote, but he would hold office until he had had an opportunity of bringing down his policy. He had observed with regret that some of the gentlemen in that House had lent themselves to absolute obstruction, although he was not surprised to find such conduct in other hon. members,

Had every member rated as conscientiously as the member for 1.-ttc-ltor. in-; Bill which was now being obstructed-’would have passed. Mr. SPEIGHT thought if gentlemen were sincere in their desire to carry on the b i?ine-s of the country they should have the question at once decided of who should _ occupy the Ministerial benches. The other side asked for a fair trial for Ministers ; a fair trial for what ! Why, to mutilate the measures of the late Government, and make them so that their own sponsors would not know them. In repiV to Mr. Wakefield he said tbo Opposition were not in a disorganised state, as would be inferred from his remark about the several leaders of the Opposition. IT" theught it only required the proper inoncemeut to be held out to the hon. member for Geraldine to fiud him in the ranks of the Opposition to-morrow. If the hon. member thought that because members had put their legs under the same mahogany with members of the Opposition they were bound to vote with them, he (Mr. Speight) thought they were mistaken. He hoped hon, members would not be intimidated by the threats of the hon. member, not to give them any more invitations if they did not vote for the Government, hut that they would vote according to their convictions, irrespective of such considerations. Speaking of the Bill befo'e the House he said the Opposition were determined it should become law this session. In regard to what had fallen from a previous speaker he could only say that his (Mr. Speight’s) party were not prepared to swallow his faults with his virtues.

Mr. EOLLESTON said it was perfectly clear that the late Ministry deddely declined to adroit that they were prepared to join any coalition, or submit to any reconstruction. That had been distinctly stated. The hon, gentleman denied the accusation which had been brought against the member for Bruce. He (Mr. Eolleston) bad long known and fought alongside of Mr. Murray, and for two years had found him a good party man, and a man who had a clear conception of his duty. Mr, STEWAUT said that his vote was perfectly in accord with his conscience. He carne to Parliament with the distinct intention of voting against and endeavoring to oust the late Premier. He would not commit himself to any definite course for the future. He claimed the right, as soon as the want of confidence was taken, to support any rain whom he thought fit to lead the House. He thought it was the duty of Mr. Hall to have confessed bis inability to construct a Ministry. He objected to precedents being quoted. He considered that the voice of the House was supreme, and was not bound by any precedent. He was sorry to hear threats which might be fortified by extraneous expressions of opinion regarding wbat might or might not be done under certain circumstances.

Mr. MUKEAY defended himself from the aspersions cast upon him. Mr. MACANDItEW hoped that hon. members would allow the adjournment to take place without further discussion. This was agreed to, and the House adjourned at 9.30 p.m.