House of Representatives.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 859, 9 August 1879, Page 2

House of Representatives.

Fbiday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Nearly the whole of the afternoon sitting was occupied with answering questions. An Address of Condolence to Her Majesty, on the death of the Princess Alice, was passed. It was agreed to increase the vote for School Buildings by £75,000, making a total of £225,000. Sir William Fox asked the Premier whether the Governor had made any reply to the addresses of both Houses respecting the early assembling of the new Parliament. The Premier said Ministers had not advised the Governor to make a formal reply. They had tendered him such advice as would probably be made, and which he (the Premier) had no doubt would be satisfactory to the House. Major Atkinson said they would allow business to proceed in the meantime ; but before it closed, the Opposition would certainly take steps to ascertain whether or not the Governor intended to bring the new Parliament together again within a reasonable period. The Premier said he did not know what course would be pursued by the Governor. Moat probably he would xeply, and from the character of the advice tendered to him by his responsible advisers, he had no doubt the reply would be satisfactory to the House. The usual adjournment at 5.30 then took place. • On resuming the Premier read several memorandums that had passed between himself and the Governor, respecting the assembling of the new Parliament. The first was from the Governor to the Premier, dated the previous day, the 7th, the Premier that his Excellency had received addresses from both Houses, urging that the new Parliament .be called together at the earliest moment writs can be made returnable.,. In view of the circuniBtances, and of the. faut that Ministers had been, cpndemned by both Houseß, and having regard to the critioal state of Native affairs, the Governor felt it his bouriden duty to take every precaution lhat he should be able to recur to advice of a hew Parliament at the earliest date by law. Therefore, before proroguing Parliament, with a. view to a dissolution, he would require the Premier's assurance as to the date of. the issue of new writs and the date when they would be returnable. The second memorandum was from the Premier, giving his assurance that writs 'would bei issued two days after a dissolution and be made returnable thirty days after. The third memorandum was from the Governor, himself satisfied with the Premier's assurance to the effect stated. Sir William Fox pointed out that the . Premier's memo to the Governor only fixed the time for issuing writs from the date of dissolution. There might, he said, ue a month or more between the prorogation and dissolution. What the Opposition wanted was that the Premier would give an assurance that a dissolution would take place two days after the prorogation. The Premier said no unnecessary delay would take place ; but the dissolution rested with the Governor. After considerable discussion, an adjournment took place for 20 minutes to allow the Premier and his colleagues to consult over the matter. On resuming, the Premier said he could say nothing but what he had said before. So far as rested injiis power, the dissolution would take place within three days after prorogation. I Sir William Fox asked if he was to understand that the Premier loyally accepted the memorandum of His Excellency the Governor, and would, do his best that a dissolution should take place within three days of prorogation. The Premier, without reply, moved that the House go into a committee of supply. Sir W. Fox repeated his question. After some more discussion ho said thai; after the assurance he had given he would have acted the part of a dishonorable man if he had threw any impediment in the way of a dissolution being given effect to within three days of the prorogation ; and that the new Parliament should meet about the 20th of September. The House then went into committee of supply ; passed the items, and then in a committee of ways and means passed. the appropriation of £1,514,827. The Appropriation Bill was then read a second time and the House adjourned until 11 o'clock this morning.

In the Legislative Council the Loan Bill was passed.