FRIDA.Y, J UNE 27.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVII, Issue 833, 4 July 1890, Page 3

FRIDA.Y, J UNE 27.

A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Hon. - E. Mitchelson moved the adjournment of the debate to enable the Premier to make a statement.. Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson said that, with the permission of the House, he desired to make a short statement. He said that owing to'the state of his health he had for some time past£elt_ himself in a somewhat anomalous position. The circumstances were so peculiar and difficult that it had been impossible to finally decide what was the right course to pursue until to-day, and he took the first opportunity of explaining to the House what had been done. He had unfortunately been so unwell, that his medical advisers had told him that it would be absolutely dangerous for him to enter into any exciting debate whatever. He had therefore thought the proper course to pursue would be to retire ; but his friends were very adverse to his doing that, and he therefore proposed not to resign, but to retain the Premiership. He was going to ask the House an ex-traordinary-indulgence — to excuse him from attending the chief debates. He proposed to superintend the work of the Government, but not to undertake any work which would be dangerous to him in his present condition. "J-Ic might say he was quite capable of doing work not of an exciting nature. He wished to assure the House that it was not from any desire to escape work he asked for an indulgence of this kind. Mr J". Ballance said they wore not altogether unprepared on that side of the House for the announcement that had just been made by the Premier. So far as it effected the hon. gentleman's illness, he might say that siccerely and heartily they extendo:! to the hon. gentleman their warm sympathy, and lie trusted it would not be' aggravated by the public business which he was able to perform. With regard to the arrangement just made, he would take an early opportunity of stating his opinion on it, but he was quite sure the indulgence asked for by the Premier, so far as regarded his own personal convenience and health, would be readily extended to him by the House. Mr Reeves (St. Al bans) asked whether the Premier would retain the leadership of the House, or whether any of his colleagues would do so. Hon . Sir li. A. Atkinson said he should be the nominal leader, and the responsibility would rost with him, but he should have to absent himself from the debates. His hon. colleague Lho Native Minister would lead the House in his absence.

In the Legislative Council — Hon. Mr Acland obtained leave to introduce without notice a bill entitled the Church Properties Trustees Indemnity Bill, which was read a first time. An Imprest Supply Bill was introduced from the House and passed through its final stages. In the House o£ RepresentativesReplying to questions the Minister of Lands said he was making inquiries into the advisableness of introducing an amendment of the Selectors Lands Revaluation and to include the holders of small grazing runs.—Hon. Mr Hislop said there was no truth in the statement made in the English journal called Fairplay to the effect. that two members of the Government owed L 60,000 to the Bank of Now Zealand. —That L 4993 was advanced to the New Plymouth Harbor Board in October last year when a conversion loan was being arranged the sum of L 3399 still remained to bo paid, but there was doubt whether it could be collected out of the rates—That the Government were still taking steps in the direction of abolishing the Public Works Department, but as long as they were expending public money it was necessary there should bo some department to administer it—That an expert would be sent in the course of a few months to visit': the . agricultural districts on the west, coast of the Middle Island with a viewi to having instruction given to those, engaged in dairy-farming pursuits in the art of making butter and cheese.