LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3161, 27 September 1892, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

REPLY FKOM THE SECKETAKY OK STAT I''.. TIIE GOVERNOR WAIVES JITOBJ IiOTIOXS. WILLING TO MAKE TWELVE API'OIXT.UKXTS. (liV TKLEGHAI'II. —I'HKSS ASSOCIATION"). Wki.unoton. Li-t Xit'ht. IfON'. K. SkDDON, Act i L'lvtnicr, made Ill's statement with ward t • the Legislative Council appointments in tin; Home nt o'clock tini-» afti rnoon. Most of the members wort' in their places in tilt* Chamber, while Lady ' Ilasgow and ,i Itii'KO p irty from < Joveniinent, House occupied seats in Sir Patrick B.icitley's pallery. After the sncon»l reading of tlin Nnv.il and .Military Settlers JJill hail been curried, Mr Seddon rose anil saiil he had an imjxirtfi nt statement tn make, to the House "ii the question of the prop.mi ,1 legislative Council appointments. His Excellency the (Jovernor had informed Ministers that he had teceived a cable from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in consequence of which he waived his objections to inak infi the proposed appointuieut-i, and that he was now ready to grunt the twelve appointments tr the Council which Ministers had advised him to make.

Mr Kolle.ston said it was needless to st tte that latye and import mt issue* were involved in this matter, and that being so lie trusted Ministers would tike an early opportunity of stating to the House what their intentions were in respect to it, and not keep them in suspense any longer than was absolutely necessary, lie hoped also that His Excellency would be advised to lay all the documents and memoranda in connection with this d'-cision on the tib'e of tlio House, together with any other information with respect to it. Such an assurance was, he thought, only due to the House and country.

Mr Seddon said that .in f.ir as the Legislature was concerned, it was 110 fault of the Government that the 1 louse luid been kept in suspense, arid Ministers were not responsible for the delay that had occurred. As to the decision of the (jovernuient in the mutter, lie did not think Mr Rollest-in was so unreasonable as t> expect the Government to come to a decision within an liour after the receipt of the cablegram sent t'i Hi 3 Excellency. He (Mr Se klon) had simply staled that the Governor had received a cablegram from the S-tcivt.iry of State, and had placed it at the disposal of Ministers, who had communicated the information to the House at the express wish of the Governor. He had no doubt that on the receipt of fuller information the Government would be willing to state its decision 011 the whole question to the House. The Mouse then proceeded with the next order of the day. As yet Ministers are only aware of the suhsfcmce of the cablegram received by Lord Glasgow, and a copy of the message will probably be laid on the table of the Mouse by command. DISCUSSION IN THE MOUSE. On the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply, last night. Mr Rolleston took the opportunity of again referring to the proposed Legislative Council appointments, and contended that the House should be put in possession of the terms of the cablegram received by the Governor from the Home authorities before they went into Committee of Supply, lie would also like to know whether Ministers were in teceipt of any telegram from the Agent-General on this subject. This matter was one of the most momentous importance to the colony, and it would be regarded as a precedent of the most dangerous character. The question was whether the people of the colony were prepared to divest themselves of responsible government, or whether they were willing to allow Ministers to set aside the constitution in the manner proposed by making twelve appointments to the Legislative Council. As to the Agent-Geiipral, there was reason to believe that that official had been at the door of the Colonial Office negotiating in the dispute between the representative of the Crown and Ministers. He also hoped they would have an assurance before going into Committee of Supply that they would not be kept there till such unreasonable hours as on Friday morning last, when they witnessed one of the most discreditable debates that had ever occurred iu the House, and ooe which he trusted he would never have to listen to again.

Sir George Grey said the action of the Secretary of State was undoubtedly an interference of the most unconstitutional character, and one that would strike fear into every colony of the empire. It twelve members were to be added to the Council the House should certainly before the session closes know who they were to be. and he thought they should pass some resolution to the effect that the Secretary of State had travelled out of his way in directing the Governor to make those appointments, and that he had inflicted a wrong on the whole colonial empire by his action.

Mr Scobie McKenzie said the House was entitled to obtain possession of the document which was of the very greatest interest to the people of the colony. It was difficult to believe that cablegrams of this kind wera sent out to the Governor without any qualifications. If the Governor was instructed in this bald manner to comply with the advice of Ministers every Ministry in office in future would be in u position to make a similar demand and every future Governor would feel bound to accede to it. It was not to be supposed for a moment that the Opposition would allow the House to prorogue without knowing how many Councillors were to be appointed as there was no reason for thinking that the Government would stop at the twelve appointments.

Mr George Hutchison said this matter had been called a Government triumph, but if so it was a sorry one, and simply a triumph >ver the people of the colony. The number of new Councillnrs that the Government insisted 011 were such as to give them no* a majority only but complete control of the Upper House, and it would become merely are cording chamber for the Ministry of the day. It was his opinion that from tlrs very day an agitation would set in for the abolition of the council.

(Left sitting: mid-night),

(BY TELKGRAI'H —SPECIAL COHKKSrONDKNT). Wellington - , Night. The principal t"pic in the Lobbies fi-day was the cable to the Governor from Lord Ripoti, instructor His Excellency to accept the advice of his Mini-ters with respect to the appointments, .Shortly after the Hense met Mr S-'ddon (in the absence of the Premier, through illness) informed the House that 1 [is Excellency had intimated to the Government that 111 consequence of the receipt of the message from Home he was prepared to waive his objections and to make the twelve appointments requested by the Government.

Mr Rolleston saiil that as very large issues wi'i'o involved he hoped that the Government would not keep the country in suspense as to their intention*, to which Mr Seddou replied that the matter would receive immediate consideration, and an early statement would he made as to the intentions of the Government.

Several leading members of both Houses expressed the opinion that a grave constitutional crisis is likely to eventuate over the decision of the Imperial Government and that the effectual safeguard which the Legislative Council has hitherto proved to be again.-t hasty legislation is about to be removed as it will now apparently be competent for u Ministry to swamp the Council at any time in order to carry out any particular measure which many pass the lower branch of tho legislature.

It is freely stated, even by Government supporters that although Ministers are now entitled to call twelve of their adherents to the Upper House no appointments are likely to lie made till after the session is over, as this would inevitably prolong the session by giving rise to a lengthy debate. On the other hand Mini?ti rs can scarcely with any show of consistency allow important measures to be rejected by the Council when they are in a po-ition to secure a majority in that chamber whenever tliev please to make appointments. It is considered likely that the nominees to the Council for the Auckland district will include Mr J. A. 'Pole and Mr John London.