HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3761, 4 August 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS,

Replying to questions, Ministers said colonial made blankets wore of too good_ n quality to use in lunatic asylums—a .special quality would have, to lie manufactured ; the education vote had boon increased lastyear mainly to restore the ten per cent reduction to teachers' .salaries ; thcGoverncould not give railway employees a fortnight's holiday every year, a.s it would coat £20,000. THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. Messrs Fish, Fergus, C. Johnston, Dodfion, and Swanson were added to the committee on education petitions. MR. I)AnfIAVJLL7','s CHAKOKS. Major Atkinson moved the resolution standing , in hi.s name for tlie appointment of a committee to enquire into the charges of corruption made by Mr Dargavillo against the Premier and himself. Unless these were withdrawn unconditionally they must be sifted to the bottom. They were deliberately made, and if true lie was a criminal of a, bad class, utterly unfit to sit in that House. He claimed the protection of both sides of the House in clearing , away the aspersions oust upon him. Mr Dargaville said the Treasurer must have lost Ids head, and reason must have given way to spleen and vindictiveness, when lio brought forward such a motion. He had not exceeded parliamentary bounds in making , the charges of cla.s.s legislation and similar offences which he had done, and lie read from hi.s notes what he actually had said. Now the Treasurer framed the indictment against himself, appointed hi.s own jury, and appealed to it to try and acquit him. Could anyone doubt what the verdict would be on such an indictment before such a tribunal. The motion craftily misrepresented what he did say, and raised an entirely false issue. He then reviewed the legislation of ISG7, and quoted the stronglanguage used in that session by Dr. Fcatherstou about the loan consolidation. No committee was wanted to prove what the country well knew, that the Treasurer was the' willing tool, the flunky of tho bank, and was kept in oflico by it. Ho urged him to throw off that influence. In conclusion he moved, as an amendment, " That, in the opinion of the House, the implications contained in tho Treasurer's resolution do not arise out of anything .said in the House by the lion, member for Auckland City West."

Mr W. W. Johnston condemned the gross and loathsome charges which Mr Dargavillo had made and now repeated us an insult ofFered to tho Ilou.sts. It was a libel on the House to say that it would judge a matter of this kind on party grounds. The honor of its mcTiibcrs was the honor of tho House, and all sides should unite to preserve it. A full enquiry was imperatively required. Mr Joyce characterised Mr Dargavillo , s defence as magnificent, and advised letting the matter now drop.

Mr Holmes said, if it was to go on, the two sub-sections of the resolution .should bo amended to read—l. Whether the allegations made against the Premier and Treasurer contained in tho uiicorrcotcd Hansard report of Mr Dargavillo's speech imputed any personal dishonesty or dishonor or political corruption to the lion, gentleman. 2. Whether those allegations were true. Major Atkinson said ho would accept the amendment. Mr Holmes also accepted it, but thought the committee should bo chosen by ballot. Mr DeLautour .said it should be chosen by lot, drawn by the clerk. Tho preamble of the resolution was then agreed to. Mr Turnbull expressed tho pleasure lie felt at seeing Major Atkinson, who was habitually rude to members of the Opposition, chastised as ho had been by Mr Dargaville. He, however, regretted the matter had gone so far. Mr Fish did not think a committee required. The indictment and the jury wore both unfair, and the violent language used by Mr Johnston was most unbecoming. Mr Munvo and Mr Fergus thought it absolutely necessary a full enquiry should take place. Mr Joyce suggested that Mr Dargavill o (should repeat outside the house what ho had said, and so allow the Treasurer to seek legal redress. Mr Pykc supported the appointment of tlio committee, and thought they should cease wrangling until it reported. If what was said was true Major Atkinson was unfit to sit in the House. If Mr Dargavillo had made such charges without grounds he Was unfit to sit there.

Mr Montgomery objected to a committee. The words complained of should have been tyken down when used. He quoted precedents to show they cquld not bo taken notice of npw, and he moved, as an amendment, " That it was contrary to the practice of Parliament to take any notice now of words not taken down at the time."

Mr Moss supported this, and said the action of the Government about tho New Zealand Native Land Compnny'a Bill was a most triumphant reply to Mr Dargaville's Statement about the Government being under bank influence.

Mr Conolly combatted Mr Montgomery's proposal. Tho words used by Mr Dargavillo wero wfc words of heat or passion, but deliberate accusations of the most serious and gross nature, couched in perfectly parliamentary language. A full enquiry into them was absolutely neee.-sary.

3Vfr Shepherd thought no good would rcsnljj from pushing the matter further. Mr ilursfc thought tlip Tippoiijtment of a committee necessary, but as he had been accused wrongfully of personal animosity to Mr Dargavillo bo must decline to sit on it.

Mr Seddon, in a long speech, said it would bo impossible now to prove; what took place in ISG7. He objected to government by committees, and thought Mr Durgfivillo had already, by his amendment, disavowed his intention of imputing personal dishonor to the Treasurer or the Premier.

Major Atkinson said he was willing to ucccpt n retraction and apology.

Mr Petrio supported the motion for a committee unless the charges wore uueomlitionally retracted. Mr Dodson would like to see the matter settled by previous question. At 12.15 a division took place as to whether Mr Holmes' amendment or Mr Montgomery's should be added to the jM'eamble previously agreed to. The former was carried by 43 to 23.

Major Atkinsou asked leave to withdraw the preamble, but, Sir George Grey objecting, it could not be done. On the motion as amended being put Mr Smith moved the previous question, which was negatived on the voices. Mr Fish strontrly urtred Mr Dargaville to say that he had 'not intended to impute personal dishonor to the Treasurer. In a similar case in 187S Sir George Grey had given such an assurance, and Major Atkinson then accepted it, as he would no doubt do now if given the opportunity. He appealed to Mr Dargaville most earnestly to give his assurance. " Mr Dargaville did not rise, and _ the motion as amended was carried on the voices. The House rose at 1.20.