EVENING SITTING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIV, Issue 141, 4 July 1888, Page 3

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30. supply. Dr Hodgkinson continued the debate on going into supply. After criticising Jihe previous speeches at some length, he dilated upon the advantage of selling the railways, and begged the House to get on with the business of the country. Mr Marchant stated that Mr Monk was not spokesman of the Committee of Economy, and his amendment was not prompted by them, though he personally agreed with it. They did not mind being called names. He justified the action of that section of the House and thendemand for a reduction to the extent of a hundred thousand more. Government had done, many unpleasant things, but they must do many more before the finances of the Colony were put into good order, so that all the odium must not be placed on their shoulders. Mr Hutchison was glad to notice signs of some sort of guarantee that the public services of the Colony m the future would be conducted at less cost. He commended the work of the 'committee who had been considering the Estimates privately. The amendment only touched the fringe ofthe question. In his opinion not nearly enough had been retrenched. Sir George GREY thought the House ought to agree to the amendment. They had a right to ask that -they mighi be allowed to deal with the salaries of legislative officers," and not lea,ve them to the option of one man. Mr MONK'S amendment was then put arid negatived by 52 to 21. Mr Scobie MACKENZIE said Freetraders did not feel it incumbent on them to vote on the question of going into Supply, as it was merely a question between Government and Protectionists. Sir George GREY said he should divide the House again on the main question so 4 as to protest ■ against leaving the Civil Service m its present position of uncertanty. -Mr M'AETHUE said Protectionists would find once they begun with the Estimates they would not get back very readily ■to the Tariff Bill, unless, indeed, the Premier had receded from the position he took up on Friday night. Mr LEVESTAM said it was Freetraders who had voted against the Government on Friday. Protectionists had been quite consistent, and he for one would support ' Government again on this question.