PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1090, 16 October 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wemingto.v, October 15. In the House of Representatives today,

Mr. Tomoana said he wished to correct a statement made by Mr. Sheehan. He denied having said, as alleged, that Mr. Hall promised that the Native Lands Court would be abolished, and all selling and leasing stopped. Mr. Sheehan said he would take an opportunity of referring to the subject at next sitting. Replying to Mr. Stevens, Mr. Oliver said no instructions had been given for the removal from Christchurch toDunedin of the Commissioner's, Accountant's, and Cashier's Departments of the Middle Island railways. Replying to Mr. Murray, MajoivAtkinsou said the Government was disposed to pay to local governing bodies in the Provincial District of Otago the L 51,000 of land fund impounded by the late Government, and which the Public Accounts Committee reported belonged to the Provincial District of Otago, and that it would be paid on the negotiation of the loan.

Replying to Mr. Murray, Mr. Hall said the Government had received information regarding the negotiation of the five million loan. It had not been completed, but a telegram on the subject came to hand last night, which would be tabled for perusal. Replying to Mi'. Levin, Mr. Hall said the Government would appoint a Select Committee to enquire into the best means ivf promoting and encouraging manufacture and local industries in the Colony. Mr. Sheehan resumed the adjourned debate on the question of leave to introduce the Electoral Bill. He said that the Government did not command the confidence of the House, and they thought it was not right that they .should be allowed to bring "in that measure which was really and truly a measure of the Liberal party, and the Government in oftice did not 'belong to that They had simply taken the measure from their predecessors, because thov knew the country demanded it, and he would therefore move the previous question, but before doing so asked if the motion was carried could a similar measure be introduced that, session. The Speaker replied that it could. Mr. Shcehau then moved the previous question. Mr. Han asked leave to explain the course he intended to pursue. Ihe Government proposed thai before the want of confidence motion was taken they should be allowed to place their policy before the House. He had now to state that if thev allowed the Government the present week to bring up rlicsc Bills, they would agree to a no-conridence motion being brought oil on Tuesday. Mr. M'.'.eatulrew said if they agreed to take the mo: ion on Friday he thought that the matter could be arranged.

Mr. Hall replied tha-t the Government cfadd not possibly be ready by Friday. The Native, Minister was busily engaged preparing for his statement. He was at work from 10 a.m. till 2 o'clock in the morning, and would take all the week to complete his inquiries. Mr. M'Lean thought the Government proposal a very reasonable one.

Mr. Moss suggested that the statement of the Native Minister should be made during the course of the debate on the 110conlidetice motion. .Mr. Seddon said that the Government should allow the no-confidence motion to he brought on a" once.

Mr. Pitt said it seemed simply to be a question as to who would have the honor of passing the Liberal measures. The House had been returned to pass these measures, whereas in the present spirit of parties, it would be impossible to do so. Ho urged them to .adopt some course of action that would enable the business to proceed. Mr. Murray deprecated the action of the Opposition. Mr. Wakefield pointed out that the effect of the amendment being carried would be that the whole week would be wasted without any business being done. Mr. Speight urged that the no-con-fidence vote should be taken withoutdelay. In voting for the amendment he maintained tiiat they were bringing the business to a focus, and that in the present state of affairs this was a very important step. Mr, Reader Wood said that the Government had had ample opportunity for laying their measures before the House, and to show no impartiality he would admit that the Electoral Bill was a decided improvement on that brought down by the late Government last year. They had t Tefore had all that they asked, and there was no reason why they should not proceed with the motion of no-confidence. If the House had no contidence in the Government it was nonsense to speak about proceeding further than they had gone. Colonel Trimble contended that whether the no-confidence motion came on that day week or that day fortnight, it was necessary that the Government measures should be brought down as a record. He agreed that it was of great importance that the Government should take time to mature its measures, and hoped they would not consent to any proposal that might prevent that course being pursued.

Mr. Russell spoke in support of the view ursed by the Government. Mr. Whitaker moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr. Hall said that what the Government contended for was, that having come into office with a majority, they should liaue an opportunity of placing their measures on the records of the House. That was what they were entitled to do. As a constitutional principle they were entitled to that, and it was of the greatest importance in laying the foundation of representative institutions in a young Colon}', that a principle of this kind should net be violated. When the Opposition said was this, " You had a majority lately. We have got that majority now ; therefore we at once bid you to leave the benches." The question was this..

whether tliey would take a vote on Friday or Tuesday. All the difference in dispute was one singlt sitting day, and for the sake of this one sitting day they were asked to lay down a wrong constitutional principle. It was an indecent scramble for office. Mr. Macandrew said that his real object was not place or power, but to assist in establishing a really parliamentary Government by party. Mr. Bowen spoke in favor of the Government. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr. Macandrew 'Moved the adjournment of the House. Ho said that the proposal he made for going on with the business not having been assented to, he. had no other course left to him. Mr. Hall appealed to the 1' 'juse to allow the private business on tLi_ Order Paper to be gone on with. Sir George Grey said that he stood there an outcast amongst; men. He was therefore in the position of an independent member, pure and simple, and to give a disinterested opinion. He denied that time had been lost. The rime spent was of the utmost importance to the Colony, which now stood fifty years iu advance of where it was at the beginning of the session. Members on both sides of the House were now committed to the passing of those liberal measures he had so long advocated. Those who once opposed him would now be bound to go into the same lobby with him. He had been told that so long as ho remained leader of the party members would not vote for these measures. He bowed to that opinion, and retired from the position. It was the duty of the Government to follow his example, and retire, when they found that they were obstructing the measures referred to. Mr. Eeid spoke in favor of the Opposition, and Colonel Trimble and Sir. Hursthouse on the Government side. ,The debate lasted until ten minutes past eleven, when the motion for adjournment was carried on the voices.