HOUSE.

Colonist, Volume XLI, Issue 9264, 31 August 1898, Page 2

HOUSE.

The House met at 2.30, In the unavoidable absence of the Speaker the Chairman of Committees took the chair. Mr John Hutcheson moved that the amendments made by the Private Bills Committee in the McLean Light Locomotives Bill, be agreed to, and said the Committee had met all objections made by the House to the measure as originally introduced. Mr Dnthia objected to the Bill in its amended form, and pointed oat that instead |of dealing with vehicle, something of the

nature of a carriage, it defclt with vehicle; lhe>si£e of omnibuses. On the motion of Mr Seddon, the debat< was adjourned. In reply Mr Eolleston, the Deputy Speaker said he had issued instruction! that the publication of "Hansard" witl the Hon. Mr McKenzie's map should no be proceeded with until orders had bcei issued by the Speaker or Deputy-Speaker. The Eating on Unimproved Value Ac Amendment Bill was introduced and read i first time. The Public Accounts Committee reporte< in favor of the Colony joining with thi other Australian Colonies with the view o establishing a Pacific cable. The report was agreed to. The Reporting Debates and rrintin{ Committee reported that the Speaker b< recommended to publish Hansard with thi map produced by the Hon Mr McKenzie ii his speech on the Financial Statement. Mr Seddon said the circumstances it connection with the matter were excep tional, as the Minister of Lands bad nol given details from the map, as he had ex pressed his intention of inserting it ir Hansard. As an amendment he moved that the House approves of the map being circulated with Hansard, which he contended would get over the objections raised by the Opposition. The Minister's speech could not be intelligibly understood without a map. He considered it would not be a bad thing if the pages of Hansard were lightened by photos of members. Mr Kolleston said Mr Seddon 's amendment was no way out of the difficulty, and the matter was of such importance that the Speaker should have been present. His side of the House wished the matter to be dealt with not with respect to the Ministei or to the map produced, but as one which would create a precedent. In the course of the discussion which •nsued, Mr George Hutchison produced a map of Bushy Park, showing that it was capable of subdivision for small settlement, and said that if the Hon Mr McKenzie's gridironing map were inserted in Hansard, he would claim the same treatment for the map he produced. After further discussion the debate was interrupted by the 5-30 adjournment, the Deputy Speaker announcing that the orders of the day would be proceeded with at 7-30.