PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1420, 19 May 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tuesday, May 18,

The Hon P. Buckley, in reply to the Hon B. Hart, said the Government at present did not sec their way to take oft the Is duty existing on imported sulphur. The Hon J. W. Barniooat moved the adoption of the report of the Committee appointed to draw up the Address in Reply to the Governor’s speech, and in doing so expressed the belief that the Speech would meet with the approval of all classes of the community. The Hon S. E. Shrimski seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. The motion was put and carried. The Hon P. Buckley gave notice of motion

to introduce the following Bills: —Police Force Bill and Defence Bill.

The Council adjourned at 3 p.m. to the iollowing day. HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, May 18. AFTERNOON SITTING,

The House met at 2 30. p.m. Mr Taylor, the new member lor Sydneham, took the oath and his seat. He was introduced by Messrs Walker and O’Callaghan. The Hon J. Ballanoe gave notice to move the introduction of the Native Lands Administration Bill.

THE NEW HEBRIDES. Sir G. Grey asked whether the Government would set apart an early day for the consideration of the question of handing over the New Hebrides to France.

ThfTHon R. Stout said be would set apart Wednesday for the purpose. Sir G„Grey then gave notice of a resolution in connection with the subject for next sitting day. NEW BILLS. The Hon B. Stout introduced the Municipal Corporations Bill and Counties Bill. The usual sessional Committees were appointed.

EVENING SITTING,

The House resumed at 7.30.

THE ADDRESS IN REPLY. Mr Be van moved—“ That a respecHul address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, in reply to the Speech which Hia Excellency has been pleased to make to both Houses.”

Mr Taylor seconded the motion. Major Atkinson said he should not have risen to speak if it were not to ask hon. members whether the time had not arrived when they should cease to make an Address in Reply the battle ground of party politics. He saw no good resulting from the custom they had pursued, but it was rather a waste of time. He hoped, if the Government remained on the benches another session, they would see whether the Address in Reply could not be formally taken. He did not intend to debate the Address, because there was nothing in it to discuss. He thought the omission to refer to the representation question was not justifiable, and the country would say Government had made a mistake in that matter. He warned the Government that they would not get much business through this session until they told the House they intended taking up this question. He submitted that the Government, in presenting such a speech to _ the House, was slighting Parliament, especially as each member of the Ministry had publicly stated that they had well-matured schemes to bring down. He was not going to help Government in the terrible fix into which they had got. The Hon R. Stout said he did not think it wise to abolish Governor’s Speeches, for he considered those old forms served some useful purpose. He contended it would not have been proper to deal with the question of representation before they knew what the population of the Colony was; but he would say that if the returns were received, and it was found the representation required adjustment. Government would not be found wanting in the matter. He said the policy of the Government would be brought down as early as possible, but he could not say with certainty when the Public Works Statement and Financial Statement would be ready. He admitted that Major Atkinson had dealt very kindly with the Government, but he thought that he could not have done anything else, for if the leader of the Opposition could not- find, anything worse to find fault with than representation and roads, then the country would admit there was not much to object to in the policy of the Government. Mr Wakefield said that in all his experience he had never heard a better-tempered debate on the Address in Reply than the one they had just heard, and he hoped the same tone would continue to the end of the debate.

Mr J. W. Thomson said that, although the address bad been received with a great deal of good humor, they must expect that the administration of Government would be debated during the Sessipn.