GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1193, 19 June 1884, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

In the Legislative Council on Tueaday, the Address in Reply was again debated, and passed. Very little of interest was said. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. and adjourned at 4.30 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In the House of Representative* on Tuesday, Mr Whitaker gave notice he would move that the control of the New Zealand railways be vested in a Board of a noDpolitical character. In reply to a question put by Mr Smith, the Hon. Major Atkinson said that the Government would not go on with the appointment of Committees. They had some days ago desired to do so in order that business of local and pressing importance might proceed, but the proposal was negatived by the Opposition. The Hon. Major Atkinson said that after the vote carried on Thursday had bean urged upon the Governor, Miniateri Jt, deemed it their duty to advise .the Governor to grant a dissolution. His Excellency bad been pleased to accept of ' that advice, and a dissolution would be granted. The Government had therefore nothing more to do but to ask the House for the necessary Supplies. On Thursday evening he would be prepared to bring down the necessary proposals and make a short Financial Statement, He proposed to ask for Supplies up to about the. end of August, believing that tha new election could be got through and the House be called together again about the 28th of August. He moved the adjournment till Thursday evening at 7.30. Mr Smith moved, as au amendment, that they adjourn till Wednesday at 2.30 p.m., with the view of enabling them to go on with private work. Mr Fish said after the vote on Thursday it was their duty to resign and throw the onus on the Opposition of forming a Government. He believed that the finances of the colony were in such a frightful state that Government was actually afraid to give anyone an opportunity of inquiring into them. He said that the conduct of the Governer in granting a dissolution bad laid him open to the charge of being a political partisan. Mr Dargaville suggested the Government should consent to an adjournment till 7.30 that evening, so as to enable the Opposition to consider what coarse they should follow under the circumstances.

The Hon. Major Atkinson said that if they took up time in debate he coaid not possibly prepare his Statement. Mr Macandrew suggested that, they should agree to the Treasurer’s. proposal. Mr J. W. Thomson asked that any correspondence with the Governor on the subject of the dissolution might be forth* coming. He also asked aa to the nature of the Financial Statement Major Atkinson proposed. The Hon. Major Atkinson said no correi* pondence had taken place. He was authorised by the Governor to make the statement re dissolution by word of mouth. His Financial Statement would deal wjth the financial state of the colony up to the present time. Mr Smith withdrew hie amendment. Sir George Grey contended that although no correspondence had taken place, they should be informed as to the nature of the conversation with the Governor re dissolution. 'False representations might hare been made to His Excellency. The Hon. Major Atkinson said he had narrated all that took place. Mr Seddon formally moved the adjournment till 7.30. Me did so to give the Oppesition an opportunity for considering the present turn events had taken, Mr Bracken denounced the Government for the course it had taken. There was no necessity lor a dissolution, as the Opposition coaid well form a Ministry. The amendment for an adjournment till 7.30 p.m. was put and negatived. On the motion for an adjournment until Thursday evening, Sir George Grey said that the course taken was a most irregular one. He could not credit what the Premier stated aa to what took place between Ministers and the Governor. He believed that a representation had been made to the Governor that the Opposition desired a dissolution. He would ask the mover of ? the adverse amendment to follow up his motion by some such motion as this ‘ The House earnestly solicits the Governor to cal I to his counsels Advisers possessing the confidence of this House.' After reviewing a number of abuses in the matter of land regulations, he stated that a person who had rendered good service to the colon y and earned the Victoria Cross, and wae entitled to a small land grant, had omitted to conform to some regulations and on applying for his grant was told that it was his fault not to know the iaw. A Minister sitting on those Benches had", however, taken up some 30,000 acres of gum bearing country, contrary to the iaw. i He omitted a certain regulation necessary to complete his right, _ but in his case Government held that his ignorance of the law was,,excusable, and that Minister now eat upon those Benches unlawfully holding that enormous tract of land. He dwelt at length on the case of a man in Canterbury, who had tried to purchase 26 acre* of Government land, but yet it was given to a rich runholder, under pretence of aa application made 22 years ago. Air Turnbull concurred in the conclusions drawn by the previous speaker. They had all along been taunted by the Premier that they could not form a Government, and here, when they were ready to do it, the Treasurer himself took steps to prevent their doing so. The Treasurer was a most unscrupulous man, and he had no doubt but that Government,would take advantage of its position to manipulate seats for its own supporters. He asked what they had to go to the country upon 1 He considered the Governor had acted moat unwisely, and had involved the country in a great expense at a most critical time. He had aent them to the country with no isaue before them.

Mr Steward, alluding to the case of a man named Walker at Waimate—a cue detailed by Sir G. Grey, and further explained by Mr Turnbull— stated that he (Mr Steward) had taken up the man’s case, and he was bound to say that whatever the hardships of the case were, the Minister of Lands was not to blame.

Mr Montgomery objected to the length of time asked by the Treasurer, and suggested a shorter time should be substituted. , The Hon, Major Atkinson pointed oat thst the a.aotiens did not tska

In the one day, and the conditions were otherwise adverse, consequently he could not take upon himself to carry out the •lections in less than the time asked for. The motion for an adjournment to Thursday was put and carried on the voices, and the House adjourned at 4.60 p.ns. till Thursday at 7.30 p.m.