Evening Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3315, 6 August 1879, Page 2

Evening Sitting.

The House resumed at 7.30.

The Premier said that when he moved that the House go into Committee of Supply, Mr Stewart proposed an amend* ment, that the writs should be issued and the elections take place and the House re-assemble on a certain date. He had pointed out that this matter rested with the Government, and that the interests of individual members should not be allowed to interfere with the duty which devolved on the Government of looking after the interests of the colony. -. He could only pledge the Government,to re* assemble Parliament as soon* as,possible. He had been called an autocrat and accused of autocracy,. and had never replied to such charges. He had been attacked by the member'for Wanganui (Mr E!ox) in two works written for tbe purpose, but he had not read or replied to j those attacks. He was sure no person could fix upon him one single act which distinguished an autocrat. It had been stated in the House that they were all Liberals, but how had. the Liberalism of a section of that House been shown P. What was the autocracy he was attempt ing to set up ? He asked for fair laws for all classes, a representation of, the people, and other enactments, for the benefit of the colony, instead of the benefit of any par* ticular class. If that was autocracy, he I was guilty. He found i phalanx combined against him for their own purposes, but so 1 long as he was in the public service, and I had a certain work to perform, he did not oare for opposition, but, should still walk onward in the course he thought best. The wealthy classes sought Jo .get ;the power of legislation into their bwsr Kinds, to make and administer tbe same for their own benefit. Those who made the laws of this country so made and administered them as to acquire vast returns* for themselves. He would be prepared with a list of such persons, snowing that the Land Laws were made to enrich the i persons who framed them. Tbe condition of the poor in Great Britian was one of slavery, and there was a movement in and the colonies to remedy this state of matters. He felt that, bad as their representation was, he and his friends could come back to that House, in greater strength than before. Mr Saunders spoke in reply to the Premier's remarks. He questioned his ! genuine Liberalism, and said that if he 1 had wished to show his sincarity in great Liberal principles, he had an opportunity last session of doing so, instead of throwing out the bill. He had accused the runholders of exerting -power Yin the House, although it must. be« known that the reverse Was the case, as they were an ill-used class. If the Premier had been a friend of the working classes he wpttld not have taken the duty off their tea and sugar at the expense of the education of their children, but would have advocated the very reverse. - '■ ' The amendment was then amended by the addition of the words, " That: a respectful address be presented to the Governor, informing him that. in the opinion of this House" (these words to precede the amendment). , Mr Bees and. Mr Moss spoke against this addition, which was an insult to the House and to Ministers of a serious cha*

racter. - - » Mr Moss hoped a dirision would be taken on the amendment ai it novr stood, i because Jt was rety different in effect. ' Mr Barton said the object was to! compel the Gorernor to take sides, which was unconstitutional. Mr Stuart said he had no such intention as that inferred by the last speaker when he brought forward his amend',

ment. ' " ■ \ The Premier said he shdald be sorry if silence on his part conreyed the im« pretsion that was guilty of carelessniai on his part of the education of the people, which had been attributed to him by one hon. member. He then proceeded to state the action that had been taken in the matter of education, and referred the hon. members to Hansard for proof thereof. The amendment that an address be presented to His Excellency, asking him to fix a date specified, was then put, and a division taken thereon, with the follbwinft result:—• - , -■■..■'

, For the amendment, ... „.43 Against ..28 Ayes -.—Adams, Atkinson < (toller), Baigent, Barff, Beetham, Bowen, Braudoo, Brjoe, Coitis, OutUn,

Douglas, Driver, Fox, Gibba, Green, Hart, Henry, Hobbs, Hursthouse, Jack* son, Kelly; Macfarlane, McLean, Moorhouse, Mooris, Murray, Murray-Aynsley, Oliver, Ormond, Bichardion, Biehmond, Bolleston, Rone, Saunderi, Stevens, Stewart (teller), Studholme, Sutton, Tawiti, Tomoana, Wakefield, Whitaker, Williams.

Woes.—E. G. Barton, Bastings, Brown, J. C. (Tupaka), Brown, J, E. (Ashley), Carrington, De . JLautoiu, ,. Eieldwick, Fisher, George (teller), Gisborne, Goldie, Grey, Hamlin, Joyce, Macandrew, Nahe, Bees (feller), Beeves, Shanks, Sheehan, Sbrimski, Swanson, Taunt* Thompson, Tole, Tarnbttll, Wallis. The amendment was tbea pat and carried.

. the /vdoh. r r T Mr.Barton then brought foffward bit motion affecting the conduct of certain Judges of the Courtis of this colony. 1. That justice has not for a' long time been administered in jthe Oo«ril> of this Colony, with.fairness and impartially. 2. That » barrister in theiae^ef pleading the cause of a suitor was corruptly and vindictively imprisoned for*on*} month by two of* the Judges. 8. That the administration of justice in tbe inferior Courts,: and more espeeitUyi in. the dWtriets of Taranaki and Wellington, hat for a long time, been corrupt, and, although the matter has frequently boea brought under notice of the Government, the officers complained of are still retained on the Bench without in<|airjf.| 4. Tfcit notwithstanding evidence taken last sfeiaion before,tue Gaol* Committee, a report \ of that respecting the misconduct of eer* tain officials in the Police Departmeat, none of the guilty officials had Deen discharged from the service or ja^any way censured or reduced ihgrsifo, wfiileonthe other band certain of toe witnenei ia the employ of the Government, ■taminnd before that Committee, had, bees systematically persecuted and degraded froai (heir proper, employneat. That, notwithstanding the judgment bf one ef the. Judges of the Supreme Com sitting at a Coinmisßioner r inquiry ipts>vthf Heretauriga purchase," which ]aJ|anit it published .in,, the ? records of the House, no steps hare been taken to re. more or even censurethe judge. $, Thai; although this House, in the View of pub* lie exigencies at preaentexistuif , frill not refuse to Her Majesty the ueeestary , supplies for th« puWicsefTwe, it desires to say that had inch exigencies not existed Supplies would ■» have oaWased until such grievanoe had been fully inquired Ainfo,.land the persons *s*eused either acquitted of the charges or ex* •pjelled from the public service. Mr Barton then proceeded to fife, instances of extraordinary conduct on the part of the Judges, especially aflectihgl Judge Kenny, of Napier, (late of New Plymouthy, from mformattyn furnished by one J. Jones, and theh read extracts' from the report of the Gaols Committee of last Mttion/ahowingmiscoafficte* lh» part of certain poUc^.officers.^ P He;eontinued at some length in a similar strain in the presence of a thin House, and thenaoved the clauses of f the motion wi^thb'iaeeption of words V.and Wellingtp^.^ |^ llause three. '.^'.-T J''r>-',-'.;7« i After considerable discussion^* aintion WM negatived.? „.,.,«.. -; . P ;r ,l,\'^ * } The Premier then iiiovedtk* adjourn* ment of the House until^Sj&oflj^liurs* day, when Government-pMpoasvta> ask for a lump sum to Jaet «atU Ac 90ch September next.., . Major Atkinson, asked; if :tbe/£ublie Works, and ConsoUcUted Bevenpe w«» ifacludedln the^ aSC ;;': _ tJ The Premier said the tiro suuttfwould . be asked for separately. The Committee': of Supply was then made an order of the. daj for. Thus* day. „ Sir Wm. Fox suggested that nreiaborate financial statement should bysoade, but merely a statement, when the Imprest Bill was asked for.. , The Premier said he had no intention to retard the business of the country, bat itwasifor him to make suohAttatenMsit as he thought proper. ' Mr McLean hoped they would ask that business be proceeded with it at oatv without a day's delay. x