The House.

Colonist, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4170, 20 June 1885, Page 3

The House.

June 19." ! The House met at 2-30 p.m. Leave of absence was given to Mr Seddon for a •week, owing to sickness in his family. Beplying to questions, it was stated that it was not proposed to establish an Agricultural portfolio this session, but the matter would be considered during the recess; that the reason why the Kaikoura was not quarantined was because the matter was not known to the authorities till it appeared in the newspapers; that no petition had as yet been received from Fiji praying for annexation; that John White's manuscript had been received by the Government, but in such a confused state that some time must elapse before it was ready for publication,; that copies of Bills and Papers could be supplied to members for the purpose of forwarding them to local Parliamentary Unions; that copies-of Bills introduced this session affecting local bodies would beforwarded to those bodies...! •■■■•■ ' ;• ;! ■ ■ ' The; following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—The Evidence Amendment Bill (Stewart).; a Bill to amend the Constabulary Act, 1867 (Guinness)i; The Committees Act, 1876,' Amendment Bill (Stout); a Bill to amend the iLicensing Acts (Steward); rthe Hospitals and: Charitable Aid Bill (Vogel); The Local Bodies, Finance and Powers Bill (Vogel).; a Bill to Abolish the Duty on Gold (Vogel) .;■ a Bill to amend tba law: of Distress Fof Eent.(Garrick>:: • : Mr Ballanoe moved the seoorid reading of / the Taakitoko'aud Eaitangata Lakaaißill. Agreed#oii!!j:r!"o-■■■■ --">'■ ■■-■■■■■ -^ • Sir J; Vogel. moved the second reading of the Fire.tand: Marine Insurance Companies Bill. Agreedito.. ■>■..-'■> ■ o , • ■/ The House adjourned at i*4s p.m;. :x,l At 7.30 the House went into Committee of Ways and MeansJ-riwTien/the .Colonial Treasurer delivered bis Financial Statement. Major Atkinson' askedjwhat.couse the; Government desired to pursue as to the discussing of the Statement. It was evident tha House would not be in a position on Tuesday to discuss the whole of such an important Statement The Treasurer had just mentioned that he would be prepared on Tuesday to discuss, the financial, proposals of the Statement and leave the other portions till A farther opportunity. Sir Julius Vogel said the Government were flesirous of giving the amplest opportunity for discussing their proposals. They,would be guided by Major Atkinson's own wishes in the matter. If the hon. gentleman preferred it, they would discuss the Local Government Bill 3 and the Financial Statement separately. The Government would bring down the Bills next week, read them a second time, and take the discussion on the Financial Statement. ' . r ■ Major Atkinson thanked the Treasurer for the explanation.afforded.., He,'quite coucurred in the course'proposed to be adopted. The House adjourned at 9-45. ; .