PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3313, 4 August 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Peb Pbiss AaENCY.)

WELLINGTON.

Friday. HOUSE OF . REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 7 30.

Mr Barton inlimated he would ask the House to endorse a series of very grave if not libellous aspersions on the- judicature of the colony from the Chief Justice downwards. The House wag perfectly ■till whilst the lion member read them. Sir W. Fox said tKe r resolutions ria3' were scandalous and libellous, and ought not to appear amongst the notices of motion. '

The Speaker agreed that he could not allow the notices to appear until some objectionable passage* were expunged regarding the political situation. \

, ,-, -, : BUSINESS OF THE-HOUBE. -pa i The Premier said lie had consulted members of the Opposition in reference to the measures that could be carried through before a dissolution. He said be had bflen informed that that body would' not alio^othier, measures ihap Supplyi«nd the LoanlJill to pass,,' He Uad askf^ that, ■^he, .Electoral, ,the Chinese Immigration,' and rthe ? Bills,should a be.. > p#Med >i .lhe,..%rernment 7 b<?pingj; r |.ucli 'measured would meet with no opposition. The following; no^e' was received In rep ly :_•• Sir William Fox Ipresents his .compliments, to Sir, George Grey, and f in 'reply to his merrid., begs to state' that h|s Excellency the Governor having clearly defined the terms of dissolution, the Opposition do not presume to take the matter off, his Excellency hands. The Premier hating stated that the Loan Bill and; Supply are not contested motions,-the Opposition are prepared to afford every 'assistance to the Government in carrying out those measures, but they cannot go in for any others, because the terms on which the dissolution is granted preclude other measures from being brought for- I ward by a Ministry which does not possess the confidence of the House." Replying to some remarks by Sir W. Fox, the Premier said it never entered the heads of the Government,to ask for Supply without fully stating to the House the present financial position of the colony '-Lia frill' statement was impossible, but available public information would be afforded. Under the circumstances the House could not expect more than a general statement. Sir W.'Fox then referred to the position of members on his side of the House in reference to a dissolution. There was a constitutional right for the' House to refuse supply, though his Excellency made no reference to that right. That memo, should be read by the side of the correspondence" that, passed between his Excellency when. Governor of a neighbouring colony and Lord Carnarvon, where reference was made to dissolution without supply and with conditions; this concluded to the effect,that under certain circumstances the .House was justified in refusing supplies, and his Excellency was' not bound to' dissolve till he had exhausted every combination to carry on the Government of the country. By the! light of those events he 'considered, that to separate without granting Supplies: would be demoralising. At the .same' time it was possible for his Excellency; riot to grant a dissolution if Supplies' were { not granted, and he could ask a majority to form aMinishy, but be and hi^-paVty, only wanted to maintain regular, government, . and they would do nothing to create a deadlock. They were prepared to grant Supplies, to go to the country, and to get a now Parliament in the shortest time circumstances would permit. There was nothing to prevent this, but they would insist on restraining the Ministry. ' Meanwhile, from the exercise of any,authority beyond what was necessary to bring about an election, (he hon. member pointed out, it would .not,.be right to have the flections, till the Bay be Islands RolliPurged Bill could be passed, which woultfrectify that evil and. another { similar one of the West Coast, by which several hundred people were virtually disfranchised, and the hon. member for Grey Valley disqualified. Summing,up briefly the conditions of the Opposition to the granting of Supply would be:—lst. No new contracts; 2nd. No elevations to the Legislative Council; 3rd. That those defects in the Electoral Bolls w»hich originated solely through Government officials should be rectified. The Premier said Sir Hercul- s Robinson meant what he said when he authorised a dissolution. There was no notice given by the Opposition as to supplies beine granted. His Kxcelltncy knew he was Governor of New Zealand, and that the people of New Zealand would not allow the Opposition to refuse supplios. Why, if they did such a thing they know very well uot one of them would come back to that House. He dared them to refuse supplies/ and toH them unhesitatingly that a dissolution should take place. He said again ,they dare not do -i\ He. said again/they must'give supplies, and they should do it. Then they had brought vp v the question" of ttie wretched Bay of Islands roll, and the electoral roll of some part of the West Coast because of some hon member who- supported the Opposition not being on that roll,'and he must be reinstated, otherwise the people of New Zealand would not be represented. If the Opposition allowed the Electoral and Representation Bills to be passed the House could have oietvftt latest at*"the beginning of December. It would make about siac weeks' difference! in ;the;timeli»fi ; the meeting of Parliament;, and jftt the end !of that time the; people' of N^W Zealand !would be realljr ijepresented.'^lf those ! Bills were not cajyriSS4;^the PP?Pje would not be represented. With regard to the condition that the Governmentiihould; not be asked to make any elevations to ithe Upper House, so long as he occupied his present position he would not for one' moment think of attempting to control jhis Excellency in that 'respecft ' ' ' Sir Win. Fox said, what ho asked was that the' Government should not advise the Governor on the subject. -' | Sir G. Grey said neither he nor his, colleagues wbuld bind themselves to any/ such condition. He said again they would not agree to it, but the House should grant them supplies, That was his answer to a condition of that kind, and 1 yet s,u,ppli|es should bo given. ' ; After some, further discussion, several members speaking, the House agreed that Supply should be granted., and then adjourned till 2 3,Q on. Monday,