HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVIII, Issue 224, 21 September 1892, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

- : The Honae met at 2.30. PATJIEHr OF MEIIBEBS. ' 'rhe Hon. Mrßallance gavo notice of . i iatrodoetidn of the Payment of Members Bill. " • . . GOTKBKMBHT BD3ISES3. Ths Hon Me Baliance gave .notice to moT9 that theHoase Bit on Monday at 2.80 p.m. for Government business, aad that the Standing Orders ba suspended to aliow fresh " Baalaesaio b« iafcen alter: 12.30 a.m. Sir John Hall said Tie felt sure _thß Honsa \ woold ba gled to eea the Premier m his i place after his recent illness, bat he thbnght j at this stage of the session the Honsa was j entitled to be informed as to what bills the I Gcnrarntneat intend to go on with this ; ssssioQ. : ■■■---■- - i The Hon Mr Ballsnes thanked the Member for Eliesmere for his feindly reference to ; hiastlfi and Eaid he hoped m a' few days to be able to afford come definite information as to *bat business the Gorernment would ask ths House, to go on with this session. I Mr FergU3 complained of the delay m getting down the Pablic Works Statement. The Hon Mr Ballancs replied that the Statement was new m course of preparation, ; ; ind^rosld ba brought down early nsxt week. •■*'- Mr Fi3h also protested against tha non- ■ appearaacs of the Statement, sad zsid it. Was. evideat that as ; its production would eansa a howi of dissatisfaction amongst ' Gbtenunent supporters, Ministers wert keeping ii back till the House was m a state of alt«r collapse ihroai?h late sittings. ...'"- . PCBUC BETOHfJES BILL. ■ The Hon. Mr Bsllance moved the second .'raiding or the Public Bill. Ha "BRid. the object of the Bill. vsa set: out m the Financial Statement. It was intended to redeem guarantee debentures m London, and to redoes Treasury-Bills from £476,000 to £450,000. -It was also provided that the. Treasury may issue furthsr Treasury bills to the extent of £100,000 to meet the - _ expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund, and £450,000 for redeeming.gunraa. teed ctabentnres -.is'sced under Immigration and Public Works Loan Act, 1870. The . BOi also provided that t£ ay elling allowances. to Bbyal "Commissioners' should be commuted to a sum not exceeding twenty shillings -per day, m addition to money paid ' for IravelKngfares. Ha said the Government were of opinion that m order to proTide against' contingencies there should always be m the hands of tha Agent-General m London debentures to the amount of £450,009. .. ) Sir John Hall said ba regarded with considerable anxiety this proposal to increase the borrowing powers of the Government. Es also took^ exception to tha manaer* of audit proposed by tha Bill. A long debate ensued, the Bill being strongly opposed by several membars of tha Opposition. ; . Mr Moors moved as an amendment that the Bill be iead that day bis months. On a division the amendment was rejectedby 25 to 16. In the course of his reply, fhe Premier denied 'that tha measure wa3 a borrowing one. The second reading was carried by 25 to .. 17 - ...- . . - .- The Hciuse rose at 5.30 V -•- »