PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1286, 21 June 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, June 20, The Legislative Council met, but no business was done, and the Council adjourned till to-morrow, then to take the question of Supply, if sent up from the HouseHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Friday, June 20. The House met at 2.30. BILLS. The following private Bills were read a second time :—Perpetual Trustees and Agency Companies, and New Zealand Companies (counter) Empowering Bill, questions. In reply to questions, Ministers said that the Government would not facilitate the carrying of measures to interfere with the duration of Parliament. —That the Government could not under the circumstances give facilities for passing a Bill this session for re-adjusting the West Coast education district. The discussion which followed tfyis ended in a motion for adjournment, which was uega? tlved. The Hon Majar Atkinson gave notice ; that he would ask at rising that the House s t again to-morrow.

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLIt. I The House went into Committee of { Supply. I The Financial Statement was read. i In reply to Mr Richardson, < The Hon. Mr Mitchblson raid it was 1 not intended to make any Public Works I Statement. • Mr J. W. Thomson criticised the State- ] ment adversely. 1 The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 i adjournment. | EVENING SITTING, The House resumed at 7.30. In Supply, Mr Darqavillb spoke against the Statement, which he thought was deficient in straightforwardness, and he argued that h was purposely made obscure in order that the Treasurer might be able to mystify his successor, whose appointment he knew could not be long delayed. Mr Richardson argued that further data was necessary before the route of the North Island Railway was decided upon. Mr Bathgate contended that Government were mainly responsible for the depressed state of the colony. Governments did not exist for the borrowing of money, but for the prosperity and happiness of the community as a whole. They had the masses of unemployed men in their midst, and a total absence of enterprise, etc. The bad system of taxation, loading joint stock companies, was one of the causes of their stagnation. The opportunity was now afforded for the country at large to show that this delinquent Government would not go unpunished for its misdeeds. - The motion for reporting progress was then put and carried. Ths House adjourned at 9.35 till 11 o’clock to-morrow. [bt telegraph.] Saturday, June 21, The House met at 11 a. m. THE WALKER CASE. Major Atkinson moved that the House go into Supply. Sir G. Grey moved as an amendment—- “ That the opinion of the law officers of the Crown should be taken as to the action of the Waste Lands Board of Canterbury in the case of Albert Walker.” The amendment was negatived after discussion, the Government saying the case would be brought before the Supreme Court. STEAMER DETAINED. The Premier announced that the Wakatipu would be detained until Tuesday for the convenience of the Southern members. questions. la reply to Mr Shrimski, The Premier said the Government were advised by the law officers that they had no power to bring the Otago dummyism cases before the Supreme Court. In reply to Sir George Grey, as to whether the Government would also assist the kauri gum diggers to bring their wrongs before the Supreme Court, The Hon. Mr Rolleston pointed out that the system of leasing gum lands had been established by Sir George Grey himself when Superintendent in 1876. Thp hon. member’s conduct in this raat- ; ter had been never honest or upright. Sir G. Grey moved that these words be taken down. •Negatived on the voices. Mr McKenzie blamed Mr Rolleston for re-appointing the members of the Otago Waste Lands Board. Mr J.jGrben defended the action of the Board and of the Minister of Lands. ;• Mr Fish condemned both. The discussion was continued by Messrs M. W. Green, Shrimski, Holmes, Fite- ! Gerald, Fi lton, and Seddon until the adjournment at one o’clock until 2.30.