Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

TUESDAY, 11 JULY 1876

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

Vacancies, Etc. [11 JULY.] Adjournment. 145

That, upon being satisfied of the occurrence of each of the said vacancies, he had issued his writ for the election of a member to fill the same; and that, of such writs, the follow­ ing had been duly returned to him, with certificates respectively endorsed thereon, of the election of the following gentlemen, namely:- 1. The Honorable George Thorn, Esquire, for the Electoral District of Ipswich. 2. James Johnston, Esquire, for the Electoral District of Bulimba. The SPEA.KER also reported that he had received the writ issued for the election of a member to serve in that House for the new electoral district of Cook, with a certificate endorsed thereon, of the election of William Edward Murphy, Esquire.

NEW MEMBERS. The following members having taken the oath and subscribed the roll, took their seats respectively for the electorates set against their names, viz. :-The Honorable George Thorn, Esquire, as member fo1· the electoral district of Ipswich; the Honorable Robert Muter Stewart, Esquire, as member for the electoral district of :Brisbane ; the Honorable J ames Robert Dick son, Esquire, as member for the electoral district of Enoggera ; the Honorable Samuel Walker Griffith, Esquire, LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. as member for the electoral district of Oxley; Tuesday, 11 July, 1876. the Honorable John Douglas, Esquire, as member for the electoral district of Mary­ Vacancies during the .A.djournn1ent.-~ew }fembers.­ Adjournment.-Ministeral Explanation. borough ; J ames J ohnston, Esquire, as mem­ ber for the electoral district of :Bulimba; VACANCIES DURING THE ADJOURN­ William Edward Murphy, Esquire, as mem­ MENT. ber for the electoral district of Cook. The SPEAKER reported that, in pursuance of resolutions come to on the 7th of June ADJOURNMENT. last, by which certain seats in that House were declared vacant, he had issued his Mr. MuRPHY said he rose to move the writs for the election of members to serve adjournment of the House, for the purpose of respectively for the electoral districts con­ calling the attention of the Government to cerned ; and that the said writs had been certain matters of importance connected with duly returned to him, with certificates re­ the district which he had the honor to repre­ spectively endorsed thereon, of the return of sent. The first to which he would refer the following gentlemen, namely :- seemed to him to be of great importance, as there were at the present time a large number 1. The Honorable Robert Muter Stewart, Esquire, for the Electoral District of Brisbane. of persons constantly travelling between 2. The Ronorable John Douglas, Esquire, for Townsville and Cuoktown, and more imme­ the Electoral District of Jl,faryborough. diately between Cardwell and Cooktown, and 3. The Ronorable Samuel "Walker Griflith, owing to the absence of proper coast lights, Esquire, for the Electoral Distrrct of Oxley. those persons were exposed to much danger. 4. The Honorable James Robert Dickson, He might mention that when he was travelling Esquire, for the Electoral District of Enoggera. recently to Cooktown, by the " Florence The SPE.A.KER further reported that, during Irving," the captain of the steamer had tu the adjournment of the House, the following anchor at night, fearing that if he went on an vacancies had occurred, namely :- accident would happen, owing to the want of 1. By the resignation of the Honorable Arthur lights on several small islands, which were, as Jl,facalister, C.M.G., Member for the Electoral a rule, not more than ten feet above the water. District of Ipswich. He thought that, as there were a good many 2. By the resignation of J ames Augustus steamers passing that part of the coast, unless Parker, Esquire, Member for the Electoral Dis­ some lights were placed upon those islands, trict of Burke. and some greater facilities were given to 3. By the resignation of William Hemmant, navigators than at present existed, an Esquire, Member for the Electoral District of accident would happen :which would cause the Bulim]Ja. Government to regret that nothing had been N 146 Adjournment. [ASSEMBLY.] Adjournment. done. Another matter to which he would sidered it was the duty of the Government to refer, was the necessity for improving the take some decided steps to stop their influx, roads between Cooktown and the Palmer, and either by the abil\>lute withholding of miners' pushing on public works in the district of rights to them, or by the imposition of some Cooktown. That district had recently risen charge such as he had mentioned. As he with great rapidity into a place of very great understood, those men were not working on importance, and he might say that Cooktown their own account but for others who employed was the finest port between itsEil£ and them-in fact they were the serfs of otheril; Brisbane; there was no port between the two he believed they were really representing large places equal to it. That being so, he thought employers of labor in Calcutta, so that some­ there was some reason for complaint of the thing should be done which would not press delay in carrying on public works. There was unfairly upon the Chinese themselves. There also another matter particularly affecting that was another matter known to the Government, part of the country, and that was the Chinese and that was the large revenue derived from question. Unless something was done speedily Cooktown. Last year,he believed, it was about that district would be overrun with the £80,000, so that what he had asked for it was Chinese, and so much so t.hat if a person was not out of place. He had been told by the dropped down in it he would be led to imagine honorable Minister for Works that £1,000 that he was in some portion of the dominions would l1e placed on the Estimates for making of the Emperor of China, as there were about the main street of Cooktown, but he would three Chinamen to one European. There point out that the position of that place was were some seven thousand Chinese on the different from that of other rising townships Palmer gold _fields at the present time, and, which had sprung up of late years, as the although he did not wish: to say anything Government had retained for themselves all against those people, it was a well-known fact the water frontage, and were thus in the that they never prospected for gold, but only position of large landlords holding that valu­ took advantage of the discoveries made by able property ; so that if the place was Europeans and benefited by them. Then, improved by the land being reclaimed and the again, the whole machinery of the law had to roads made, there would be a larger return to be put into operation to protect those men, the Government. None of the wharfage land whilst they, eontributing in the aggregate very was alienated from the Government, and there little to the revenue, tried to evade payment was already a considerable revenue derived of their licenses. That was shown by the fact from it, so that when he asked for money to be that whereas only £4,500 had been paid for expended on two miles of streets he was not license fees last year, there should have been asking for anything out of the way. BttSiness considerably more, considering there was a premises were being put up, and altogether the population of nearly eight thousand Chinese. place showed the powerful effect of the dis­ It was absolutely necessary that the Govern­ covery of gold. As honorable members were ment should take some steps to prevent the perhaps aware, Cooktownonlyformed a portion present tremendous influx of Chinese-and of one large belt of country in which gold had the Government had the power to do so-as it been discovered; and seeing there was such was well known that those people only came country, and being made acquainted with the to Queensland for the purpose of extracting circumstances connected with it, he had not the gold, and not with the intention of settling thought it out of place to call the attention of in the colony; all they cared to do was to extract the Government to the state of matters in the gold as quickly as possible and then to return district he more especially represented. to their own country. As he said before, the Mr. BA.ILEY said he took the earliest oppor­ Government had the power to prevent those tunity of requesting the attention of the people from inundating the land. He believed Government to the unfortunate state of that the issue of miners' rights was a matter affairs in the Wide Bay and Burnett dis­ at the discretion of the Government, as they tricts. If he called it unfortunate, it was need not give them to any man ; and if they because those districts were so situated geo­ took steps to inquire into the question by graphically, belonging neither to the northern taking the reports of their Commissioners-of or southern divisions, that they had never Mr. St. George, for instance, who was an received any attention from the hands of any excellent officer-as to the state of matters on political party. It was for the reason that the gold fields in connection with the Chinese, they had been so totally neglected that he and if they thought that the time had arrived now wished to draw the attention of the Gov­ for checking the introduction of those people, ernment to them. He might say that at no they could effect that object by stopping the time had the members representing those issue of miners' rights to them, or they could districts refrained from assisting other mem­ levy upon them some large charge, such as £5 bers in obtaining the means to develop the or £10 a head, to make them recoup the great resources of other parts of the colony ; they expenditure incurred in protecting them. had always done so, and had been told that They were people who did no good to the they would be assisted in their turn when country or the community, and who endeavored their time came. Their time had come when t.o evade the payment of their miners' rights the Gympie gold field was discovered, and if in every possible way, m:~d therefore he con· it had come then, much more had it done so .Adjournment. [11 JULY.] Adjo1li1'nment. 147 when the important mineral districts were the Ministerial statement that was to come, opened in the Wide Bay and Burnett, where not to be that which it was intended should there was hardly a mineral which had not be made. been discovered-gold, silver, iron, copper, The SPEA.KER said he would put it to the lead, and other minerals ; "the only difficulty good taste of the honorable member for Wide m working them being the want of roads or Bay, whether it would not be better in defer­ railways to convey the ore to the port. The ence to the wishes of the House to postpone late Government had given pledges that there his remarks for some other opportunity. should be railway communication to the port, Mr. MciLWRA.ITH said that to prevent but he need hardly remind honorable mem­ making a similar motion at a later period of bers how those pledges had been broken. He the evening, and with the view to facilitate might also say that not only had those the progress of business, he wished to make minerals been found, but there had been a few remarks -- extensive coal fields discovered, so that no The SPEA.KER said he thought the honor· one could say that the means of working the able member should not do so, seeing that minerals were not to be found. He believed the honorable member for Wide Bay, who the honorable Minister for Lands would say was in possession of the floor, had closed his that his constituents were willing to wait a remarks in deference to the wish of the little longer, and he (Mr. Bailey) had vainly House. endeavored to find out why they were willing Mr. MclLWRA.ITH said, he thought the to do so-in fact, it was only a few days ago honorable Speaker misunderstood him. The that he had made a discovery which threw motion before the House was for its adjourn­ some light on the subject. In the country dis­ ment, and he had merely wished to bring trict near Maryborough, there had been lately forward a matter whieh was almost one of a small brass band, the favorite tune of which privilege, in order to prevent moving a was, "Sweet bye and bye." The people of similar motion at a later period. It was a Maryborough were very much delighted with case entirely different from that of the honor­ that tune, they were, in fact, enraptured with a.ble member for Wide Bay, for he was per­ it, and the band was constantly playing it. fectly well aware that the present was not So much so that when the honorable Minister the proper time for bringing forward a matter for Lands went to Maryborough the baJJ.d of Ministerial policy. What he wished to was p{aying that tune, and, whenever he was refer to was a report of a speech made by told of the badness of the roads, of the desti­ the honorable Minister for Lands before his tution of the newly arrived immigrants, of constituents at Maryborough, on June l 9th. the want of attention to the district by the He was of opinion himself, from the way in Government, -and of the necessities of the which such matters had been treated by the district generally, the answer was, "Sweet late Government, that it was not usual for bye and bye." He was afraid the Govern­ them to give any explanations as to why one ment would always sing "Sweet bye and gentleman had left the Government and bye," but before they did so, he hoped they another had joined; in fact, Mr. Macalister would take the wants of his district into their used to be as curt as possible, simply stating consideration, and do something for it--that that one gentleman had retired from the they would not put it off till next year or the Ministry and that another had joined it. He year after, or until the Greek Kalends, but believed that there was a proper mode in do what was required at once, for if a thing which an explanation should be made­ was quickly done, it was twice done --- namely, by the gentleman who had been dis­ Mr. BELL said he was very reluctant to placed. There had been no explanation interrupt the honorable member, but he made by the present Ministers, excepting by would ask whether it would not be more in the honorable Minister for Lands-for the accordance with good taste, and with the Premier had not thought fit to make any. feelings of that Assembly, if the honorable Now, his object in rising was to contradict, member "would postpone any fhrther remarks in very strong terms, the statements which he had to make until they had heard the had been made by the honorable Minister for Ministerial explanation P The honorable Lands as to negotiations having taken place member was not a new member like the between himself and the honorable member honorable member for Cook, who had just at the head of the Government. He intended addressed the House, and for whom there was to deny the correctness of the explanation of some excuse, and, therefore, he would put it what had taken place between himself and to him, whether he should not accept his the honorable Premier, and in doing so suggestion. He was quite aware that he would give that honorable gentleman an could not stop the honorable member, but he opportunity of telling the House what had would point out that if he persisted in going taken place. The honorable Minister for on other honorable members might do the Lands said- same. " He had hoped also that Mr. Moilwraith would HoNORA.BLE MEMBERS: Hear, hear. have been included, who, in his opinion, would have Mr. BAILEY said he had taken that oppor­ added largely to the strength and stability of any tunity, because he wanted to precede the Ministry. He saw no just reason why Mr. King Ministerial explanation-because he wanted and Mr.Mcllwraith should not work harmoniously 148 Ministerial Explanation. [ASSEMBLY.] Ministet•ial Explanation.' together. Mr. Thorn had informed him that both Mr. Macalister. He had expected rather that had been asked to join, and he, himself, in con­ they would have come down with a vote of sultation, had urged him to secure the services of thanks to that honorable gentleman for the both these gentlemen. Mr. JYicllwmith declined, services which he had rendered to the colony. not as he believecl from any personal objection, The honorable gentleman had been a member but from a senso of loyalty to his party. He had made it a necessary condition to couple with him of that House for a period of nearly seventeen Mr. Palmer in the position of Prinie Minister. years;~had been three times Premier and Vice· Of course such a condition could not be accepted, President of the Executive Council, and had it would not have been acceptable to the party, once occupied the very honorable and dignified nor he believed to the people they represented ; position o£ Speaker of that House. The it was not, therefore, possible to accept Mr. honorable gentleman had also been instru­ Mcllwraith." mental in the construction of many of the most Now, all that statement was a very incorrect important public works, notably railways, and account of what had taken place, and he had he questioned very much if it had not been for reason to make those remarks, so that when Mr. Macalister, whether railways would have the honorable member at the head o£ the been started even at the present time. With Government addressed the House, he might reference to the appointment of Agent. General give the proper construction of what had he might state at once that Mr. Macalister transpired. had never asked him for the office, but it was Motion, by leave, withdrawn. given to him as a voluntary act on the part of the Government. Whilst Mr. Macalister was in England he did his work well, and it was MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION. thought that it was only right that he should The PREMIER said he had a few observa­ remain there longer ; find out what was bad in tions to make before he proceeded to acquaint the system and remedy it. He considered the House with the policy of the Govern­ that the honorable gentleman was the right ment. First of all he would refer to the man in the right place. He had been grieved remarks which had been made by the horror­ to see that the honorable member for Port able member for Cook and the honorable Curtis had got up in the House and stated that member for "\Vide Bay as to certain griev­ if he returned to office he should make the ances, and he thought he might assure those office of Agent-General a political one. He honorable members that they would be per­ thought the honorable member was too much fectly satisfied when the various Bills and of an Englishman to advocate the American the J:£stimates of the Government were laid system in this colony-that when the Govern· on the table. ment resigned all the Civil officers should Mr. IvoRY: Oh, oh. follow. The honorable member had certainly The PREMIER said that with regard to the attacked Mr. Macalister in a most cowardly statement of what had taken place between manner ; and at the ~ame time no one knew the honorable member for Maranoa and him­ better than that honorable gentleman did, how self, so far as he could recollect, the version badly the system of political appointments given by the honorable Minister for Lands worked in the United States. There were was substantially correct, especially the former many precedents for the appointment of Mr. part of it. Now, in regard to his own posi­ Macalister. He would point out for instance tion in the House that day, he might state that in England whenLordMayowas appointed at the outset that he had had no inclination Governor-General of India, his appointment, whatever to go to that House-he would if he recollected rightly, gave great dissatisfac­ rather have remained in the Legislative tion, not merely to the Liberal party but also to Council, and would much have preferred if many conservatives. But had Mr. Glad stone, the mantle had fallen upon some other when he went into office, removed Lord Mayo P gentleman. No; on the contrary, he commended Lord Mr. PETTIGREW : Hear, hear. Mayo for the able manner in which he had The PREMIER continued to say that when discharged his duties during his tenure of office, His Excellency the Governor asked him to and stated that there had never been his egual form an administration he hesitated for a sent from England. Then again with Lord considerabie time before consenting to do N orthbrook's appointment, had Mr. Disraeli, so, but at last he thought that as the ball was when he took office the last time, dismissed at his feet he ought to kick it, or else some him P He had not, but he raised that gentle· honorable member from the other side of man from the rank of a Lord to that of an Earl the House might. have stepped in, and he for the services he had performed in India. would have ever afterwards been branded He would go to the Judges in England; he as a traitor to his party if he had allowed the recollected when the Judges were appointed to opportunity to pass. With regard to what try election petitions-they were appointed by had taken place in that chamber when he was Mr. Gladstone: yet he found-and he had read not a member of it, in reference to the Agent­ almost every election case-that although they Generalship, he must say that he had been both were appointed by the Liberal party they had pained and grieved that honorable members upset the return of as many liberals as they opposite should have made use of such strong had conservatives. He mentioned that to language towards the late honorable member, show that people might act impartially and MinisteTial Explanation. [11 JULY.) Ministm•ial Explanation. 149 fairly no matter from what side of the homesteads. The Bill would also recognise House they were appointed; and he had no the various circumstances of the different doubt that Ml'. Macalister would perform his parts of the colony with the view of mePting duties faithfully and with justice to all and to them all ; and so far as he knew it would be the benefit of the country. With regard to applicable to all parties and to all parts of the the policy of the Government, he thought it colony. Another Bill the Government pro­ would be found to be a very good one. First, as posed to bring in would be the District and to' the railway policy-and he would com­ Shire Councils Bill. No one would, he mence by stating that a portion of the press thought, deny that the people outside should was under the impression that the railway have the right of expending their own money, policy of the Government was to be a stand­ as they knew best how to expend it more still policy ; they forgot that at the present economically, especially in distant parts of time there were two lines of railway in course the colony some hundreds of miles from the of construction-that in a few weeks the seat of Government. Of course all expendi­ Great Northern line would be opened to ture would be under the supervision of a Dingo, or ninety miles from Rockhampton, . Government engineer. The district councils and that the line from Dalby to Roma was would have the expenditure of the money being pushed on as rapidly as possible. voted by Parliament, and the shire councils There would be some difficulty in starting any would also have the spending of whatever further railway lines out of loan, as owing to was voted by Parliament ; but in addition to the system of separate electorates, no one that, they would be an elective body, the district would be satisfied unless it had a same as a municipal council, consisting of railway of its own, and the result would be five members. For the first five years they that no railways would be made at all unless would have a sum equal to double what they the Government went into a grand system of raised in rates, and ever afterwards a like sum log-rolling, in which case they would have to to what they raised. The Government also resort to increased taxation. Now, the proposed to meet the large influx of Chinese Government proposed to bring in a Railway to the colony by bringing in a Bill amending Reserves Bill, similar to the Western Rail­ the Gold Fields Act, and placing a higher way Bill, which would make extensive rate on business and mining licenses issued railway reserves in different parts of the to Asiatics coming into the colony. There country : for instance, there would be reser­ would also be a Bill introduced providing for vations on the Darling Downs ; in the Wide the payment of the expenses of members of Bay and Burnett districts ; in· the great that House ; it was proposed to allow central district extending westward from eighteen pence a mile for travelling expenses, Lurline ; and also in the Kennedy district. also steamboat fare, and a guinea a day whilst When that Bill passed both Houses, the a. member was from home. At present many Government proposed to give each district a persons could not afford to become members good round sum to start their rail ways, in tha of Parliament if they lived a long distance same way as had been done in regard to the from Brisbane, and even at the present time Western Railway. That was their general the Burke district was unrepresented. He railway policy ; and they also intended to need hardly say that this colony was very appoint an engineer-in-chief, who, he thought, different from .New South Wales and Victoria should be appointed by Act of Parliament, in that respect, as in those colonies the seat and not by any Government. If there had of Government was more central. In New been an engineer-in-chief not at the beck of South Wales a member could easily and the Ministry of the day the probability was cheaply get to the House in two days, and in that they would have had tlie Ipswich and Victoria in one day, but in Queensland, Brisbane Railway constructed for £200,000 owing to the great extent of sea-board, there less than it cost. It was said at first that it was a very much greater distance to would cost £8,000 a mile, but instead of that travel. He contended that to have the price had mounted up to £21,000 a mile, proper representation it was necessary owing to the deviations which had been made that some allowance should be given to from the original plans, and beBause the those members coming from a distance. engineer-in-chief had not his duties properly It would be observed that they did not pro­ defined, and was not his own master. With pose to pay the Brisbane or Ipswich members, regard to the land policy of the Government but supposing the Ipswich members were he might state for the information of honor­ detained in town, and were not able to reach able members that they proposed to bring in their homes, which he hoped would not often two Bills, one dealing with the ten years' be the case, they would be paid a guinea a leases, which would be sold by auction, day. He thought that was a measure which subject to alienation, and the other a very would also meet with the approval of the comprehensive Bill, which he was quite House. The Government also proposed to satisfied would meet with the approbation of introduce a Bill to amend the Polynesian all true colonists ; it would abolish classifica­ Laborers Act. Almost every one must be tion and preserve the present system of aware that great abuses had crept into the homesteads ; at the same time on the Darling working of that Act, especially in the northern Downs no land was to be selected except as parts of the colony, and it had come to the 150 Ministerial Explanation. [ASSEMBLY.] Ministerial Explanation. knowledge of the Government that cases had of perhaps £30,000 or £40,000 per anlnilil~"rl:' occurred where islanders had served one, two, the present system were continued and the and some nearly three years, and at the last number of volunteers was larglry increased. moment mortgagees stepped in, and those Another Bill the Government proposed to men received no pay, and had no means of introduce was one providing for the appoint­ getting back to their own country. The ment of a Minister of Justice. That, was in Government proposed, in the Bill referred to, connection with the department of his horror­ that before an islander was allowed to land able friend the Attorney-General, and it from the ship, his employer should pay the would make the office of Solicitor-General price of his passage back to his island to the non·political, and the Minister for Justice Government Agent, and that in the event of would have a seat in that House. There an islander dying, the amount should be were several other Bills which the Govern­ refunded to his employer, provided he proved ment proposed to introduce on !Vhich it .was that during the time the islander was in his unnecessary to descant at the present time. service, he had received every attention, and He thought he had now in the main given medical comforts ; failing that, the money the policy of the Government. He might, would not be returned. The Bill would also however, mention another matter which provide that islanders should not be employed he had forgotten to refer to before. In away from the coast districts of the colony, consequence of the extraordinary season and that their wages should be paid into the they had lately experienced, the roads in Savings Bank quarterly. It was never all directions were frightfully cut up. That intended that these men should be employed period of the year was generally dry ; but in the far interior, but the Bill would provide during the last two months, May and June, that in special cases the Colonial Secretary they had had more wet than during any might give leave for them to be employed similar time within his recollection. The beyond the limits proposed to be fixed by it; roads were consequently in a wretched con­ but those cases, he thought, would be very dition, and as settlement was taking place in few and exceptional. One reason why they all directions, the Government proposed­ should not be employed outside the coast with a view to placing them in proper order, districts was, that when they were taken into before the Shire and District Councils Bill the interior, they were unable to obtain the became law-to ask for a loan of £100,000, vegetable diet to which they had been and it would be found when the matter was accustomed in their own country, and the brought forward, that all parts of the colony result was, that they died off, as the saying would receive a fair share of the expenditure. was, "like rotten sheep ; " and this, in most That, he felt certain, would also meet with cases, happened just about the time when universal approval. He did not thirik it they should return home. The Govern­ necessary to say anything more. He hoped ment also proposed to bring in a Bill dealing the several measures he had alluded to would with the volunteers, in reference to which become law before long. He might say further subject he observed that the honorable mem­ that if they were allowed to carry through ber for Port Curtis had given notice of a this session, the Government proposed to meet question. He (the Premier) had always the House very early next year-in January been a strong advocate of the volunteer or February-at any rate at a very early movement, and he considered it would be a date, and probably they would then be in a great saving to the colony if they were to position, as he hoped they should, to go in for abolish the land-order system in connection a system of cheap railways in the farming with it. He was happy to say that he did districts of the colony. They would then be not believe the volunteers served for any in possession of valuable information on the love of lucre, but from a patriotic spirit; and subject from Mr. Mackay and others, and be so far as he understood they were anxious able to bring in a comprehensive system of that the land orders should be done away cheap railways in all parts of the colony. with. And he thought it was a lucky thing There could be no doubt that railroads were for this colony that at the present time there far cheaper than macadamised roads it they was not general free selection in it, because could be constructed at £1,500 or £2,000 per otherwise they should probably have to pay . mile, and he believed they could be con­ an enormous amount in connection with these structed for the latter amount, but the diffi­ land orders. He might say that in New culty was in starting them. If they started South Wales, where there was general free one in one district every other district would selection, a fifty-acre land order was sold also want a cheap line ; consequently there for something like £150, and the Govern­ was no chance of carrying out a cheap rail­ ment of that colony now proposed to buy way system at the present time. them all up and saddle the country with an Mr. MolLwRAITH said he understood there expenditure of £300,000 for that purpose. was no motion before the House, but he He thought it was high time they should thought it was usual on such occasions for an take this matter into consideration, because by honorable member who was interested to doing so at once they would incur an expense make some remarks in connection with what of only £3,000 or £4,000 a-year for capitation had been announeed by the Ministry. He allowance under the proposed Bill, instead therefore took that opportunity of referring :Ministerial Explanatioil. [11 JULY.] Ministerial Explanation. 151

t6~t:he matter he brought before the Rouse would join Mr. Thorn as a stop-gap until at an earlier~ art of the evening. He had not Mr. Palmer's time should come round to lead the slightest'1htention of making any remarks the colony-would he consent to join Mr. with rega:rd to the policy enunciated by the Thorn in any capacity-because it was left to honorable the Premier, but he would take him to choose what position he thought fit. steps for dealing with that in a more formal It was represented to him that the time was manner at a later period. He wished simply certainly not far off when the honorable mem­ to refer to the explanation that was fathered ber for Port Curtis must again come to the now by the honorable the Premier, and that front; and he was asked, would he consent had been given by the honorable the Minister to join the present Premier until that time for Lands, at Maryborough, as to what took arrived P Now, although he had got some place between the honorable the Premier and temper, there was too much humor in the himself. He always believed that the hon­ idea altogether for him to feel annoyed, but orable the Minister for Lands stated exactly there could be no doubt in the mind of any what the Premier had told him ; and now the man as to what the natural result would be Premier actually claimed the statement re­ when a proposal of that kind was made to ferred to as having been authorised by him him. It was simply that he refused to see and as being correct. It was very difficult to Mr. Thorn at all, and he said he would not draw the line as to what was a confidential and see him. However, Mr. Thorn came out to a non-confidential statement; but if the Pre­ him, and the first proposition he put before mier chose to give a garbled statement to the him as a reason why he should join public-for it mustnow be considered as his him in forming a Ministry, was, "You -of what took place betwee1:1 them, he (Mr. know I can work perfectly well with the Op­ Mcllwraith) felt called upon in his own de­ position." What was his (Mr. Mcllwraith's) fence to state what actually did take place. reply to that P It was, "Well, if you can HoNORABLE MEMBERS : Hear, hear. work with the Opposition, the proper Mr. MolLWRAITH said: There could be gentleman to consult with as to the for­ nothing farther from the truth than the latter mation of a Ministry is Mr. Palmer, the part of the statement:- leader of the Opposition; go to him." Then what did Mr. Thorn say P He said, "Mr. "Mr. Mcilwraith declined, not,-as he believed from any personal objection, but from a sense of Palmar would not work . under me.'' He loyalty to his party. He had made it a necessary (Mr. Mcllwraith) said nothing, but he condition to couple with him Mr. Palmer in the remembered that his eyes danced in his head, position of Prime Minister." and he was sure his mouth opened very wide at such a remark; but he was perfectly Now, he wished to refer as little as possible satisfied he did not reply. That was what to the details. ' the honorable the Premier had twisted into The PREMIER : That is not all. the statement that he (Mr. Mcllwraith) would Mr. MciLwRAITH: The honorable the not join the Ministry except on the condition Premier had interrupted him, and if he had that the honorable member for Port Curtis anything to say, he (Mr. Mcllwraith) would should be leader. That was the only thing give him an opportunity of saying it now. during the conversation that he could possibly He did not see why the honorable the have referred to. There were a great many 'Attorney-General and the Premier should other ludicrous views that the honorable consult together and interrupt him in his the Premi.er put before him, which· were remarks, unless they had something to say thoroughly discussed, but it came at last to referring to the point before the House. lt the point arrived at; and it was not, as it had would be painful to him to state, and he knew been rather wrongly put by the honorable it would be painful to many honorable mem­ member for Maryborough to his constituents, bers to listen to all the details of what actu­ that they could not accept him (Mr. Mcll· ally did take place between the honorable wraith), but that he would not join them. It the Premier and himself, and he had not the was represented that the Government would slightest intention of doing so; but in order not have him, but the fact was quite the other to show that the statement made was not a way. He thought he need scarcely call the at­ proper construction to put upon the conclu­ tention of the House to the motive-which sion they came to, he must necessarily refer was quite plain-that must have actuated the to some details. The honorable the Premier Ministry in making that representation. It first approached him by deputy ; he sent a could be nothing else than to improve their friend of his out to see on what terms he own position, and to damage his ; but (Mr. Mcllwraith) would be likely to join he had shown the statement was very him in forming a Ministry of which he would far from what actually took place. He be Premier. That he (Mr. Mcllwraith) con­ believed no one knew that better than the sidered a confidential communication-what honorable the Premier himself, and he (Mr. passed between that gentleman and himself Mcllwraith) should have been very glad if -and he should still consider it so, had he that honorable member had gone fully into not been told that it had been repeated to the matter. He thought it was a thing they others. Now, what proposal did that gentle­ were entitled to expect from that honora ble man put before him P He asked him if he gentleman if he considered it necessary-and 152 Ministerial E:rplanatipn. [ASSEMBLY.] Ministerial Explanation. '&(y;, he must have considered it necessary before had a right to assert their position by making he gave leave to one of his subordinate Min­ a protest against innovations of the kind he isters to state the facts to his constituents-­ referred to. It might be the case that, when that the public should know exactly what the present Premier accepted the task of took place. He ought to have told them why, forming a Government, although he was \ in the first place, he considered it necessary then a member of the Legislative Council, to act by deputy, and then he should have he intended to become a member of that come forward and stated plainly, and in a House, and informed His Excellency the manly way, what actually occurred between Governor to that effect. If he did so, that them. With regard to the negotiations they would so far justify the proceeding; and, had by deputy, as he said before, he shouldhave with a view to preserving the privileges of treated that as a confidential communication, that House, he thought they were entitled hacl it not been expressed distinctly to several to have it placed upon record-or, at all members-two members, at all events-of that events, they should know whether, at the House by the same gentleman himself, and it time the honorable member for Ipswich was was, therefore, not a confidential communica­ called upon to form a Ministry, he intended tion which should not be divulged. These to come into that House, or whether an remarks were simply personal, and had been innovation had been introduced by placing called forth by the garbled explanation given the leadership of the Government in the by the honorable the Minister for Lands. If hands of a member of the Legislative Council. he were in order, he now wished to give notice He had no doubt there were other members ofmotion for to-morrow, in order to give.Jnon­ of the House who held the same views that orable members an opportunity of discussing he did on this subject, and they would wait the policy now enunciated. The notice was- with some anxiousness to hear the explanation That Ministers do nut possess the confidence of the honorable member at the head of the of this House necessary to enable them to carry Government. He should now conclude by measures of importance to the public welfare. giving him an opportunity of making that explanation by moving the adjournment of Mr. RING said he did not intend to advert the House. to the subject the honorable member for The PREMIER said, in answer to... the Maranoa had alluded to, nor to the explan­ honorable member for Ravenswood, he ation which the honorable member at the head might state that he had not decided of the Government had given, but there was whether he should become a member of that one subject to which he might be allowed to House when he undertook the formation of a refer-in fact, as a matter of privilege-- Ministry ; Rnd he could inform that honorable The SPEAKER : There is no question before member that it was not uncommon in practice the House, at this moment. A Ministerial for the Vice-President of the Executive statement has been made, and, as is the Council to be a member of the Upper House. usual practice, it has been answered by a In fact, in the last Government in New South prominent member on the other side, and Wales, Mr. Parkes and Mr. Saul Samuel since then notice of motion for to-morrow divided the honors, Mr. Samuel being Vice­ has been given. If, however, the honorable President of the Executive Council with a member concludes with a motion, of course, seat in the Legislative Council; he was he will be in order. the senior member of the Government, Mr. RING said he would conclude with a and Mr. Parkes was nominal Premier. In motion. The point to which he wished to New Zealand Mr. Reynolds was Premier for draw the attention of the House was, that eighteen months, with a seat in the Legis­ the honorable the Premier, in making his lative Council; and in New South Wales Mr. Ministerial statement, omitted to refer-as Robertson was likewise Premier, with a seat he (Mr. Ring) thought he should have done in the Legislative Council. -to a very material feature connected with An HoNoRABLE 1iEMBER: No. the Government. He thought the House The PREMIER : He was Premier at the should have been informed about the unusual time, and there were other cases. In step taken in appointing a member of the New South Wales, Sir W. Manning, a Upper House to the office of Premier. He member of the Council, was sent for, but believed the members of'the Assembly in he did not form a Ministry ; in fact, there this colony had been accustomed to consider were lots of precedents. But, as he said it as a privilege that the leader of the Minis­ before, he must tell the honorable member try should be a member of that House. He that at the time His Excellency sent for him, was aware that, by the Constitution Act, it ·as senior member of the Executive, he did was not absolutely necessary that that shoul!l not know where he should take up his be the case, and, although in England, as ouarters-whether he should remain in the they all knew, the Premier had in such cases Council or come into the Assembly. been a member of the House of Lords, there was Mr. DE SATGE thought that was not the no analogy between the position of the House proper time to reply to or in any way criticise of Lords under the English constitution and the policy which had been enunciated by the the position of the Legislative Council in honorable the Premier ; but he must say a this coloni And he thought that Assembly few words in reply to some remarks made Ministerial Eo:planatio1t. [11 JuLY.] Ministerial E:rplanation. 153 by that honorable member on his r~ap· that case. Mr. Samuel was practically the pearance in, the House that evemng. lBader of the Government in the Upper That honorable member condemned and House, and Vice-President of the Executive cast a slur not only on the Oppo~ition, but, Council, but he received no salary ; he took he (Mr. De Satge) believed, the whole the position as an honorary office, and it was Hoase, in referring to their disregard in consequence of his distinguished ability of the Ion~ services of Mr. Macalister, that Mr. Parkes made him Vice-President of who had just sailed home. He t.hought the the Executive Council. Sometime after he honorahle gentleman mi11ht have enunciated received the appointment of Postmaster­ his policy without castmg a slur on other General, and he afterwards went to America honorable members, and to that part of his as the special representative of New South speech alone his remarks applied. He believed Wales, to arrange the San Francisco mail if the House had been polled with regard to contract. It was well that honorable members Mr. Macalister's services, they would never should know exactly how these matters stood. have been denied. If they had been asked in The honorable member also stated that Mr. the usual course of matters-whatever mis­ Robertson had been Premier of New South takes that gentleman might have made, what­ Wales with a seat in the Legislative Council, ever public moneys had been misspent under but he had been nothing of the kind. Mr. his administration, whatever charges of cor­ Robertson simply went to the Upper House ruption he might have laid himself open to­ or wherever his late colleague, of whom he yet they would have recognised his great ser­ (Mr. Groom) desired to speak with the vices in that he had not enriched himself at the greatest ·respect, Mr. Cowper wished him to expense of the public. All that was acknow­ go, in order to carry on the Government. ledged; but he thought the way that gentle­ Mr. Robertson went to the Council simply man got his appointment, after denying both to accommodate the late Sir Charles Cowper, in that House and out of it that he wanted it then Mr. Cowper, and accepted a seat as or would take it, had put the honorable the Minister for Lands to carry through the Premier completely out of court. That hon­ Land Bill of that day. He thought the orable gentleman had no right, in his seat in honorable member was entirely astray in that House-within a few minutes of his saying there were other cases in point where taking that seat-to stand :up and thX them a member of the Legislative Council had with a general disregard of the services of been selected to occu-py the position of Mr. Macalister. He did not wish to say a Premier, and in his allusion to the case of word as to the solatium itself, but what Sir William }fanning he could not have he referred to was the manner in which introduced a more unhappy illustration. Mr. Macalister got his appointment. If he When Mr. Parkes was defeated lj)n the motion had asked boldly for it, or if some friend of of Mr. Robertson condemning the Gardner his-for surely he must have some friends Minute, His Excellency Sir Hercules amongst those in office-had asked boldly for Robinson sent for Sir William Manning, but the appointment: if he had thrown himself so strong was the feeling of the public men upon the generosity of the House or the in New ::5outh Wales with reference to the Government, he would have got the same indignity shown to the Legislative Assembly appointment, or some other, as a sort of per­ by the mover of the amendment not having manent consolation for his old age. He been sent for, that they one and all declined believed they all would have been glad to to join him, although entertaining for him have given it to him; but for the honorable the highest possible respect, and he handed the Premier to tax them with disregarding his commission back to Sir Hercules his claims upon the public service, after this Robinson with that intimation. He (Mr. trickery in his appointment-after he had Groom) could not allude to South Australia, deniE'd both in that House and out of it that because there the Legislative Council was he would ask for it or wanted it-was the elective ; but there was another ease of a greatest absurdity he had ever heard of. nominative Upper House having the Premier Mr. GROOM said he rose simply for the in it. He referred to Tasmania, where Mr. purpose of setting the honorable member at Kennerley was Premier, but he also had no the head of the Government right, because salary, but merely held the position as an he thought on such a question as that raised honorary office ; and there, according to the by the honorable member for Ravenswood, press of that colony, and according to recent honorable members who had not had expe­ telegrams, the Government was in a ver-y rience in Parliamentry life should have the peculiar position, inasmuch as the Colonial cases referred to fully explained to them, which Secretary, Captain Gilmour, had been twice the honorable the Premier had not done. defeated ; and the Government had been That honorable gentleman stated that in New obliged to resign before they could meet South Wales the Honorable Saul Samuel Parliament. He, therefore, thought the ques­ was Vice-President of the Executive Council, tion raised by the honorable member for and the leader of the Government in the Ravenswood was a very important one, and Legislative Council and virtually Premier, that the privileges of that House had been but the honorable gentleman ought to have unnecessarily invaded by a gentleman in the stated the other f~cts connected with Upper House having been selected to form ~!'<~'·""· 154 MinisteTial Ex1;ianation. CASSEMBLY.j MinisteTial Exptana.tiont

'!'illj;\ an Administration. Of course, in saying this, gentleman to make. It was quite true'!tis hon­ he desired to speak with all possible respect; orable friend, the member for Maranoa, said but he thought that they should take care he sought thereby to improve the position of that their privileges were not unnecessarily the Government and to damage his ; but such invaded by such proceedings as the one in was certainly not his intention. He merely question. This might be taken as a grave intended to give what he believed to be an and dangerous invasion of their rights, and explicit statement of events which were cer­ they should be very jealous of the privileges tainly of interest to the public at large. The. connected with the representative branch of personal relations of their public men were the Legislature. He had simply risen to put of the greatest importance, and he himself the honorable gentleman at the head of the should be most anxious that on such occasion's Government right, because he thought that as these the friendly relations which ought to when the younger members of the House subsist between members of that House should were informed of precedents, the facts should be further illustrated by a narration of any be fully stated, in order that they might be necessary acts that took place in the forma­ able to form their own opinions. tion of a Ministry. He did not look upon The SECRETARY FOR PuBLIC LANDS said he them, when they arose, as strictly confiden­ did not propose to address the House on the tial ; they were of a public character. No subject raised by the honorable member for doubt what passed between the Governor Ravenswood, which might be discussed in and the gentleman to whom he entrusted the connection with the more general question of power of forming a Ministry was, to a which notice had been given by the honorable certain extent, confidential, and without per­ member for Maranoa. That issue was quite mission of His Excellency it would hardly be distinct and clear, and he thought it was just correct to state such matters ; but he could as. well that they should close with that on not see why there should be any reticence the occasion on which the honorable member even on that point. But this was a subject proposed to bring it forward. For his he was not called upon to discuss at the own part, he was quite prepared to meet it, present time. It was quite clear, however, and he was sure his colleagues were also. that His Excellency entrusted the duty of He wished on this occasion merely to refer forming a Government to his honorable to a few remarks that had fallen from the friend the Premier, and knowing, as he did, honorable member for Maranoa, in reference the candour and the pleasing bonhommie which to what he (the Secretary for Public Lands) characterised the expressions of his honor­ said at Maryborough. The account the able friend, he could quite understand that honorable member had given of that, which during the lengthened conversation he had was from the published report, was substan­ with the honorable member for Maranoa many tially correct; he (the Secretary for Public things might have been discussed which Lands) believed that was what he did say; it would not be desirable to repeat there. but he wished to correct the honorable mem­ It was no doubt true, that during even ber if he supposed that he had any authority the negotiations which took place between from the honorable gentleman at the head of his honorable friend and other members of the Government to say so. He had no con­ the Government, a good deal was said which versation with his honorable friend before he would be mere idle gossip to repeat now ; but proceeded to Maryborough ; and in the still he affirmed that it was a distinct public speech which he addressed on that occasion advantage, that the leading features of these to his constituents, he expressed, on many negotiations should be candidly stated. On subjects, his own opinion, apart from that o~ the occasion referred to, there was nothing, the Government. The Government was not he was quite sure, which would in any respect then fully constituted, and he submitted that do dishonor to his honorable friend. He (the he was perfectly entitled to do so, because he Secretary for Public Lands) could testify, should always take leave to express a certain that so mr as that honorable member's rela­ amount of individual latitude of opinion tions to himself and the other members of the upon public matters, so long as they did Ministry were concerned, there was nothing not conflict with the policy which the else but the most friendly intercourse. There Government to which he belonged chose to had been a desire on his part, and he thought adopt. He could only hold office on the on the part of some of his colleagues, to endea­ condition of having a certain amount of vor to construct a Ministry, which would admit liberty of opinion on matters which are not of even of having some element of representation moment to the existence of the Government; from the other side of the House. He thought, and such being the case, he felt on this occa­ looking at the position of the country, that sion entitled to make use of what be conceived it was desirable they should form a strong to be his privilege. Now, although he had Government, which would be able to carry no authority from his honorable friend to out a policy of enterprise and yet of caution. make any statement with regard to the pro­ That was his own wish, and he knew it was ceedings which took place in the formation the wish of the honorable gentleman at the of the Government, he did not think the state­ head of the Government, and with that view ment he made was any loss to the country, or they made overtures to honorable members that it was a statement derogatory to any on the other side. The honorable member Mhiisterial Explanation. [11 JuLY.] Ministerial Explanation. Hi5

for Mara,nna had not been a very prominent should not enter upon any debate to-night. A oppositionist hitherto. He (the Secretary great many things would have to be said which for Public Lands) had never understood him he considered it would be much better to say to be s.o, but no doubt on the present occasion when the motion of which notice had been "'he had demonstrated his distinct opposition given by the honorable member for Maranoa to the present Government. On that, of for to-morrow came on. In giving that notice, course, they must close issue ; but he had the honorable member did not ask that it reason to believe that there was nothing with should be allowed to take precedence of all regard to the leading features of the policy other business, but he (Mr. Palmer)took it as a which need have prevented him from working matter of course, that a want of confidence with the honorable gentleman, if such a com­ motion would take precedence, and he should bination could have been brought about. He reserve any remarks he had to make until that made these remarks, because he hoped "the time. But, in referring to the matter in honorable member would not understand that question between the honorable member for he (the Secretary for Public Lands) in any Maranoa and the Premier, they would be way garbled, or intended in any way to merely following the example of the horror­ garble . by his statement at Maryborough, able member for Maryborough in airing their anything that had occurred between the hon· eloquence; and, with regard to that subject, orable the Premier and that honorable mem­ he (Mr. Palmer) agreed with that honorable ber. That he might have to some extent member that there was nothing to be gamed misunderstood his honorable friend at the by reticence in these matters ; but, at the head of the Government was just possible. same time, when a statement was :{llade it He understood that honorable gentleman to should be a t:mthful one. Now, the explana­ say that so far as his (the Secretary for tion made by the honorable member for Lands') remarks were concerned, he con· Maryborough was not a truthful one. There sidered the first part of them substantially could be no doubt about that. It had been correct. put before the public that the Government Mr. MclLWRAITH: He said it was all refused to take the honorable member for correct-especially the first part. Maranoa into office becau~e he insisted upon The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDs : It having him (Mr. Palmer) as Premier. That was quite clear what was the intention of the was not a truthful statement, and he defied honorable the Premier. He merely intended the honorable the Premier to say it was, for to validate the statement, so far as the first he (Mr. Palmer) heard the whole of the state­ part was concerned; and he (the Secretary ment the very same afternoon, and the tor Lands) had evidently· misunderstood him honorable member for Maranoa distinctly with regard to the latter part. But there told the friend of the Premier, who wanted was nothing dishonorable to him, or in any him to join the Government as a stop-gap, way dishonorable to the honorable member that he refused to meet or to see for Maranoa in the statement, and as some him. But the Premier absolutely thrust slight misunderstanding had arisen he was himself on him at his own house on the glad now to receive the intimation made by following morning, and whatever then passed that honorable member. It was possible that, should have been truthfully stated. The during a lengthened conversation, things honorable member for Maranoa stated that might have been said, which raised in the he made no suggestion even that he would mind of the honorable member for Maranoa not join with him, and that when the Premier some humorous reflections ; but there was said he could work very well with the nothing remarkable in that, when they knew Opposition, he (Mr. Mcilwraith) said he (Mr. that the honorable member at the head of Palmer), as leader of the Opposition, was the the Government was really fond of a joke proper party to consult on the subject. That himself. It was quite possible, that in the was the statement of the honorable member course of his conversation with the horror­ for Maranoa, and it was very different from able member for Moranoa, the honorable that given by the honorable member for gentleman indulged that feeling of his, which Maryborough to his constituents. The hon­ occasionally preponderated in his nature. orable the Premier had seen fit to attack that He (the Secretary for Public Lands) hoped side of the House, and he used the word the honorable member for Maranoa would "cowardly" in reference to his (Mr. Palmer's) understand distinctly that he had no authority attack upon Mr. Macalister. Well, that hon­ in the first place from the honorable gentleman orable gentleman could have his choice of at the head of the Gl;>vernment to make the words. He (Mr. Palmer) would allow him ·representation he did at Maryborough, but some license, because he looked upon him as that he felt entitled himself to make some a new member who had to serve an explanation; but, at the same time, he had apprenticeship in that House again, and no intention of giving a garbled statement of perhaps after he had been there a short any of the circumstances that occurred time he would be a little more careful during the formation of the Ministry. of his words. He (Mr. Palmer) would let it Mr. P ALMER said, with a vote of want of pass this evening ; but he should like to confidence hanging over the heads of the know what cowardice there was in attacking Ministry, he thought it better that they a member when he was in his place in that 156 Ministerial Explanation. [ASSEMBLY.] Ministm•ial Explanation.

House, as Mr. Macalister was when he (Mr. evening to pass without contradicti\J.g, them •. Palmer) attacked him. He should like to The honorable member said that the appoint­ know which was most cowardly-to attack a ment of Mr. Macalister was a political job, member sitting opposite to him in that that it was a bargain from beginning to end, House, or for a member to go amongst hili and that he believed it was arranged even constituents and behind his back telling before that gentleman returned to the colony. falsehoods--downright falsehoods--and accuse Now, he (the Attorney-General) gave every members of that House of' things they had one of those statements the flattest denial. never done,-to do so behind their backs, There was not a single part of them that not to theh· faces. That was cowardice, and could have been true, without his knowledge ; that was what the Premier had done when and he assured honorable members, that addressing his constituents, and when there nothing of the kind had ever taken place was no one there to answer him. For the within his knowledge. And he for one would opinion of George Thorn when addressing not have been a party to it. When he the electors of Ipswich he had the most joined the Government-of which his hon· supreme contempt. For George Thorn in orable friend the Premier was head-he was that House he cared nothing, and he should firmly impressed with the idea that Mr. not have alluded to that honorable ml'mber's Macalister would not accept the office of attack upon him at Ipswich had he not said Agent-General if it were offered to him; and it was cowardly on his part to attack the late he believed so strongly for the reason that that Premier of the colony when he was in his gentleman told him so with his own lips place in that House. There was no cowardice within the walls of that building a day or two about it, and if it was cowardice he was before. He believed it, but when he after­ afraid the present Premier during his short wards understood that Mr. Macalister was tenure of office wot1ld have to put up with a willing to accept the office, he for one was good deal of it; he would be pretty well delighted to have an opportunity of giving it attacked. He thought if the honorable mem­ to him, because he considered that from his ber for Maranoa would tell the House all long services and his fitness to perform the that occurred on the occasion before referred duties of the position, there was no one more to, they would find some honorable members entitled to it. As for a bargain, there was on the Treasury benches looking very blue at nothing of the sort. He observed that some their Premier; they would look very queer . honorable member had asked for the produc­ indeed if they knew all the conversation he tion of the Executive minute of the appoint­ (Mr. Palmer) could tell them. There was no ment, in the expectation he supposed that it parallel between the cases mentioned by the would show that it was done immediately honorable the Premier as to appointments the Government was formed ; but he could made by the Home Government and the job­ inform honorable members that the appoint­ the downright job-which put Mr. Macalister ment was not made until all the members of into his present position as Agent-General. the Government had been re-elected by their It was a bargain from first to last. It was constituents. There was nothing else the well known to the whole country that it was honorable member sa.id that deserved an a bargain. He believed himself it was answer ; and the statement that there was arranged even before Mr. Macalister returned any bargain, or that Mr. Macalister had to the colony, and that the price of that ap­ anything to do with the formation of the pointment was that the present Premier Government, was entirely without foundation. should be sent for to form a Government. Mr. THOMPSON said there was one element HoNoRABLE MEMllERS : Hear, hear; No, in the matter of this bargain-if there ever no. was such a bargain, about which be did not Mr. PALMER said, he believed that was intend to express any opinion-which had the seal to the contract ; as a job, he been overlooked : that was, that previous to should always denominate it-a downright the retirement of the late Premier from political job, and he should repeat it until office, his partner was appointed to the Upper he was tired, and perhaps the House was House, and, since his retirement from office, • tired of hearing it. He thought the policy that gentleman had been appointed Post­ laid down or attempted to be laid down master-General, so that the firm of Macalister by the honorable the Premier to-night­ and Mein was sufficiently represented in the it was not laid down in an intelligible manner, public service of the colony. but merely attempted to be laid down-was Mr. PETTIGREW said he did not intend to one that to-morrow or next day the Govern­ address the House that evening on the ment would find did not agree with the con­ general policy of the Government, which stitution of that House. they would have a fair opportunity of doing The ATTORNEY-GENERAL quite agreed to-morrow, but he wished now to say a few with the honorable member for Port Curtis, words. He was sorry to have to contradict that that was not the proper time to discuss the statement which had been so boldly the general policy of the Government ; but asserted by the honorable the Attorney­ some of the statements made by that horror­ General. He had had to bring that honorable able member were so extraordinary, that he gentleman to book before, and he (Mr. did not think it right to allow ev0n that Pettigrew) could state that the statement Ministerial Statement. [12 JuLY.] Ministerial Statement. 157 made by the honorable member for Port Curtis was correct, and he thought the horror­ able the Premier should give a correct ex- planation. . Mr. KING said, with the permission of the House, as the honorable the Premier wished to give notice of motion, he should withdraw his motion for the adjournment . . Motion, by leave, withdrawn.