GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXIII, Issue 3419, 4 August 1879, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

GREY RIVER ARG US SPECIAL WIRE. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, August 1. The Speaker said care would be taken to follow the course suggested. Mr Barton demurred to that course being followed, but the Speaker stated that he would not consent to waive his right to follow the course proposed if he saw fit. Replying to Mr George, the Premier stated that 15,462 persons held property taxable under the Land Tax Act, and that 77,050 persons held land. Mr Barff called attention to a question of privilege. He complained about being mis-reported in Hansard, and although fully reported in the newspapers, not a single word of lm remarks appeared in Hansard. He wanted to know how the omission was occasioned. The Speaker was understood to say that the matter would be inquired into by the Reporting of Debates Committee, and that the evidence would be taken on oath. The Premier said that in accordance with an arrangement come to at last sitting, he had endeavored to come to some arrangement with the leader of the Opposition to arrive at an understanding as to what Bills should be brought up and passed through the House. He read the correspondence on the point setting forth that he (Sir G. Grey), besides the Loan Bill and the granting of supplies, wanted the passing of the Representation Bill, the Electoral Bill, the Prohibition of the Introductiou of Chinese Bill. To that Sir W. Fox replied declining to consider any other but the question of supplies and the Loan Bill. The Premier went on to say that such being the case, he would be prepared, when the first Order of ;the day was called, to move that on Monday they go into Committee of Supply to consider the Loan Bill and the Imprest Supply Bill. In reply to a suggestion made by Sir W. Fox, the Premier said that a statement showing the financial condition of the Colony, and every available information on the subject, would be forthcoming when the House went into Committee of Supply. Mr Sheehan expressed a hope that provision would be made for framing important Private Bills, a proposal which Sir W. Fox said would have to be set for the consideration of the House. Sir W. Fox said it was necessary he should make an explanation as to the position taken up by members on this side of the House. The Governor's memo had, in his opinion, to be read in the light of certain correspondence and transactions which had taken place in the Colony of New South Wales. The circumstances were, that in New South Wales, a Government, of which Mr, Robertson was the head, was defeated, and he asked the Governor for a dissolution, but supplies were refused by the House. A month's supplies was at last consented to, and it was on that arrangement that the dissolution was granted. He (Sir W. Fox) held that the memo of his Excellency must be read in the light of these transactions. He reprobated to the very utmost the proposal of a dissolution being granted without supplies, and he had a right to conclude that if this House rofuaed to grant supplies, His Excellency would not allow a dissolu tion. He would ask that Bide of the House to form a Government, and if they failed he would then go to some other party by the middle party, and so on until he had

exhausted all sides. The party he represented took their stand upon the maintenance of constitutional rights. He' regretted the disposition evinced in other parts of the Australian Colonies to grant a dissolution without supplies, and as the party he represented did not in any way desire to go against the strict principles of Parliamentary Government, they would be prepared to grant supplies, as they were determined they would not be parties to any of those discreditable transactions which had brought the affairs of other colonies to a dead lock. 'They took their stand on this — they were prepared to grant such supplies as would enable the Government to go to the country, but these aupplies would only be granted for such a time aa would necessitate Parliament, being called together again at the earliest possible date.' They were not prepared to make any further concessions, or do anything that would imply confidence in the Government, or that the Government is worthy of being entrusted with the affairs of the country. They were prepared to grant reasonable supplies, and agree to pass the Loan Bill ; but, in doing so, they would impose the following' conditions : — That a new Parliament be called together at the earliest date, and supplies be granted for such time as will be necessary for that purpose, and no longer ; another condition was, that Government would enter into no new contracts ; the next condition was, that the Governor would not be advised to exercise the Royal prerogative 1 of calling any person to the Legislative Council. There were two other items to which he would call the attention of the Government, and recommend to their favorable consideration. A Commissioner had reported that there were hundreds of Maoris upon the Bay of Islands electoral roll that had no right to be there ; he would suggest that steps should be taken to get that roll revised. In consequence of the negligence of a clerk to a municipality in not sending in the name 3of ratepayers, hundreds of persons entitled to vote had not been placed on the roll ; there was a member of that House who was one of the number. Under these circumstances he would suggest to the Government that such amendments be made in the Act when they went into Committee of Supply as would remedy these defects. If these conditions were observed and the suggestions adopted, the members on his side of the House would do their utmost to conduct affairs with moderation and despatch. The Premier replied that' the memo was printed, and it contained nothing that required to be interrupted by anything that took place in any other Colony. He would defy these gentlemen to withhold supply. If they attempted to do so, not one of them would ever come back to that House. If the Electoral Bill was passed and the Representation Bill, it would cure all the difficulties referred to by Sir Wm. Fox. The fact was that they were responsible for the defects complained of, and that there were more than 65,000 other persons disfranchised. The fact was, that, if a fair representation was afforded, very few of those members on the Opposition side of the House would come back again. Little or no delay would arise from the framers of the Act, not more than a month or six weeks. He charged the Opposition with being responsible for bringing representation to the shocking state in which it was, as he knew they sat there for a very short time. Regarding the stipulation about not advising the Governor to nominate any other person to the Upper House, the Opposition said they would give no supplies unless the stipulation was agreed to ; his reply was that he and his colleagues would agree to no such stipulation, and that the House would grant supply. Mr Saunders admitted the Premier was in a position to defy the House, but he warned him that his reigu for the term of his natural life would soon end. Mr Rees spoke in support of the Premier,and also MrGisborne and Mr Adams. On the side of the Opposition, Mr Wakefield said the Premier had done all he could to break down the Constitution, and otherwise set at defiance the representative institutions of the Colony. He insulted members, and otherwise conducted himself in a manner no other member of the House would be allowed to do. The Opposition at once agreed to afford everything reasonable for going to the country, and. not one member of the Opposition stood out against the proposal to appeal to the country. They were afraid to allow the Government to remain one moment longer than was absolutely necessary. It was not the Opposition that obstructed the passing of Electoral Bills. If the Government would resign they could be all passed at once, but they preferred a fow weeks longer tenure o£ office to all the Bills that could be brought forward. Mr Mos3 charged the Opposition with being a combination of cliques, and which the Premier had been induced a few years ago to enter Parliament for the purpose of breaking up ; and the party with whom he (Mr Moas) was leagued was not going to desert the Premier now. The cause of the present depression, to which allusion had been made as reckless borrowing, was initiated by the member for Wanganui without proper provision for an equal taxation over the Colony. The present political crisis was occasioned by the proceedings of the Opposition in bringing down the Want of Confidence motion without first discussing the policy brought down. Captain Russell said the blame for the Electoral Bill not having passed rested with the Government. Mr Barton defended the Government against the imputation that it was responsible for the Electoral Bill not having been passed last session. He challenged them to say that if they brought down the Bill, as adopted last session by the House, they would allow it to be passed through all its stages at once, and have it brought into law forthwith. The motion that the House go into Committee of Supply was then put and carried. in Committee, the motion that supply be granted to Her Majesty was carried. ' On resuming, the House adjourned at 11.40 till Moaday at 2.30.