GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1646, 13 October 1887, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Sir Frederick Whitaker brought down a message from the Governor, announcing that, as he found it inconvenient to meet Parliament that day as ho had promised by the Commissioners, he would attend in person next day at 2 o'clock, and state his reasons for calling Parliament together. The Council arJjournod to next day.

HOUSE OF HEPRESENTATIVEB. Tho House met at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Several new members were sworn in, and signed the logisttr. Majer Atkinson snid that when the House lust met ho had tho honor to inform them that the Jtovernor h*d been pleased to send for him, and hud asked him to construct a Government. He was not then in a position to tiko iiny steps in the direction of forruing <i Ministry, but after consulting with tho party who hud been returned to oppose the StoutVogul Qornr«ni nt, he hid been requested by that parly to undertake the formation of « Government. He had succeeded in doing bo, the members of the Government being as follows ; Major Atkinson, Premier, Colonial Treasurer, nod PoctmislerGeneral; Mr Mitch<i!?on, Minister of Public Works and Native Minister; Mr Oislop, Colonial Secretary ; Mr Fergus, Minister of Justice and Defence ; Mr Fisher, Minister of Eduction ; Mr G. F. Richardson, Minister of L->nds, Immigration, and Mines ; Sir Frederick Whituker, Attorney-General; Mr Stevens, in the Upper House without portfolio. He said he proposed next day to inform the House of the course of business which tho Government would ask tho House to consent to, and he should move that the House adjourn till next day nt 2 o'clock. Mr Seddou asked whotber the Premier intended next day to propose that the House should adjourn for a fortnight, as a steamer was leaving for the South on that day, and members would wish lo know if such was the Premier's intention.

Major Atkinson said that, if it was convenient to the House to-morrow, ha should make a statement as to the course the Government intended to take. The House, of course, would meet next day, to hear his Excellency's reasons for calling Parliament together. Notice of the Acf-dresH-in-Reply would then be given, and also notice of the necessary sessional committees. The Addreas-in-Reply would then be moved. On Thursday lie proposed, as soon ai the Addres'-in-Reuly was disposed of, to move that the House should adjourn for a fortnight iu oHer to give him time to prepare his Financial Statement. He should undertake to deliver tho Statement on Friday fortnight, or at the latest on the foils wing Tuecdiy, and he considered that, iu \i«w of the large changes which the country was demanding, the adjournment asked for wa« j a reasonable one.

! Sir Julius Yogel said that he had no desire to embarrass the now Governmeut, u "fc tie should like to point out lhat na °V. '•-"""-Friday virtually meant adjournment iiuu. . .« .* * ha B( j to the fo'lowiug Tuesday, so thai t . lournraent would be for nearly three weeks iosteud of a fortnight. He hoped that the Premier would couKider between this and to-morrow whether an adjournment till Tuesday week was not sufficient. If the Premier was net then in a position to go on with the Financial Statement, other business might be proceeded with, or private business might be takerj.

Mr Ormond would like to point out that the cours* proposed by the Premier would really be a saving of the time of Parliament. He thought that if the Financial Statement were brought down on F'iday fortnight muoh time would be B avud to members.

■ m i i] MiriiiA Mr Seddon protested against the ad. joarnment asked for, and said that wheoW the Stout-Vogel Government was formed* in 1884 the Ministry met the House in a few days and went on with the business. Mr Samuel hoped the Government would take sufficient time to consider its policy. J Mr Pyke thought that time would be saved by adopting the course proposed by the Premier. M»jor Atkinson said that no one was more anxious than he to bring down his Financial Statement, and fo get the session over as soon as possible, but any hon. member who knew anything of the task which he (Major Atkinson) kad before hlra must be convinced that the time he had asked for was most moderate,. and if he had n&ked for three weeks.or a month it should not have been refused. He said there was no comparison between the present session and the session of 1884, because the Stout-Vogel Government kad the benefit of all the figures' of the previous Government, and ho now had to go right through the figures afresh. , ; Hia colleagues were hard-working men, who would lose no time in accomplishing the task Bet before them. He could not pledge himself to bring on the Financial Statement on Friday fortnight, although he would try his utmost to do so. He would undertnk* to deliver it on the Tuesday followiog. He then moved that the House adjourn till next day at two o'clock.

Sir Julius Vogel did not. like it to go forth unchallenged that the present Government camo into office ' with, more difficulties than the Stoat-Vogel Government. He presumed that the speech to be delivered next day would not disclose jC the real policy of the Goverr.nent ? Major Atkinson said lie was unable to satisfy the hon. gentleman's Curiosity on that occasion, and he would have to wait till the Governor's Speech was delivered. Major Atkinson's motion was carried, and the House rose at 8.5 p.m.