PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9141, 24 August 1888, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. - LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday. Thb Council met at half-past two p.m. BILLS advanced. The Thorndon Reclamation Act, 1882, Amendment Bill was read a first time. The Crown and Native Lands Rating Acts Repeal, Local Bodies Audit, Government Life Insurance, and Rating Acts Amendment Bills were read a second time. Messrs. Shrimski and Bonar spoke in opposition to the former, but no division was called for. The Council rose at ten minutes past four. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THURSDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD. Replying to Mr. Reeves (St. Albans), Sir H. Atkinson said the Government did not intend proposing any further legislation this session in 'the direction of enabling the New Plymouth Harbour Board ] to meet its engagements. j DISTRICT RAILWAYS. The motion for the recommittal of the District Railways Purchasing Act Amendment Bill was put without discussion. Ayes, 31 ; noes, 31. The Speaker gave his vote in favour of the re-committal of the Bill, which was then re-committed. After a lengthy discussion, a proposal that the exemption from rates of persons paying £2 10s shall be prospective as well as retrospective, was lost Dy 43 to 27. Mr Hislop moved that the amendments in the Bill be agreed to. Mr. -Duncan moved that the Bill be recommitted for a new clause to the effect that rates collectable from persons holding land on the deferred payment perpetual lease system within the rating district shall be chargeable against the Government. Lost after considerable debate by 38 to 47, and the Bill reported with* amendments. On the motion for the third reading, Mr. Duncan strongly protested against the decision just given by the House, and censured the Government for having caused the defeat of his proposal. The third reading was then agreed to on the voices. On the motion that the Bill do pass another long debate arose. The Bill then passed on the voices. LOCAL BILLS. Sir H. Atkinson moved that the House at its rising adjourn till next day at halfpast twelve o'clock for local Bills. Agreed to. ' The House. rose at half-past five p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. state BANK. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr. Verrall moved an amendment, " That it is desirable the Premier should introduce a Bill next session to establish a State bank," on which subject he spoke for an hour and a-half. The amendment was lost on the voices. RAILWAY BOARD. In reply to a question by Mr. J. McKenzie, The Premier said the Government would do something definite regarding the appointment of railway commissioners as soon after the session as possible. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. Mr. Mackenzie (Clutha) urged the claims of the Catlin River Railway on the Government. Mr. E. Richardson thought they had better go into committee-at once, and debate the Estimates item by item. Mr. Seddon stigmatised the Public Works Statement as most unsatisfactory, and accused the Government of having given way to pressure, and altered it again and again since it was first drawn up. He complained of the extreme delay in bringing it down, which was done to influence votes. He repudiated the assertion of the Premier that he himself had been responsible for this delay. It was most discreditable that they should be discussing this question for the first time within two or three days of the end of the session. Mr. R. Thompson complained that there was no provision for extending the railways north of Auckland. Mr. Hutchison hoped the House would reconsider the item, contribution to naval squadron. Through Queensland refusing to join, the question was still left open, as one of the stipulations was that all the colonies must be parties to the agreement. In this matter the question of taxation without representation was involved. Mr. Moss was much disappointed with the Statement, for it reproduced every vice found in its predecessors. Prominent among these were -reproductive railways and borrowing of money for maintenance of repairs of roads, which 'he denounced in the strongest terms. Mr. Grimmond referred to the dilatory way in which the Hokitika-Greymouth line was carried on, though it had more claim to consideration than other railways. - Messrs. Hobbs and R. Reeves expressed regret at the Northern Auckland line not being pushed on, but the former said it was the fault of the members themselves, who in past years had not pressed ltd claims on the Ministry of the day. Mr. Peeves also complained of the neglect of the West Coast. f

Mr. FuLTON moved the adjournment of the debate, as.it was evident the Estimates could not be finished with that night. Messrs. Walker and Reeves (St. Albans) objected. The Premier said it would take six hours to get through the Estimates, and he thought the best course would be to get on with the other work on the order paper. Sir J. Hall and Mr. Fish supported the adjournment. Mr. Seddon wanted to know who was responsible for the waste of time now, himself or the Premier, who had put up a supporter to move the adjournment when debate was all but finished ? This was merely a dodge to delay the consideration of the Estimates till a number of members had left Wellington. After some further remarks from Mr. Fraser and Dr. Fitchbtt, the adjournment was carried by 50 to 18. SPECIAL POWERS. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Special Powers and Contracts Act Amendment Bill. This being agreed to, Mr. Hislop moved its committal forthwith. Messrs. Kerr and Menteath considered it was properly a private Bill. After further debate the motion was agreed to, and the Bill finally passed with some amendments. The House rose at 1.10 a.m.