GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2224, 7 July 1891, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

Mr Rees said that he wished to call the Speaker’s attention to an article that had appeared' in tile Wellington' Evening Press, of the previous night, referring “ td Mr Jackson Palmer, a member of the House. He moved that the article was a breach of the privilege of the House, and said that he considered that a more gross attack had not been ihafle on a member of the House for years past. Mr Smith (New Plymouth) seconded the motion. He was one of those who believed in the liberty of the press and the liberty of speech, but he considered that a newspaper which published an article like the one referred to should "be suppressed. The Premier, in reply to a question said the House should certaily proceed further' if the motion was carried that the attack made on Mr Palmer was one of the grossest he had ever heard of. Sir John Hall, while admitting that the article was an improper one, pointed out that of all the cases in which the House had come in contact with the press, he had never known an®instance in which the House had come out of the fray with dignity.

Mr Scobie McKenzie did not defend the article, but he asked whether anything that had appeared in it was nearly so bad as the statement made by Mr Ballance that Judge Edwards was ‘‘an imposter, masquerading in the Courts of the colony.” Mr Bryce expressed the opinion that the article referred to was most unfair and uncalled for, but he could see no good in fighting the matter further than passing the resolution.

Mr Sedclon contended that the Hohse should unite in putting down proceedings of this kind, and should protect a young member, who, it was admitted on all sides, had done nothing whatever to deserve any attack on him. A large number of members spoke on the question, after which the motion was put and carried on the voices. : Mr Hutchison (Dunedin) then moved—" That the House desires to to express its regret that such a libellous and untruthful article with reference to the member for Waitemata should have been published in the Evening Press.” The motion was then agreed to and the matter dropped. The discussion lasted till 9 p.m. . 'THE# FINANCIAL DEATE. Messrs Mills, Hutchison, O’Connor, and Blake spoke, after which Mr Rolleston, referring to Judge Edwards’ case, said that the Government were bound by all constitutional precedent to cohfirm the appointment. He hoped that he should never hear again a speech so utterly inconsistent with the dignity of a Minister of the Crown as that delivered a night or two ago by the Minister for Lands. He severely criticised at some length the administration of the Land Department, ifld said that lie was not going to sit still because of any threats by the Minister of Lands as to what would happen 1 if liis policy was opposed. lie wished he could think that Ministers had a desire to provide a remedy for the suffering people in the large towns, but his opinion was. that the Minister for Lands and Minister for Education were not actuated by anything else but a desire to stir up class animosities. He was not a supporter of the property tax, but he could not admit that a land apdjincbmfe tax was an • improve-ment-on it. Speaking generally on the administration of the Government he thought they had fallen on troublous times. They had gentlemen on the Government benches who appeared to be oblivious of the main features of democracy a£nd did not recognise the responsibility of Ministers of the Crown. The House rose at 1,45 a.m.