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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5798, 29 October 1879, Page 2

Ix the debate on July 18th, in which the correspondence was brought forward rc the appointment of a Speaker of the Legislative Council, and which we have quoted above, we notice that the question of the production of a private correspondence came to the surface. Au afternoon was yesterday wasted by members trying to force the Government to disclose a private correspondence in relation to the agreement entered into between the Ministry and the Auckland four. Mr. Stewakt and several others tried hard to persuade the House that because Mr. Swaxsox’s memorandum was marked confidential, therefore it was disgraceful and unfit for publication. Official correspondence is recorded, and copies are kept, or supposed to be kept, of all original documents. Private correspondence, on the other hand, if burnt or torn up, may be lost beyond recall; and if Mr. S wax sox had chosen to tear up or burn the memorandum before the eyes of all the House, or before the committee

which Mr. Hamlix proposed should be appointed, no one could have objected to his doing so. Upon the occasion of the production of Sir 0. Gkev’s letter, re tiie appointment or tho Speaker to the Legislative Council, Mr. Hall clearly laid down the position which he has now taken up. Ho said “ trodueing rny motion that I did not ask “for private correspondence that it “ would be impertinent for me to do so “ —but, in concluding my remarks, I “ said that, while I should not be sur- “ prised to hear there was no official “ correspondence on the subject, I should “ be giad to hear that there was no other “ correspondence which would bear out “ tho newspaper paragraph to which I “ referred.” This position he defended yesterday, and it is undoubtedly impregnable.