IN PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 30

IN PARLIAMENT.

Sydney, March 20.

In the Legislative Assembly to-day the Premier (Mr G. H. Eeid) made a Ministerial statement.' Jtt was, he said, intended to invite the Legislative Council to hold a conference on 'the 'Land and Coal Mines Bill. He proposed at once to proceed with the Local Government Bill, and to push forward a number of public works, including several light railways, with a view to provide work for the unemployed. The House would be asked to pass a Loan Bill before Christmas. Eec'ent developments had convinced him of the necessity of legislation to deal.with trade disputes, and on Thursday he would introduce a Trade Conciliation Bill. Tuesday would be devoted to the Federal Enabling Bill. The Government was determined to carry on its policy of unmistakable Free Trade, coupled with direct taxation and rigid economy, lhe Financial Statement would be delivered the first week in May, and the local government, direct taxation and financial proposals of the Government would come into operation on Ist July. Sir George Dibbs stated that he intended to take a test vote on the direct taxation proposals when the Bills, were read a third time. He considered the local government question should have precedence ot the spurious Federation scheme. This afternoon Sir Henry Parkes moved the adiournment of the. House in order to call attention to the abuse by the Premier of Parliamentary usage in delivering a strongly argumentative speech under the guise of making a Ministerial statement. The practice of the House rendered reply or discussion impossible. He also wished to draw attention to the state of confusion that prevailed throughout the country. Mr Eeid, the Premier, here raised a point of order, and the Speaker ruled that reference to the state of the country was out of order, and that all Sir Henry Parkes could do was to discuss Mr Eeid's speeeh. Sir H. Parkes went on to say that the action of -the Premier showed a total disregard of the practices of Parliament. It was, clearly unjust that the Premier should discuss all the questions raised in

the Statement. If the Premier was an' archangel, instead of the opposite, he could not pass all the measures mentioned within the next three months. It was a. piece of audacious insolence on the part of a small-minded man to say that he would do in three months what he could not do in. a century. The Premier, in reply, said Sir Henry Parkes should be on tbe Opposition benches. He did not want a man on his side of the House who was like a traitor, and tried to undermine the Preetrade Party. The motion for the adjournment of the House was negatived. REDUCING THE GOVERNOR'S SALARY. The question of reducing the salary of the future Governor was raised to-day. . The Premier informed the House that he was making certain enquiries on the subject. THE SHEARING TROUBLE. The Colonial Secretary, in reply to a question, stated that the recent shearing; difficulty had cost the colony .£12,900.