HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3256, 13 September 1878, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, Skpt. 12, AFTERNOON SITTING. „ The House met at 2.30 p.m. PETITION'S. \ MrBABTOJf presented petition? from 336 • Catholics of Wellington and 109 of Wanganui, .praying for Government aid to their schools. NOTICES OF MOTIOX. The Hon W. Fox gave notice to move for ; a Select Committee to inquire into the retirement of Messrs Searanke and Baird from the Government service, and the dismissal of Messrs C. O. Davia and Grindell, aud the cancelling of their licenses as interpreter?. Mr Babfp gave notice to move — "That gold Gelds revenue be considered Counties revenue for the purposes of the Financial .Arrangements Act, 1876." QUK3TIOKS. In reply to Mr Wakefield, The Hon J. Shebhah said the Government did not intend to go on with the Licensing JJill this session. .In reply to Mr Satton, The Hon J. Sheeuak said that if the House would sit on Mondays he would make "his Statement of Native Affairs on Monday next, and would practically move the second reading of the Native Lands Act. FIRST RBADIXGS. . .Several Bills were read a first time. DAYS OF BITTINO. The Pbbhibr moved — "That the House ,for the remainder of the session sit on . Mondays at 7.30 p.m., for the transaction of ■Government business only, and that on •/Thursdays Government business take pre.cedence." Agreed to after some discussion. BKIDGB ACROSS THB TAIKKI. Mr Grkkx moved—" That the House will •on "Wednesday next resolve itself into Committee of the whole to consider a respectful : address to the Governor, rcquc-ting him to be pleased to make the necessary provision for • the construction of a bridge across the Taicri River at Hyde." - The Hon. J. Ma candrkw could not sup,,port the motion. If the proposal were agreed -to there would be at least fifty applications, which would require about half a million of money. „

Mr MXeax pointed out that after the way in which certain districts had been faTOurcd, he thought Gorernment ought to sec their way to let. the motion pass. - The Hon J. Sherman said that Government, dar* not risk entertaining such a propofal, as every member would then be com- ■ peltal by his constituents to bring f rrward mt'h moJions. A stand wonld huve \o be made or the session would never be over. • Considerable debate followed, in which

", Jlajor Atkikso:? said that in consequence of * the absence of any effort of Govern uieut to provide for such cases as this, he should be •compelled to support all sush motions in ..order to drive Government into dealing with the question upon some sort of broad prin.eiple. The work to be done would hare to be faced, as it would keep coming up year sifter year until the inequality was removed. He ■thought that when the Estimates came on .the House would be startled at the amount of . public works. {;-'•. Mr Bcjwt trusted Government would strongly oppose all applications of this kind. This was the natural result of abolishing the Provinces, and he hoped that all Uiojc who eupporftd that change would be mndc to feel the evils arising, out of it. Mr Db Laotottr went into the whole history of the bridge to show that if Government •greed to any .work of this kind, tkis particular workonght not to be overlooked. The Premier reviewed the position of parties last eetsioiftQ show that any hlnme to be attached to anyone for difficulties arising now out of this question of providing for special works was solely due to the members of the late Ministry, who robbed the people of Auckland of their rights, and for yeara neglected them, and who deprived the whole Colony of the free system of government : in the enjoyment of which they had been so long. To the present Government was handed over the present system under which they now lived, ". along with all its difficulties. The hon gentle•man denounced the acts of the late Govern* /sent in legislating for their friends belonging

to the favoured class. [As the hon gentleman travelled over a wide field, a good deal of interraption ensued on the question as to whether he was in order in so doing.] On resuming the thread of his "argu* raent, the 'non gentleman said that until such time as Government could devise some comprehensive measure by which they could deal as a whole with the evils left them by the late Government, they would adhere to the principle they had already announced, but they absolutely declined to make any promises in regard to works of the kind under discussion in order to purchase votes. Mr Wasos said that the hon gentlemen just sat down had heaped a good deal of abuse, justifiable or otherwise, on the member for Egmont, and talked of the members of that Ministry being practically in the pay of the privileged classes, but whether there was a privileged class or not, ifc was quite clear that there was at least one privileged person in the House who seemed to enjoy the privilege of making all sorts of charges, and which if made by anybody would have caused him to be held up to the finger of scorn. Mr Thoksojj said that the Premier claimed credit for localising the land revenue. Well, if he (Mr Thomson) had known the hon gentleman nt the head of the Government was anxious to seize the land fund, he for one would not have supported him for a moment. Mr. Moss defended the Premier, and said that lie was astonished at the jibes and sneera with which that hon gentleman was constantly assailed in. the pursuit of the high and noble aims he had set himself to achieve. The Hon W. Gibbobne said this debate brought the House face to face with the, question whether Abolition provided for main roads and bridges. Why had not the last Government provided for this case, instead of leaving it for the present Ministry ? The late Government had said Abolition would provide for these works. If any evil resulted from Abolition, the late Government would be responsible. The present Government would have to devise some scheme by which main roads could be maintained if- Counties were unable to dp so. It would be necessary to face the question, not vote exceptionally. The Hon E. RiCfIABDSOX said that if "the present Government were carrying out the policy of the late Government in its integrity, the statements of the last speaker would be true, but they were not. He hoped Government would resist this motion. Mr Ok.mond denied that Provincial liabilities were dealt with by 'the late Government. They received deputations from all sides of the House asking for local wants, which were put in a schedule but never finally approved. Jso promises were made by the late Government in the House. Mr Woolcock woidd support such motions until Government devised some scheme to provide for roads and bridges in out districts. Dr HoiiGKissoif complained that a motion of his similar to this had got somewhere on the Order Paper where he could not find it. After considerable further debate Mr Green said he would have scarce dared bring his motion forward at all, had he known that it woidd have been made a means of enabling the whole policy of this Government and the previous ones, v not the whole history of the Colony gone into. A division was then token, and the motion lost by 48 against 19.