PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4878, 22 August 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Pee Pebssl^,Association.)

LEGlSL'li^i^cbuNClLi

■ Wellington, Ye(te*day> The Council met at 2.30. " : In aflswcr^o Mr^uckley, Sir Gv Whitmore said nd.cbpies had" been printed of the Civil-Service report by Messrs'"?sf*fl.--ahd Batkin; that a mor^;'recent TepoV i' was of a confidential nature; only intended for Ministers, and that a bill in pursuance of such reports had bjei^.pri^e^bjr^h;e i Atkinson Government; .-." ':*'s£ '■; '<?&'t: i?";':^f # ' Mr Waterhouse Vino fed that ,it^i^essen« tial to the working of; our^oristHuiional system, and to the efficiency/of this branch of the Legislature, that the Government of the-day be represented in the Council by a Minister holding a, portfolio.i; In speaking to the motion, the hon.l gentle? man complained that the Council should have to put up with a Minister without portfolio: The 'gentleman who had last been appointed was in all respects excellently adapted for the position of Minister with a portfolio'; and, so strongly did he'feel on this point, he considered it would be his duty to the Council, if another case of the sort arose, to make a decided stand, and demur to proceeding with business until such a state of things was-remedied. /

Mr^J; H..]&ichrriond seconded.

Sir Greorge Whitmore said he fiad no opposition to the,motion. ;Were-he not connected with the present Ministry, be v would warmly support,the mover, because anything that gave greater weight to the Council he believed to be in the true interests of New Zealand. He contended there ought to be two Ministers in the Council. ".

Mr McLean thought it ; was. desirable the Council should put' on record their objection to being represented in that Chamber by a Minister without a pqrt^ folio, and hoped the motion would be carried unanimously on the voices, The motion was then agreed to, and the CpUDoU. adjourned at 325 p.m. till tomorrow, for the purpose of considering the Address-ia-Keplyv ,••;■../