GENERAL ASSEMBELY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1538, 29 July 1886, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBELY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

In the Legislative Council on Monday, The Mutt Gas Company’s Bill was read a second time. The Coal Mines Bill was read a third time and passed. The debate on the question that the Civil Service Reform Bill be road a second time, to which an amendment was moved by Dr Pollen that the Bill be read this day six months, was resumed. After » discussion, the motion for the second reading w«s carried on a division--Ayes 21, noes 13. The First Offenders Probation Bill was read a second time. The Gtrvernmeiu Loans to Local Bodies Bill was further considered in Committee. Some slight amendments were agreed to ; progress was reported, and the Council adjourned to next day.

In the Legislature Council on Tuesday, Mr Shrimski, after a short debate, withdrew his motion relative to the Parliamentary buildings being used for other than Legislative business during the sitting of Parliament, On the motion of Mr Buckley, the Council then adjourned in consequence the debate in the Lower House. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On Monday, The House went into Committee on the Port Chalmers Fire Brigade Bill, which passed without amendment, was read a third time and passed. Mr Levestam moved that the withdrawal of the- Nelson Foreshore Reserve Bill be postponed till Thursday.—Agreed to, . -• Colonel Trimble resumed the debate on the committal of the Now Plymouth Harbor Loan Bill, and spoke for several hours. He was still speaking - when the House rose for the 6.30 p.m," adjournment. . v The House resumed at 7,30 p.m, Mr J. McKenzie resumed the debate on the Loan Bill. " : * Mr G. P. Richardson .followed, and ■after criticising the policy of the. Government, moved—•“ That this House will agree to read the Bill a second time so noon as the schedule has been amended so as to provide for the; completion or carrying to a working point the unfinished railways before new lines are constructed. That, therefore, the items .‘BlenheimTophouse, £68,000,’ and ! ..‘(WestportInaugahua, £63,000,’ be struck put, and ■he item ‘ permanent railway sleepers and rolling stock, £370,000,’ be /reduced by £J4,000, being the proportionate; amount proposed to be expended on the aforesaid lines, sod that the sum of £176,00050 saved he allocated in the following proportions; —To the Main Trunk Line, Helensviile North, be given £35,000 additional; to the Napier-Palmeraton line, £45,000; to (be Blenheim-Awatere line, £25,000; to the Olago Central line, £60,000 additional ; ip the Seaward Bush line, £IO,OOO additional.” Mr Durgaville seconded the motion pro forma. Dr Newman said he should vote for the second reading of the Loan Bill. and also for the amendment. The Premier defended the Government against the charges made against them. Major Atkinson criticised the Government policy, and said if the Premier was -inceie in Ida economy let him reduce the ehtimates by £50,000 or £IOO,OOO. Sir Julius Yogel criticised Major Atkinson’s speech and defended the Government. As to the amendment, he thought its terms too obvious for members to fall into the trap, and such a resolution was utterly inconsistent with the spirit of our parliamentary institutions. Mr Montgomery held the Government had not carried out their promises rt local government, taxation, etc. At 3.10 a.m. Mr Connolly moved the adjournment of the debate but the motion was negatived, Mr Rollesten said that the debate showed the Government was divided on many points, and only kept together by a compromise. He condemned the system of browbeating of the Treasurer towards the House, and he should never forget the attitude assuned on that occasion. The speeches of the Premier and Major A tkinson were statesmanlike, but that of the Treasurer was petulant and offensive. The Treasurer had said he had come to the colony because of misgovernment, but he asked the Treasurer whether he did not in hie calmer moments feel ashamed of what he -aid. He then referred to the manner ini which the Treasurer had used his position of agent for the colony at Home to. make a claim against the colony in time of great depression. He defended the Atkinson administration, and said that that Government had passed liberal land laws, and had settled the native difficulty. He ventured to say that members of the Atkinson Government were 1 respected throughout the colony, and that the Traasurer was not justified in referring to the Member for Egmont as he had done.

At 4.20 a.m. the Speaker laid he desired to remind the House that the Hansard staff, owing to the lateness of the hour, had broken down. Several motions for the adjournment of the debate were negatived,’ but it wbb not till 5.10 a.m. on Tuesday that the House rose.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The second reading of the. Cathedral Site (Parnell) Leasing Bill was agreed to. A number of questions on the Order Paper were postponed till the following day. Replying to Sir George Grey, the Premier said that be preferred that the question relating to the unemployed in Auckland should stand over till next day. He assured the House that Government were not neglectful of the matter. The debate on the Loan Bill was then, continued, Messrs Cowan, Sutter, J. Thomson, W. F. Bucklaud, Lake, Taylor, Locke, Bevati, Hatch, Dodson, Duncan, Bruce, Gore, Beethxra, Barron, Fulton, Sir George Gray and others taking part in it.