PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10413, 10 April 1897, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[II fBMOiUFB.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Friday. fB Council met at 11 a.m., but only formal business was transacted. lEEVICE BETWEEN NBW ZEALAND AND WKT AUSTRALIA. Mr. Reeves gave notice that he would ask the Government if during the receee the ywould consider the advisability of eubtidising a direcb steam service between this .colony and West Australia. THE rBIMIER'S VISIT. The Council concurred in a resolution from the House relating to the representation of the colony by the Premier at the record celebrations in London. The Council adjourned to 2.30. council's amendment bill. The Legiei&live Council's Act Amendment Bill, dealing with the office of Speaker, passed. WELLINGTON LOAN BILL. On resuming the Wellington City Sanitation Loan Bill was read a firec and second At 7.40 the Council adjourned till 11 i.m. on Saturday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday. The House met at 2.30. THE ADDRESS TO THE QOEEN. The Prkmier brought up the report of the joint committee appointed to draw up an eddrees to Her Majesty, which would be considered later on. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. The Premier moved that Mr. Guinness be Chairman of Committees, and referred to his impartiality when occupying the chair in the last Parliament. Mr. Smith moved to postpone the motion for a fortnight, which would shelve the question until next session. Sir R. Stout seconded. Captain Russell supported the amendment, declaring that last session he had not received fair treatment from Mr. Guinness. The Premier defended Mr. Guinness, and alle?ed that a rumour was current that Mr. Smith was an aspirant for the office. Mr. Moss moved the adjournment of the debate, which was lost on the voices. Mr. Smith's amendment was lost by 37 to B, and Mr. Guinness , election was carried by 35 to 32. The following is the division list :— Ayes, 35: E. G. Allen, Cadman, Camcross, Carroll, Duncan, Field, Fisher, Gilfedder, Graham, Hall-Jones, Hogg, Holland, Houston, J. Hutcheson, Kaihau, Larnach, Lawry, McGowan, McGuire, J. Mokenzie, R. McKenzie, Meredith, Millar, Mills, Morrison, O'ileara, O'Regan, Farata, Pere, Seddon, Stevens, Symee, Tanner, I. Thompson, Ward. Noes, 32: J. Allen, Bollard, Brown, Buchanan, Carson, Crowther, Fish, Fraser, Heke, Herries, Hunter, G. Hutchison, Kelly, Lang, l.ethbridge, Lewie, M. J. S. Mackenzio, McLean, Massey, Monk, Montgomery, Moore, Pirani, Russell, Rolleston, Smith, Stout, Taylor, R. Thompson, J. \V. Thomson, Wason, Wright. Mr. Guinness briefly returned thanks, Stating that on every occasion when in the chair he had given his decisions to the best of his ability and judgment, irrespective of party. ME PROPOSED CONTINGENT. Mr. Seddon proposed a vote of £3000 for 30 Europeans and 20 natives, forming the native contingent to go home. H* would also ask for £500 for a team of riflemen to visit Bisley. All the afternoon was occupied in dieonssing the question, some members urging toab the amount was too large. The leader of the Opposition said he would like to hear something about the discipline. Mr, fiEDDON assured members that the contingent would be under strict military discipline. • Eventually the amount was increased to 1000, and the vote passed. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AMENDMENT BILL. The eecond reading of the Legislative Council Amendment Bill was agreed to. THE QUESTION OF SUPPLIES. The committal of the Public Revenues Act was under discussion when the House adjourned for dinner, the Opposition opposing the extension oi supplies beyond the 30th September. The Pbbmieb offered to split the differ, ence between 30th September and Hth October, but Captain Russell said he had already made a concession. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. In committee, on the Public Revenue Act Amendment) Bill, A lengthy discussion enßued on Captain Rnssell's amendmecb to extend the Public Revenues Act only* to the 30th September instead of 14th October, as proposed in the clause. Captain Russell's amendment; was inally lost by 39 to 27, and 14th October carried. The division list was as follows :— Ayes,39: E.G. Allen.Cadman.Carncross, Carroll, Duncan, Field, Flatman, Gilfedder, Graham, Hall-Jones, Hogg, Holland, Houston, J. Hutcheson, Joyce, Kaihau, Laroach, McGowan, J. McKenzie, R. McKen, zie, Meredith, Millar, Mills, Morrison, O'Meara, O'Regan, Parata, Pere, Pirani, Seddon, Smith, Stevens, Steward, Symes, Tanner, R. Thompson, T. Thompson, Ward. Noes, 27: J. Allen, Bollard, Brown, Buchanan, Carson, Crowther, Frasor, Heke, Herries, Banter, G. Hutchison, Lang, Lethbridge, Lewis, McGuire, M. J. S. Mackenzie, McLean, Masssy, Monk, Moore, Richardson, Rolleston, Russell, Stout, J. W. Thomson, Wasou, Wright. Mr. Seddon withdrew his offer to insert the 7th October as» compromise. Clause 3, £150,000 for unauthorised expenditure, elicited a lengthy debate. Sir R. Stodt moved that the clauso be struck out. Lost by 41 to 21, and the clause carried. The following was the division list :—

Ayes, 41 (in favour of the amount remaining at £150,000): E. G. Allen, Cadman, Curncros!,Canoll, Crowther, Duncan, Field, Flatman, Gilfedder, Graham, HallJones, Hogg, Holland, Houston, J. Hutcheson, Joyce, Kaihau, Kelly, Larnach, McGowan, J. McKenzie, R. McKenzie, Meredith, Millar, Mills, Morrison, O'Meara, O'Regan, Parata, Pere, Pirani, Seddou, Smith, Stevens, Steward, Syms, Tanner, Taylor, R. Thompson, T. Thompeon, Ward. Noee, 21 (in favour of the reduction to (£100,000): J. Allen, Bollard, Brown, Heke, Herries, Hunter, Lang, Lethbridge, Lewis, McLean, Massey, Monk, Montgomery, Moore, Richardson, Rolleston, Russell, Stout, J. W. Thomson, Wright. The remaining clauses were agreed to. Sir. Skddon moved a new clause as follows: "Asincident to the representation of the colony in England on the occasion of the celebrations of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign, the Colonial Treasurer may iaiue out of consolidated fund any sum or sums not exceeding three thousand pounds for purpose of defraying the expenses of sending to England a contingent of the military or volunteer forces of the colony, and also a team of marksmen. Mr. Moore strongly disapproved of u volunteer contingent, but approved of a rifle team going to Bisley. He moved that £3000 be struck out, and £500 inserted to send home a rifle team. Hie opinion was that the money meant to be devoted to this contingent! could be better spent on volunteers in the colony. Mr. G. J. Smith thought the whole proposal was a frand, and he hoped the House would strike the clause out. If the Premier were to go to England, there was no occasion for these volunteers to go too. Mr. Taylor pointed out that the Bisley Meting was an annual affair, and it had no connection with the Queen's celebrations. He wished to make a final protest against the expenditure required for this con-

tiDgent. Mr. Wasok supported the proposal. He laid these men were not going home as a k bodyguard to the Premier. They were ,i going to do honour to the Queen at the ,L .'ooming celebrations. .:' Mr. Hogg opposed both the new clause and ':- Mr. Moore's amendment. He felt that the m Queen was the last woman who would seek S a military masquerade, This money was v reqnired for more aeeful purpose. -'; Mr. McLun deprecated the idea that the ,-'/ ' colony could nob afford to spend a few iV ; ' thousand ponnde to take part in the Queen's Hi celebration./ He thought the contingent W& iboald accompany the Premier and he regretted the Home had not recognised that (bis wat a' great imperial question. ' ' ' , Mr. Gbaha* opposed this contingent! '' ■;. 'fclfffm| ahiy flMld not dfad it, ' : /' ■ '" w

Mr. Fbaseb would not support the amendment, and Mr. Tanner opposed both the cUiue and the amendment. Mr. Carsoh thought only the Premier and volunteers should go home. He would like to tee the vote reduced, not besaoie he was against the Maoris, but they were not part of the colonial forcw. Mr. Buchanan did not agree with a parsimony chat would prevent the volunteers going home. Sir R. Stout said the contingent would be no proper representation of the colony. The Premier said he thought the men should go to London, bub he would nob force it on the House. The Bmendment was rejected by 48 to 20. Mr. Millar moved to strike out the provision for marksmen going home, Lost on the voices. The motion that the clause be added to the Bill was on division carried by 41 to 26. Sir K. Stout, Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Scobie Mackenzie entered a protest against the third reading. Mr. Monk continued the debate against tho Government, as did Mr. Buchanan, while Mr. Graham supported them. The Premikb then replied, and was speaking at 2 a.m. when the telegraph office closed.