PARLIAMENTARY.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 139, 9 August 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PEB PRESS AGENCY.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, August 5. The House resumed at half-past seven last- evening, when Mr Rees went on with his speech on. Sir George Grey’s resolutions until 9 o’clock. He severely criticised the Ministry, individually and collectively, accusing them of mismanagement, reckless extravagance, and such gross misconduct of public affairs as to render them quite unworthy of the confidence of the House. He dealt chiefly with the finances, the administration of

justice, and Native affairs. Hesaidthatif a clerk had done the same as the Premier while he was at Home, he would have been .placed in a felon’s dock. He accused Ministers of bribing and corrupting news- - papers for the purpose of hoodwinking the public and keeping themselves in power ; of giving appointments to, members and. their friends mid; also, of giving public works, to’ certain, districts for the purpose of gaining political support, as in the case of the central prison atTaranaki, and the public works at Greymouth. The hospitality of the Premier, in the way of balls and dinnerSj Was extended with the same object in view. Mr Wason followed, and spoke in favour of the resolutions. He had hailed abolition when it was promised, but one by one his hopes of obtaining justice for his district had disappeared after he came up to the House ; and when he saw the Counties Bill, and the Financial Arrangements Bill, he despaired altogether. Mr Lusk made a long speech in defence of the resolutions, and in condemnation of the policy and administration of the Government. He said it appeared from the silence on the Ministerial benches that the" charges made by Mr Rees Were unanswerable. He saw no other remedy to allay the discontent and apprehension that prevailed from one end of the colony to the" other than to adopt Sir George Grey’s' proposals, and to allow each island to manage its own affairs. Now was the time : another opportunity might not present itself.

Mr Fitzroy would oppose the resolutions.He had waited in vain to hear any explanation or particulars of the scheme proposed. Nothing bat a skeleton haa &eeif shown. Mr Thompson made a long speech, denouncing the Government and all their works. He strongly supported the resolutions, ae the only plan to' rescue the colony from the disastrous position into which it had been dragged- He spoke up till one o’clock. Mr Button moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr Stout warned Ministers, who had shown no desire to speak during the evening, that they must not treat an Opposition with such indignity as treating their’ remarks with contempt, by taking no notice of them. There were men in the House who would not put up with such treatment. The House then adjourned till Tuesday afternoon. August 8; Upon the House meeting to-day, Karai--tina Takamoana took his seat cheered by opposition. Button took up the adjourned debate on Grey’s resolution, which he considered too important to be made a party question, ashad been done by the resolution. If there was. reason to believe people are favorable to the scheme it ought to be decided by plebiscitum. Hislop spoke at considerable length indefence of resolutions, contending that no answers had been made to the arguments of Grey and no explanations given as_ to his charges against the Government, whiclt must therefore be accepted. Woolcock said if any of the charges made against the Government- could be substantiated, they ought to be confined where they could” not prey upon the colony. If the Government borrowed largely, and built up a great debt, they only carried out the wishes of the House. If it could be shown him that the proposed schemer would do ail that was claimed for it, her would support the measure, but nothing: he heard bad that tendency. The House rose at 5.30 p. n.