House of Representatives.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 845, 15 November 1877, Page 2

House of Representatives.

[Press Agency.]? ;. .' Government Buildings, Wellington, Tuesday, 8 p.m. The House resumed this evening at 7.30. ... „; . ■■•:.•. ; THE KINGITES Mr SHEEH AN laid on' the taole a telegram from xVtajor Te Wheorb to Sir George Grey stating that -Tawhiao was collecting food for the. expected <Visit~ fromr-Sir— GeorgeGreyl,"* a . ...,,.,. „ „ . ' IMtBEST. In reply to IVfajpr. Atkinson, : Mr 'LARNaOH said he would gave notice before bringing down another Imprest Supply Bill. / ; THE ; POSITION. Major ATKINSON, moved the adjournment of privilege debate for a week. The whole argument had , been fairly placed -before the Governor and replied to, therefore there was no reason for going on with the debate. The question. was one of Constitutional law, not one affecting the privileges of the House, and the time, of the House, therefore, would be better occupied in discussing the Land Bill than in discussiug this subject. Mr STOUT thought Major Atkinson was treating JSU Travers

.. He was evidently gffipS^u the debate went on Mr l?ravap^B^moti(Hi tfould ba Carrie I, anl IBwotjld-'bß sent for to form n Minißy ia|&ad of Major Atkinson. IfUffldeb^'was adjonrne I for a wdelSl* 0 Jpise could not reply to Vfclat wi^jp|dre it on this case, and fu&i%*sirte statement won id go home by the maiJ next week. Major Atkinson's anxiety, to get on with vr creine rather ati-an-gely after his recent threat -tu> obstruct all business till his no confi-Jnotion-waa diaoussed. It was very unkind of Major, Atkinson to check Mr TrayeiVs ambition to become^.the leader of the Oppositi i&n. : ; Mr GISBORNE would support adjournment if a mail did nob leave for England in the interval, but he objected altogether to the view act fqcta ; by the that the ttoase could not determine the extent to whiclf Ministers were responsible to Parliament. He obj cted to any such question being referred to the Secretary of State. The House was perfectly competent to de'cide ; such a question. Had Mr Travers moved his motion, he would have movad an amendmeut, respectfully but firmly asserting the right of the House to determine for .itself the constitutional relations of Ministers to Parliament, and objected to refer to the Secretary of State.any such question. The views advanced by the Governor were dangerous to .the first, principles of constitutional Government, and if the adjournment wculd interfere ■with the 'House asserting- these principles, he would oppose it. Mr. REYNOLDS opposed the adjoamraienc. Wellington, Tuesday. THE, PRIVILEGE QUESTIOiV. The debate on the. adjourning of the privilege question vyas continued last night. Mr WAKEFIELD and Mr WOOD. opposed. Mr 'BRANDON supported the adjournment. Mr TRAVERS defended his conduct as consistent throughout. The House had asserted its 'privileges. MrjSHEEdAN said the adjournments ought to be, " because Alujor Atkinson foanti his party would not follow Mr Traveiv." He scrongly opposed any ex parie statement of the case (being referred to. The House condemned Mr Truvers's action as inconsistent. If the House referred its privileges to outside authority to suit party purposes, the first step would be taken to destroy constitutional freedom, lie defended the action of the Min sters. Sir GEORGE GREY wrongly condemned the refereuce to (on i^u authority. It was a shame of the Opposition to countenance such a proposal. If the Governor was entitled to refuse the Ministers' advice because a want of confidence motion was pending, constitutional government was at an end. The Governor contended he was responsible only to the Secretary of State, when it should be to the Queen and to the laws and constitution of the country . the) 7 were governing. Of the Secretary of State the House knew nothing. Another unconstitutional act was the Governor's reference to thi* Governor ,of .New South Wales. Constitutional liberty was in dangi-r if Governors, disregarding their proper ad v.sers, were to consult each ottie'r, and form an oligarchy guided ■by no: : code of laws. They should assert .their own rights to d^t rrnine all questions affecting iho privileges df the Hiuse. Great principles were at stake. .Major ATKINSON deni.-d ever countenancing any appeal 10 outside authority. Sir George Grt-y had don^so. The motion to adjourn' the debate was carried by 38 to 37. Mr GISB RNE then moved that it bef i&surned on Friday, urging the necessity of the" House sending its views of the case home by ihe same mail as the Governor's memo. This proposal was lost by 38 to 37. . .. . After, considerable discussion, Mr SHRIMSKI moved the adjournment of the House. The SPEAKER pointed out that if this 'were carried the matter would drop altogether. Mr TRAVERS defended his conduct, and condemned that of the Ministers. Their position in retaining office was unconstitutional. He opposed their party now, because he had approved of them formerly, it was on the absolute promise that Sir G. Grey should not be Premier. •He .wapmly eulogised Sir G. Grey's past services to the colony, but he ' objected to him as Premier He did not intend to move the motion he had given notice of, because the leader of his party desired him not i tp do so. Mr STOUT, at great length, replied <tor Mr Travers, pointing; out the inconsistencies in his various speeches', He cbarateriscd the alleged agreement to banish Sir G. Grey from office as a conspiracy, and that the only fault alleged was, that he had served his country well, and deserved well of it. What Mr Travers should do was to appeal to the country. Mr REES strongly urged the necessity for at once referring the question at issue to the decision of the country, At 12.30 the .motion for the adjournment of the House was agreed to, and the whole matter| therefore lapsed. The House met to-day at 2.30. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Mr STAFFORD asked without

notice -when tie Financial Statement would be made. Mr LARNACH said if Mr Stafford gave a formal notice /^^sk ho would tell him. .. \ .....^ •••'«:!