HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1414, 16 June 1884, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, 10. The House met at 2.80 p.m. Sutton gave notice that lie would move, in the event of Steward's amendment to the Address being carried, that as it is most unlikely that any Government that may be formed will secure the confidence of a majority of the House as at present constituted, the Governor be requested to send ' down Estimates providing for interim ' supplies, and .hat he dissolve Par- '

liament with a view to a new election. The debate on the no-confidence motion was resumed by Shrimski, who charged Government with having no policy to disclose, and with having passed the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, well knowing that they could not raise the money provided for under that Act. Government had favored tbe Bank of New Zealand by giving it a lai-ge sum on fixed desposit out of the insurance fund at five per cent., whereas they charged the local bodies six per cent, on the money required for permanent works. Ivess contended that the reductions proposed to be made this year could have been made much better last year, and he reminded Government that they frustrated an attempt of that kind on the part of the Opposition. J. W. Thompson twitted the Government with its seeming determination not to say a word in reply to the grave charged perfeured against them, and blamed them for not making any proposal for remedying the depression which they recognised to exist. Smith said it was the so called financial abilities of the Treasurer that brought them into office, but now the House had awakened to the fact that the abilities of Ministers were a more delusion, and that despite the fact of increasing taxation their finances had been allowed to drift into utter j confusion. i Adjourned at 5.30 p.m. | Tbe House resumed at 7.30. Hurthouse denied that any sufficent indictment had been made out against the Government. The speech was, he thought, exceptionally good. Before turning out the present Government they should ltuow who wh*re to. take their place. He would not trust either Otago or Canterbury. All Steward wanted was to get rid of tbe Government and go to the country, as ho admitted that the other side could not form a Government For himself, he did not believe it Jf tbe Opposition would sink private differences, they could forin a Ministry. Grey and ■■Montgomery appeared to be afraid of each other. Ho criticised the late speeches of both. He strongly opposed separation. He objected to the expense of a double session this year. It was a wicked waste of time and money, and a dissolution now was not likely to alter or affect the position of pai'ties. At the same. time, there were many things the present Government had done with which be did not agree. Moss objected to such a motion being brought forward by a Member like Steward. It deprived consistent Oppositionists like himself of any flag to fight under. Ho could not support such a proceeding. The present was a melancholy exliibitio-.i. Such a dissolution as was asked for would be a palpable abuse, involving as it would a double honorarium. The honorarium should be made annual, not sessional, before any disssolution took place. The arising of the terbury railway rates was really at tbe bottom of the present combination against Ministers. No more righteous increase was ever made. Mr Connolly had never known a motion of want of confidence introduced in so extraordinary manner as tbe present one. He blamed Montgomery for putting Steward forward to do what he was afraid to do himself. If it had not been for the Canterbury railway tariff question, the Opposition would have no chance of carrying such a motion. The same selfish and cowardly constituents who howled down the Premier in Christchurch might now drive their members to vote against Government on the question. These members would, ere long, regret the desertion of their party. There were other members who looked like rats, in readiness to desert what was supposed to be a sinking ship. He defended tbe Ministry from a number of accusations made against them. If the Government was turned out it would be because they have not yielded to the selfish demauds of one section of the community, not because they had failed to do their duty to the colony. Wakefield complimented Green in moving the reply to the speech, which was one of the- worst Governor's speeches he had ever known. It was a complete record of what was not intended to be done during the session. He criticised the various clauses of the speech, and emphatically condemned the perpetual leasing system. He altogether opposed Ministers on the question of federation. He entered at length into the history of the federation movement. He strongly condemned the orginal lowering of the Canterbury railway rates, and still more strongly their subsequent raising. The latter was cruelly injust in the way it was done, and the farmers had just cause of complaint. He bad very soon found that Government did not command a majority of the House, and he had accordingly doue his best to bring the various sections of the Oppositiou together. He considered Steward's action in bringing forward the amendment quite -justifiable, and in no way deserving the contempt thrown, on it by /Ministers. Steward was really tbe only successful leader who had appeared in the House for two years,, and would lead them to success Steward's speech compared most favourably with Conolly's, for instance in tact, temper, and ability. He would vote with Steward to abolish the sham of a Ministry without a policy or a following. The question of cost of doing this was not worth considering, it would be nothing to the cost of keeping the present Government in office. Atkinson's desire for a united Oppositioji was now gratified, and the Opposition would perform tluir eou-

stitutional duty of turning the Government out. He altogether deprecated any idea of separation as the dry bones of a dead piece of humbug. If Montgomery advocated any such policy lie hoped that hon. gentleman would not vote for the amendment. They coo Id snare him. In like manner he did not agree with certain protection views advanced *>y some of those with whom he was acting. He was a thorough freetrader. He accused Connolly of reckless ignorance in, his offensive allusions to the Canterbury electors. He regretted the vote which his duty to the public compelled him to give against the Ministry, but he did it on constitutional grounds. Trimble defended the administration of the Government iu its several departments, while admitting that Stewart •was acting in a perfectly constitutional and proper manner. He did .not think any change of Ministry would produce any change of policy, and he did not believe the colony w#s at all in such a had position as some people represented it. Athiuson moved the adjournment' of the debate. Seddon objected to any adjourn-^ ment Adjournments were always dangerous. Macandrew also opposed the adjournment. Hurst urged the Premier's ill health as a reason for the adjournment. Bryce said the Premier would have j to be very ill before -he gave in, but he wanted an opportunity in a full house of repudiating the imputation that be had treated Stewart with contempt Montgomery said that under ordinary circumstances they would willingly have given the adjournment asked for, but after the contempt hurled upon them they insisted on an immediate division. . The House then divided on themotion for adjournment, Rusult : — Ayes, 33; Noes, 37. The original question of Steward's amendment was then put without further debate — Ayes, 41 ; Noes 82. Sutton then moved the following further addition : — "We also respectfully urge for you Excellency's con- ' sideration , that it is extremely unlikely that any other advisers would in the present condition of parties be able to carry any of the important measures referred to in the speech your Excellency has been pleased to deliver to Parliament, and other important measures which are urgently required* We therefore express a hope that your Excellency will We pleased to forward for our consideration estimates for such an amount as is necessary for providing for the Government requirements, and that yonr Excellency will be further pleased to dissolve this parliament." Whitaker seconded this. Atkinson moved that the adjournment be to 7.80. Seddon, Grey, and others objected, and insisted on the House meeting at 2 30. Atkinson said Government would not agree, and would rather adjourn for ten minutes and then <zo on. The adjournment till 7. 30 was carried on the voices, and the House rose at 1. 20.