HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3491, 13 June 1884, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 7.30 p.m FEDERATION.

Mr Dargaville tabled a motion—“ That Parliament does not approve of the Federation proposals as adopted by the Convention held in Sydney.”

LEAVE OF ARSENCE.

Leave of absence was granted to Mr Taiaroafor ten days.

THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. was resumed, on Mr Sutton’s addition to the Address in Reply, by the Hon. Major Atkinson who predicted that the other side had secured but a temporary majority. He would examine into the nature of the vote and see how far it was a fair one, and when examined he contended that it would redound more to the credit of the Government than to that of the Opposition. Practically no changes had been made deserving of the condemnation that had followed. Mr Steward was employed in his official capacity against his will to move the motion. He took up no position derogatory to that Member. There was nothing to prevent any member tabling such a motion, but a recognised leader had also tabled a similar motion, and as he had to make a choice, he was quite entitled to do as he had done. The Government was not bound to accept any such motion more than it was bound to accept an ordinary motion. He defended the Government in the details of policy. He said Mr Wakefield’s speech was a most enjoyable one. He charged the Government with the unpardonable sin of being in a minority. No doubt as soon as they again got a majority Mr Wakefield would be a supporter. There was a powerful leader writer in the South who wrote in the “ Timaru Herald” and also in the “ Otago Daily Times” and the Canterbury “Press.” He was an able man and he should like to know his name. He had taken a great liking to the Member for Selwyn, and he desired to see that gentleman take a good position in the politics of the colony. One of these articles indicated that the colony was tired of both the Government and the Opposition, and that a third party was wanted under the leadership of the member for Selwyn. Mr Wakefield said he had not the slightest knowledge of the writer. Major Atkinson said all he bad said was it was an able writer down South, and how Mr Wakefield could object to being written up he could not understand. Evidently he was annoyed at these articles, but they bad a striking similarity to the speech delivered by Mr Wakefield. They followed in the same lines, and there was in every other respect a striking similarity between the articles in question and his speech. Mr Wakefield hud said in effect Mr Montgomery was nowhere and he did not agree with Sir George Grey. He told them he was content to follow Mr Steward, adding, in a subdued voice, for the present only. What did all that mean? It meant that the Government and the Opposition were to be set aside and some young enterprising Member set up a new party altogether. He reviewed the legislation and financing of his Government, and argued that these were practical and beneficial. He traced the strength of the Opposition to the narrow view taken of the situation by Canterbury members. They were told that all that was wanted was an appeal to the country. He did not know whether that wish would be gratified or not, but this be would predict that if they did they would come back in no better condition than they were. The Government could quit office with the certainty that the work they had done would be remembered for a long time to come with gratitude by the country. Mr Wakefield complained of the attack made on him as a professional journalist. He regretted to see the Premier sot such a bad example, and one which would bo the means of importing personalities into their debates. It was an underhand and unworthy attack upon him.

The Hon Major Atkinson said he had not exceeded the bounds of parliamentary etiquette. Sir George Grey denounced the Premier for the flippant style he had adopted at a time of commercial distress and a great crisis in their affairs. It was a disgrace to the House. Ho charged the Government with nepotism, and with mismanagement. There was a feeling that the present state of things was most unfair. It was a reign of terror. A most unfair attack had been made on one of their number, who was a writer' in the Press. He reminded them that in Dunedin a certain newspaper writer who pandered to the Govermenthad been put into a lucrative office, which he should not have occupied. The Government should have told them what course they proposed to pursue. It was shameful that instead of doing that, the Premier had gone jumping about that night bombastically sneaking to the crowd in the dtallery. What could they think or say of n Government that acted so ? He attacked the Native Minister, and finally urged an immediate appeal to the colony. The Hon Mr Bryce said that the question of the Address in Reply not having been disposed of, Sir George Grey had no right to say that the Government held their position unconstitutionally. The Government did not intend to interpose any obstacle to the constitutional procedure, and under these circumstances he argued that Sir George Grey’s conclusions were wrong.

Mr Sutton asked leave to withdraw his amendment, which was refused£on the voices.

The House divided—Ayes 7, Noes 67.

Dr Newman’s motion —“That a reply

be presented to His Excellency ” —was agreed to, and Mr Steward, Mr DeLautour, Mr O’Callaghan and Mr Levestam, were appointed a Committee to prepare the reply. On their bringing up their Report, Mr Whitaker spoke briefly in reply to certain remarks made by Major Atkinson, having personal reference to himself, and Major Atkinson also said a few words.

The Address was then read a second time and agreed to. The House adjourned at 12.35 p.m., until to-morrow at 2.30 p.m.