HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 358, 6 November 1897, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, Nov. 4. The Allen Immigration Restriction Bill I was road a first time. Imprest Supply Bill, No. 2, making provision for an expenditure of £375,000, was read a first time. On the question of second reading Mr Geo. Hutchison pointed out that there had not been a single opportunity afforded to members to obtain information, except by consent of the Government. He alleged that one of the. returns he had asked for respecting the printing of electoral rolls, which had not been granted, would show that there had been gros^ favoritism in the matter. ' After referring to other returns refused him, he condemned the Ministry for releasing a number of prisoners at the Queen's Jubilee. The Hon. J. McKenzie said the returns asked for by the last speaker were not for honest information, but were simply put on the Order Paper so that he could accuse Ministers of refusing to give information. Iv connection with the release of prisoners, he stated that most oi the twenty released had only a few weeks to serve. A mistake might have been made in this matter, but the Government had only done what the governments of other colonies had done. Mr Richardson said the Government brought many attacks on themselves by their extreme reticence in giving information. He contended that Ministers should give details respecting the position of aid to public works and land settlement loan locally raised, and especially the number of persons and financial institutions who contributed. Mr Seddon said a return respecting the released prisoners \va3 oppossd, as the Government wished to give those released every opportunity t'i reform. — Second reading agreed to and the bill put through its final stages. The Old Age Pension Bill was read n first time. Mr Seddon laid ou the table correspondence respecting the L e e-Metford rifle and stated, in connection with the letter published by Colonel Fox, late Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, that his (Mr Seddon's) remark that Colonel Fox had beeu allowed a free hand, he had intended to apply only to the question of firearms for the forces, for he had no intention of asserting that Colonel Fox had had a free hand in all matters connected with the forces. — Captain Russell was strongly under the impression that the late commandant had not had a free hand in the purchase of the rifles, and was materially controlled as to money for the purchase of such. Whatever Colonel Fox had recommended he was controlled by the Minister of Defsuce, and iv no sense of the word could hu by said to have had a free hand in the purchase of rifles or in any other matter. Second readings of a number of local bills were agreed to, and the House rose at 1.20 a.m. Friday, Nov. 5. On Mr Montgomery bringing up the report of the Joint Statutes Revision Committee on the Land and Income Assessment Bill, Mr Seddon moved that the measure be restored to tbe Order Paper. — Motion agreed to. The remainder of the afternoon was occupied in Ministers answering questions. At the evening sitting, the Master and Apprentice Bill passed its second reading pro forma, and was referred to the Labor Bills Committee. Mr Carroll moved the second reading of the Native Land Laws Act Amendment Bill, the provisions of which were, he said, intended to rectify certain defects in the Acts of 1893 and 189G on the subject. — After debate, the second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the House adjourned at 12.15 a.m.