HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume XL, Issue 5857, 21 June 1884, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Fbidat, Junb 20. The House met at 2.30. BILLS. The following private Bills were read a aeeond time: — Perpetual Trustees and Agency Companies, and New Zealand Companies (counter) Empowering Bill. THB HONOBABIUM. Mr Holmes gave notice of a motion to reduce the honorarium for the present y aession to £50, and asked the Government ~" te give him facilities to move it. The Hon. Major Atkinson declined, but said the Government proposed to fix the amount at £100. It would be for the House to decide. quxsrioNS. In reply to Mr Shaw, The Hon. Major Atkinson said the Government would not facilitate the carrying of measures to interfere with the duration - of Parliament. In reply to a question put by Mr Seddon, The Hon. Major Atkinson said the Government could not under the circumstances give facilities for passing a Bill this session for re-adjusting the West Coast educational district. The discussion which followed elicited an explanation from the Hon. Mr Dick that certain monies due to tbe West—nd Board for the payment of salaries had been impounded by the Board's Bank for liquidation of an overdraft. Mr Shrtmski moved the adjournment of the House to enable further explanation to be made. The Hon. Major Atkinson charged the Opposition with the obstruction of business occasioned by the no-confidence motion. Mr Dabqavxlls retorted that the haste in going to a division onjthe no-confidence motion was occasioned by the fact that the Government were well known to be adepts at manipulating majorities. Mr Montgo—<_t blamed the Premier for browbeating and overbearing conduct. Mr Tubnbull defended the course taken by the Opposition, and contended that the proper course would have been to go to the whole length of stopping supplies. Mr Sxddon replied! The question for adjournment was negatived. The Hon. Major Atkinson gave notice that he would ask at rising that the House —t again to-morrow. COMMITT—S OP SCPPLT. The House went into Committee of -- Supply. The Financial Statement was read. In reply to Mr Bichardson, The Hon, Mr Mitchxleon said it was not intended to make any Public Works Statement. Mr J. W. Thomson contended there was a larger deficiency than £150,000, as stated by the Treasurer, they were already '' three months into the financial year, and ' they were asked for other two months, making in all five months, so that the ' deficiency would be that prvpoition of Z "time in excess of the £150,000. This fact, for political purposes in the present state of the colony, was made light of. Tbe Customs revenuo was over-estimated £123,000, and the railway receipts £56,000. Altogether the income of the colony for the last year has been over-estimated at £205,000. That fact itself should be sufficient to make the Treasurer ashamed of himself for having expended £187,000 in excess of the income. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 ' adjournment.