GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2088, 21 August 1890, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL; On Tuesday, -y The second reading of the Bible in School* Bill was agreed to by 15 to 12. The council adjourned at 4.38 p.m.

HOU3E OP BEBBESBNTAIITES. w On Tuesday, MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. Mr Mitchelson rose to make a Ministerial statement with respect to the order, of business for the remainder of the session. He said that the House was no doubt aware that an arrange* ment had been arrived at between the Government and the leader of the Opposition on this subject. It bad been araruged that the new Parliament was to meet on the 9th April next, and in the event of Parliament being called together earlier, the Public Revenues Act, so far as this year's appropriation was concerned, would eease to have any application after 31st March, 1891. He might say that the Government intended to follow this course since the session commenced, and he had intimated that in his speech on the 13th July. As to the Estimates, the Opposition would have a right, of course, to-criticise them, but an understanding had been arrived at that they should curtail their speeches. It had also been agreed that the federation proposals should be proceeded with before the House prorogued, and arrangements had been made for the passage of the following Bills:—Employers Liability Bill, Shipping and Seamen's Act _ Amendment Bill, Truck Bill, Educational Beserve Leasing Bill, Todmaa Land Grant Bill, Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill, Mining Companies Bill, Childrens' Protection Act Amend* ment Bill, Oaths Bill, Census Act | Amendment Bill, Factories and Shops Bill, Law of Libel Bill, Native Land Acts Amendment Bill, Horonoatt Patau Land Grant Bill, Electoral Acts Amendment Bill, Arbitration Bill, Mercantile Acts Amendment Bill. There were a few other Bills I that ', the Government considered i necessary which would be put through if not seriously opposed. The first I one was to enable the Registrars of I Electors to commence the preparation of the now rolls fn that the eleptions mjgijt j}e he}4 as. spon as, possible. The second Bil} was to classify the Post and Telegraph J)epartmeiit. The third, one was to amend the Governmenp Jnsurange Apt, in the direction of allowing those who had insured j under the temperance section to -**J participate in the bonus system- He hoped that the arrangement so made would tend to facilitate the course of business for the rest of tjje session. Mr Ballance said that "if tfye. &ouse, admitted that it was desirable tftg session should close as. spepdily 4? gome arrangement of |fte. (kind referred t$ bj M; r i?af

necessarv. The hon. gentleman had just informed the House,, not, however, as fully as he (Mr Ballance) had expected, as to the arrangements that had been concluded between Mr Bryce and himself (Mr Ballance). Mr Mitchelson had stated that the Government had all along intended to ask for supplies to the 31st March, but that was the first he (Mr Ballance) had heard of it. His impression was that the Government had contended for full supplies. As to Mr MitcbelBon's statement that the Opposition should be at liberty to criticise the > Estimates, he wished to state that he > never for a moment contemplated that . fkotr oimnld Tint have that liberty, but

the only stipulation was that members liquid curtail their speeches. He thought, that the House would admit that it was desirable that the federation resolutions should be proceeded mith this session. As to the labor Bills, he hoped that the whole of those measures would be passed before the House rose. With regard to the other Bills on the paper the Government must take the responsibility for such measures, for instance such as the Westport-Ngakawau Railway Bill. While it was desirable that the session should close &a Boon as possible, he thought that it was also desirable that the elections should take place without any,- unnecessary delay. Another question which he should like to call attention to was that in case of the elections going very decidedly against Ministers, the Government should adopt the usual constitutional practice of resigning before the House met, and he understood that the Government

would take that course. If there was any doubt,'however, that the election* 'would not be adverse to the Government they would, he presumed, wait till the new Parliament met in the ordinary way. He wished to remind the House that although the arrangement referred j to had been made, it in no way deprived members of their rights, and there was nothing unconstitutional in what had been done. In reply to an hon. member as to Mr Jiiitice Edwards' appointment, Mr Ballahce said that all Bills not mentioned by Mr Mitchelson were to be dropped under the proposed arrangement. A discussion lasting more than two hours followed. Keplying to Mr Fish, Captain Eussell stated that the Government

would during the recess consider carefully the question of establishing a police superannuation fund. WOICBN'S ELECTOBJIIi feutchisb. Bir John Hall introduced a Bill to confer the electoral franchise on women. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.80 p.m. * UrTEKCIFTUTG SITPH&T. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Izard moved as an amendment that, in the opinion of this House, it is undesirable that Sir Julius Vogel should be precluded from proceeding with his petition of right on the ground that his petition was riot filed within twelve months after his claim or demand arose, or on the ground, of any Statute of Limitations, After a short discussion, the amend: ment was lost on the voices.

COMMITTEE 03? SUPPLY. The Homse went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Estimates. Education—Head Office, £2075. Mr McKenzie (Waihemo) meved that £6O be" struck ofE the salary of 'the Secretary and Inspector-General (£600), The motion was lost by 32 to 16. Mr Saunders moved to strike out the rote altogether. The motion was lost by 34 to 16. Public 5ch0015—£344,214. r 'Mr" Brown moved to reduce the vote, £832,250, Grants to Education Boards, by £32,350, in erder to lower the maximum, of education to the r ;fourth standard. .- •' The motion was lost by 47 to 2, and the vote passed without alteration ' Native Schools—£ls,ooo. 'Mr Hislop agreed, to a reduction of •£7OO from the vote as an indication 'that the .change of transferring'Native 'schools to the Education Boards should be gradually made. The vote ai reduced by £7OO was carried. . 1 'lndustrial Schools—£lo,ooo. ■ Mr Goldie moved to reduce this vote by £3500, bo as to bring the cost of maintaining the children down to £ls per head, The motion was lost by 31 to 15. Several other attempts to reduce this vote were unsuccessful, and it passed without alteration. School for deaf mutes—£292s. ; All attempts to reduce this vote resulted in failure, and it passed intact. [Left sitting at 2 a.m.J