HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Western Star, Issue 1570, 13 June 1891, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, lltii June. [Press Association.] Mr Bryce suggested that as so many members wore absent the debate on the Address-in- Reply should be postponed till after the mover and seconder had spoken. He really was not aware whether tho Opposition wished to debate it or not. -Mr BalItuice said the Government desired to get on with the business, of which there would be plenty, to-morrow, and if i ho Opposition wished to debate the Ad; iress those members of that side co? id easily speak to-morrow night and so keep the debate alive. The Go ornmont would give every opportune cy to the House of debating the Ad Iress. 't he House adjourned at I p.m. on Ft lay. Fiji i) a v, 12tjl J cni:. The House met tit 2S>O p.m. Hr Eparima Ivina, the now member bv the Northern Maori District, took th • oath and his seat. The Hon. Mr McKenzie gave notice of the introduction of the Land Bill. Replying to questions, it was stated that only j£292,27(i was now available out of the loan for the North Island Trunk Railway ; that it was the intention of the Government to give effect to the awards of the Commissioners appointed under the Naval and Military Settlers Act, 1889. The lion. Mr McKenzie moved the appointment of the Stock Committee, to consi-.fc of Messrs Buchanan, C. H. Mills, Wright, McGuire, Rhodes, Duncan, Mackintosh, Houston, Lawry and the mover. Sir John Hall drew attention to the omission of the name of the Hon. G. F. Richardson, and hoped tho omission would be rectified. Mr Richardson, in speaking on the motion (latly denied the statement of Mr McKenzie at his Palmerston meeting that he had found the Land Department in a disorganised state, and that thousands of pounds had been spent by inspectors iu the past without any control from the department in Wellington. Mr McKenzie had cast a slur on the whole of the Stock Department when he said there was not a competent man in tho department to place at its head. The success of the .administration of tiie Stock Department in the past had been shown by the increase in sheep in Otago and Southland.— Mr McKenzie asserted that tho Rabbit Department was completely neglected when he took office, and ho repeated what ho had stated tit Palmerston, that large sums of money wore spent without control. In travelling through the country he had ascertained that the Stock Inspectors wore not to bo found at their duty, but tit lawn tennis grounds, howling greens, &c.—Mr Richardson asked whether it was iu order or good tasto for a Minister to make such wholesale charges against officers who could not defend themselves.—Tho Speaker ruled that the Minister wtis in order. —Mr McKenzie said whether it was good taste or not ho should not shirk doing his duty, and ho was prepared to meet Mr Richardson at any time and defend his laud administration. —Mr Richardson contended it was only fair that the House should ho put in possession of the proof of tho charges by the Minister of Lands. —Mr McKenzie said the lion, gent lonian should adopt the proper course and move a vote of no-coufidotico iu the Minister of Lands, and he (Mr McKenzie) would be prepared to meet it.—The motion was then agreed to on the voices. Mr Fisher moved a series of resolutions respecting the unemployed difficulty.—The Hon. Dir Ballanec said the Government agreed with the spirit of the resolutions, and as the whole question was under consideration by the Government, who would shortly make proposal-sou the subject, lie suggested that the resolutions he withdrawn for the present.— Mr Fisher agreed to do this.

Mr Fish moved an amendment of the Customs Tariff so ax to remove, tho duties now placed on the necessaries of life, and that the loss of revenue from this be made good by additional duty being- placed on certain articles. He claimed the support of the Liberal Government in his action, as tho Premier, himself, had, in 188", declared that the duties could bo taken oil' tea and sugar.—Mr Ballaneo said the amount of duty which Mr Pish proposed to abolish by his resolutions w:e Cdhd.onn, and the valim of luxuries proposed to be taxed was Cob,!MM, and in order to make up l lie duty thus lost to tho e.douv. no less than one hundred per cent, would have to lie put ou these luxuries. The Government could not agree to the motion. A discussion ensued, which was interrupted by the •"«.do adjournment. The debate will be resumed ou Tuesday.

11!•:(! ISh.VTTV M COI NTII.. I’’i:i p.\ v, 13 iII -1 ini:. Tho Council tncf at ’2.MO jt.nj. The Hon. Mr Pharar.yn. on behalf of the lion. Mr Morris gave notice that bo won hi move the Address-in-Uejdy on Tuesday. The lion. Air ILickdey moved f hah rite Council do n >w adjourn out of resneef to the memory of the Into Sir W. Fit/.herberi. and the lions. M . I*. If coves and W. S. Peter. Tho Colonial Secretary, having uttered a short eulogy on each”a the deceased, tho Inm. Gentleman's motion was agreed to, and the Council adjourned to Tuesday.