PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1841, 7 June 1886, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(FBOM OCR BFKCIAL OOBBMPOHDENT.) In the House of Representatives on Thnrs* day the Premier, in answer to Mr W. P. Buekland, said it was not the intention of the Government to introduce any Bill this session dealing with Road Boards. THE MASTERTON DRILL SHED. The Defence Minister, in answer to Mr Beetbam, said that if be was provided with particulars as to the proposed Volunteer Drillebed at Maaterton, the Government wonld consider the question of subsidising it. COLLAPSE OF THE BUDGET DEBATE. DEFEAT OP MR MONTGOMERY’S AMENDMENT. The discussion ou the motiou to go into Supply, and Mr Montgomery’s amendment, “ That in the opinion of this House, the Government should reduce the Estimates by a sum ol not less than £75.000,” was resumed. Mr Bryce reviewed the Financial proposals of the Government and strongly condemned them as being reckless and extravagant. He strongly supported Mr Montgomery’s amendment. Mr Ballauce, the Ministers for Lands, replied to Mr Bryce and generally defended the Financial Statement. The debate was continued by other speakers, the last of whom was Mr Levestam. When that bon member had finished his speech at 11 30 no one else rose to follow him, so the Speaker put the question and a division being taken, Mr Montgomery's amendment was lost by At to 28 votes, the Government thus scoring a victory by 16 of a majority. Messrs Buchanan and Beetbam voted against the Government. All the members lor the city and Provincial District of Wellington voted

against the Government, with the exception of MrFitzherbeit the member for the Hutt. Nevertheless, the result of the division is a decided victory for the Government. VOTING SUPPLIES After Mr Montgomery’s Amendment had been disposed of, the House went into Committee of Supply, Major Atkinson asked how the Government proposed to proceed with the Estimates now ? He understood that ihe Premier had given a p'edge to reduce the Estimates by £30,000 or £4O 000/ The Premier said he had not promised to reduce the Estimates to the extent mentioned, in Miopty, What he said was that if the i'ivil-(Service Reform Bill was passed, £3O 000 or £40,000 would be saved—and te slid kept to that pledge. Major Atkinson understood, then, that the Government proposed to ask for Supply ypry much as the Estimates were, unless they saw an 7 item on which they could reoommerd a reduction, or a saving could bo made after the votes wers taken.

The Premier said mainly that would be so. The Government might propose some redactions in Supply, but mainly the Estimates would be voted in full. The Government hoped to save £30.000 or £40,000 this year. The House rose at 11.40. THE MANAWATU GORGE LINE. In the House of Representatives on Friday, in reply to a question, the Minister for Public Works said the plans for the Mariawatn Gorge Line were in a forward state.and tenders would be called in a few days ; but he reminded the hon member there waa a feeling against the construction of new works. BOADB AND BRIDGES. A return was ordered to be prepared of money voted and expended on roads and bridges in each connty during the last Financial year. O'MALLET A PEPPEHBLL’S CONTRACT A return was orderad of the amount of expenditni* on that portion of the MastertonWoodville line known as O’Malley and Pepparill's contract, and the amount of the original contract of Messrs O'Malley and Pepperill; alio tha expenditure on the Waipoua Bridge. VOTING SUPPLIES. The Honee then went into Committee of Supply, end some portions of the Postal Estimate* Were paaaad. THE COUNTIES BILL. The Conutiee Bill passed its second reading. The Bill ia to a certain extent a consolidating maaanre, bat it also contains several important new provisions. Tbs Bows thsn adjourned,

Mr Grigg. laker, of Greytown, is now exhibiting a mo t handsome wedding cake—quite a work ol art.