PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1840, 4 June 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

GOVERNMENT INSURANCE A3SOCIA. TION. On Tuesday, in the House ;of Representatives, Mr Ormond asked the Government if they would appoint a select committee to enquire into certain purchases of building sites by the Government Insurance Association, and also into the general management of that institution. Sir Julius Vogel, in reply, said that ths lands purchases uad been considered at the meeting of the policy holders, and that there was no use in renewing the question. As to the question of general management be 'said that the Government were favorable to the policy holders electing Representatives to the Board of Management, equal in number to those nominated by the Government. SUPREME COURT REPORTING BILL. This Bill, after a lengthy debate passed its second reading, it provides for the employment of short hand writers by the Government to report *the evidence verbatim in criminal cases. AN ATTACK ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply Major Atkinson made a slashing attack upon the Financial Statement, and literally pulled it to pieces, showing that the alleged surplus wu a sham, and ths proposed expenditure really far greater tuan u appeared on the suiface. Major Atkinson ••■ ike for two hours, a i l at the close of hit s.> >eoh wee loudly applauded. Sir Julius Yogol made a weak reply, and did not succeed n sliVcmg Major Atkinson's statements. ( i'un dehate is referred to in detail in our lea ling article.) Ultimately ths debate was ad] mruo I til! next day, and the House rose at 1 am. MR MONTGOMERYS AMENDMENT PRACTICALLY A NO CONFIDENCE MOTION. On WedneadiV ui'.ht the min <>.> tire Financial Statement w,u resumed. Mr Buckley attacked the St dement. aid m •*.•■! an amendment to the cfljci thit n i siipp-us be granted until tun W.uki Esti.n m-s htd been brought down. This amendment was not seconded and so fell through. Mr Montgomery then fodowel with e powerful attack upon the Financial pro. posals of toe Government. Ue in ide a teluig speech, following, to a large extent, the coarse laid down on the previous evening by Major Atkinson It was an cruioiam of the salient points in the Budget the sham surplus, the imaginary tHOO.OOO available for works other thru railways, the refusal to retrench, and tl) i proposals I n what might be termed excessive borrowing. Mr Montgomery then threw down the gauntlet by moving as an amendment “ t'nat the Government be required to reduce their estimates by at least £75,010.” Mr Barron seconded the amendment. Tiie Premier rep ied to Mr Montgomery’s speech, and stated at the very outset that he would regard the amenanient as a motion to refuse supplies, or, in other words a “ No (Jonfileuce Motion," The i’re ninr's sped ; i was uu attempt to defend tlie Fioan-il proposals of the Government Tho demte was continued by other speakers until 12.20, when it was adjourned till next day. THE GOVERNMENT VICTORIOUS. The debate upon Mr Montgomery's motion was concluded last night ; a division was taken— Ayes 4i, Noes 26, the Government getting a majority of 16. THE RABBIT QUESTION. A report on the Rabbit Nuisance was laid on the table yesterday. In his report Mr Bayiv states ‘ Tbst matters hsve net progressed as aatiafactorily toward thaApatmetioa of the pest, nor is the outlook dPfavorable ss in previous years." This is largely attributed to the hot end dry eamnmv bat a hope is expressed that winter poisoning will again redoes the onabers. Mr Bayly ||| natural enemies of rabWw, states tu». BP am fa nm which have been introuu—, fi plaoee keeping them within bomn*. lie suggests experiments with gotcoar, y wuh the introduction of rabbit rottenng from contagions or infectious diecnevw mtrp the rabbits have spread in several distnale he does not think that then has beaa «• tb| wiMle m iaemae tMc BMtbM.