HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4188, 22 September 1881, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wbdkbsday, Sbpt. 21. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House reassembled at 2.30 p.m. THB MESSAGE OP 00ND0LBN0B. The Premier brought up the foUowing address to be telegraphed to tho Vice-President of the United States:— "The House of Jtxepresentatives of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, expresses its deep sympathy with the people ef the United States Of America in their grief at the death of President Garfield, a calamity to be deplored by every English-speaking community throughout the itrorld." TBIBOBAPH POMS IN TOWNS. Beplying to a question put by Mr Bowen without notice, as to whether or not Bteps wUI be taken to prevent the disfigurement of towns by the erection of telegraph posts and wires in aU manner of inoonvenient positions, The Pbbmibb said the matter would be considered, and he believed the attention drawn to it would be sufficient for the purpose aimed at. ASHLEY DISTBIOT. On the motion of the Hon J. Hall, it was agreed that the writs for the election of a member in the room of Mr Moorhouse, deceased, should be delayed untU they were issued for tho forthcoming general election. PUBLIC BBVBNUBB BIM. The debate on tho second reading of the Public Bevenues Bill was resumed byMr Tubnbull, who spoke of the importance of getting a Minister for Publio Workß appointed, and talked of opposing tbe appropriation until definite information on the subject had been given. Mr Satjndebs agreea in the importance of getting the House called together as early as possible. The present Government repre- ' Bented neither the country nor the House. It was a Conservative Government supported by the Liberals against what was conceived to be a reckless Liberalism. He went on to argue tbat it was absolutely necessary that 1 they, should have a little more of the spirit of Liberalism in the Government, and for that purpose he advocated the propriety of limiting the duration of the votes. ■> Sir G. Gbey said they came bound as a House to consider their duty to their successors. If Government was outvoted at ono election, they ought to resign, so as to aUow 1 their successors to prepare tbeir measures. ■ He thought their supplies should be limited i to February. In that way they would be -, bound to call Parliament together at the , earliest possible moment. It was absurd for i the Treasurer to make the duty of re- , modelling the Civil Service a plea for 12 months' supplies. The House had delegated ; that duty not to the Government, but to a i Government. If he had hiß will no supplies , would be voted beyond Deo. 31. Let tuem have a short session and then disperse, and re-asßemble again at the ordinary period for their meeting. The Hon J. Hall argued that; the proposal for an early meeting of Parliament waß tc ' some extent antagonistic to the Government, It was rot the idlers tbat tbey desired tc represent the oountry, but the busy and the > thriving. Now they could not possibly gel tbat olass to meet again at an early date. He believed they were consulting the interests ol the Colony and the wishes of the people by caUing Parliament together at the usual time. Mr Maoandbbw counselled them to pro* eeed to business. The Bill, if passed aB brought down, wouldenable them to delay calling Parliament together tiU the middle of July. That was wrong, and he thought something should be done to prevent it. He looked ' upon the whoio thing as out of joint, and the 1 sooner they had a new Parliament the better. He would support the limitation when in Committee. 1 The motion for the second reading wae then put and oarried. On the motion for going into Committee, Sir G. Gbby made a few remarks in reply to the Premier, after whioh the House went into Committee on the Bill. Clause 4, on a division of 31 to 27, was altered to read two months, instead of three. Mr Montgomeby said he would propose a further limitation, unless Government gave a pledge as to when the next session would be called. Major Atkinson said that if Mr Montgomery bad not threatened them, a distinct understanding on that poiut would have been come to, and Mr Montgomery knew of it. Now no further pledge would be given. Mr MontGOMßby .denied the truth of the statement that he knew anything of the sort, and he denied using any threats. Major Atkinson said Government would i call upon its supporters to uphold the original propoeal. Mr Bbbvbs moved, as a further amendment—" That the clause be made to read, during tbe ' spaoe of two weeks,' instead of two months." Meßßrs Thomson, Pitt, and Gibbs supported and spoke to the amendment. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment.