GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1508, 20 May 1886, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, May 18. " In the Council to-day, Mr Buckley said the Government were unable to take the Is duty off sulphur. lie added that a book containing Mr Stout's speech at the close of the Exhibition, would shortly be in the hands of members. The Address in Reply was agreed to on the motion of Mr fiarnicoat seconded by Mr Shrimski. The usual Sessional Committees were appointed, and after the Police Forces and the Defence Bill had baen introduced the Council adjourned. HOUSE OP BBPRESENIATITE3. In the House on Tuesday, Mr Taylor, the new member for Sydenham, took the oath and his seat. Sir George Gray gave notice of resolutions for next sitting day protesting against banding over the New Hebrides to France.—The Hon. Mr Stout said he had informed Sir George Grey that he should move for a Select Committee, as ' some of the papers were of a confidential nature.—Sir George Grey moved the adjournment of the House, but this was lost. The Hon. Mr Stout then introduced the Municipal Corporations Bill and the Counties Bill. The usual Sessional Committees were appointed, and the Housa rosa at 3.25 p.m. On resuming at 7.30 p.m. Mr Bevan moved the Address in Reply, < expressing the loyalty felt by the colonies to the Queen. He thought the relations between the colonists and the Maoris were most encouraging, and referred to the recent action brought by the lata Native Minister in vindicating at Home his houor and that of his country. He looked upon the depression aa the outcome of great social reforms which were taking place at the present moment, and of over population all over the world. Local industry must be encouraged, and new markets found. He referred to the East and West Coast Railway, the settlement of people on the land, and concluded by expressing his admiration at the zeal and earnestness with whioh the present administration had sought to benefit the colony in evary way they could. , Mr Tayler briefly seconded the motion. Major Atkinson thought the time had arrived when the Address in Reply should Vcease to be made the battle field of paity politics. He hoped Government would take into consideration the feasibility of making the Address generally a formal matter. There was a great omission this . year in the Speech, namely, the question I of representation, which, he contended, was the first thing Government ought to have taken in band. They would find that they would not get through much business till they promised to deal with

the matter. They had heard a gre*>t deal about the progressive scheme which was to have been submitted to the House, but in fact Ministers could not agree on a scheme, and there was none to be found in the Speech. He would tell them it was useless to attempt to build a network of railways and to neglect roads which were badly wanted to feed the railways. He wished it to be understood that on this occasion be did not surrender the right to criticise the Government, which it was alleged he had done last session. Mr Stout did not think it would be wise to abolish an Address in Reply. They might as well abolish the Governor's Speech. The use and meaning of the practice was to mark out the measures to be laid before the House, and the Speech should, in consequence, be framed in a non-committal style. As to representation, how could it be mentioned in the Speech before they knew what the population of the colony was and how it had been changed f When the returns were in Gov3rnment would not shirk the task if readjustment were tound necessiry. The policy of the Government was ready, and Ministers were agreed upon it, and he thought numbers would find that their measures and statement had come down much earlier than usual.

Messrs Wakefield, Turnbull, J. W. Thomson, Moss, Joyce, Beetham, Bucklaod, the Hon. J. Ballaoce and others having spoken, the motion was carried. The Hon. Mr Stout moved that the House on Friday resolve itself into Committee of Supply, and aiso of Ways and Means. The House adjourned at 10.45.