PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3418, 5 December 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Special Wibk to " Stai."]

(Peb Pbbbs Association.)

HOUSE OP BEPBESENTATIVES.

Afternoon Sitting:.

Wellington, Last night. Tho House met at 2 30. THE GOVENMEHT CONVICTED OF IMPHOPBBLY LAYING TELEGBAMB ON THE TABLE.

Mr Macandrew brought up a report of the Election Telegram Committee. He stated tho Committee were of opinion that seven telegrams now sealed up and accompanying the report bad been improperly Jaid on the table. The report itnelf set forth that fire message* were originally paid for by the Benders, and forwarded through the Department to the destination of Minister*, and two were sent by the mistake of the Telegraphic Office; these had been sealed up and left untouched. Seventy-six telegrams in all had been scut and received by Gorerntnent on election subjects. - Mr Montgomery asked that the evidence and proceedings of the committee be read, as tho report was not a unanimous ene, three members voting on the one side and four on the other.

In reply to a question the Speaker said the telegrams would remain in his hands until the House decided what course should be adopted in the matter. Mr Speight asked what redress was to be given to parties whose telegrams had been thus impropsrly exposed. Sir Geo. Grey proposed that a resolution to the effect that the report be not adopted by the committee but be read to the House.

Mr George stated the report did Dot go far enough, it ought to have stated who was to blame for exposing tbe private telegrams.

Mr Button contended that tbe report, being that of a majority of the Committee, it could not be impunged. Mr Maeandrew thought the shortest way would be to read the minutes and proceedings of the Committee. Mr Hislop said that the Premier bad taken the responsibility for the production of these telegrams, and they were produced against the will of the head of the department.

Mr Hall said he thought the fairest way would be to print and circulate the whole proceedings—both the evidence and minutes.

Mr Speight said that a statement made about the messages wrongfully produced baring been sealed up was not correct. The question was then put that the report ' lie on the table as against the amendment that the minutes and proceedings of Committee be produced and read to the House.

The House divided—Ayes 32, Noes 41. The amendment for reading the minutes and proceedings was accordingly lost. J. B. Fisher expressed surprise that the Government had not denied the truth of allegation that the report had been submitted if it was untrue. Some of his telegrams had been produced and he wanted to know how that was dotte without any' authority on his part; it; was a most disgraceful proceeding that the privacy of the telegraphic department should be invaded iv that way. The whole conduct of the Government in this matter justified him in assuming that the Government were quite well aware that they were producing private telegrams in laying them on* the table in the. first instance.

Mr Wakc6eld said he drafted the report, and no one but members of the Committee had seen it.

Sir Geo. Grey moved, as an amendment, that the telegrams sealed up be returned to the Committee, and it be required to state by whom these tele* grams had been sent. This was only fair to the parties whose telegrams had been tampered with in order that they might know whether or not th«y had ground for action against the Government. Mr Shechan spoke in suppert of the •mend ment, and argued that the Committee had no power to make the distinction it had done between public and private telegrams. Sir George Grey withdrew bis amendment, which was agreed to, Mr Hall suggesting that the motion for printing the report and evidence be allowed to pass, and an effort would be made to get them completed by Monday. «,'.