HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10129, 31 August 1898, Page 6

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON fSITTDSV- 1 . , The House met at 2-3 C' p.m. Iv the unavoidable absence of the- Speaker, the Chairman of Committees took the chair. THE MOTOR CAR Bll__. Mr JQHN HUTCHISON mov the amendments made by the Private Bills Committee in the McLean Light Locomotive- Bill be agreed tot," and said the Committee had met all the* objections made by the House against -he measure as originally introduced. Mr DUTHIE objected to the Bill in its amended form, aad pointed out that instead of dealing with a vehicle something the nature of a carriage, it dealt with vehicles the size of omnibuses. On the motion (it Mr SEDDON, the debate was adjourned. MAPS IN "•HANSARD." In reply to Mr Rofleston, the DEPUTYSPEAKER said he had issued instructions tlmt the publication of " Hansard" with the Hon. Mr M'Ke one's map should not be proceeded with until orders had been, issued by the Speaker or JDeputy-Speaker. FIRST- 1-EADING. The Rating on Unimproved Valnes Act Amendment Bill was introduced, and read a first,time. PACC-STC CABLE. The Publio Accounts Committee reported in favour of the colony joining with the other Australian colonies with the view of establishing the Pacifio cable. The report was agreed to.

MAPS IN "HANSARD."

The Reporting Debates and Printing Committee reported that the Speaker should be reoorameiaded to publish "Hansard" with the map produced by the Hon. Mr M'Kenzie. in his speech on the Financial Statement. Mr SEDDON said tbe circumstances in connection with the matter were exceptional, as the Minister for Lands had not given details from the map, as he had expressed his intention of inserting it in V Hansard." As an amendment, he moved that the House approves of tbe map being circulated with "Hansard," which he contended would get over the objections raised by the Opposition. The Minister's speech i could not he intelligibly understood without 'the map. He considered it would not be a "bad thing if the pages of " Hansard " were brightened by photos of members. Mr ROLLESTON said Mr Seddon's amendment was no way out of the difficulty, and tihe matter -was of such importance that the Speaker should have been present. His side of the House wished the matter dealt with, not with respect to the Minister or to the map produced, but as one whioh would create precedent. In the course of the discussion which ensued, Mr GEO. HUTCHISON produced a map of Bushy Park, showing that it was capable of subdivision for small settlement, and 'said if the Hon. Mr M'Kenzie'a gridironing map were inserted in "Hansard," he would claim the same treatment for the map he produced. After further discussion, the debate was interrupted by the 5.30 o'clock adjournment, the DEPUTY SPEAKER announcing that the Orders of the Day would be proceeded with at 7.30 o'clock.

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. An Imprest Supply Bill for £395,000 for salaries, wages and contingencies was agreed to by Committee of Supply. On the motion to refer the Bill to the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr GEORGE HUTCHISON moved an amendment that information should be given to the public as to the amount collected on the different articles of the tariff affected by the revision of the tariff in the years 189. and 1895, and 1896 and 1897. The DRPUTY SPEAKER ruled the amendment out of order, as it was an attempt to evade the Standing Order, which declares that returns cannot be moved for by wav of amendments. Mr HUTCHISON said this was another instance that no facility or opportunity was given for moving for returns or obtaining any information except sucha« ...i'?.e.l the Government. He dealt at some length with the effects of the revision of the tai iff. The motion was agreed to. On the Bill being referred to and reported from the Committee of Ways and Means, and on the motion that the resolution of the Committee be agreed to, Mr BUCHANAN complained that the Government had refused to grant return-. Mr DUTKU. considered it was time to protest against the Mini.tei's refusal to grant returns. The fact was that the H'Hisehiv! \r>st control of the public purse. In the course of the debate which ensued. Mr ROLLESTON contended that the Public Works Estimates should be considered concurrently with the General Estimates, and mid it was shocking to think that they were driftiug in the some direction as Miev did last session, when tho Public Work's -ta'ement bad been brought down five or six days before tho end ot the session, when there waa practically no discussion at all on • t. He asked the Premier to indicate what •ie intended doing this session in respect to the land question, local government, and -lmntable aid reform. Mr SCOBIE MACKENZIE wvid that -bstmction, iv which he himself had never taken part, was due to the Premier's tactics which he systematically adopted, especially to members of the Opposition, •»it.h respect to returns asked for. Referring to bis table respecting land settlement i _*? ifc wa " a correct "ummary of what .iad been done, and pointed out that it had never been the cußtoin to divide the pur- ****** from th* piiwhwwi, each of the

former being held to represent one of the latter. A number of other speakers accused the Government of withholding information from members. Shortly before midnight the resolution from the Committee of Ways and Means was agreed to, and the Bill read the first and second times. The Bill was committed and passed without amendment. On the question of its third reading, Mr GEO. HUTCHISON expressed the h.pe that before next Tuesday the Premier would bring down and pass a loan bill. Mr SEDDON said members would recognise there had been a set determination to prevent the business of the country from proceeding. The debate had taken place with no other purpose than to block the Old Age Pensions, the Master and Apprentice, and the Government Accident Insurance Bills. Pointing to a heap of returns which had been granted, and which he had piled up on the table, he said the greatest penalty that could be inflicted on members for blocking business would be to make them read them, and the result would be they would never ask for another return as long as they were members of Parliament. He then read a list of returns granted, and said when " Hansard" readers read it, they would say—Bother the returns, and those who waste time asking for them. Referring to the return respecting the increases under the revised tariff", he said he was prepared to give it, but Mr Hutchison having raised opposition to a return asked for by Mr Ward, the latter had raised objection to Mr Hutchison's motion for the return. Of 72 returns ordered by members 39 had been presented. He pointed out that no Government had brou.ht down the Public Works Estimates till Supplies had been granted. *, Tho Bill was read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 12.40 a.m.