House of Representatives.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 839, 1 November 1877, Page 2

House of Representatives.

[Press Agency.]

Wellington, Saturday. The House met to-day at 2.30. THE WANT OF CONFIDENCE M TION. Mr Shrimski resumed on the want of confidence motion. He said Provincialism being done, and Separation impossible, he was willing to maintain the unity of the cofony. He thought the present Government compared more than favourably with the late one, whose policy had simply been— give us a loan, and let as alone. Mr Curtis said he could noi; coiifide m Sir George Grey and his colleagues, whether they adhered t . their past professions or abandoned them now they were m office. Mr Larnach's motion would not have been cirried had it not been for th • positive assurances that Sir G. Grey did not desire and wou d not take office. He. (Mr Curtis) and others had voted on that understanding, and had been deceived. He criticised and condemned the indications of policy already given by Sir G. Grey. He also defended himself from the charges of political inconsistency. He hoped ihe motion would be carried, so that a stronoMinistry, commanding the confidence of the House and the country, could be formed. Mr Evans Brown attributed the deviation of Mr Curtis and others to promises of office made to them, it was a pitiable spectacle to see Major Atkinson seeking- to return to office by the votes of those who, a few days ago, had declared him untit to hold office. He considered the late Government had shown the maximum of political profligacy, and the minimum of administrative ability. He believed the present Ministry, if it retained office, would show the country clearly what its financial position was, and would propose whatever measures were necessary to maintain the public credit, whether by additional taxation or generalizing the Land Fund. He strongly condemned ttoh o railway management of the late Government. Mr Sufcton was confouf: to judge Ministers by their past utterances. He contrasted the sbJ-ements of conservative policy made by Colonel Whitmore m the Legislative Council with the. radical policy announced by Sir G. Grey m the Hou.se. He considered the telegrams from natives merely sent to order, or at moat indicating a hope of getting back from Sir G. Grey tho eonfis*

cated lands which Major Atkinson had refused to give back. V^ jf i Mr Thompson reviewed theftfednefc of the late GovernmeutjHiid attributed theij^esire to office to an i^ino£simil^|fQ^H& 0 £ only fair to g^e^ipresradGSsin-, ment a chance d^%ing T^teraP&an their predecessors. '\ \/ The debate was interrupted by the dinner-hour. ' -