The Dissolution Announced.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 206, 4 June 1887, Page 1

The Dissolution Announced.

Wellington, June 1. In view of the fact that a Ministerial statement was to be made as to the action taken by the Cabinet after Saturday's vote and the outcome thereof, the galleries were all crowded when the House met this afternoon, and nearly every member was in his seat. The peers too mustered in great force, no less than twenty-two of their number occupying the space reserved for them. As soon as the privilege matter mentioned by Mr Ormond had been disposed of, The Premier said that after the decision that had been come to by the House in reference to the Customs Tariff Bill and the other financial proposals of the Government, Ministers had considered their position and tendered the advice to the Governor that he should grant a dissolution of Parliament. The Governor had concurred in that advice and a dissolution had been granted, (Ministerial cheers. ) The Government were exceedingly anxious that the new elections should take place under the Representation Bill that had passed this House, and was now in " another place." The Government would do all in their power to have that bill passed into law. Of course, in order that the elections might take place under the new Act, it would be necessary for the House to grant supplies, which would be asked for by a bill to be brought in that afternoon. Supplies would not be asked for a long period, not beyond six months, and the Government hoped they would be granted, and that the elections would be proceeded with under the new Representation Bill, so that the House could be summoned as early as possible for consideration of the important questions now before Parliament. It would be the* effort of the Government to have that bill passed as speedily as possible, in order that Parliament might be summoned as early as possible for the despatch of business. He moved, "That Government business have precedence during the remainder of the session. " (Cheers.)

Major Atkinson suggested that the Premier should tell the House what official information lie could give them as to the time when the new Representation Act would be brought into operation, and he would also ask the hon. gentleman when he proposed to call Parliament together again. That was a matter upon which the House had always demanded information upon such an occasion, and the custom had always been to give it. What he asked for further were the financial proposals of the Government. Would the Treasurer make a statement on the bill to be brought in that afternoon ? The Premier: Yes. Major Atkinson hoped the hon. gentleman would also tell them what he proposed ( to do regarding the tariff proposals, and also what was proposed to be done regarding public works. It had been the custom for the Minister to tell the House generally what contracts it would be necessary to let, and to give an undertaking that no further contracts would be let during the elections. He would also ask the Premier to tell them what general business the Government were going on with, whether he proposed to go straight on or to adjourn for a short time after the Treasurer's statement to enable hon. gentlemen to consider the position. He hoped at any rate that the Premier would tell them at once whether he had made up his mind as to the business he proposed to go on with. Another question of very great importance on which the House had a right to be informed was the position of the Midland Railway, as to the contract leb between the Company and the Government. That seemed to him a question on which they should be informed at once. He could state, ho believed, with tolerable certainty, the course mombers on his side of the House would be prepared to pursue. They 1 would be prepared to meet the Government in every leasonable way in Avinding up the business of the session without committing themselves to approval of the course the Government had pursued. He should take the earliest opportunity of protesting in the strongest way possible against the action of the Government. (Cheers and laughter.) Major Atkinson remarked that he was glad to give honourable gentleman an opportunity of drowning their real feelings !in laughter. What was it that those hon. gentlemen had done ? They had come down with one of the most outrageous proposals with regard to taxation ever submitted, and when it was rejected, instead of doing as he contended any patriotic men would have ; done, they recommended His Excellency to dissolve the House. They were incompetent 'to propose any schemo which would be satisfactory to the House and to the country, and they declined to allow any other person to try whether he could or not. That was the position before the country, and there was no mistaking _ it. And when they went before their constituents and were asked, "What have you done ? Have you made an effort to avoid a second session ?" what was their only possible reply ? "We have done absolutely nothing We were powerless to act, because the Government asked for a dissolution and obtained it." The hon. gentlemen, having submitted proposals which the House had rejected in the interests of the country, had made no further proposals, but had asked for a dissolution, and had so taken upon themselves the rendering of a second session necessary. In 1885 he admitted that after being beaten on their tariff they had made an effort to amend their proposal; but not so here. Ministers had brought down and submitted proposals which the House was bound, in the interests of the country, to reject. Yet they made no further proposals, and took upon themselves to render a second session necessary. (Cheers.) They had shrunk from making any proposals because they were thoroughly extravagant, and their pretended economies had not been proved. (Cheers.) From a party point of view the Opposition had nothing to complain about. It could not possibly have answered that side of the House better than for the Government to go to the country in the way in which they were going. All he wanted to do was to protest in the strongest possible terms against the action of the Government, and to let it be known to the country that the blame of a second session rested entirely upon the Government. The Colonial Treasurer defended the action of the Government in seeking a dissolution. It was quite clear that Major Atkinson could not carry on the government of the country unless he "had a majority, and he could not lay claim to a majority. Only seven or eight weeks remained until Parliament would dissolve by effluxion of time. Therefore the question was really not one of expense, but whether Major Atkinson should have the right of appeal which he exercised three years ago, or whether the present Government should go to the country with their policy. There were a number of gentlemen on both sides ! of the House who were just as anxious to [ go to the country as the Government were. Everything pointed to the necessity of the Government which was to carry on the business of the country being backed xip by a majority strong enough to put their measures through, and that could only be effected by a dissolution. He asked the House not to revive a party discussion on a question of this kind. The Premier thought it a great pity that those hon. members who had wished to make speeches on the financial proposals of the Government did not then avail themj selves of the opportunity. To make their speeches after the vote was decided was to adopt peculiar tactics. He alluded to the hon. members for Geraldine and Clutha. Mr Thompson rose to explain that his remarks were directed entirely to the ques tion before the House—a dissolution. Sir Robert Stout: The question put from the chair was that Govern ment business should have precedence for the remainder of the session, and not the question of dissolution. Parliament expires by effluxion of time about the middle of August, so that in the ordinary course of events general election would shortly become necessary. It had been frequently stated throughout the debate that this being a moribund Parliament, taxa-

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Parliamentary Neivs continued from Page 1.

tion ought nob to bo imposed without the country hqing consulted, As Parliament would necessarily expire in August, all ,that the Government had asked His Excellency to do was to antici* pato the expiry by a month or six weeks. Ho denied there was any common principle or common bond amongst present Opposition. Ne\er did an Opposition contain so many elements of discord as the opponents of the present ilinistiy ; as to the questions put by Ala j or Atkinson, bo would say that so far as finance was concerned, the Treasurer would explain that ; so far as Public Works matters were concerned, the Minister for Works would make a short statement before Parliament expired. The motion that Government business should take precedence for the remainder of the session was then put and earned. In tiie Council no business was transsacted in the Upper Chamber.

Supply. The Houso was engaged during the whole evening on the question of supply. A message was received from the Governor submitting tho Public Revenues Bill, making provision for the public service till September 30th. The Colonial Treasurer said he intended to adopt tho same piinciplo with regard to this bill that was pursued in 1884. He would ask that the first .reading be taken at once, and on tho motion for going into supply he would explain tho provisions of the bill, taking seoond reading next day. The first reading was agreed to, and the second reading iixed for next day. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply the Colonial Treasurer said the Government were desirous that the elections should take place on tho now Representation Bill. In order to determine what amount would be required, it was necessary to consider what length of time would elapse before a new parliament could be elected under the bill. The Governor-in-Council was allowed 21 days in which to appoint a Commissioner. The Commissioners veie allowed 90 days to do their work. Then there was the gazetting say two days for that. The preparation of the rolls would take 30 days, and allowing for the issue of writs and return to the House, 45 days, that would give t,ix months and eight days, but the (government were of opinion that if clause 4, pro> iding for ob jections being taken, was eliminated, the Commissioners might do their work ins-ide of 90 days. The bill was, however, outside the control of the Government, and if the clause was requited it would be impossible to tell how long it would take to ha\ c everything ready. It might, however, be assumed that the clause would be removed, and in that case the Government saw their way to have the new Parliament assembled in the first week in October. Mr Pyke considered the proposal that the other Chamber should make alterations in the bill was an attack on the pnviieges of the House. He was certain that the Surveyor-General would be able to adjust the boundaiies of the now bill in two days, and it was nonsense to say it m ould take so long as asserted by the Govei nment. Sir Julius Vogel said the Government desired that the House should meet as soon as possible, and every day's delay increased the difficulty of getting on with the bill. Mr Moss contended that no clear scheme of reduction had been putbefou' the House. He said the Representation Bill as it was now passed was ot very little hnpoitance. Had the number of members been reduced, the Bill would have had a very different effect. He hoped that the Bill would not be allowed to influence then* decision. He wanted the House to go to the country on the pi otection of native industries and a reduction of expendituie. Mr Turnbull considered the position of the colony was sound. Mr Peacock took exception to the light manner in which Mr Moss had spoken of the passing of the Representation Bill. He also objected to the Go\ eminent making the passing of that bill. a threat contingent on the House passing the Public He venues Bill. He held there was no difficulty whatever with regard to the Representation Bill. He should have no objection to striking out the clause providing for appeal. He thought the question of free trade versus protection had been introduced by the tariff proposals. Mr Ormond said the Government were not acting rightly with regard to the Representation Bill. The course now taken was a threat with respect to the bill. He held that it was the duty of the Government to get that bill passed through the Upper House without any delay. As to the proposal for holding elections he thought the Government were asking for an altogether unreasonable delay. Messrs Hursthouse, Rolleston and Colonel Trimble having spoken, Sir George Grey, who was received with cheers, said he could not understand the proposal of the Premier to continue to levy duties that were rejected by the House. He said that under no circumstances should the duties be levied for any length of time by resolution. The question at issue was when the dissolution should take place, and they owed it to the country to let it take place immediately. He held that the Government should have set a patriotic example by resigning, in order to save a second session. They all sincerely desired that a dissolution ' should be immediate. He thought the country was never in a more prosperous condition than at present, but its people were never in a more depressed state. It was, therefore, right that an appeal should be made to the country, in order that some ' remedy might be applied to relieve distress. He spoke at great length on the effects of the public works policy, and said the ! only way to remedy the present difficulties was by applying what Major ! Atkinson called a policy of thrift. In his concluding remarks he denounced the military expenditure as extravagant. It was monstrous that our expenditure for defence should be equal in the proportion to each head of the population to the amount which the British army and navy cost the British people. He was satisfied that the Village Settlements were being used for electioneering purposes, and questioned the methods by which they had been established. The Waste Land Boards should have been utilised for this purpose, instead of making political appointments. He was astonished at the action of the Government in seeking- to hold office for six or eight months after the House had parsed -a yote of 1 want of confidence in them* It was unjust and unfair. No plan, no comprehensive scheme, and no policy had been brought down by the Government, and if they had any Eatriotism thoy would submit some scheme y which we might see our way through the difficulties which loom so darkly ahead of us. Mr Ivess, who followed, threatened that if further opposition were offered to the request) for supplies, he and a dozen other members w.ould take every means of obobstructing the Representation Bill when it came back from the Upper House. He was called to order by the Speaker and frumed his threat in milder terms. The debate was adjourned at 11,30 p.m. till to-morrow. '

Wellington, June 2. The resolution whloli was the outcome of this morning's meeting of the Opposition was proposed at the evening sitting of the House by Major Atkinson, who eaid ' that he wished to take tho opportunity of stating the position taken up by the Opposition on tho present occasion^ The Government had actually threatened the House and demanded supply be- > fore any Representation Bill should be passed* There nevor was saich a position taken up by any Government. It meant that the House was to give the Government power to send them about their business before concluding the business they had in hand, Tho Government were endeavouring to remain in office in the hope that some' thing mighfc turn up. Well, something would turn ivp^ but it would bo to the ever' lasting disgrace of the Government. It was tho duty of tho Government to protect the privileges of the House, and how did they do it ? They demanded supplies boforo the House could express their grievances. There wore few people who would sell their birthright for interested motives. (Ironical cheers.) Tho Governor had been grossly misled in tho matter. It was not a question whether the Parliament should be elected two or three weeks later, but a question of the Government occupying those benches two or thrco months longer. The Government had no policy. If they had, what was it ? It was not free trade ; it was not protection, because the Tr-easurer said the tariff was levied for purposes of revenue. As to the position the Opposition had taken up, it had throughout been to assist the Government to carry useful measures. They had not tried to resist supplies, but they had tried to maintain the privileges of tho House. If the Piemier had carried out hib pledge to the Governor in his memo., and had passed the Representation Bill,they would have granted full supplies. It was necessary that this House should express its views of what ought to be done on this occasion, and ho was going to submit a resolution which he ventured/ to think would be cairied by a large} majority. He even hoped the Government would support it, because then the business of tho House could bo wound up in a very few days, and they could go back to their constituents. ITis motion was, " That a respectful address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, informing him that in the opinion of this House, the election of members to thencxtParhamcntshould be convened for despatch of business not later than the first day of September next, and that the expression of his opinion be an instruction to the Government to act in accordance therewith." (Cheers). It seemed to him that the resolution might very fairly be accepted by the Government. All that the Opposition asked was that there should be no undue loss of time in having the new Parliament assembled, and it also meant that there should be no shilly bhallying with the Representation Bill. If the Government honestly intended, he would not say loyally because loyalty was becoming a byword in the House, to carry out their pledge they would accept that resolution. There were, he believed, members who were determined to resist the bill when it came before the House, but he urged them to respect the will of the majority, and not waste time fighting against the measure. They must be beaten. Let them enter their protest, but not stonewall the measure. The only way to protect the rights of the House and country was to declare that no supply should be granted until the Representation Bill was disposed of. The Premier said that the House having decided that they had no confidence in the Government it was unprecedented to ask the Government to proceed with bills and other business. There was no constitutional law for what was asked. It was constitutionally bunkum. The real fact was that Major Atkinson was angry. He thought the Government seats were in his grasp, and now he saw them vanishing and was afraid to go to the country. What the Opposition desired was to force the Government off those benches. Tho Government hod promised the Representation Bill and had kept their pledge. The whole of the opposition to tho Government had been got up and carried on by large land-holders, who had been indefatigable in lobbying for the defeat of the graduated property tax and Land Acquisition Bill. If the member for Egmont had only acted in conformity with his Hawera address to his constituents he would have allowed the second reading of the Customs Duties Bill to pass and considered the tariff proposals item by item. Major Atkinson : I never said anything of the sort. Sir R. Stout : I have read your speech. Major Atkinson : Then you have misread it — misread it wilfully. Read it again. Sir R. Stout repeated that Major Atkinson had promised to consider the tariff proposals, and also whether further taxation was necessary. This session was called, according to the Opposition— and the member for Napier had let it out in his presessional address — not to discuss the finances or taxation of the colony, but to give short supplies ; in order that there might be a dissolution, and now that a dissolution had been granted the Opposition were afraid to go to the country, but wished to get into office. And they wished to get into office to do what ? To manipulate the elections. If this House in its wisdom only chose grant two or three months' supply (Major Atkinson : Four months), th« Government would take that supply, and if there was no money to {)ay the public creditors the blame would ie at the door of the Opposition. Major Atkinson : I am quite willing to grant six months' supplies directly the Representation Bill is passed. Sir R. Stout : That is all I ask. If the j hon. member had taken time to work out how long it would take to give effect to the Representation Bill he would have seen that what he asks is unreasonable, and in order to show how anxious the Government were to put the bill through, they had asked the members of the Ministry in charge of it in another place to strike out the fourth clause in order that the election might be taken immediately without gazetting boundaries. Some members of the Opposition who had attended that morning s caucus had actually gone to the G overnment whips and asked that the elections be proceeded with under the Representation Bill. Personally, he had always been and still was in favour of the bill. He was not going to discuss the number of mem- j bers, but he was amused to hear Major At- j kinson talk of the number. What was the test of a true statesman ? Was it not to see into the future, and yet t Major Atkinson in 1881 was so little able to see int6 the future that he got the number of members increased, and in 1887 condemned what he had done six years before, though, in the meantime, the population of the colony had largely increased. If the bill were passed, the House had to consider the names of the three gentlemen who would be appointed to assist the official members of the Board, arid with the utmost expedience, these could' not be appointed before Monday or Tuesday next. They would have to be got from a distance, and could not be expected to meet in Wellington before Monday Juno 13. It was proposed to bring one from Auckland and two from the South

Island, the official members of board being residents of Wellington. Then they had to go .into this question of margin which would take fully four weeks, that would bring them up to the fourth of July. The districts had then to be drawn up, boundaries prepared, and a proclamation issued, these steps taking another two days. Word had then to be sent to all parts of the colony of the gazetting of those boundaries. That would take some days, four or five at least. Registration officers hod then got to prepare their rolls by adding and changing names, and then tho rolls nad to be printed. An experienced printer from Auckland had told him that it would take a month to do the necessary printing. (Major Atkinson : Nonßense,) This printer gave that as his opinion. Word had then to :be sent to the Colonial Secretary and Under Secretary that the rolls had been completed^ and after that fact was gazetted the new rolls must be open for inspection for one week ax, least. That would" bring them down to the middle of August. The law stipulated that writs must be out forty days, and the Government could not alter it. Under these circumstances, did the Government ask too much supply when they wanted supply till the end of September or the beginning of October? The Government took the trouble to inquire, and found that, using all expedition, the elections could not take place till the date mentioned. If Major Atkinson thought ho could win the elections as he did in 1879 by throwing mud at his opponents, he was very much mistaken. It was to be hoped that the days of mudthrowing in politics were over. He (Sir R. Stout) denied that there had been any shilly-shallying in regard to this measure. Major Atkinson's object was not to hurry on the elections, but to cast a slur on the Government. He would press the motion to division. Mr Bryce snid the Premier was instructed by the House. Ho had given a new meaning to the term loyalty. He reminded the Premier that when the members of the j House were reduced to 71, ho said he loyally accepted the Committee's finding without any reservation whatever. The position the Premier took up was that after a Government were beaten they had no right to carry on the legislation of the colony. Yet in his memo, to the Governor he had undertaken to carry out a certain piece of important machinery. Either the Premier had deliberately intended to de ceivo the Governor, as his speech implied, or else he had intended doing that unconstitutional thing which ho said no Government ought to do. The hon. gentleman, while objecting to mud-throwing in others, had just indulged in an undue quantity himself. He complained of what was being done in another place, yet he had been instrumental in placing 19 or 20 members there. The hon. gentleman had further stated in effect that if the Government could not get six months' supplies they would remain on the Treasury Benches, and if the .credit of the colony suffered what did Ministers care? (Opposition cheers.) That was the only rational deduction from his observations. He (Mr Bryce) contended that the labours of the Commission had already commenced. Mr Ballance said that when the Premier agi ccd to loyally accept the decisions of the Committee reducing the number of members it was conditional on the percentage question being passed as proposod in the bill. (No.) All that the Government in their memo, to the Governor proposed was to put through measures that met with no opposition. Jt would be unconstitutional for them to initiate any bills that were likely to provoke opposition. With regard to the Representation Bill, the Government had done all that they had undertaken to do. It was a mere question of figures, and if the Premier's figures were correct, the hon. member for Egmont was asking the House to do an unreasonable thing. Nothing had been done towards arranging new districts, and till the three nominated members of the Commission were appointed it would be presumption on the Surveyor - General's part to take the matter in hand. It was for Major Atkinson to show that the election could take place under the new Act by the date he suggested. An unconditional dissolution had been granted. (Opposition dibsent. ) It was true that certain conditions had been imposed, but the dissolution was unconditional. It was for the leader of the Opposition to prove his case that the new Parliament could be summoned to meet for despatch of business by the first of September. Mr Wakefield said that the present occupants of the Treasury Benches had never had a majority at their backs since they took office, and now they were in a hopeless minority on their measures, their policy, and their administration. Only the other day the Representation Bill was carried in the very teeth of the Government. [The Representation Bill was at this point brought down as passed by the Upper House, and the announcement of its progress through that Chamber was greeted with cheers.] And now it had been passed by both branches of the Legislature in the teeth of tho Government. Mr Wakefield went on to say that | when the Premier agreed to loyally accept , the reduction of members to 71, he coupled it with no condition whatever. It was well known that the Government were obstructing the bill till they got supplies. Ministers had opposed it at every stage, but now it was back in this House, and as good as law. It was not the duty of Major Atkinson to show that Parliament could be got together by the first of September, but for the Government to show that it could not. The remainder of Mr Wakefield's speech was devoted to a trenchant denunciation of the Government policy. Mr Menteith charged the Opposition with indecent haste in endeavouring to get on the Treasury Benches. The only question at issue was which party should get posession of the Benches. Mr W. F. Buckland declared that the Government were merely kept in office to do the, dirty work of their followers, ! and they had to be content to draw their salaries and do that work. He believed the elections could be held by the first of September, and that many of the electorates would not be altered in the | slightest degree. Every roll required could be printed in six days. Mr Montgomery did not believe it possible to get a promise from the Go* vernment to call the House together, eyen in the first week of October, because Mr McKenzies clause giving the right of appeal against the boundaries would mean a ,loss of time and delay. If ijhe McKenzie clause remained in the bill, and the House was not called together till the end of October, the financial position of the country would not be considered by the representatives of the people within six months. He thought they should exercise the McKenzie clause and the clause providing for the appointment of three commissioners outside of the official commissioners. Mr Downie Stewart thought the House was fully competent to deal with the question of retrenchment, and the House should set about rigid retrenchment. ■ Mr O'Connor thought the time allowed by, the Premier for holding the elections was altogether too short. ' *

Mr Fulton quoted figures to prove that all necessary work could be done so thai the House could assemble by the Ist of September. Sir Julius Vogel said the House had the assurance of the Government that, as far as in them lay, they would hasten on the meeting of the new House. The Government could not instruct the Commissioners, who would do the work in their own way. If the House could meet on the Ist September it would meet, whether the amendment was carried or not. Would it be any loss that the Government ' should have supply till the end of September? "That would be only one month later than was asked for by Major Atkinson in 1884. He said that the Government were really sincere in seeing the Representation Bill carried into effect. They only regretted that the McKenzie clause had been retained. Mr Ormond said the Opposition were in the position of seeing theGovernment'sitting on the Ministerial Benches while they had lost the confidence of the country, and who desired to sit there for a number of months before allowing the voices of the people to be heard. When the Treasurer made his first statement as to October, the impression left upon members' minds was that he meant a much longer time, probably as late as next January. All the Opposition wanted was that tho date should be definitely fixed for the next meeting of Parliament. Referring to the Premier's remarks about a graduated property tax, he pointed out that the present Government had brought in the District Railways Act, which he considered was altogether in the interest of large landowners, and was the filthiest thing ever brought into the House.

Another defeat for the Government. From this point stonewalling was resorted, to, with the object of preventing Major Atkinson's amendment going to the vote. Motions for adjournment were submitted and reported, and the stonewalling broke down shortly before 2 o'clock this (Thursday) morning. It was apparent thab the Opposition held a majority, and the Government having been twice beaten on the question of adjournment), and Major Atkinson refusing to agree to the adjournment, a division was talven at 2 o'clock, and gave the Opposition a majority of eight. The result was received quietly. Mr Cad man rose and hoped that this would settle the matter, and that we would not now have the leader of the Opposition coming down to-morrow asking them to rescind the resolution and alter the bill again. Thus closed a day of reverses for the Government.