HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Southland Times, Issue 8079, 6 August 1885, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. Keplying to questions, it was stated that copies of the Education Statement wonld be forwarded to the several Education Boards of the colony.— The Government intended going carefnlly into the reportß of the Royal Commissions on the South Island native land purchases, and would afterwards decide on what was to be done in tho matter. The following bills were introduced : — To amend the Agricultural and Pas'oral Societies Act, 1877 ; to amend the hours of work for certain classes of labour ; Resident Magistrates' Courts Proceedings Validation ; to consolidate and amend the law relating to Resident Magistrates' Courts ; to provide for the purchase by the Government of estateß in advantageous positions at prices not exceeding a fixed percentage per property tax now paid on each estates.

Mr W. F. Buckland resumed the debate on the East and West Coast Railway resolution. He opposed the committee, and considered that the syndicate should have taken the scheme up without aoy conceslion whatever.

Mr Turnbull thought the question had nothing to do with the Government at all : it waa for ihn House to consider. He contended that the information before the Houee waa not so full as it should be, and that it was not a proper subject for enquiry by a committee. Mr Bevan said it would be an act of discourtesy on the part of the Houbo to refuse the committee asked for. Ho referred to the vast resources of the West Coast, and said it was necessary that communication should be opened up with that part of the country. He pointed out that since tbe year 1865 no lesa than eighteen million sterling of gold had been obtained from the West Coast. He defended Meiggs and Co. from the ehargee that had be^n made against them, and said he hoped the House would agree to the appointment of the committee. Mr Meoteatb said if a committee of the wholo House were formed it would mean that the matter would be looked at in a provincial spirit. He pointed out that the railway had been advocated by all the leading political men in the colony, and in promising his constituents to support it he could not do wrong by voting for a railway which had been so strongly supported by the leading men of the House. The motion for the appointment of a committee was then put and lost on divieion by 34 to 27.

Ayes : 27— Ballance, Bevan, Oowan, Qm« tick, GuinDesi, Hurathouse, Ivess, Joyce, Lance, Larnacb, Levestam, MacaH-lrew, MeKenzie, J. McMillan, Menteath, Montgomery, O'Ca'la?han, O'Connor, Pearson, Pere, Beese, Bc'iarc'sorj, Seddoo, Stout, Tole, Walker, W. White Noes: 34— Atkinson, Barron, Beetham, Bruce, Bryce, Buchanan, J. 0. Buckland, Dargßville, Dodsoo, Duncan, F'sher, Fulton, Hamlin, Hatcb, Hiist, Hitlop, Hobb?, Lake, Ma-?arthnr, M. J. 8. Mackenzie, Mitcbelson, Moat, Mosp, Newman. Ormond, Peacock, Bolleston, Ros3, Russell, Gutter, T. Tbompeon, J. W, 'ihomsoD, Trimble [one short.] Paibs— Ayes ; Stewart, Fraser, Holmes, Brown, Yogel, Turnbull, Harper, Kerr, AllWright, Cadman, Smith, Gore Pratt, Noes : G. F. Richardson, w. j. Hurst, Fergus, J. B. White, JohnstoD, W. F. Buckland, Wakeiiel'', Connolly, Samuel, Wilson, Pyke, Locke, Hakueue. The debate on the second reading of the Native Lands Disposition Bill was resumed by Mr Wi Pere, who was interrupted by the 5.80 p.ro, adjournment.