PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 18, 31 August 1894, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, August 27. LOCAL BILLS. The Riverton Harbour Board Empowering Bill was read a third time and passed, a hostile amendment being rejected by 24 to 15. The Greymouth Harbour Board Empowering Bill' passed through committee without amendment. Mr Mitchelson asked whether there was any possibility of default on the part of the Board. The Premier said that the Bill was absolutely necessary in order to open up new coal leases, and he thought that sufficient safeguards had been inserted by the Local Bills Committee. The Waitnakaviri Water Supply Board Loan Bill, Newmarket (Auckland), Hall Bill, and Mangahau County Council Empowering Bill were passed through committee without amendment. The Onehunga Cemetery Bill was under discussion for some time in committee. Mr Tanner, with the object of 1 illicg the Bill, moved that the chairman leave the chair, which was carried by 22 to 11, the Bill thus being shelved. * The Bills which passed through Committee earlier in the evening were then reported, read a third time, and passed. Speaking on the Dunedin Loan Conversion Uill, Mr Seddon said this was the first measure of its hind in the colony and it would, no doubt, be followed by others so that it was as well the House should know what the Government was doing in respect to it. The amount involved was a quarter of a million, and there was no doubt Dunedin had made out a good case. Personally he should not oppo»e the Bill because it gave relief and was going in a proper direction. He pointed out, however, that the Bill would increase the gross debt of the city which would be paid out of the sinking fund as provided by the Bill. The question was whether there should be a general measure giving power to the local authorities or whether each district should come before the House as the occasion arose.