PARLIAMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 2165, 13 August 1875, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, Wednesday. h\ the House of Representatives ou Tuesday evening, a new writ was issued for Caversham. The Stamp Duties Bill was read a second time. Sir Donald McLean read a statement of the purchase of native lands in tbc North Island. Sir George Grey and Mr Reader Wood strongly objected to Ministers reading priuted statements, which were characterised as mere productions of tie army of clerks, Sir George Grey resumed the de bate en abolition in an eloquent speech of au hour and a half's auration. He strongly urged delay untn the people had been consulted at a

general election, and concluded by imploring the G-overnment to pause in their reckless and mad course. Sir Donald McLean said that provincial institutions were only intended as a temporary means of settling the country, ultimately to mer^e into extended municipalities. They wera never intended to b? permanent. He asserted that the Government had th? authority and support of the people in the course they had taken. Provincial institutions had ceased to carry out their functions, therefore they should disappear. The so. mer they were swept away the bettor for the credit, stability, and prosperity of the colony. Mr Reader "Wood condemned the culpable negligence of the Grovernment in not taking the advice of the Attorney- General to set doubts at rest. He then criticised th; i Bill, and said that instead of Superiniendents elected by the people, we were to have nominated satraps. ; Ie then analysed the financial stiteineut, and contended that instead of a surplus, there wis really a deficiency of £270,211. He declared lli it to carry the Bill would cti-ike a blow at the credit of the col ny, u n -ior which ifc would real, and it would throw the finances into inextricable, (•••nfu-don. Mr Vincent Pyke was iv favor of abolition, but deprecated such extreme haste, lie would vote for the second reading, but his vote on the third would dep-.-nd on the shape the Bill came out of committee, where he should endeavor to amend it. Mr Thomson accused the Government of breaking; their pledges, and merely borrowiug Mr Stafford's ideas, which they went into office pledged to oppose. If they had turned round they should have resigned, and let Mr Stafford carry out his own policy. In ihe Legislative Council yesterday, on the motion of Captain Baillie, the petition from settlers in the Mataura and Oreti districts was referred to the Waste Lauds Committee. Thursday. In the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening, the Abolition debate was continued by Mr Luekie, who said that provincialism was practically defunct, as was admitted -even ; by the Opposition, who only asked delay to enable thetn to construct a rival policy. Mr Montgomery condemned the Bill as a mere half measure, and most I imperfect. It would be impossible to ! carry out tlie assistance to road boards and municipalities out of colooial revenue, for primary charges absorbed all. He would vote against the second reading, and if carried, he shonld try and amend the Bill iv committee. Mr Tribe said he had changed his ideas since last session, and now, as the whole country clamored for abolition, the Government ought to press a speedy settlement of the question. Mr Gibbs did not approve of the Bill in its present shape, but agreed with abolition, and would try to amend the Bill in committee. Sir Cracrofc Wilson moved the adjournment of the debate till Friday. The business to-day was merely routine, and possessed no features of general interest.