HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4263, 30 August 1882, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday The following bills were read a second time: —Te Aroha Township and Law Practitioners. Major Atkinson moved the second read ing of the Roads and Bridges Construction Bill. He explained that the main feature of the bill was the setting apart of money by Parliamentary vote, and leaving it to be distributed by self-acting machinery. Whatever opinion might by formed of its details, he bad no doubt they would agree with him that the provisions of the bill must be accepted as. a leading feature of their administration, unless they were prepared to takeover main roads and provide for them by annual appropriations. Mr Montgomery objected to the mode of finance proposed. He desired to see a more complete severance of general and local finances. The whole thing was de* signed to please the local bodies at the mercy of the Government, and he hoped the measure would be thrown out.

Mr Wynn Williams objected to the bill.

After considerable discussion, Msjor Atkinson replied at length, and the second reading was carried by 34 to 17.

This day

. After the usual adjournment, on the motion for going into Supply, an amende ment moved by Mr J. Wilson in favor of the reduction of railway freight on exports was carried on the voices, and a long dis cussion ensued on another amendment by Mr J. Green against the proclamation of Waihenui as a county. The House adjourned at 2.30 till noon.