HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5524, 29 October 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, October 28th. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE SEAT FOR CHRISTCHtUtCH. . Mr Fulton, the ■ Chairman "of the Christchurch Election Petition Committee, brought up the report of the com- , mittee unseating Sir George Grey. Mr Tole moved that the report and proceedings be allowed to lie on the table with the view of ascertaining whether or not the proceedings^had/ b^een^T conducted in accordance, withilaw. The Speaker was about, to. rule that'the motion could not be received, when 1 ; • Mr Tole explained that he had reason to believe that the proceedings were irregular. The votes of all the members on the committee were "taken with the exception of one who delayed giving his vote for a day or two afterwards. In these circumstances he argued that the 'menioer ' who had not recorded his vote was open^to all manner of influences from the ( outside public. Mr Hislop spoke in favor of the motion, and argued that there was nothing in the evidence to warrant the .- committee in reporting that the' Bitting member was disqualified. „ ; . ; =. ; Mr Fulton said the statement made by;; Mr Tole was in accordance with faptfl. . v v .v Mr Moorhouse stated that the question - was not put until the final vote, wa* ;«-».;•. ceived.

Sir\(j}eorge Grey argued that as he was returned for Christchurch" bjpj the votes -of 1350 persons, if the finding oV the committe^fwas given effect to, it would practically disfranchise that large and important body of electors. He pointed out that if an allegation of bribery against Mr Eicliardsoij. Were .'toibeiorfvar.djcd^as i the Act provid&d tna'tf such ail allegation- must be niajle within 14 days of the election in this case no such petition could be sustained'jagainst Mr. Richardson, as the 14 days hM in, point, of. fact. transpired before it was^decided -that' he was entitled td the Beat. ; :^ The] question that the finding, of ( the committee be sustained was put ahd cartied oil. tta. voices* i7V .. The Qler'k of Writs' wtts then Summoned^ and by^the instruction of the Speaker the rtame of 'Sir deorge Grey Was' taken-mit and that of Mr Richardson's inserted as the member elected for Ohristcnurctf.

Mr Richardson's attendance was then summoned, lipb'fi •whibh Sir'Geoi-ge Grey moved the adjournment of the House;

The motion was not allowed to be piit.

Sir George Grey then rose to a point of order, and submitted that it was the order of the House and not that of the Speaker, •#hich warranted' the substitution of one nanie oh' the .writ for another.

The Speaker ruled that the question of order raised by. Sir George Grey could not be sustained. Mr Richardson was ' then formally introduced, and took his seat. DEFECTION OF' AUCKLAND MEMBERS. Mr If islop gave notice of a question relative. to the .term's df agreement made wiih four Auckland members for the appropriation of a sum of. money to be spent on public works in that district, and also that detailed particulars of the works on which v -the s said 'money was proposed to be expended be furnished, in conformity with the resolution of this. House',. calling for all correspondence between the Government and the Auckland members relative to the terms, on, which the Government. had secured the votes, of those/members. - Mr Hall laid a document on the table stating that there was no™ such correspondence 1 on. record. ,

Sit George Grey said that the document tabled wassimply.an evasion.of the resolution, and insisted that florresp'ondence of the kind, indicated had passed between the Government and ;the Auckland members. Mr Hamlih, moved the of a Bfelect qomniVttee.t'o .enquire into, the sub; ject .iof the said>cdrrespondence. "He argued .that there ..were .twenty members returned by Auckland, aud that all those members had as 1 much right as the four members in question to know what were the terms of the compact. Mr Whi taker, 31111., maintained that the motion was one of which notice would have to be given.

Mr Hall argued that the motion was asking for something the House had no right to -demand. If given effect to, it would" lid ye " to'" enforce the production of all correspondence, communications, -aud negotiations passing be-. tweeii the present, Government and any members oLthe House, as well as with the previous Government. He hoped they would not tolerate tho absurdity of passing such a motion. The House was practically speaking in the possession of all the information that could be given, the same having been stated by , Mr Reader Wood on the previous sitting day.

Mr Swahson said that the whole affair •was a delusion. All the correspondence he had had on the subject stipulated nothing about, money. All that was to be done for Auckland was to be done with the sanction of the House. So far as he ■was concerned he was agreeable that the whole thing should be published.

Mr Moss said that the statement of the last speaker showed that there had been some correspondence, whereas Mr Hall, stated that there was no such correspondence. Mr Hall said that what he had stated was that there had been correspondence. He admitted that a memorandum had passed between the Government and the four members referred to.

Mr Rolleston. said that what was aimed at was to bring up correspondence of a nonroffioial: character. The House . bad been told by Mr Swanson that that correspondence contained nothing of which ; anyone need be ashamed of, and ■he hoped that would bo sufficient, and that the House would not commit itself to the absurdity proposed.

Mr Tole said that a serious scandal had been committed, and those who had been guilty of it now attempted to shelter themselves under the plea of private and confidential communications. He hoped the House would not submit to such a mere artifice being practised.

Capt.ajn Colbeck defended his conduct in the matter,' and charged the Opposition with having deposed Sir George Grey from the leadership of the party. Members had been sent to the House to transact the b'uaineaa of the country, and in taking .the step he did be contnnded thafe he .was consulting the best means to carry out that purpose. The truth was that the Opposition aa a party had been broken-up into fragments, in consequence of Having departed from the leadership of the only man who was able to lead them. Mr Harris Btated that Auckland had been disgraced by the action taken by the four members whose conduct was challenged; ' He would vote for the election of a select committee. Mr Lundon spoke in support of the motion. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 5.30.