NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 33, 4 August 1875, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

WELLINGTON. August 2. Caucus of Government supporters hold Saturday, the Times tin's morning says it is in a position, to state that the majority of House of representatives pledged themselves to. carry.the Government Bill through (raring the present session, and that the entertain no doubt whatever as the power of General Assembly to {J? dish Provincial Governments. Reader Wood has formally' left the Government party. Ilis assigned reason is understood to be in opposition to the localization of the land revenue. Majority of Government supporters, are in favor of passing the abolition measures tins session.

At a meeting of the Opposition held this afternoon, Sir Gerogc Grey was nuammous’y nominated leader and authorised to be tin.* exponent of their views. Opposition determined to use all Parl # men! ary forms to stop the passage naAholition Bids this session, and will speak against time, it necessary, about which Fit/herhert gave young members some useful lessons. Will ask House not to consider Abolition and Local Government Bills until Representation Bill and Estimates are b ‘fore House. Believed by Opposition that the great struggle will be on the Estimates. Both Government and Opposition appear confident of success. August 3. In the House of Representatives to-day, a number of petitions wore presented. Richardson annomu e 1 he would to-m'dit Si leave to introihc! the Riilway Bill, and would take that opportunity of making his Public Works statement. The opinion of the Solicitor-General as to the exact duration of the present Parliament was read, and from that it appears Parliament will dissolve hy effluxion of time, five years from the 25th February, 1871. O’Neil gave notice of motion that a sum of money be placed upon the estimates sufficient to admit of sending representatives of Colony to the great Philadelphia rifle contest, and which is open to the whole world. D ceas, d Wife’s Sister Bill read a first time. The Stamp Fees Bill was read a second time. The object of the bill is to simplify the present law regarding stamp duties. Upon moving House into a committee of supply. Sir George Grey announced the formation of an organised opposition. The main objects they would have in view would be to striedy inquire into finances of Colony ; to take every opportunity of criticising a id opposing the carrying out proposed revolutionary change in constitution of tlie G »lony, and he claimed on behalf of the Opposition the privilege of fully and fearlessly discussing the'questious referred to, or any others. In the course of his remarks he proceeded to refer to His Excellency in terms of censure, and ns if he had allied himself with the pany in power, by having his name associated with such an unconstitutional measure as the Abolition Bill. The Speaker called the li m. gentleman to order, and explains 1 thatilis ExceHem y was imp< rsonation of Her Majesty, and must not be referred to in terms ofpraise or censure. He was not responsible to the House but the Ministers were. Si -George Grey then said we are in a wretched position indeed. He accused the ministry of appealing to the lowest fe< I ngs of human nature, hy holding out bribes to the people to allow themselves to be despoiled of th fir liberties. The people should have hie i allowed an a’ternative measure, so as to make their choice. He inveighed strong’y ag unst the whole praecc,lings as unconstitutional, and announced that ho, and those who followed him, .would be prepared to bring down a measure which would be of much gi eater h-mefit to the people than the Abolition Bid. The financial advantages of which would he derived from a system of equitable taxation, because those who had the fram ng of the Abolition Bill did not tax then se ves. rihe native minister, who replied, quoted from a despatch sent home along wiih the Com ty of Westland Act, when Sir George Grey was Governor, and with his full sauclio i and concurrence, and added he was at a loss to know what had so changed his opinion since. Fit'-Herbert endorsed what had fallen from Grey, and the House then went into Commiite *, but immediately after reported progress. Atkinson said he put the item on the paper merely to give the Opposition an opportunity of speaking. Other business unimportant. House rose at 5.30.