PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXX, Issue 249, 24 October 1894, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

, $ — __ [B* TBLIOBAPa— EPECI Ii TO EXPBES". , Wellington, October 23. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The business of the Legislative Assembly to-day cilia for very little mention. A oouple of Email Native Land Bills, and a Bill of one clause to regulate traction engine traffic, were put through all their stages m both Houses ; while another small Native Land Bill waß thrown out m Council. APPROPRIATION BILL. In Ooirinriltee on the Appropriation Bill, country members strongly urge! on the GovernmenVthe advisability of calling Parliament together earlier m the year than June, hut an amendment by Mr Blunder a embodying this expression of opinion, was lost by 81 to 23. The U3uil debate on the third reading of the Appropriation Bill was opened by Captain Russell, who made A BRILLIANT SPEECH, his attack on the Government policy being one of the moat damaging beard this session. He poured broadside after broadside on to the Ministerial benohes, and predicted the Opposition when they came into power again would have an uphill task m nndoing the misohief the present Government had done. v The Hon Mr Reeves replied to him, and m a capital Bpeeoh laid special Btress on the importance of labour legislation, passed by the Government, saying the session was one of the^ most uaelul ever held m the Colony. ; : ; ; - - Other speakers were Sir R. Stout, the Hon. Mr Seddon, Messrs Buohanan, Thoe. MaoKenzie, and Pirani. The Col. Treasurer having replied, the Bill wad pat' through its final stages and tent to the Legislative Council, where it passed shortly .before, midnight. Both Houses then adjourned till noon to-morrow for the Governor's assent to the Bills. With one stogie exotption the session just dosed iB tbe LONGEST ON RECORD, its length was exceeded m 1879, when there was a ohange m the Ministry, and the session lasted five months. . Under the Pensions Act of 1884 Mr Fi(z« gerald will beoome entitled to A PENSION- OF £500, if he shall resign offioe of Controller and Auditor General on or after 28th February next, which pension will beoome increased by * sum of £16.133 41 for eaoh year that he shall remain m offioe after the above" mentioned day. : A DROPPED BILL! The Horowhenua Bloqk Bill bad finally to be dropped, as the Government could not aooept the Oounoil's amendment?; , SCHEDULE OF BUSINESS. The schedule of business shows that the House passed 101 Bills this session; 92 being dropped, or otherwise disposed of. These rigureß are considerably m excess of the number of previous years. The House sat for 697 hours, the average daily sitting being 8 hours 36 minute?. Other business of the session is largely io excels of that of previous years. FINAL PROCEEDINGS. After a few parting remarks the House finally adjourned at one o'olook. The Premier paid a fulsome compliment to the Speaker for bis conduct of business m the Chair, his remarks beiDg. loudly cheered from both sides of tho House, A short discussion took place with regard to Samoa, but members were nnable to 11 draw" the Premier bb to the intentions of the Government on the question during the recess.