HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3789, 6 September 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday. The House mot at 2 p.m. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Major Atkinson stated that a bill to embody the clummyisin clauses of the rejected Land Bill would bo passed. The Russell Lund Bill would not be proceeded with this session, but ho believed that reflection during the recess would show members that if was a just and necessary measure. The Railway'lmproved Land Bill would net go further this session. The bill for reconstituting the Council, would bo laid on the table,' and the National Insurance Bill would be circulated amongst members during the recess. JliarORTS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. Mr Moss brought up the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Government Insurance Department. It stated that, so far as their enquiry had gone, they saw no reason to doubt the soundness of the business. Mr Moss brought up another report from the same Committee on the New Plymouth Harbor Board £ IS, 000 aifair, and moved that it be read. Major Atkinson objected, and moved that it Le sent back for re-consideration. The full committee had the previous day reported on this matter. That morning another meeting had been held for a different purpose, and only four attended. One was in the chair, and two of the other three had carried this present report, rescinding the one made by the full committee and censuring- Ministers. The proceeding was a most extraordinary one. Mr Barrou, as one of the two members, said ho and the other, Mr Pargaville, had taken a perfectly fair means of putting their opinions and protest on record. A long discussion ensued, Mr Moss stating- that as chairman ho had, boioro allowing the motion to bo put, sent out to try and find the other mcmbeis. 'Mr Evans Brown, Mr Pctric, Mr feheehan, Mr Fish, Mr Levestarn, Mr llurstliouso, Mr Kelly, Mr Joyce, Mr Hurst, and others coudeumed the course adopted by the

minority of tho committee in getting a surprise motion passed. Sir George Grey, Mr Seddon, Mr J. Buchanan, Mr Dargaville, and Mr Montgomery defended the committee, and Sir George Grey denounced the Government as afraid to let the report be read, and tvranising over the minority. * Ultimately the report was referred back to the committee without being read, and with instructions to meet forthwith. The House rose at n o'clock to enable this to be done.

On the House resuming Mr Moss brought up a report rescinding the one which had not been received, and which the committee had expunged from the minutes. The first report was re-affirmed. Mr Barron said this, like tho first report, was carried by three Ministers and two of their followers against the four independent members of tho committee. Mr Montgomery regretted that the committee had become a party one, and thought it should be reconstituted. Mr J. Buchanan, did not flunk the committee legally constituted, but expressed an opinion that it would bo better if the members were elected scssionally. Tho report was ordered to be laid on the table. PUBLIC REVENUES TALL. Major Atkinson moved tho second reading of the Public Revenues Bill. _ It proposed to extend the power to continue the appropriations for three instead of two monts after tho close of the financial year, find to authorise a fixed deposit of trust funds. Mr Montgomery strongly opposed the extension of the period during which money could be spent after the financial year without Parliament being called together. Sir George Grey also opposed the bill. The second reading was agreed to. A long discussion took place in committee on the bill. Proposals were made to limit the amount to be deposited at one year to £100,000, to let all money by tender amongst the banks, and to .strikeout the clause extending- the power of spending to the 31st June, but all were lost by large majorities, and the bill was reported without substantial amendment, and after speeches protesting ayainst it from Sir George Grey, Mr Montgomery, and Mr J. Buchanan, it was read a third time and passed. lIILT.S PASSED. The Property Tax Bill, the Company's Act Amendment Bill, the Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill, and the Landlords Empowering Bill were passed through all their stages. couxert, ajikntoukxts. Reasons for disagreeing to the nmendments in several bills were agreed to. iiKFor.Jt or ui'PKii house. The Legislative Council Reconstruction Bill was laid on the table, and the House rose at 12.'J0 till 11 a.m. to-day. This day. Tho House met at 11 a.m. aUESTIOXS. Replying to a question put for Mr Bracken, Mr Johnston said tho Government saw no reason why ministers of religion should travel free in the train to tho Scaclilf lunatic asylum for the purpose of visiting patients. Replying to Mr Holmes, Mr Conolly said it would be inadvisable to employ tho Solicitor-General to conduct and defend in Wellington actions in which tho Government was iiiterestol, as it would necessitate the maintaining tho regular staff of a lawyer's ofHce. The duties of tho solicitors were to advise the Government on any point of law which might arise, and these were numerous.

Replying to Mr Duncan, Mr Johnston said the Government could not pay railway employees wages for tho time they were employed as jurors on an inquest case. The Government would not supply platelayers with shovels, nor yet grant them the three public holidays usually allowed public servants.

Replying to Mr Daniel, Mr Johnston said the laying of heavy rails between Mararewa and Thornbury was proceeding. The Government could not at present interfere with the existing postal arrangements at Lake Wanaka.

Replying to Mr Hamlin, Mr Rolleston said tho subject of placing lights on beacons atManukau heads would be inquired into.

Replying to Mr Kelly, Mr Dick said Bo wren's pamphlet on tho manufacture of chee.se, butter, and bacon would be distributed over the colony amongst those interested in the subject.

Replying to Mr W. White, Mr Johnston said the Government would sec what could be done for the unemployed petitioning for work. The Government was not aware that workmen from tho Wellington railway shops had been engaged in repairing the Catn lonia. Prisoners from Lyttclton and Wellington han been employed at these shops during certain work, but tho amount was very trifling. Replying to Mr Steward, Mr Johnston said tho Government could not consent to the express train stopping at Waitaki North. MEMBERS , TRAVELLING FARES. To satisfy objections made by the Auditor, Major Atkinson moved that the fares of members and their wives residing more than three miles from tho scat of government bo defrayed by the Government for attendance at Parliament. The House divided. Ayes, 29 ; Noes, 15. WAYS AND MEANS. The House wont into Committee of Ways and Means, when the usual resolution preparatory to tho Appropriation Bill was adopted. On being repotted to the House, and the motion to introduce the Appropriation Bill being made, Mr Smith complained of the treatment private member's business had met with at the hands of tho Government. At an early period of the session they took away one of the private member's days, and latterly they deprived them of any time whatever.'

Major Atkinson replied that in effect members had three days for work for their private business in addition to the two days specially set apart for them. They had liberally availed themselves of the Order Paper for questions, motions, and for bringing forward their grievances in going into Committee of Supply, monopolising as they did so much time that it would be impossible to go on with the Government business at all unless some restrictions were made.

Sir George Grey, in a long speech, impugned the general policy of tho Government, and moved, as an amendment, that the resolutions of the Committee of Ways and Means be not agreed to until a copy of the agreement between tho Government and the Bank of Now Zealand is laid on the table.

Major Atkinson stated that the Treasury do not possess a copy of the original agreement made with the Bank of New Zealand when that bank first commenced to keep the Government account, but that he had applied to tho bank to try and procure a copy.