PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 492, 26 November 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(>!V TKU-:<!!i-APH.) Wellington, November 24. In the Legislative Council to-day, the Hon. Mr. H0i111.03 brought up a petition from the fi male woik. rs in the Mosgiel Factory, which was received and r ad. and ordered to be called on mxt Friday. The Otago High Schools Bill, the Waikouaiti Atliefflenm Land Bill, and the Church Trust Property Li tie River Exchange 8.1 l were read a third time.

In the House of R presentatives on Saturday afternoon.

Mr. Fox as a question of privilege, drew attention to a report of a speec i delivered in Auckland by Dr. Wallis, number for Auckland City West, at a public meeting tin re a few days -ago, when amongst other tl ings Dr. Wallis had said " that every fourth man in the House was a political trimmer and rogue." He simply wis .ed to bring the matter before the notice of the Hou>e.

Mr. Stout quoted fro.n tie Auckland Star, staring that the Herald's repoit rrom which Mr. Fox had quoted, was false. He motel tile House do now adjourn. M.r. Kowe said the ?tar w is as unic'i a p.trty p:ipiF as the Herald, Uit it did not dare to contradict the fact that Dr. Wallis had used the words. It whs the hity of every member to defend the character of the House which represented ttie intelligence nnd the worth of the people of JiTew Z aland, It was a dirty bird that fouled its own ntstand pandered to the lowest passiu-.i of an Aucklnud nioh. The contempt of the House should r33t on hiui for e\ er.

Mr. Manders said a number of -con*temptible cowardly insinuations had emanated from impure sources this year, injuring the purityNof numbers hi a \ no gentleman could notice. The N Press, under 'fcW influence of Ministers, had been guilty.of most disgraceful license in attacking members. \ Mr. M"acandrew having been specially ullncled td\hy' the lastNipeakeY, denied having had any communication with the Press. Mi-. R>>lleston thong' t it very wrong that members having obtained leave of absence from the House on private iffairs, should go back and attempt to influence the passions of constituents in every way to affect the d liberation of the House. T.ie in re imputations of Dr. Wallis c mid be treated with contempt, for the Hou.-,e itsi-lf, under Sir George Grey's leadership, had n »w got into the habit of making disgraceful imputations on all its own public men. Sir Robert Douglas said the real question was, had Dr. Wallis made the remarks attributed to him i He moved " That the Speaker communicate with Dr. Wallis, and ask if he Lad used the words." Sir George Grey said that they had an undoubted right, and it would be tyranny of the grossest kind, subversive of every principle of public lioertyand right to say otherwise, and to piuv nt a niinori'y appealing against a majority to a source from which both derived power. He had not h'inis If, as Mr. Rolhston had said, made any general charges, but had exposed specific wrongs, and Mr. Rolhston Had assisted him. H; had not villitied the honor of any proportion of iis members, but had complained of wrong, as to which he had accused t : ie Gowrnm.nt. of conniving at. He was prepared to prove everything he ha I said in this way, and no one had encouraged him more in doing his duty in this way than Mr. R dleston. Major Atkinson said t'at not one of ■he charges Sir Gorge Givy had made against the late Government had ever been snl stantiated. He challeiided Sir George Grey, now that he was in oilice, ro substantiate one, whether in regard to tiie Piako Swamp or aiiytliing else. Sir Sir George Grey had never had the nian-l-ness to retract. Mr. Rollestoii had condemned the action of the Government as rrors of judgment which honest men might conim t, but which rendered their removal fr Mil o.lic; desirable, w die Sir George Grey always accused them of •orrnpfc actions instigated by corrupt, niotivi s. < illy the oiTur day Sir George tJivy made a coiiti mptible charge against him of i;tiiu' msii-an-d in his action to ,'t-t back to otfke for the purpose of diawiug his monthly pay. 'Jo Sir G. orge Grey w.-is ul-solut;'y and ■ ntir. ly due the lemo-.l sed sta'e into wl ic i t e House had eof. Before is advent, the House took for granted that t! e actions of public men wi re guiu-d ny honor and honesty, and only their judgment antl policy u '«'i'e attacked. Now di.sgrnc< ful imputations of corrupt motives were constantly bandied about. Sir George Grey had absolutely failed when lie cb sended from generalities to particulars, as to Dr. Wallis' statements they had better lie left alone as unworthy of notice. Mm hers clearly had a right to address their constituents during tne session, but they should inform the House. It was like false pretences to obtain Lave on private affairs and then start a political campaign. Mr. De Laut.our did not think the Ho-se any the worse now than it was in previous years, and 1 e quoted txanipks. Mr. Ballanc- lvfe'Ted at sonic length to some of Major Atkinson's remarks in reference to the eharg. s of land jobbing made agaiu>t the late Ministers. Mr. liees reminded Major Atkinson t 1 at his chalen-je nrght be taken up. The late Ministi rs were actually open to criminal prosecution. Major Atkinson : For what? Mr. R:es : In regard to the Piako Swamp, and for lib. 1. Major Atkinson : Will the lion, member pros- cute us fir the Piako Swamp . Mr. Re.s : I will, and for libel too, if the lion, member 1 k« s it. Major Atkinson no doubt wrnts it for libel. Mr. Rees continued saying that the words attributed to Dr. Wallis were, if made, utte'-ly indefensible. Mr. Suansoii thought there was nothing improper in a iii<-iub ( r when at home addressing a pubic ir.ee'ing. He did not defend Dr. WalUs f • r us'ng such wolds, but if anyone in the g.dlny that day thought that members beli. vvd the accusations they had just hei n mak ng aguiist each other, probably 1 e would come to the conclusion that Dr. Wal is' words were not so far wide of the maik after all. Mr. Stout thought far worse language was used in tl e House s une sessions ago than now, as now new numb, rs wire able to letaliate on the old ones who were getting tiled of it in eonsequet ce. He thin spoke at some length on tie Piako Swamp and VVai-oa land purch.-.se cases. The charges of improper conduct made against the lale Ministers in regard to thi se matters he wotil 1 repeat at his first public lneet.ng, so that Major Atkinson and ids friends might, if th. y .hired, sue him for damages. lie was pre] fin d to prove the truth of these charges in any Court of la •". The motion for the adjournment was negatived. fc»:r Kob'-rt Douglas withdrew his motion. A Bill to grant a pension to Dr. Greenwood, late fee g an -at-Ar us, was received 1 y a nies lroui Hie Governor. Major Atkinson again moved the adjournment of the House, in order to give i i.im an opportunity of r.p'ylng to the 'remarks m de in the previous debate by Mes.-rs. Balknce, Stout, Re-, Sir George Grey, and others. In r- fer nco to tie Piako Swamp ami ot.ir land cases, he j gave a fuK detailed uoei.ii.it of everything

don't* in regard both to the Piako and W.HJtoa lands.

IVtr.VStout replied, saying that Major Atkinson's statements were entirely incorrect.

Sir George Grey at considerable length reviewed the action of the late Government in reference to the land cases in question,'and he intimated hisinteiuion _of seeking such an alteration of the law as would enable the House and country to know what was done by the Executive in the name of the Governor-in-Oonncil, ami w: ich would render Ministe s responsible under penalties for what they did in t.-is way. After Major Atkinson had replied, the motion for adjournment was negatived. Reply in" to Mr. Ormond, Sir George Griy said he presumed the Government I ad not countermanded any orders for railway material sent to England by the lite Government. They had countermanded an order for railway tickets. On the Hoiue n sinning, the Foxton Ri serves Bill was introduced by Mr. Johnston.

The Fox ton Harbour Bill, the Roxburgh R« serves Amendment Hill, and the Southland Girls' and Boys' High School Bill were read a third time.

The Duration of the House of Representatives Bill was discharged, on a diviuoii, by 31 to 2L. On the motion to into Committee on the Native Marriage Validation Bill, Sir Robert Douglas and Capt. Mo-ris opposed it as being retrospective, and it would invalidate many land eontracls. Captain Mortis said the Maori women would rather live in adult ry than sacrifice their land, and it was distateful to Natives. IT-* moved it to be referred to the Native Affairs Committee

Mr. Sheohan assented to this, and it was agreed to. Tho Crown Redress Extension Bill (Vo. 1) pass-d through Coimnittoo, and was read a third time on a division of 27 to 20.

The Waikato II arbour Endowment Bill, tho Gist orne Ilaibour Bid, t'o i'liniug Companies' Act. Amendment Bdl, were read a second time.