GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9157, 15 July 1895, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MORNING SITTING,

Saturday, July 13.

After the Telegraph Office closed this morning, Sir Mas?py and Sir Geo. Hutchison supported Captam Russell's amendment to refer the Agent-General's circular to the Public Accounts Committee. On a division, the amendment was rejected by 57 to 16. At 2.20 a.m M iSr WARD rose to reply on the motion that the circular be laid on the tabls. He said they had had a very remarkable debate, and before he had finished his reply he would be able to put a different complexion on the truthfulness of those who had impugued the veracity of himself, hia colleagues, mid the Ageul-General. Long before he reached London, deep and bitter animadversions had been published regarding the colony and his administration, and he read an extract from one home paper to show kind of statements were sent Home from New Zealand. They were twisted and determinedly inverted statements, meant to pie judicially affect the people of the colony. Some of these statements were made in Loudon by Mr Dnthie, the member for Wellington. MrDUTHIE—That is untrue. The SPEAKER called on the hon. member to withdraw that remark. Mr DU JL'KIE said he could not do so. He had said nothing derogatory to the colony. The SPEAKER—Then ■ you disobey the Chair. Mr DUTHlfi—Well, I will substitute that the statement is contrary to fact. Mr "WARD, continuing, repeated that when the land tax was collected twice in one year the Government had not £600,000 in cash in London to pay interest. That was essentially true, but he had never said that if the tax was not collected then the colony would h»ve to make default. No such thing, as the Government could have easily borrowed the money requireJ. He deprecated the way in which the Opposition had twisted and distorted his remarks on the subject, aud complained of the way Mr Duthie had attempted to belittle him in London and misrepresent his words and actions at Home. He thought it a sorry spectacle for a number of members to get up one after the other and try and asperse the Agent-General and himself. Some of them did not know even what they wore talking about, especially when dealing with figures. Mr Ward went on to reply to the financial criticisms of Mr Geo. Hutchison, and showed where his figures were at fault. As to the securities in London, they were not under the control of Trustees, and hon. members knew verywell that he could not use them except in the case of a grave crisis. Although he had no hand in compiling the circular in Loudon, he was prepared to take the responsibility for it on behalf of the Government. He would not allow the integrity of the Agent General to be called into question. He had no desire to indulge iv personalities, but if the Opposition persisted in this line of conduct he would have to adopt similar tactics for his own preservation. He was glad that, with the assistance of the Ageut-Genoral, he had been successful in refuting some of the false statements circulated iv London regarding the colony. The criticisms of the Opposition were actuated by feelings of jealousy for the success of Ids mission. He had nob misrepresented the position iv London, and what he had dove had been done for the best. 'J'he motion was agreed to on the voices, aud the House rose at 2.50 a.m.