THE MINISTERIAL COMEDY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1347, 6 November 1860, Page 2

THE MINISTERIAL COMEDY.

On Saturday evening the amendments made hy the Legislative Council in the Native Council Bill were taken into consideration by the House. Our own opinion concerning this measure has been already expressed. While not raising any seiious objection to it, we still consider it as premature. Before putting our own necks into the noose, it would have been advisable to know a little more of the temper of the Imperial Parliament on this subject, as displayed in the next session ; which, unless we much mistake, will undergo a considerable change. Legislation is moie easily effected than undone ; and by this Act we are hampering ourselves with coids tlmt we shall not be able to unloose. In the Bill as passed by the House, the appointments, as well as the salaries of the members of the Native Board, were teiminable in seven years. The Legislative Council made the appointments permanent, but left the salaries terminable. On consideration of the amendment, some desire was manifested to get rid of the Bill altogether, by not agreeing to what the Coimcil had done. The course taken by. the Government was remarkable. They stated their intention of voting for the Bill, but cast upon it as much dirt as they could conveniently gather. The impression upon the House was that they were bound by some understanding to maintain the Bill, but wished it to be thrown out in spite of themselves. The main argument used in support of the Bill was, that it was a step in advance, although a short one ; t]*it it denuded the Governor of a portion of his power in native affairs, transferring it to the responsible ministry. The Colonial Treasurer lose and informed the House that they were under a great misapprehension, and damaged the bill as much as he reasonably could. This of course produced a great revulsion of feeling in the House, and the Bill was getting into imminent danger. But there was a second Act to the comedy. It was supposed, by some of those who opposed the Bill, that at midnight, bringing on Sunday morning, Mr. Speaker would have to leave the chair. And the Colonial Treasurer was very emphatic in reminding honourable members that any one among them could get rid of the Bill, by speaking against time. It was the old story of " Don't nail that fellow's ears to the pump j" whereupon they were so nailed incontinently. But Mr. Speaker stated that he could find no authority for leaving the chair at mid' night without »a regular motion for adjournment ; but that, on the contrary, there were two or three instances of the House of Commons having continued their sittings after inidnight. And we believe that hcjwas right ; the commencement of Sunday at 12 o'clock at night being of comparatively modern date. The old dispute used to be, whether Sunday commenced at sunset on the seventh day, or at sunrise on the first day of the week. The end of it was, that Mr. Sewell drafted the following resolutions, for the purpose of ascertaining how his Excellency understood the Bill. The debate was subsequently adjourned Until ' Monday.

Resolved — That the Bill now under consideration be transmitted to bis Excellency, with an intimation that this House has been prepared to pasn such a BilJ up/an the distinct

understanding that the control and departmental administration of native affairs shall be placed under Responsible Ministers, subject to the provisions of the Bill, and) 'to ,the proper consitutional action of the Twpreme head of the Executive. But in the present uncertainty as to the relations which would subsist under this. Bill between the Governor and Responsible Ministers this House deems it its duty to defer the further consideration of this Bill until the present views of the Governor on the above question be ascertained. ' That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency with the above resolution. To the great surprise of the House, which had been taken aback by the Colonial Treasurer's description of his Excellency's opinions, a message came down which was considered as quite satisfactory ; and the Bill was accepted • without further opposition. The following is the message referred to : — Message, No 48. In reply to the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives on the 3rd instant, the Governor desires to state that his understanding is that in the event of the-Native Council Bill becoming law, the administration and management of Native affairs shall be placed on the same basis as the other departments of Government, and shall be conducted by a Secretary for Native Affairs, being a member of the Responsible Ministry, a permanent under Secretary and the necessity subordinate- .officers, subject to the provisions of the Bill ? and to the proper constitutional action of the •upreme heivd of the Executive, such constitutional notion being understood to have the same interpretation as regards Native affairs as in reference to other Imperial subjects. Government House, - „ Auckland, 5tli November, I860.