PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 475, 6 November 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, November G

On the House meeting at 2.30 p.m., Mr. Travers gave notice that he would move—'" That the House concurs in the report, aud that an address embodying it be presented to the Governor." He would have brought the question on at once, but he thought that the Government desired to allow members time to consider it.

It being decided that it would be desirable to proceed with the question at once, Mr. Travers stated that he entirely concurred in the report. It was not intended to be disrespectful to His Excellency, but the House must protect its rights. It was not a question between the Governor and the Ministry, but one in which the privileges of the House were concerned. Precedent bad been found from which it was plain that the Crown could not with propriety take cognisance of a debate on a motion pending in the House. His Excellency had, by his conduct, led the House to believe that his responsible advisers d.d nor possess his confidence. T e motion was then put, and carried by 33 to 19 votes. In consequence of the indisposition of the Speaker, Mr. O'Rourke assumed the chair.

In reply to a question by Mr. Stout, the Acting-Speaker said that the resolution previously passed by the House, adopting the report of the Privileges Committee, would be embodied in the address to His Excellency, and presented in due course.

The 110-confidencc debate was resumed by Mr. Hamlin, who remarked that Major Atkinson's conduct was very e>. trarivdinary in bringing forward the no-con-fidence motion, after having given the pres -nt Government assuranc l s that ample time would be afforded them of studying the position of the country. Major Atkinson had called Sir George Grey an autocrat ; but; the late Premier shewed more autocratic spirit when last year he deprived many efficient officers of their positions without a moment's notice. The late Government had declared the N-itive Land Bill to be an excellent measure ; but he. ha.d good reasons for .believing that if the Bill bad lv come law, war would have resulted. It was plain to all minds that the hon. member for Egmont was actuated by sordid motives in bringing forward his motion. Major Atkinson having oalled the Speaker's attention to the last remark, and the Speaker having decided that they were unparliamentary, Mr. Hamlin said that he would bow to the Speaker's decision and withdraw the.n ; but such was his impression. It had now been demonstrated that there were others besides the late Government who were capable of conducting the business of the country ; and they should be allowed a fair trial, hakainoana had stated that there would Tav s bi e-i war had the Atkinson Ministry remained in power. In a conversation he had had with one of Tawhaio's principal advisers, it had transpired that Takamoana's statement was not unfounded. War would necessitate borrowing another L 10,000,000. The policy of the present Ministry would avert war by judiciously opening up the country and gratifying the Maoris.

Mr. Tole said that Major Atkinson's speech was evidence that Mr. M'Lean was no longer entitled to describe himself as the weakest member of the late Ministry. In bringing forward his motion, Major Atkinson was simply actuated by a desire to get back to office. He contended

that the present Ministry were entitled to hold office until the course of legislation was arrested by something more than Major Atkinson's motion. Mr. Wood thought that no business should be proceeded with until the question of privilege was settled. It might be rendered necessan' through the action of the Governor that the present Ministry should resign. The Constitution Act made no provision for the appointment of a Governor, and if his Excellency should insist upon invading the privileges of the House, it would be the duty of Ministers to decide whether or not they would continue to be his advisers.

After the Governor's message had been read, Sir George Grey asked the House to adjourn to allow Ministers time to consider their position. Mr. M'Lean objected to time being wasted over this paltry privilege case, which was simply brought forward by Ministers to gain time. They now wanted to escape the wai:t-of-confidenoc motion and resign on the other question. Mr. Moorhouse opposed the adjournment.

Mr. Fox thought the request not unreasonable under the peculiar circumstances that Ministers had got themselves into, but the country should understand that it was the Government. The Opposition was not responsible for this fearful waste of time.

Mr. Wakefield held that Major Atkinson was responsible for all the time lost by bringing down an unconstitutional and improper motion. Mr. Fox's remarks were a mere dodge to throw the odium of delay on the Government. The adjournment was agreed to, and the House rose at 8.5 p.m.