HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1561, 18 May 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2 30 p.m. Replying to questions, it was stated that stops ha* been taken towards reducing the expenses of Land Boards, by suggesting that fewer meetings be held; that Bills would be brought m as Private Bills dealing with tbe question of grand jurleß and coroners' juries ; that tbe question of auditing the public accounts through* out the colony on the same principle as provided by the Municipal Corporations Act, 1886, was receiving serious consideratlon ; that it wculd not be wise to alter the regulations of small farm associations till more experience was gained of their working; that Government had decided not to establish a parcels post system outside the colony till it had been satisfactorily established within the colony ; that Government did not see their way to make provision for allowing country members of Charitable Aid Boards expenses of travelling and hotel bills. LAND BOABDS. Sir George Grey introduced a BUI to abolish Land Boards. REPRESENTATION-. The Representation Bill was further oon aider od m Committee Mr Seddon asked whether any arrangement had been effected m regard to the Bill. The Premier Bald he was Borry to say there was no definite arrangement. A.s he understood it, clause 3 would be put and negatived, In which case he Bhould propose a new olause instead, The first thing to consider was tbe number of members. Mr Barron reminded the Premier of his declaration that he would loyally accept the reduction to 71. The Premier said he had only said he would accept tbe reduction to 71 if other concessions were made to him. Mr Peacock moved that the sub-clause of olause 3, relating to the amalgamation of city electorates, be struck cut. After a lengthy disoussion the Bubolause was airaok out by 47 to 34. Mr Fisher moved that the amalgama- j tion should apply to the city of Wellington only. Tbe motion was lost on the voices. Clause 3 as* a whole was then put and Btruok out by 57 to 17. The Premier- moved that progress be reported m order to bring duwn a new olause. The only alterations he should make m the Bill would be to propose that the number of members be 85, and that the percentage be 15 per cent actual, ggjj The Bill was reported. The Premier moved that the Bill be recommitted at half-past 7 p.m. Mr Seddon moved an amendment that it be committed on Friday next, as many members had gone away not expecting It would come on again that night, fie complained bitterly of the action of the Premier over this Bill, and said that he had not treated his party at all fairly over it. Mr Levestam supported the amendmeui, ami protested againßt any reduction of representation. Mr. G, F. Richardson asked for norn« assurance from the Premier as to the number of members he would insertMr Turnbull and Captain Suttor followed In a similar Btratn. Mr Taylor thought that some of thoße who had voted for the reduotion m members had tried to get a little cheap popularity. Mr Samuel opposed the reduotion of members, and favored the House going into Committee to restore the number. Mr Bovan thought it would be better to increase rather than reduoe the mem* bers. Tbe recommittal of the Bill was agreed to. Iv clause 2, appointment of Commis* aion for the adjustment of representation, The Premier moved to Insert the Commissioner of Property Tax Instead of the Auditor-General. After disousßlon the Premier's amendment wa3 carried on the voices. Mr Levestam moved to strike oat the whole clause. The motion was lost by 71 to 18. On clause 3 being reached, Mr Hurathonse moved to report progress. Bis reason for taking this step was that the clause was really a new one, and members had not had a chaDce of considering it. Tbe Premier eald there were only three alterations m the olause, v!z., the number of members, the percentage, and the margin. Mr Bryce agreed with the Premier that there were only three alterations, but he could assure members thai no arrangement had been made to increase the number of members to 91. Mr Birron asked Mr Hurstbouse to wi'hdraw his motion, and then he (Mr Barron) would move that the number bo the same as already affirmed by the House. Mp jor Atkinson said the only arrangement arrived at between him and the Premier was that olause 3 should be recommitted so as to give members another opportunity of discussing its provisions. Mr Seddon spoke m favor of the number of members being 91. Sir Julius Yogel Bald this was not the first attempt that had been made to regulate representation by the automatic principle, lhe difficulty had been to define oountry districts, but he believed the difficulty was now solved by the Government. He thought It unwise to reduce representation, and therefore would vote for the number being pi as at present. Mr Soobie McKecjsie hoped the conntry members would not give up the adr vantage they had gained. The motion to report progress was lost. The Premier aßked members to vote for the olause as Introduced. Sir George Grey thought the proposal to reduce the number to 86 unworthy of any Government, as it was not true eoonomy, and was simply robbing the people of the representation to which they were entitled. On a division the proposal to have 91 Inserted Instead of 71 resulted m a tie with 39 each. p The Chairman gave his caßtlng vote with the ayes. The 91 being retained, the Committee then adjourned for supper, Ayea 89.~BftUimce, Bevau, Connolly, Dargaville, Fitzherbert, F. H. Frtser, Guinness, Hirst, Ivess, Jones, Joyce, Lake, Lance, Levestam, Looke, Maoarthur, M. J. S. Macke&zle, MoMillan, Menteath, Moat, Montgomery, O'Oallaghan, Peacock, Pratt, Reid, E. Riohardson, Rolleßton, Samnol, Seddon, Smith, W. D. Stewart, Stout, Taiap'ua, T.Th ompson, Trimble, Voeol, Walker, Wilson. " . " Noes 3».— Allwrlght, Atkinson, Barron^ Beetham, Braoken, Bruce, Bryoe, J. 0. Buokland, W, F. Buokland, Bnohanan, Cadman, Dancan, Fergus, W. "Fewer,

altou, Garriok, Grey, Hatch, Hiilop, obbs, Larnaob, Mills, Monk, Moss, ewman, Ormond, Ross, Russell, W. J. ;eward, Suiter, Taylor, J. W. Thomson, ole, Turnbull, Whyte. Mr G. F. Riouardson moved that the »o»ntag3 be altered to 20. In anßwer to a qaeation the Chairman id it would still be competent to reeomlit the olause for the purpose of alter* «g9l. Oa a division 18 was retained by 43 > 33. Mr Hursthouae moved to alter the larginal alluwanoe from 750 to 1000; The motion was lost by 47 to 29. Mr S, Mackenzie moved a new olause, rovlding that objections could be heard s to alterations m boundaries. Me Pjke supported it, The Premier thought the suggestion » ood one, but the expenoe and delay in* olved were greatly against It. Mr Buokland objeoted to advertising lotice of objections. The olause was amended In this dtreo* lon. . '. '. ' . . '■*.". ';"_ On a division, it was carried by 41 to The Bill wnasreported as amended. .; , FINANCIAL DEBATE. In answer to Major Atkinson, tht Premier Bald they would probably take he financial debate on Friday. " He vould not definitely promise, but law , lothlng to prevent it. " _ •'• ADJOURNMENT, ■•■--■ ■•-- -"■ The question of adjournment onr the Queen's Birthday was also mooted. Mr Seduon atrongly objeoted. ■'■■- - Mt Fergus as strongly supported it. The Premier said he would say tomorrow what Government proposed to do. The House ad journed at lU7 p»in* ' x: -