HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6075, 19 September 1881, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Saturday, September 17. The House met at 11 a.m. SECOND READINGS.

The Education Reserves Act Amendment, the Supreme Court Procedure, and the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bills, were read a second time. PUBLIC REVENUES BILL. In committee Major Atkinson asked leaved to introduce a Public Revenues Amendment Bill. Mr Montgomery objected to the bill on the ground that supplies for a period of fifteen months was under the circumstances too long. It was of the utmost importance that Parliament should be called again not later than the middle of April. A great question of policy was embodied in the approaching elections, and it was constitutional that an opportunity should be given at the earliest possible moment to see who had got the confidence of the country.

Major Atkinson said he understood the calling together of Parliament was a question of convenience for members, and that the middle of May or June had been decided as the most convenieut period of the year. He knew of no great question of policy at issue. In fact he could not see how members on the other Bide would be able to manufacture an election cry.

Mr Montgomery said that on going *■ into Committee of Supply it was his intention of moving that in the opinion of this' House the general elections should take .place not later than the month of November, and that Parliament should meet not later than the 15th of April. He would. prefer Parliament meeting in January or February, but he found that those "were most inconvenient months for meeting. April, however, would obviate that difficulty. The Government asked for three months supplies beyond the 31st March, and it was most important they should be prevented from carrying on too long after the elections. To put himself right with the forms of the House he moved to report progress. Major Atkinson said it was evident enough that the motion would create a lengthened discussion. He would therefore table a notice for bringing the bill in in the ordinary way for Monday. Mr Montgomery said he would prefer Beeing the debate taken to-night. At all events, if it was delayed till Monday, he hoped the Government would not^ give facilities for members leaving until the question was decided. The question for leave to introduce the bill on Monday was then put and carried. COUNTIES SUSPENSION BILL. TneLCounties Suspension Bill was consldarectin committeet Mi^Bryce opposed the pasjring qi the

bill; which he denounced as a most pernicious one, and one he was prepared to resist, even although ho had to remain in session a month longer. So far as he could judge the demand for the bill had come from only one county. He was told 4i Road Boards had petitioned for it, but, conBidering the object aimed at, these boards would sign petitions of that kind as a matter of course. Nothing surprised him more than to find the Government lending itself to a measure of this kind.

After a lengthened discussion, Mr Hall said that, with the view of obviating the chief objection to the bill, he would consent to a clause being inserted to the effect that no county be allowed to take advantage" of the ACt whose prsperty or funds are insufficient for the discharge of all its debts and liabilities. Mr Ballance also objected to the bill, commenting strongly on the impropriety of rushing a measure of so much importance* through during the dying hours of the session. He moved that progress be reported. — Ayea, 16 ; noes, 36. Mr Bryce moved that the Chairman leave the chair. — Negatived on the voices.

Mr Hall agreed to report progress, promising to reconsider what could be done with the bill in the interim.

The motion for reporting progress was agreed to, and the House adjourned at 1.45 till 3 o'clock.