EVENING SITTING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XIX, Issue 188, 25 August 1883, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30.

Sir George GREY moved aa an amendment to the original motion that m future Committees of the House be open to the press, except when the committee deliberated, or aaka the reporters to withdraw. He blamed Major Atkinson for having failed to lead the House on this question, as on a previous occasion Government had to wait to get a policy from himself and his friends. He thought it most important that the utmost freedom of aotiou should be assured to the presa.

Major ATKINSON opposed this amendment. Any committee coald now admit strangers if it liked. Mr JOYCE! supported the amendment, bat did not think it would do much good. Mr BARRON thought the presence of reporters would lead membeis of committee's to make injermioable speeches and to waste time. Mr DE LA.TOUR supported the amendment. Mr WHITAKER pointed out that committee's really deoided nothing. The House reserved all rights to decide what Committees enqnired into. He opposed amendment. Mr BWANSON opposed the amendment, and moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr TURNBULL and Mr BRACKEN supported Sir George Grey's amendment. Mr MACANDREW supported Sir George Grey's proposal. The debate was adjourned for six weeks. The House went into Committee on the Native Land Laws bill. The first of Mr Bryca's clauses, to give the Chief Justioe instead o! the Government power to remove restrictions on I alienation, was negatived by 37 to 23, and a new, clause, moved by Mr Swanson, requiring notice m the Gazette before any reßtriotion was removed, was carried on the voices. The Bill was then reported as amended. The Native Committees Bill passed through Committee with verbal amendments, The West Coast Settlements Beaerves Bill, Volunteer Aot Amendment Bill, Kawwhia Township Sale Bill, and Auckland Hospital Reserves Bill, passed through Committee, were read a third time, and passed. Progress was reported on the Counties Aot Amendment Bill. The Honse roso at 12-45.