PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 205, 9 August 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Pan United I’liRKB Association.] House of Representatives. Friday, August 8. Wellington, August 8. The House met at 2.30. Immediately after prayers, the Speaker addressed the House as followss—l have to report that, accompanied by my proposer and seconder (the hon. member for Taieri, and the hon. member for Port Chalmers) and other members, I waited upon His Excellency the Governor, and communicated to him my election as Speaker of the House. The Speaker here read a statement of what had taken place between His Excellency and himself, the Governor concurring in the choice on behalf of the Queen, and congratu* lating Sir Maurice O’Rorke on his re-election, which, he said, marked the appreciation of the House of Representatives, and of the impartiality and wisdom with which Sir Maurice had discharged the duties of his office. In conclusion, the Speaker repeated his acknowledgement of the high honor conferred upon him, and added that he was not in a position to call for petitions or notices of motion at that sitting, as, beyond the election of Speaker, the House was unable to proceed with any other business until His Excellency should have announced the cause of his having called Parliament together. Four or five members who were not present yesterday took the oath and their seats. These included Sir Julius Vogel and Mr. Ormond.

The Premier then rose and said: Sir, I desire to ask the permission of this House to make a statement as to the intentions of the Government. The Government, Sir, have taken into consideration the result of the late election, and the general position of parties in this House, and have come to the con* elusion that under the circumstances it is their duty to tender their resignation to His Excellency. That course has been followed. I placed the resignation of the Government in the hands of the Governor this morning. His Excellency did not ask me for advice as to who he shoud send for, and, as hon. members are aware, it was not constitutional, or not constitutional practice, for a Minister of my position to tender advice that was not asked for. I have, therefore, nothing further in that direction to inform the House, but simply that we hold office until the appointment of oui successors, I, therefore, have to move “ That this House do now adjourn until Thursday next at 2 o’clock.”

Mr. Montgomery, who was imperfectly heard in the reporter’sjgallery, said it seemed to him that members were naturally anxious to know what progress would be made in the formation of a Ministry, and Tuesday would be late enough to meet again. He did not rise for the sake of objecting, but pointed out that both the House and the countiy would be anxious to know if a Ministry had been formed by Tuesday next. The Premier—l should be very happy to accede to the proposal of my hon. friend if I thought it would conduce in any way to the progress of public business, but I feel it would not do so. The Governor has fixed Thursday next as the first day on which we can despatch any business at all, and I think, probably, that any gentleman who may be entrusted with the formation of a Government, will have quite enough to do between now and next Thursday.

Sir George Grey—l think, sir, it might possibly be a relief to the House to know the name of the gentleman who might be entrusted with the task of forming a Ministry if the House met on Tuesday. If he failed I think he ought to have an opportunity of stating to the House that such failure had taken place, and making any remark thereon that he thought proper. There could be no harm in meeting on Tuesday if the House agreed to that being done. Mr. Seddon next rose to speak. The Speaker said the hon. member for Kumara would have to obtain the permission of the House to speak (cries of ” aye.” Mr. Seddon then pointed out that there could be no amendment, and he suggested that the question should be put “ That the House adjourn till Tuesday.” The Speaker then put the question in the form That this House do now adjourn till Thursday next. The motion was agreed to on the voices at 2.45 p.m. The House accordingly adjourned till Thursday, 14th instant, at 2 p.m.