HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Bruce Herald, Volume x, Issue 957, 13 November 1877, Page 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, JSovejibbs 8.

,At the-evening aittine:^ ~ ■ , The amendments made by- the Council in the following Bills were agreed to :•— j Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill! Volunteer and other Lands Bill, Wai--w«ra School Glebes -Exchange Bill, Babbit Nuisance Act Amendment Bill, Havelock Athenaeum Incorporation Bill. Bills read a second time :— Peninsula County Bill. Canterbury Bailways Land Beservation Bill, Hokonui Education Reserve Bill. The remainder of the evening -.■.was spent in Com mi ttee on the Local Option Bill. Mr Ballance's new clause, providing that compensation should be paid when licenses were taken ..away by the operation of the Act, was read a second time, on a division by 28 to 16, and was addecTtd, the Bill on a division by.^2l to 14. , : n Mr Fox •thereupon, in accordance with his premise, > 'that if the compensation clause was adopted-^ he 7 would abandon the Bill, moved that progress be rVpprted. Leave was obtained .to i sit fortnight, but the Bill. is uudeVstoodt^tp; be abandoned. The Governor i^ppeared^wishes to refer the privilegielcas^;to the Secretary bf state but Minsters oppose^ this, sayiogithe Secretary of State has; nothing to So with House. SiFSGtqrge: ;^G>ej% moved-^^;Tb^t;-"to-morrow being the Pripce of Wale's birthday, the Housed at ; its rising tp^ayVshbuld .adjourn -..to Monday.?' , : . . Major Atkinson hoped the House would not agree to adjourn, although the Govern ment might desire to treat the majority of the House with contempt and disrespect, as in addition. to the No-confidence motion, there was a large amount of public and private business^-of urgent business —and the House should sit both to-morrow and Saturday. ~ The : Speaker, in the midst of a personal discussion, warned the House against dtgene-rating-into a state in which it would, be impossible to preserve order. Major Atkinson had, hurled accusations across the House, and it. was only natural that a reply should be provoked. ' While the Speaker was speaking Major Atkinson made a remark across the §puse .to Sir. George Grey, saying : " No. 3 motion of the Want of Confidence motions would settle all." . , The Speaker characterised this as an exceedingly improper and unparliamentary remark. . ' , : . _:':': , After some further discussion, the Speaker intimated his determination to maintain the dignity V of his office, and to exercise the authority ;he ; pdwes6eid : : to preserve^ order. If the House would not ; support him he would s riot continue to, occupy . -the chair. '- £.§, The ßouseidivided r^Ayes,- 37 ; ; npes^ 381. Th cf m'bt ibn . I or 'ladj bummeht lost, y, -.'y &\ X : ' : : r. -.'•': '-' '-\ : . -^ ;Mr Maca^drew,' in reply tor a question from Mr D&Lautouri said that ; if Wardens., were not elected in December • f pi Kyeburn Hundred, the Waste Lands Board would framea depasturing regulation. ,; New Bill introduced-^Balclufcha Athene »urn Bill (Mr Thomson). ■ ; Major Atkinson asked Sir George Grey what facilities he proposed to give for the discussion of the No-confidence motion No; 3. It was a usual courtesy to give such motions precedence. - '■ , -;■;.; Sir George Grey repeated the statement made yesterday, that the Government did nrifr propose to interrupt the course of ordi-. nary business; . ' ;. ■•; ~ : MrLußk, as a matter of peraonal expianajtion, spoke at some length to show that proper evidence had not been 1 taken, -arid that the standing orders had been stretched to find him guilty of a breach of privilege. Mr Whitaker had received £33 last year from the Thames Borough Council for drafting a Harbour BilL It was paid . to the . firnV of Whitaker and Russell. The House had never treated such conduct as an offence I before thin caße, although it was constantly done. Be did not in any way appeal;, to the House to reverse its decision. He had not; done anytKing.Tuorally wrong, or committed any intentional contempt, . . .^. ..... ; FBIDAr, No^BMBEB 9. Major Atkinßbnatteinptedtb move his wan tVbf-cbufidence motion, but . ' The Speaker, after carefully examining the standing orders, Bald he did not gee how; poking to the words of the motioa, Major Atkinson; could possibly 'fini' an (opportunity j to move his resolution! ' " Mr Travers gave notice of motion thai the, ; thanks of jtbe House be tendered to his Excellency the Qojrernbf* fbr hjs message, and that in the bpinionbf the House this ;apjtion of the Ministers was unconstitutional and merited censure . Sir George: Grey annbunoed a message, frpoa the Governor, covering correßponderice. in the privilege case. This was read, and; after this :., '\. .''.."'.":■'■ ;;:'■'. ■: :-*■'■ Mr Stout said the question was r no longer between the Governor and the ; Hpnsej but , the Go Vjern^r w^e4 t<i n^ake it one between^ the House an 4 the Home Qoyernnjent. ; flfe 1 had not intended to raise any such question, but the Governor now wished to make the: Secretary of State judge- of the privileges of the Hou*o . liy l^o yss $6 Secretary of State he would L like 'to know:, that : he^ipaJßr;tp ; dictate on auch a question ?' He was a person unknovrn to the Conßtltution, and had do rigbJfc io interfere,: The caaei also <had another sppget. The Governor had assumed a poaUion th^ttis $^^ to obey his Views, npt those of tl^e Bpuie. f Mr Travers did not understand thjkt, the Governor has placed himself in any position antagonistic to the House. It was. a transparent patent trap laid by Ministers to catch the Governor. The position^pf ; the »fiair wao pn the part oMo« Goyernnj»nt

perfectly c«>n tenipub.o.. TU«y had dragged the Governor like a red herring acrosa the scent to bring the House into collision with his Eiceliency, in order to save themselves.

Mr Sheehan compared Mr Tracers to St.Peter in constantly denying himself. He denied absolutely that? the Government had sat any trap for the Governor. He called Mr^Travers,, : --Mr Gisborne, Mr Rpllesj^n,. /and those wh6|had deserted,^tue seven Tasf joints of the Opposition tail; jand said they hid promised most solemnly after Sir George Grey was chosen leader to support him throughout the session. Mr Gisbbrneiihad 'gone so far as to say. he would support a Ministry of 'six pairs of shoes for- the session rather than let. Mr Atkinson • back. Ministers declined the position of being bound to support the Governor if 'he came -into: conflict with the House .contrary to there advice : but if through taking their advice any conflict arose; theyiwoqld, support him to the utmoßt. He would not agrae for a moment to ariy third parly being called in to decide as to the privileges .of the, House,, They were the judges of their own privileges and the Governor had acted against the advice Ministers had given him. He and his colleagues had acted in the most perfect good faith : in the advice- they had given to the Governor, and they would rather resign than promote any quarrel of a serious nature between the House and the. Governor. Maj«r Atkinson— lf the Government would take a division on ' the want of ; conn*- 1 dence motion to-night . they could- have, a holiday to morrow. He was prepared to take a division on that question at once, antl' test whether Ministers had a majority or no.t.,Sir George Grey thought there might be a majority of the House' obtained, as nor one knew one side or the other, but the real^ques tion .was, who btid a. majority in the cbiintry ? Were the Opposition prepared to Tappeal'toi that tribunal to determine 1 who had, the majority ? He believed the country wouicl support them, and they would use every form of Parliamentary Government to retain the position they, were now in. The Opposition had bribed in every direction they possibly could. ' '" ■ ' ;'■':/'' " ' ""■'! -■.-■:-■-". Major Atkinsen moved that the words be taken down.: .;•;'-' ■ : ; ;.; : : Sir George Grey thought it would be well if he were, allowed to .complete the sentence. The words were taken down. .■/.-, t :., a Sir George Grey was going to addi'-'-bj promissory subsidies to road boards and boroughs." [•'.'■-.:-,■: „ : ■ , ■ .-; After some further discussion, • • -;_.. Major Atkinson expressed himself quite satisfied with the' explanation. The Speaker remarked that, very, .wisely/ the matter would therefore be ailowad to .drop. '/- ■.''."'..■'■''■" ''■}'.' ' •.• ■''■'■>'■■' Sir George Grey continued. He was determined, impossible, to keep the position he held j because he believed^ he had the conden cc of the people, and that from their, past policy, it would be dangerous to allow the late Ministry to regain office. He .believed great reforms could bej and would be effected in the. Colony, and the people relieved of the chains of debt andnsubser.viency to those richer than themselves. He rwouldj therefore enter into no such' compromise as Major Atkinson wanted, but would 'adopt every lawful and legitimate means to retain office until the people were appealea''to. He 'ra"Bt indignantly denied the statement of 'Mr Traveri about his having laid a trap for the : Governor. For -himself, he had done his utmost with his colleagues to' prevent any request to the Governor to* call Mr Wilsdrf to Jtbe Council, and had only yielded to, repeated > represiehtatibn as to tbeS necessity c for efficient- legal -. advice. He did not. for a moment believe the Governor intended to force him to resign. Both the Governor and? himself were desirous i of having the great constitutional; question : which had arisen settljid amicably and. for ever, but he. could riot consent, to; any third par^y being brought in to setUe' a difference of this kind. It should be settled in the Colony, .- • . -y. U\ i. ; Sir -George Grey, replying 5 to some remarks from Mr Reid, said it was hot proposed tb : ask authority to borrow £s,ooo, ooQ;% although «nm was really wanted to clear the 'Country. ' ' ' . . ,:■•'". '.■ . y ' J ' A . : Mr Reid disputed the statement of liabilities. If the' Governmentwas. popular it was through tlie delusive hope it held out of pri>fuse expenditure coupled with lessened burdens.' What had Sir George Grey done since in office to restore the people their liberties, and render the burthen of taxation more fair? . : Sir George Grey said' he wouicl, if a disaoiution were given, so thatrthe people could return membera to support: him. . , ■ Mr Reid — A position acquired by means to "whicfi Sir Gieorge Grey owed his, was hot $h jenviabi? but a pjtialjle „qne j,' it was obtained in defiance of constitutional law and precedent, and of the representatives of the people. of whom ; h€L r waß.«lwajß talking- ...Sir George Grey was now persisting in retaining his seat on the Government benches. The House, was the. repreiientative oi the people, and^ any. Government attempting to carry 6nwhile in a minority must be necessarily wasting time. Such tactjcs woqld disgrace any road board, and could pply besupported by a waste of time by speaking against time. At 1 a.m. another 'attempt was niadt> to bring on tne w»nt-of-Qonfid§nce feotiQn, Mr fijtout taunted the -Opposition with their impatient desire to get into office. Mr Moorhouse* asserted that the Opposition had a working majority of seven in the ;I^ e j ■-.._■'.■ c\- ; "...;. . .;;. ■';;: ' ■ 7:\'-^ i Mr Sheehan in a long speech chafl"ed the Opposition about the motion No. 8., which he (sailed a neglected and criminal child. The Government had given the Opposition fujl 'flDportuiiify for * fair »tta©k r »nd itvW

failed. Miuisteis would take their own time to receive another attack, and Major Atkinaoh would have to wait the regular course for motion No. 3 to come on unless they would accept the challenge tqygo to the country; to; decide between them. He challenged Ma jorl Atkinßon to agree to this. If he did he (Mr Sheehan) would promise to contest Egmont with him, and not to come back to the House -if he could; not ■beat him #ere.- qThßjG,oyern- j ment knew they had the country behind them, and if there was to be a fight a I' outrance they would carry if on wi th b pirit. Tb ey hadthe right of arranging the Order paper for the nexttthreejdaysj iand •woujd^ exercise it, and if the Opposition chose to obstruct public business the Government would give them the opportunity to ■ obstruct some of |their own pet measures. ..