GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1231, 23 August 1884, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. COMMITTEES. In the Legislate Council on Wednesday, a number of committees were appointed, and the Hon. Captain Bailee was appointed Chairman of Committees for the session. RESIGNATION- OP THE MINISTRY. In the Legislative Council on Thursday, the Hon. Geo. Whitmore made a statement to the effect that the Ministry had tendered their resignation and that the Government had accepted it. His Excellency had not asked for any advice and the Ministry had not tendered any. REPRESENTATION IN THE MINISTRY. Mr Waterhouse, in accordance with notice, moved—“ That in the opinion of the Council it is essential to the working of our constitutional system, and the efficiency of this branch of the Legislature, that the Government of the day be represented in the Council by a Minister holding a portfolio.” This was carried. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 on Wednesday. NO CONFIDENCE MOTION. Mr J. W. Thomson gave notice that he would move as an amendment to the Address in Reply—“ That the Government as constituted does not possess the confidence of the House,” QUESTIONS. In reply to Sir Geo. Grey, the Hon. Mr Stout said that as this was a private members* day he saw no reason why business should not be gone on with, despite the no-confidence motion. Several other questions were asked. BILLS. A number of Bills were introduced and read a first time, amongst them being a Timaru Market Reserves Leasing Bill, by Mr Turnbull; a Bill to provide for the disposal of unclaimed land, by Mr Wakefield ; and a Bill to prohibit the introduction of certain animals into the Chatham Islands, also by Mr Wakefield. HANSARD. MrSeddon proposed—“ That Hansard should be sent free to County Councils, Borough Councils, and Road Boards.” This was, ultimately, carried, after amendments that the free list should be abolished, and that Hansard should be stopped altogether, had been proposed. A number of committees were appointed and the House adjourned till 7.30. THE ADDRESS IN REPLY. On resuming at 7.30, Mr J. S. Mackenzie moved the Address in Reply, in a rather lengthy speech. Mr vV. C. Walker seconded the motion. NO-CONPIDENOE. Mr J. W. Thomson then moved—“ That the Government as constituted does not possess the confidence of the House.” He criticised the personnel of the Government very severely, and said if ever there was truth in the adage that “Extremes meet," they had an example in the Government. After contrasting the views held by the different members, he concluded by saying that the Speech was little short of an insult to the House and the colony. Mr Hatch seconded the amendment.

The Hon. Mr Stout expressed deep regret that the exigencies of party warfare should havepntforward two such members as Messrs Thotoson and Hatch to IsarLin this adverse proposition. They ware simply put forward as convenient tools, Major Atkinson being the real leader. He was surprised at Mr Thomson acting with men, who, whan, he was one of the Grey Government, held him up as the most useless member of the Ministry. They had been taunted that they had no policy. If that was the case, then this was not a struggle for policy simply, but a struggle for place. That was all that it amounted to. If there was no policy, this was simply a personal struggle. The speech was simply a mats of promises they were told. What else could it be? They had to have time to develop their policy. He had just learnt that one important department of the Government had been conducted with non-official correspondence. This was in connection with the steam service and immigration. Finance was in an eqully critical state, land no provision existed for liabilities. The Education and Harbor Boards’ fund was exhausted, and not a penny left for roads. That was the reason they were not to be allowed to remain on those benches. The continuous Ministry was to go on, and the real state of aflairs kept carefully concealed. That was the reason of all this hot haste to get them off their benches. After a few more remarks, the hon. gentleman said he had no ambition, for office, and he again challenged them to take a division at once, and let the business be gone on with. [Cheers, and cries of “ Divide.”] Mr Grigg and several other members then spoke for and against the Government. THE DIVISION. The question was put that the amendment stand part of the motion. Ayes—s2. Noes—33, Messrs Atkinson Messrs Allwright Bruce Ballance Bryce Barron Buchanan , Bevan Bnckland W. Bradshaw F. (Franklin Brown North) Buckland,J.C. Cadman (Waikouaiti) Conolly Coster Cowan Duncan Dargaville Gore Dodson Harper Fitzberbert Holmes Fraser Lance Fulton Larnach Gillies Mackenzie,M. Sir G. Grey J. S. (Mount Messrs Grigg Ida) (Teller) Guinness McKenzie, J. Hakerene J (Mpeiaki) Hamlin McMillan Hatch (Teller) Montgomery Hirst, H. Morris (Wallaee) O’Callaghan Hobbs Pearson Hursthonse Pere HursL W. j. Richardson, ' (Waiteraata) E. (Kaiapoi) Johnston Samuel Joyce Seddon Lake Shrituski Levestam Steward, W. Locke J, (Waimate) Macarthur Steward, W. Monteith D. (Dunedin Mitchelson West) Moat Stout ‘ Moss Sutter Newman Turnbull O’Connor Walker Ormond (Teller) Peacock White, W. Pyke (Sydenham) Reese Richardson, G. F. (Mataura) Rolleaton Ross ' , Shepherd Smith Te Aro Thompson, T. (Auck. N.) Thomson, J. W. (Clutha) (Teller) Tole Trimble Wakefield Wilson Pairs. Beetham Fisher Whyte, J. B. Macandrew Russell Sir J. Vogel On the motion of Mr J. W. Thomson, the following were appointed a Committee to draw up the Address in Reply as amended:—Messrs Hatch, Gillies, Dodson and J. W. Thomson. The Address was tabled, read and adopted. The House rose at 12.30, till Thursday at 2.30. Mr Stout stated that he would then announce what course the) Government would take. , . . RESIGNATION OI THE MINISTRY. r In the House, on Thursday the Hon. Mr Stout said, in consequence of the adverse vote passed the previous evening, the Government had tendered their resignation as a Ministry to the Governor that morning, and he had accepted it. In tendering the resignation :of (ho Ministry be had tendered no advice. He had also to inform the House that the Governor had fixed upon that day to receive the Address in Reply. Mr J. W, Thomson : I this morning received a communication from the Governor requesting that I should wait upon him as soon as possible. I waited upon him accordingly, and received from him information that the Government had tendered its resignation. He asked whether or not £ thought I could form an Administration. I said I thought i could. He then said he would leave the matter in my hands. The Governor was also pleased to say that he would not bind me down to time, but that owing to the i state of public business it was most desirable that a new Administration should be formed with as little delay as possible. presentation op address in reply. The House then adjourned to enable the Address in Reply to be presented, and on returning, the Speaker reported that the Address in reply bad been duly presented, and a reply made thanking them for their assurance, and recognising the importance of having Advisers possessing the confidence of the country. The reply also stated that steps had been taken to form a new Government. ADJOURNMENT. The House adjourned at 3.10 p.m.' until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

TEMUKA BUTTER. CHEESE AND BACON-CURING FACTORY COM- . . PANY, Limited. I The annual meeting; of the shareholders of the above was held yesterday, in the Wallingford Hotel. Mr James Guild, Chairman of Directors, occupied the chair. There were only about ten share* holders present at the beginning, but afterwards the number increased to twenty-five. The Secretary read the following ; ANNUAL REPORT. Gentlemen,—ln laying before you the balance-sheet for the .past year, the Directors wish, in the first place, to call your attention to the debit balance of the profit and loss account, amounting to £469 13s 3d. This, at first sight, appears to be a large deficiency on the year’s working, but if you will carefully examine the items of expenditure you will see that various amounts, such as legal ex* penses, which includes the transfer of the land, might fairly have been charged ta ' the land account; ■ Also.fittings, £ll3 Is > fid, which could have been placed to the building account, when they ? would have appeared aa assets, cheese-shelving, and other things of a similar description, being of as lasting a nature as the rafters of the building. The amount paid for interest and discount upon the £3300 obtained thrcughthe Directors, is another ’ item .which places the t Company at a disadvantage. . It is intended. to pay off this loan with the proceeds : pf;- the cheese in hand and the cash received from calll, the last of which will be made about the 6th of December next, when it is x anticipated the land And buildings will be about clear, and all the advance that will be required will be for milk- payments until the cheese is sold. We experienced considerable difficulty in finding suitable markets, in consequence of our cheese being unknown.' The past year’s experience will simplify the work of the Directors in future, as the cheese bis been sent to Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Rockhampton, England, and other markets, and has, in every instance, met with a good reception, from ijrhich we may conclude that our brand will command a y, ready sale wherever it may be placed. It is ' evident that many expenses are incurred daring the first year’s working of a new industry which will not be required again, especially, in this case, when a considerable portion of the plant required reconstruction, although planned by, and under the supervision of, the best available local talent. But even if we have not the pleasure of declaring a dividend, it must be admitted that considerable v benefit has resulted to the district from the existence ,of the factory, a large earn of ready.money having been distributed, and the pride of butter even beyond the .radius within which it has beep found .practicable for farmers to supply milk. During the past season we have received 86,285- gallons of milk, which have yielded 93,095 pounds of cheese, being, a proportion of. 17£ ounces of cheese to the gallon. This result is extremely gratifying, as the returns of w other companies show that a larger proportion of cheese cannot be obtained from the milk by other methods. It will • be the duty of the shareholders to elect three directors in place of Messrs Guild and Paterson (who retire . agreeably with the Articles of, Association, and are eligible for reflection), and also in the place of Mr Hayhurst, who has disposed of his shares. An - auditor will also to be elected, James Guild, >. * Chairman. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said ,he wished to add that the Directors were highly satisfied with their officers, who had performed their duties very efficiently. The only drawback was the Chairman, and he hoped they would elect one, who had-more time at his disposal. He moved the adoption of the report. Mr Woodhead seconded it, and it was carried unanimously. ; v . The election of officcsis was then pro->— ceeded with, resulting in Messrs Guild, and Paterson being re-elected, Mr Job .Brown being elected ;in the place of Mr Hayhurst. - Some items in the balance-sheet were explained, but nothing of importance transpired. -In the course of the disfcussion it was stated that four tons of cheese were forI warded to Brisbane which realised £279 He ld. The cost of fending it there, however, - swallowed up/the profits, for of this-only £163 10s 5d was received, the expenses being £ll6 Os Bd. The freight to Lyttelton amounted to£B 17s 3d and the freight to Brisbane £6'los. Thus it cost £2 7s 3d mors to take it to Lyttelton than it cost to take it to Brisbane. The duty on the four tons of cheese was nearly £75. .• ' . ’ The Chairman explained that there was an actual deficit of £23 on the year’s work. In reply to Mr Rutland, the Chairman said the reason they did not make butter was : it would take three gallons of milk y to make lib of butter, and as o*e ‘ gallon of mi’k made Ub of cheese it wbuld.be suicidal to make butter. On the motion of Mr Gray, seconded by Mr Twomey, Mr Rout was re-elected auditor. On the motion of Mr Brown, seconded by Mr Rutland, a vote of thanks to the Directors and officers for the last year was cairied unanimously. The meeting then terminated;