HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9253, 2 November 1895, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday, November 1. J MORNING SITIING. | The House met at noon. colonial bank. Mr SEDDON laid on the table a list of the shareholders in the Colonial Bank, up to within about a fortnight. He said that during the Banking dcbttea some uucharitable and unjust suigestions had been made, and he thought it only fair that this list should be made public. The list was ordered to be printed. THE CENSUS. Mr SEDDON read a letter from the Registrar-General to the effect that it would be impossible to give a return of the census up to the sth of April before September, aud that it would not bs in time for the Representation Commissioners co alter the basis of representation. That was his (Mr Seddon's) opinion all along, aud he had told the House so. However, it was the intention of the Government to carry out the law. A full census would have to be taken, and the suggestion that ouly a part of the census should be taken could noo be given effect to. He had taken this course as a precautionary measure, as he would otherwise be attached for having kept back the census returns. The Registrar-General's letter was ordered to lie on the table. Dr. NEWMAN regretted that the census returns would not be ready in time to effect any necessary redistribution iv seats, and thought that the machine used iv America in taking the census should be obtained for U3e in New Zealand to facilitate the furuishing of returns. Sir R. STOUT thought that the return of population could be obtained before September. He saw no reason why the j census should not be taken on the Ist of | M"».rch. Mr FRASER pointed out that the opposition to the passage of the Census Act Amendment Bill came from a belief that if the census were taken it would be to give effect to the provisions of the Representation Act. Mr MILLS thought there was a consensus of opinion turoughout the couutry that the Parliaments should be quinquennial instead of triennial. He also advocated a fairer adjustment of boundaries. Mr LARNACH hoped that the Government would speud as little money as possible in taking the census, as a larger expenditure on public works was urgently required. Several other members also spoke. Mr SEDDON expressed the opinion that it would ba an ac; of justice to the country if the membership ot the House was increased to the old number of ninety-four. As to what Dr. Newman had said, he meant to make enquiries with regard to the machine used in America, and if these were satisfactory he would order one for use in the colony, A Representation Bill would be introduced next session, and would provide for the adjustment of boundaries. Mr Fraser in his reference to the opposition to the Bill was entirely wrong, as the Bill had only been dropped because of the late stage of the session. He believed that if a ballot of the House were taken a large majority would be found in favour of postponing the census. He assured the House that he would do bis best to comply with the law. RECIPROCITY. The Governor, by message, intimated that he bad reserved the Datie. Reciprocity Bill for her Majesty's assent. ADJOURNMENT. Mr SEDDON, in moving the adjournment of the House, referred to the trying nature of the session, and said that, talcing it all through ; the House could congratulate itself on the work done. The colony now had brighter prospects than had been in view for some time past. The reveuue was coming in fully up to expectations, in fact the returns were a little beyond that. He referred to the good feeling that existed on this the last day of the session, aud paid a compliment to Sir &_. O'Rjrke, Mr Guinness and Mr Joyce for their services ; which Mr Guinness suitably acknowledged. The motiou for adjournment was carried by 16 to 9, and the House at 1 p.m. adjourned formally for a week.