HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4814, 13 June 1884, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday. Leave of absence for ten days was granted to Taiaroa on urgent private business... * , ' :; -'■ ,''■■ : "' ' ' '■ ■ The debate on the Address-in-Eeply and Mr Sutton's amendment was resumed by Major Atkinson. He x understood the eagerness of the other side last night to bring matters to an issue, when they suddenly found themselves possessed of a temporary majority after years of hard toil; when the. country came to understand the true nature of the position, the Government would get more credit thau the Opposition from last night's proceed* ings. Practically, no charge had been made against the Government of any nature sufficient to displace them. He had not in any way treated Mr Steward in a derogatory mcnner! he was bound to choose between Mr Steward'? ad Sir G;

Grey's motions of want of confidence, and he did so in view of public interests. Government had a right to expect any bill of indictment to be preferred by • a recognised leader. Instead of being dilatory, Government had pushed on public works , rather too fast if anything,- The liability of the colony at the end of the year was £10,000 less than the previous year, so no attempt had been: made to reduce the deficit at the end of the year. No reasonable charge had been made against the Government, and they had nothing to. answer. As to not passing Bills, he desired to pass his Insurance Bill, but no Government could do it till the country desired such a Bill. Mr Wakefield's only charge against the Government was that they were in a minority, that was the only reason why ha was going to vote against them. ~No doubt the Government party would soon be again in the majority, and then Mr Wakefield would be a supporter. Something about shear legs on the Nelson wharf, the railway grain tariff, and being in a minority were the only real charges made against the Government. At considerable length he reviewed what the present Government had done since they took office in 18J9, especially the effect of their action in raising the credit of the colony in the English money market, and their action in native affairs. He greatly regretted he had not been able to speak I throughout the colony on the subject of Federation. He dwelt at length on the various aspects of this question, urging its great importance. He denied that any united Opposition existed — they had simply " snatched " a division last night, because they could not trust their party to hold together for two days more. The real ruin of tbe Government was the low prices of Wool and grain, for which, of course, they, were not responsible; He claimed that the Roads and Bridges Construction Act had been an entire success. Since it was passed no votes for roads or bridges had been placed on the estimates. The Act was only a machinery one, and it had worked admirably; it was to distribute, not to provide money. The nine votes composing the majority against the Government were owing to the Government raising the railway freights, and being prepared to stop speculation in native lands. He defended the former reduction of railway rates, and their subsequent raising. The Government had tried an experiment, and found it did not answer;' they were therefore bound to raise the rates, eVen though well-knowing that by d6jinj|, so j they would lose their Canterbury political support. Their duty to the colony to avoid heavy loss was, however, paramount; it was a question of ;£50,0C0. They had lost six votes by this, but the Opposition had not got them. Two votes were also lost by the Governmeat policy on native lands, and one blamed their administration, but believed in their policy. None of these members had really joined the Opposition. The Opposition would not profit by going to the country. Even if an appeal was made the Government could quit office with credit if they bad to quit it.

■ Sir George Grey thought that Major Atkinson had disgraced the House and his own position by treating the present great -crisis with levity. Constitutionally the .Government was bow under the censure of the House and should have retired from office. He charged Government, in; its years of continuous office, with having robbed the people of their land, and squandered the public revenue's to improve the value of the property belonging to their friends, whom they had also, on all isidea, placed in office. He r Tso charged them with many other serious offent es. If the House respect' i its own dignity it would insist on Ministers vacating their offices at once. It was infamous that the Premier should attempt to attribute motives for votes given by members. He positively denied the existence of any agreement between the members of the Opposition not to take office until a dissolution took place. The Government should to-night have told the House what they intended to do. It was an insult to the House that they hrd not done so. His sole object was to go to the country. He altogether denied the necessity or desirability of Federat'on.iWe were already federated to the Empire. If possble native affairs now were worse than when the present Government took office: there was more dissatisfaction now than ever. He complained of the treatment by Government of Major Eopata. He accused the Government of most unlawful dealings with the kauri gum lands, in the North.

Mr Bryce said the Address-in-Eeply had not yet been carried ; when it was, and presented, Ministers would ask the House for a short adjournment, to consider their position. They were acting quite constitutionally, and would do so to the end.

Mr Sutton asked leave to withdraw his amendment, but it was refused on the voices, and then rejected on a division of 67 to 7.

Mr O'Callaghan briefly defended himself from a charge of having " ratted " from the Government, and explained a variety of reasons why he could no longer support them. ,

Tawhai and Mr Seddon also briefly explained their reasons for voting against the Government.

Dr Newman's motion, that an Address-in-Reply be prepared, was then agreed to, and Major Steward and Messrs DeLautour, O'Callaghan, and Levestam were appointed a committee to prepare the Address. On their bringing up the report, the Address was adopted, and the House rose at 1^35. ;