Latest Parliamentary.

Hastings Standard, Issue 508, 22 December 1897, Page 3

Latest Parliamentary.

BOTH HOUSES ADJOURN

[By Telegraph."

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, This day

After the telegraph office closed, the debate on the third reading of the Appropriation Bill was continued by Mr Stevens, who replied to MrPirani's statements respecting the Horowbenua Block, and contended that he had read the brief of Sir Waiter Bulbr's counsel.

Mr Richardson also dealt at some length with Horowhenua.and also with the negotiations which led to the advance of £150,000 worth of New Zealand Consols to the Colonial Bank. Mr Setldon said the session had been an unique and extraordinary one. The policy of the Opposition had been a studied and determined blocking of business. The Opposition was weaker in debating power than he had ever seen it, and another source of its weakness was "fad." It had now three leaders. Despite the systematic blocking, the Government had passed and placed on the Statute-book such laws as would redound to the credit of Parliament and to the party which passed them. He pointed out that there had been forty-three measures passed, which was the average number passed. referring to the report of the debates in the House appearing in the Opposition papers, he said if those papers wished to prostitute the Press they could do so at their own expense, and not at the expense of the colony. During the recess the Cabinet intended to consider what steps should be taken to prevent the great wrong dona in this respect. The Opposition had failed to oust the Government on the question of Mr Ward's position in the House and the charges against the Police Department. He pointed out that on divisions on policy measures the Government had a majority ranging from ten to twelve, and he contended that the Government, at the opening of the session, had a majority of fifteen, and at the close of the session bad the same majority. Referring to the rejection of the Old Age Pension Bill by the Council, he said that the fact that life members, with the exception of three, having voted against the measure, strengthened his conviction that the constitution of the Council required reviewing. Referring to Labour legislation, he said the House had passed a great proportion of those introduced, but the life members of the House had laid them aside. He referred to other legislation introduced, and said that by passing the resolution respecting suspended orders the House would next session start with a large number of necessary measures on the Order Paper. The Bill passed its final stages.

Mr Seddon, in reply to Mr Carson, said he would not agree to give etfa names of the Police Commissioners, but stated that the Commissioner of Police would not be one. At 8.59 a message was received from the Council notifying the passage of the Bill. The Speaker proceeded with the Bill to Government House, and refonwd with bis Excellency's assent,

At 4.10, by 18 to 15, the House adjourned till Friday. The Council, on resuming at 7.30, immediately adjourned till 10 p.m., when it further adjourned till midnight, then an unit-finite adjournment was made. At B.±o a.m. the Appropriation Bill was rec-eived from the Lower House and { lit through all its stages. On the motion for the third reading, the Hon. Mr Bonar said the Council had not been treated in a proper manner by the Government. They had met day .-'tier day without any measures being brought belore then. The Minister of Education asserted that he personally was not to blame for the fact that policy bills had to originate in the Lower House. The third reading was then agreed to, and the Bill passed. The Council adjourned till the Governor's assent had been obtained, and finally adjourned at -4.15 a.m. till Friday. The schedule of the business of the House during the session shows that 2-1 select committees were set up ; 42 public bills received the .Royal assent; 88 were dropped or otherwise disposed of; one private bill received Royal assent ; 858 petitions were presented ; 155 divisions were recorded ; 881 questions were asked of Ministers; 21G papers were laid on the table; 324 reports were received from select committees the House sat on 51 days, the daily sitting being 19 hours, ten minutes.