HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 11

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, Bth October. The House met at 2.30. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.

All the business on the order paper was postponed to enable the House to go into Committee of Supply.

In Committee of Supply the sum of L 200,000 was granted to her Majesty by way of imprest for the public service for the year ending 30 th June, 1880, and on resuming the resolution was further dealt with by the Houße. Leave was granted to the Premier to introduce an Imprest Supply Bill No. 2, which passed through all all its stages.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The Hon. Mr HALL said that when the House last met he stated he was iv progress of forming a new Government in accordance with a request made to him by the Governor. Since then he had succeeded so far as to be able to furnish the names of a number of gentlemen to his Excellency, who had been pleased to receive them. They were— Mr Whitaker, sen., who would take the portfolio of AttorneyGeneral ; he would himself take that of Colonial Secretary ; Major Atkinson, Colonial Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs; Mr Oliver, Minister of Public Works ; Mr Rolleston, Minister of Lands, Immigration, and Education ; Mr Bryce, Minister of Native affairs ; and Tamoana, who would take office as Maori member of the Executive in the Council. That still left an office to be filled up, and they thought it desirable as soon as they contained a sufficient number for enabling them to pro ceed with the public business, to do so. It would be seen that provision had yet to be made for the Pastmaster-Goneralship and Minister of Mines. These had not yet been decided upon, but they would be filled tip at the earliest possible date. When the Ministry was completed there would be in all probability a redistribution of some offices, which they hoped would be bo arranged as to be made to include members representing the different districts throughout the Colony. They had considered it desirable to ask the House to agree to an adjournment till Tuesday, so as to give them time to make themselves acquainted with the state of public business and arrange the measures they desired to submit to the House. No time would be lost in getting the preliminary work down, but they feared it would bo Tuesday before they could possibly be in a position to me6t the House, and proceed thereafter with despatch of business. What they desired was to go on with the business at tho earliest possible moment. In view of that opinion they considered they would best consult the interests of all concerned by asking the House to adjourn at its rising till Tuesday.

Mr MONTGOMERY stid that was more than could be expected. Mr Hall had been in Wellington for a long time, and must have made himself acquainted with the state of public business. Members were anxious to go on with the work, and what had been stated was not sufficient to justify an adjournment. He suggested it Bhould be made till Friday. Mr MACANDREW proposed that the adjournment should be from day to day when the new Government took their seats. He intended giving notice of a very important motion. If the mover did not see hiß way to an adjournment till Friday, he would move an amendment to that effect.

Mr SHEEHAN theu moved that the House do adjourn till Friday. Mr READER WOOD seconded tha amendment. He considered the practice had only been for a new Ministry to tako their seats as soon as possible, and then, if necessary, to get a few days' adjournment for consideration of what they propoaed to do. The new Government should be prepared to give the House an indication of what they intend doing by Friday. They should be prepared to take their scabs at once.

Sir GEORGE GREY said that the question had been raised as to his nob having given in his resignation to the Governor sooner than be did. The amendment affirming the no-confi-dence was carried on Friday night. The House did not meet till Saturday, but the resignations were made on Monday. He heard from tho Governor that the new Ministry promised to take office to-day at noon, and he did not know how that promise had not baen carried out. The other aide should have taken tho vote as it passed, and and attempted a reconstruction of the Government. If he could not succeed, then he should have advised the Governor to send for some other one to attempt such reconstruction. He (Sir George Grey) had endeavoured to act in a strictly constitutional manner. It was Mr Hall who had not acted constitutionally. He ought to have told the Governor that he had tried to reconstruct the Government, and had failed. He believed Mr Hall would not deny that he did attempt to reontruct the Government and failed; therefore he (Sir George Grey) maintained tho House was justified in having no confidence in him. The new Government should have come from that side of the House. If he thought they had the confidence they professed to have, they would have no difficulty in carrying on. There must be some other reason for their desire for adjournment than what appeared on the face of the motion. Mr .HALL said that, in deference to the opinions expressed, he would agree to the adjournment till Friday, but he wished it understood he could not i ossibly be aMa to go on with business on that day.

ADJOURNMENT. At 4.30 the House adjourned till Friday.

"Baptists, you did not dust that furniture this morning." Baptiste replies somewhat ironically ; '• Madame can plainly see that this is not to-day's dust— it lies too thick.

Ib is one of the curious things of the world that a male hair-dresser often dies an old maid,