Parliamentary.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2098, 24 September 1875, Page 2

Parliamentary.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON. This day. The House of Representatives resumed at 7.30. Clause 23 passed as amended. Clause 24, the appropriation of land revenue not to affect public securities nor permanent charges on such revenue. Considerable discussion was created on this clause many thinking that it unduly favored the Timaru and Gladstone Board cf Works, or, as Sir George Grey put it, was a most unbecoming attempt to keep for eight thousand people in Timaru four hundred thousand acres of land. The clause was amended on the motion of Mr Brown, " that after the Act comes into operation the endowment of one quarter of the land revenue to Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works shall cease." Clause passed. Clause 25.—Establishment of shires. On an amendment being proposed by the Treasurer, Messrs Reid and Fitzherbert asked if the Government intended to abandon the Local Government Bill that session. He replied no, but so much time had been wasted over Abolition that he was afraid they could not get it through. ; Clauses 26 and 27 were struck out. The first new clause proposed to repeal section seventeen of the Constitution Act, Sir Geo. Grey and Messrs Rolleston and Macandrew were aghast at such a proposal. Mr Fitzherbert also protested, and suggestedasamendmentthat notwithstanding the provisions of section 17 ot the Constitution Act, it shall not be incumbent on Superintendents to convene councils unless they saw necessity so to do. The Government resisted all amendments and suggestions, and were firm that Provincial.Councils should not meet, and carried their point by 34 to 16. The remaining clauses passed and the bill reported with amendments. The third reading is fixed for Tuesday. To-day will be given up to private business.