PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1737, 23 September 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

DR BULLER’ft APPOINTMENT. DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE LAND BILL. A DIFFICULTY BETWEEN THE TWO HOUSES. The Legislative Council on Saturday passed a number of Bills through their final stages. When the hour of 12.10 (mid* night) was reached, Mr Reynolds protested against doing business on the Sunday morn* ing, and moved “ That the Chairman do leave the chair.” This was lost, but Mr Reynolds moved a similar resolution again and again, so he carried hie point at last, and the Council adjourned at 1.40 till 10 a.m on Monday. In the Honse of (Representatives on Saturday there was a sharp debate about the appointment of Dr Bailer as one of the Commissioners to the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, and it was asserted that Dr Buller got the job as a reward for obtaining the Maori Block Vote for the Government on the '* No Confidence motion.” The > Maori members denied that Dr Buller had influenced them, but the impression in the House was that be " had roped them In ” Ultimately the row fizzled out,” and so Dr Buller gets his billet, goes Home, and will probably be made “ Sir Walter Buller.” The House then went into Snpply, and passed all the rest of the Estimates. The disagreement between the two Houses about the amendments made by the Legislative Council on the Land Bill then became a difficulty to be dealt with. A conference of members selected from both Houses was held on the subject. The House adjourned till 9.30 in order that the report of the conference then sitting on the Land Act Amendment Bill might be received. At half past 9 the conference was still sitting, and the Honse adjourned till 11, At 11 the Honse adjourned till 11.80., and from then to 11.50. The report was not (then received, and the House adjourned till ten on Monday morning. MISAPPROPRIATION OF LOCAL BODIES FUNDS. THE LAND BILL FINALLY PASSED. THE APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED. ATKINSON ATTACKS THE GOVERNMENT. HAVE YOU GOT TO CHICAGO YET 7 THE PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT. AND THE GENERAL FINALE. The House of Representatives met again on Monday at 10 a.m. In answer to a question, the Premier said the question of instructing Government Auditors to lay informations in oases of misappropriation of funds by local bodies wonld require consideration. He considered that the local bodies|should act in such matters, bat in special cases he would instruct the Auditor-General to take proceedings. Mr Beetham asked, if the Government will take into consideration the advisability of appointing a Royal Commission for the purpose of inquiring into the position of all local bodies in the colony, so that the report may be presented to the Legislature in time to assist members of both branches of the Legislature in coming to a satisfactory decision on the question of local government during the next session of Parliament ?

The Premier said the Government had not yet had time to do anything, and he would not like to bind himself by a promise ; but the Government would consider tiie matter.

The Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Bill, which allows those bodies to borrow, was read a third time and passed. As the Legislative Council did not insist upon their amendments in their Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill, that measure was finally passed. The Land Act Amendment Bill then came up for final disposal. The Minister of Lands moved that the report of the conference be agreed to. He explained that with regard to education reserves, tbs law would remain much as it was at present. The amendments conceded by the Council were—that the tender system had been restored ; tbe clause providing (or uo residence for two years had been restored ; the six years’ residence provision in dsfsrred payment lands bad been restored for perpetual leases where there was only one tenderer, the upset price should be the price. These were the chief concessions of the Council. The modifications were—that the homestead system had been restored, but the area limited to 3000 acres in any land district in any year ; and that the purchasing clause (in perpetual leases) of tbe Act of 1882 had been restored. As both Houses agreed on those concessions, the Bill may (mow bo regarded as having been finally passed. In the evening the third reading of the Appropriation Bill was moved. Messrs Atkinson, as the leader of the Opposition, availed himself of the opportunity to make a Blashu g speech criticising the policy and measures id ilm '.Government. He slated eacu Minister in sue-0.-i-ion, showed how the ne,nines of the Co r oient had been out to pieces, and iii n Miniid up by telling the following plessai't siory;—“A curious story,” he said, ■■ o. i hi ea going about the lobbies this wwki which exemplified the position of tli- (iovtnnnent. It was a frequent enquiry miMyst Imn members,* Have the (inverumooi pot to Chicago yet?’ (Laughter.) The slmy from which that inquiry was mafic, was, lie explained, that a man, travelling on the railway towards Chicago, was frequently kicked out by the guard o( the tmin, since he had no ticket. Finally, the gnara asked him, ‘ Where do you expect to go to if you live?’ * Well.’ said the man, ‘if I can get through the kicking, I hope U reach Chicago.’ (Laughter.) That was the position of the Govermnent—they had got to Chicago, and he congratulated them on their arrival. Hopredieted that if the Government survived as a Government rill next sea ion, the session would not have gone far before (hev would receive tbeir due reward." Tho Premier replied to this speech and made the best light he could. There was sorao further debate, but ultimately tho Appiopriatioa Bill was road a third time and passed. At a little after 11 the House adjourned till 4 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, when the prorogation was to take place. The Commissioners appointed to perform the duty were Sir William Fitzherbert, Sir P. Whitaker, Hon P. A. Buckley, and Hon W. H. fleyunlds.