PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 479, 10 November 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, November 9. Major Atkinson moved the postponement of tiie orders of the day to enable the motion of want-of-contidence to be taken. a. discussion on points of order was interrupted by reading of a message from the Governor to the Premier in the privilege case. Mr. Stout, during some remarks on the question, said that the Governor wished to make the Secretary of State judge of the privileges of this House. Who was lie, he should like to know, that lie «as to dictate to them on such a question ] He moved that the correspondence be considered on Saturday. Mr. Ilolhston moved that it be postponed till i'.londay. Mr. Travel's Saul that he did not think that the Governor had placed hims-df in a position antagonistic to the House. It was a question of the position in which Ministers stood to the Governor and the House. He moved that the matter be taken into consideration on Monday. Mr. Rees said that Mi-. Travers had mistaken the purport of the Governor's message. It referred to privilege question, and not to position of Ministers. If tde Secretary of State were to be judge of the privileges of the House, they had better tear up the Constitution Act. Mr. Gisborne thought that the Governor merely wished to ask the Secretary of State whether he had been placed in proper relations to the House by his Ministers.

Mr. Sheehan, in a powerful speech, deprecated the action of Messrs. Travel's, Gisborne, Rolhston, and others who had deserted, and called them the seven last joints of ti;e Opposition tail. He ami his coll, agues had acted in good faith in the advice they hail, given the Governor, whom they viewed as a constitutional link with the Home country, and. would rather resign than promote- a, serious quarrel between the House and the Governor. He thought the malwr had better be considered to-morrow evening.

Major Atkinson said that if the Government would take a vote on the want-of-couiidvlice motion to-night they eouhl have a holiday to-morrow. Tie Opposision would not suffer any business lo be done until it had been decided who had the majority. Sir George Grey said that there might be a majority of the House obtained. Nobody could tell. But tie real question was who had a, majority in the country ] Were the Opposition prepare 1 to allow an appeal to that tribunal { lie believed the country would support them, and they would use every form of Parliamentary Government to retain their positions. Tiie Opposition had bribed in every direction.

Major Atkinson moved that the words be lak' n down.

Sir George Grey thought it would be well to allow him to complete the sentence. He added, "by promising subsidies to Road Boards and Boroughs."

Major Atkinson was satisfied with the explanation. The Speaker remarked that it wai better to let the matter drop.

Sir George Grey considered that it would be dangerous to allow the late Government to return to office. He indignantly denied tiie charge by Mr Travel's that a trap had been hud for the Governor. He had done his utmost, to prevent the Governor being requested to call Mr. Wilson to the Upper House, and only yiehh d at the last moment. Mr. Reid said that M'lusters' memo, was weak, and that Sir George Grey's retrenchment was delusive. Mr. De Lautour replied in a lengthy sp'ech. It was agreed to adjourn the debate till Monday^

Sir George Grey moved the adjournment of t!,o House at 10 o'clock, and .•mother Jon;,' discussion ensued. Mr. Speaker said, in i-efercnoe to Major Atkinson's motion to postpone t ! ie orders of the chiy, that it con id not be done without the consent of nil parties, unh-ss lie gave notice in the usual muniier. &■

3[r. Moorhonse said that the Opposition had a working majority of seven in the House.

Mr. Sheehan, in a long speech, taunted the Opposition, and said that they had not the courage to go h> the country, in which case he would contest the. seat for Mount Eimont with Major Atkins >n. Mr. Gisborne said that Major Atkinson's conduct was not conciliatory ; but he appealed to both sides to come to some arrangement.

Cn the House resuming, a further discussion took place on points of order. The speaker ruled that Major Atkinson's motion could not be put. It was contingent on the first order of the day being called, and the first order was to go into Committee on a bill. The Standing Orders required him to leave the Chair without putting a question, iimm cb'at- ly that order was read, so that it was impossible for Major Atkinson to move his resolution.

The House then went into Committee on the Land Dill, a number of clauses in which were passed. Progress was reported and the House rose at 1.5 a.m.