LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2952, 11 September 1882, Page 3

LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

THIS DAY. Weilwotou, Sept. 11. The flouse met at 1.5; a m. , On the auction for going into Committen of Supply, Mr Sheehan moved —“ That the House take into favorable consideration the report of the Com* mittee in Jhe petition of Detective Farrell. ' . * Mr Macahdrew supported the motion. The Hon. Mr Bryce objected to in'terfering with the disoipUno of the police. The amendment was withdrawn. In Committee of Supply the debate was resumed oh the Item —Miscellaneous Defence—Thames Volunteers. Mr Sheehan supported and Mr 'Hursthpuse ( opposed thb vote. . The Hon. Mr Bryce said the corps was entwely,,mistaken i their engagement. They expected only - to ; be engaged for a couple ol weeks, but; he informed them explicitly that they; might be required for 2 months, or till: lawfully'diseharged. ■ After 31 days they were lawfully discharged. The officers; of the corps had acquiesced in the com-; promise already carried out. Mr Sheehan said the telegram was explicit enough? that the term of engagement 'should be at .least twomonths. . . , ■ ' '■ The Hon. Mr Eolleston thought they had been liberally dealt with. ( The motion to omit the item was carried by 30 to 26. The vote as reduced was passed. ■■ Crown Lands £150; miscellaneous 1 £9784, including £3695, to meet awards of Military and land claims Commission. ‘ , A division took place on the Item Compensation and, Interest to- John Kelly for loss of land £ISOO, which it was proposed to reduce by tha amount of the Interest £564, The item as printed passed by 31 to 30.

The total vote then passed. Mines Land Prospecting, £SOO ; Colonial Treasurer and Miscellaneous, £3508 ,; Public Trust Office, £220 ; Native Reserve, £301; Government Insurance, ,£BSOO ; Printing Brogden, papers, £4OO ;* Havelock Wharf, £4OO. All passed. Public Buildings, £21,000. On the item £20,000 for Parliamentary Buildings, the Hon. Mr Johnson said that the £IO,OOO suggested by Mr Montgomery was found to be insufficient to provide a fire-proof library, widen the corridors, erect a new kitchen . and other absolutely necessary improvements. Mr Barron opposed the vote, and said that no further expenditure should take place until a Royal Commission to report upon the removal of the seat of Government, had been appointed, Mr Montgomery thought £IO,OOO ample to provide a fire-proof library, improve the ventilation, and erect a better whips’ room. It would be better to abolish Bellamy’s than erect anew kitchen, even if the scat of Government were to be removed next year. £IO,OOO was not too much to, provide for the comfort of members, but they should not go beyond that. . , Major Atkinson did not think the removal of .'the seat of Government likely, but deprecated discussing it now. The whips’ rooms were urgently r"reauired and 'so' was a kitchen for Bellamy'*, It was thought also that a

suitable room should beprovided for the use of the leader of the Opposition. Mr Fergus as a practical man said £IO,OOO would not do the work required. Mr Shepherd said to reduce the vote would be parsimony, not economy. ,y Mr Macandrew opposed spending more than £3OOO.

Mr Wright considered that better provision should be made for strangers, ns there was constant interruption from behind the Speaker’s chair. Replying to a question, the Hon. Mr Johnston said that the services of a professional architect outside Government would be called in.. ■

Sir John Hall thought that a comprehensive plan of improvements should be submitted to Parliament. An amendment ■ that the item be omitted was lost by 26 votes to 33. Mr Barron moved that the sum be reduced to £3000._ Lost on the voices. t < The motion to reduce the item to £20,000 was carried on the voices. Mr Barron moved to reduce it ,to £SOOO. This was lost by 31 to 25, f' . The item £IO,OOO was passed! The remaining votes on the Supplementary Estimates passed as printed. A conference was appointed with the Council oh the Land Bill.

The House adjourned for lunch at 1.20 p.m.,