THE HISLOP AFFAIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9463, 6 September 1889, Page 5

THE HISLOP AFFAIR.

HE RESIGNS HIS SEAT. SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. ANEW WRIT ISSUED. [by TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] Welungton, Thursday. When the House mot this afternoon the Speaker read a letter from Mr. T. W. Hislop, dated that day, resigning his scat as a member of the Houso for Oamaru.

The Premier said ho would move, in accordance with custom, that a wrib-be immediately issued for the election of a member for the vacant seat. Ho would take tho opportunity of stating that the Colonial Secretary had tendered his resignation of all the offices hold by him in the Government. Ho would say further, that having known his late colleague for many years, and served with him "during the last two years, ho extremely regretted the action which tho hon. gentleman had, as a matter of honour, felt it necessary to take. Although one might regret that occurrences had taken place upon which the hon. gentleman came to the conclusion that he should take the extreme step of resigning his seat, both in the House and in, the Government, with a view to putting himself right before the country, the Houso would feel proud that one of its members showed so high a sense of honour as to take tho mast extreme step possible immediately censure was passed upon him. (Cheers.) It was with great satisfaction that ho bore testimony to the fact that Mr. Hislop's sympathies were always with tho people, and that in no act of administration, though he might have 'been indiscreet, did ho do anything except with tho one purpose of doing his duty to the colony. (Cheers.) Knowing that, ho (the Premier) could not help feeling proud of a colleague who had acted now as Mr. Hislop had done. (Cheers.) Mr. Ballance also expressed regret at the action of the Colonial Secretary, and could take no exception to the remarks made abonb tho hon. gentloman by the Premier. He had taken the right course. At the same time he deeply regretted that the Government had refused to appoint a joint committee of both Houses to consider this correspondence. The position now accepted by the Ministry was an anomalous one, for it was unusual for a Minister to resign in consequence of censure by another place, (Tho Premier : "He has not done that.") Tho Government had acted in an unconstitutional manner in refusing an inquiry. As to the Colonial Secretary, that gentloman had taken what appeared to him to be the right course. (Rear, hear.) Mr. TORNBDXI. expressed an opinion that Mr. Hislop should have resigned when he admitted his indiscretion. A most unwarrantable effort was made by Mr. Hislop to interfere with the authority of the judicial Bench. ("No.") Whatever penance might now be done could not rehabilitate him in the eyes of the House. Sir" George Grey said ho was qui to satisfied that the Government thought they were dealing with a case in which a Judge had adjudicated upon a case under circumstances, which, in England, would have debarred him from doing so. (Hear, hear.) Now, it frequently' happened that the original question of what had been done was lostai^hfc of in a discussion upon tho terms in which a reproof had been administered. He could not find it in his mind to condemn Ministers in this matter; for he behoved that they had done what thoy honestly believed to be right, though objection might be taken to some of the words used. (Cheers.) The Prbmieh warmly thanked Sir George Grey for what he had said, and expressed an opiiv.on that the hon. gentleman's remarks would have weight in tho country, especially after the very unfortunate speech of Mr. Turobull. Replying to Mr. Balla/iCO, ho denied that anything unconstitutional had been done. It was not to bo expected that the Government would allow a "proposal to be made for inquiry into charges against it. Mr. Hislop had resigned simply because of the general feeling on the subject. The Government knew nothing of the action of "another place." Ho contended that; there had been no effort to interfere with the course of justice, and showed that the real merits of the case had been overlaid by other considerations. No English judge or magistrate would have sat in such a case as that which formed the subject of tho correspondence. ("No," and hear, hear.) He repeated that, and challenged hon. members who questioned it to look up the precedents. The motion for tho issue of a writ was thon pub and carried.