PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 450, 6 August 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 29th to Thursday, July 31st. Five petitions were presented in favour of Bible reading in schools. It was stated that Sir Julius Vogel had joined the “New Zealand Agricultural Company/’ Without asking permission from the Government to do so. The Hon Mr Waterhouse moved and afterwards withdrew for a time the following motion—“ That there be laid upon the table a return of the amount of money paid or payable to witnesses at the Appeal Court in Wellington who appeared in support of the valuation ; and also a statement of the terms upon which such witnesses were remunerated for their services, more especially specifying whether or not such remuneration 'was dependent upon the valuations being maintained.” On Thursday, the Hon Colonel Whitmore rose and read the paper given by his Excellency to Ministers on the subject of a dissolution of Parliament. Having given a brief resume of the state of political matters, the Colonial Secretary said he believed .lion Councillors would agree with him that it would be inadvisable to proceed with the public business until matters had somewhat resolved themselves, and it was known what course was to be followed. This could not be ascertained until after the meeting of the Lower House next evening, and he therefore proposed that the Council should adjourn till Tuesday.

The Hon Mr Miller hoped the Colonial Secretary would inform the Council on what grounds Ministers had advised his Excellency to grant a dissolution in the presi.nt state of parties and of the country. It would be an important part of the history of the present crisis. (Hear, hear.) , . The Hon Colonel Whitmore thought it unprecedented to ask for confidential ad\ ice given to his Excellency by Ministers on a subject still pending. Even if Ministers were willing to afford tbe information, they would have to obtain the consent of the Governor to its being laid on the table. (Hear, bear.) Tim Hon Mr Wateilionse deemed MiMiller’s question a pertinent one. He quoted from the to show that his Excellenc} r himself considered a dissolution inadvisable, and he (Mr Waterhouse) thought it most important that the reasons assigned by Ministers should be made known. No information was forthcoming, so tbe subject dropped, and tbe Council adjourned till Tuesday (yesterday.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 29th, to Friday, August 1

Mr Stevens asked whether Mr Larnach, in addition to the £2OOO paid to him as one of the loan agents, has received any public money of the colony since he ceased to bo Minister of the Crown; and, if so, to what amount, and on what account ? Sir George Grey replied that he had been unable to obtain any information on tbe subject, and he did not believe that any such additional sum had been paid to him. (Hear, hoar.) Mr Barff asked the Native Minister,—lf lie will lay before this House copies of all maps issued under tbe authority of the Government to the various survey offices throughout the colony, showing the result of the survey of the Waimate Plains, and the acreage (if any) of the lands proposed to be set apart for the occupation of the native race ? The Hon Mr Sheehan replied that he was in possession of the maps referred to, and would lay them on the table of the House next sitting day. The Government promises to print the papers relating to Mr Barton’s charges against the judges. On Friday, Mr Barton proposed a notice of motion for the appointment of a committee to enquire into certain charges a<j ainst the Bench on the fol lowing grounds: —l. That justice has not for a long time been administered in a fair manner in the country. 2. That a barrister was unconstitutionally committed to gaol for the period of one month, while in the exercise of his duty before the Judges, and while pleading the cause of his client. 3. That the administration of justice, especially in Wellington and Taranaki, had for a long time boon carried on in a most improper manner, although the matter has been frequently brought before the notice of the Government, that certain olfenders had been promoted, and others, although removed to other districts, had not been punished. 4. That two Judges of the Supreme Court, sitting in appeal to consider a law point in which the life of a prisoner was concerned, had browbeaten the prisoner’s counsel, and then drawn forth their judgment, previously arrived at, sentencing the prisoner to death, &c., &c.”

THE NO CONFIDENCE DEBATE. When the orders of (he day were over on Tuesday (July 29), the House adjourned until 3.30, in order that the division might take place at 4 p.m., as arranged. On re-assembling, Dr Henry waived his right to continue the debate, and the vote was taken. The Opposition, having heard that the Government would attempt to conceal the extent of their defeat by not demanding a division when it was given against them on the voices, held their peace when the division was put, so that the Speaker said the “ Noes have it,” whereupon the Opposition demanded a division. As the world knows, 33 voted for the Government, and 47 against them. Three members walked out of the House, and there was one pair. There was then an attempt to re-open the debate, and some of the defeated party spoke at length. Mr Rees charged Mr Rowe and others with having 1 ratted.’ The gentlemen defended themselves as best they could, and then the House adjourned. On Wednesday, the House met at 2.30, and Sir George Grey stated that His Excellency the Governor had appointed a quarter to three as the time for receiving the committee appointed to present the Reply to the Address, and the members of the House. It would therefore be as well for them to adjourn at once, and proceed to Government House. The House accordingly adjourned, and the Speaker and the committee proceeded to Government House in three carriages, the other members bringing up the rear on foot.

The House re-assembled at three o’clock, when the Speaker lead the following reply : Mr Speaker, and Gentlemen or the House of Representatives—

I thank you for this Address, and for the congratulations which you are so good as to offer me on my appointment to the Government of the colony. I fully realise the necessity for my advisers possessing the confidence of the representatives of the people in Parliament, and I shall not fail to give the views which you express on this subject immediate and careful consideration, (Cheers.) Sir George then proposed that the House adjourn till 7.30, when he hoped to be able to give the decision of the Government. _

On the House re-assembling, Sir George said he had waited on the Governor and asked for a dissolution in accordance with the Constitution, which His Excellency had been pleased to grant. He then read the following reply from the Governor: — “ I have carefully considered the position in which Ministers are placed by the defeat which they have just sustained in the House of Representatives upon a no-confidence motion ; and I am clearly of opinion that they have a fair constitutional claim to a dissolution. et No doubt a general election at the present moment would be inconvenient, having regard to the condition of public business—the prevailing financial depression—and the circumstances of the colony generally, especially the native difficulties upon the West Coast. But I presume that Ministers have carefully considered'

the consequences of such a step before tendering to me advice to dissolve, and I am, therefore, prepared to adopt their recommendation, leaving with them the entire responsibility of such a proceeding. “ At the same time, I think it right to stipulate that the well recognised constitutional principles which govern cases like the present shall be strictly adhered to. Ministers have lost the confidence of the representatives of the people, and are about to appeal from them to the country. A majority of the House of Representatives has declared that Ministers have so neglected and mismanaged the administra tive business of the country, that they no longer possess the confidence of Parliament. It is indispensable in such circumstances, if Ministers do not at once resign, that Parliament shall be dissolved with the least possible delay, and that, meanwhile, no measure shall be proposed that may not be imperatively required, nor any contested motion whatever brought forward. It is necessary, also, and in accordance with established constitutional precedent, that the new Pailiament shall be called together at the earliest moment at which the writs are returnable.

“ If the Ministers accept a dissolution upon this understanding, I beg that in any explanation which the Premier may think proper to make to Parliament, the answer which I have given to his tendered advice * may be stated in my own words. „ojsAbj “ Hercules Robinson.”

[The reading of the above letter was interrupted by loud and continued cheering from the Government side of the House, and was also loudly cheered at its close.]

After remarks from various hon members, the House adjourned till Friday, on which day Sir Heoige stated that the Opposition had agreed to pass the Loan Bill and the Supply Bill, but not the Electoral, Representation, and Chinese Immigration Bills. The latter were deemed contested motions” by the Opposition. The Opposition also agreed to pass some private Bills of an important character. The Premier explained that it would be impossible to present the annual Financial Statement before the dissolution too* place, but such information should be afforded as wouid be necessary for the passage of the Supply Bill.

The House adjourned till Monday