HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1574, 2 June 1887, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, Jane 1.

The House met at 2.00 p.m. LOCAL INDU6TBIFB.

Mr Dargaville brought up tho report of the Local Industries Committee. A lengthy discussion ensued od the motion for printing tbe report and the correspondence before the Committee. It was at length decided that the report and evidence be printed, but that the correspondence be referred back to the Committee foe further selection. a HE ttlWIF* RfiSOLUTIOKS. Sir Julius Yogel moved th»t the resolutions be recolnded concerning the Customs duties passed by the Hous6 on the 10th May latt, m order that money collected on the duties should be refunded. Major Atkinson asked whether that . resolution wonld ensure a refund of the money. Sir Jullui Yogel said he would undertake that the moneys should be returned, The motion was agreed t<\ VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. Captain Sufcter moved tho adjournment of the House In order to enable him to tefer to a return whioh he bad moved for m reference to the expenditure on Tillage settlements north Jof Auckland. He laid that Mr John Lundon had been appointed agent m connection with thoea settlements, and he strongly denounced the appointment- He wanted to know by j whose authority he was appointed, and whether Mr Lundon was a Government oftloar. He said the whole scheme w&s a total failure.

Mr Fisher Bald Mr Lundon's appointment was considered a grave scandal ta Auokland.

Mr Ballance defended Mr Lundon's appointment, and said that he received nothing whatever but travelling expenses. Mr Lundon had been instrumental m •ettling no fewer than 400 families on land north of Auckland.

Mr Hobba referred to the whole question at great length, tnd eatd that Mr Ballanoe had appointed Mr London as agent m view of the coming election, and to lojare hU (Mr Hobba') candidature. After farther discussion the motion for adjournment was loßt. SUPPLY. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Major Atkinson said that Government hid forfeited their constitutional rlghti by asking tbe House to pass supply before a measure necessary m the public Interest was passed, and he asked on what grounds? It was not on any great principle, bat m the hope that something would turn up. Something would, lie considered, turn np K o Ministers' everlasting disgrace. The Opposition were willing to assist Government, and were prepaied to grant supplies if the Treasurer carried oat his promise to pars the Representation Bill, and name a reasonable time at which the new House would meet to eject those honorable gentlemen from the Treasury beuches. Ho moved, *• That a respectful address be presented to the Governor praying that it Is deBirablo that the next meeting of Parliament be held under the new Representation Bill, and that Parliament meet no later than September Ist,- and that this be an Instruction to the Government." He admitted that there was a great deal of opposition to the Bill, bat any stonewalling would bring discredit on Parliament. A compromise m the direction of • redaction of members might be left to next Parllamont. Before supply was granted the Representation Bill should be nut In tuoh a position that tbe elections could be held under It without any forth or difficulty. The Premier aaked ooald M« jor Atkkton give any precedent for a Government m a position such as the present (Government were m go'n* on with the business before supply was granted. Theoonstlm tlonal practice was that when a Govern* ment was defeated a dissolution shouM take place, but m this case M»jor Atki>•on thought that ' office was within hla grasp, and. he consequently refused Buy piles Ho twitted Major Atkinson with H|yld£ broken hip promise to b\n oon-

Btitoents by not discussing the tariff proposals and the taxation of the colony. If the Houso bo decided that there should ba only two or three months' supplies he would abide by it, and if the public credit enff-red the country would know who was responsible. Major Atkinson said he would grant six months' Buppliea if the Representation Bill was paQaed. The Premier repeated that he was anxious thn Bill ahould pass, and had urged tha Minister m charge of the Bill m the Counoil to g»t the appeal olause struck out m order to facilitate Its passage. Government were not asking too much m applying for supplies to the end of September or oarly m October, aa tho detalla necsiaary for tho eleotiona could not bo retidy btfore the end of August. Mr Bryco aaked the Premier why ho made promises of an unconstitutional character to tho Governor. He deprecated attributing improper motives to members. The time named by the Premier for getting the Representation Bill under weigh waa altogether too long. Mr Ballance was surprised ay the amount of heat imported into the debate. Government had done all with the Repress nUtiou Bill tha . they bad promised, and bai no Intention of delaying it. He contended that the House could not meot till October. The onus was thrown on M.-ijir Atkinson of showing that the House could meet on September lot. If he could not da bo Wb case entirely failed. '

Mr Wakefield said «he Ministry had got into office by intrigue, and continued by all aorta of devises to remain thera m the face of a majority. The Keprenontation Bill had been carried In the teeth of the Government, who had obstructed it to the end both laßt session and this. It was the duty of the Government to say when Parliament could re assemble, ac they had all the information at tbeir disposal. He believed everything could be got ready In fivo weeks. He reviewed the actions and policy of the Government m detail, their want of unity, their land policy, and the tariff proposals. Mr Mentoath aald that the whole objeot of the Opposition waß to push on the eleotiona at top spaed iv order to turn the Government out and get on those benches themselves. The only reason iho JNo Confidence vote had passed was that It was a moribund Parliament, and some members thought the opportunity a good one to earn a little cheap popularity, Mr F. Buokland saw no reason why everything could not be got ready by September Ist, As to opposition m the Council, the Premier had to put no less than twelve members into it, yet he doubted whether he ever possessed a majority m it. Mr "Montgomery Baid that now the Representation Bill bad been passed nn. altered with the appeal clause etill m it, It was out of the power of the Governto aay when the election could be held. It would rest entirely with tho Commie•loners when things wore got m readiness. He (suggested that both the appeal clause and the appointment of three commissioners outside the two officials should be cut out of the Bill, and then *,he elections conld certainly be held at an early date. He was m infavor of Major Atkinson's amendment, as ho thought the voice of tho country ehou'd be taken at once if possible. Mr W. D. Stewart was disappointed that Government had not Indicated some broad scborae of retrenchment before appealing to the country. He was m favor of the honorarium and large salaries being reduced-

Mr Ormond thought the Oppoaltlon was now on the stool of repentance. Ihe Representation Bill bad been urged through the Council In such a hurry that clauses had been left m whioh triust prevent the elections being hold at an early date. It was impossible, if the ComniiaBionoro followed the stipulations of the Bill, for them to get through their work even m the time mentioned by the Premier. Did the Opposition really wart the elections held under the old Ac 1 It looked aa If Bomo of them bad completely thrown over the Auckland oontingent, Mr Fulton said ho had calculated that, leaving tho appeal clause out of consideration, the elections micthfc bo over before the end of August He quoted figurej m support of his contention. Mr Levostam pointed out certain considerations which the previous speaker had overlooked.

Mr Taylor remarked that they were now acked to fling the Bill down on the floor of tbe House once more, but he hoped th' Government would have nothiog to do with amending it Mr Hatch felt confident that the Opposition had reckoned without tbeir -host. It was evident, from the calculations they had heard that the alecticna, if held under the new BUI, oould not take place under three or four month-. He urged that they had better go to. the country under the old Act, and hear what Ihe people had to nay about representation. Sir JuHub Yogel said one little point had escaped Mojor Atkinson. If tbe calculations of the OpnoßUlon werecorreot what wonld they gain? They already had the assnrance of Government that the House Bhould reassemble at the earliest possible moment if Ihe amend* meats were carried, and it was then found that September was too early. There would be a period when theJGovernment of the country would have to be carried on without supplies.

Major Atkinson interrupted that he did not want to refuse supplies till the end of September, but he wanted a date for tho re-assembling 6xed.

Sir Julias Yogel continued. The Avon election that day. ought to be a warning to the hon gentleman. He would probably find during the elections he was bo anxious for, many contests of the same kind m which tho candidates were all Government supporters, and only varied m intensity. Mr Orraond eaid he ohjsoted to a Government who had lost the confidence of the country remaining In office for a lengthened period. They wanted a date fixed. He thought the commissioners might be instructed to take no notica of the appeal clause for.^the present, and if lha commission was confined to official members only matters would be still more expedited. Mr Bracken moved the adjournment of the debate. The motion was lost by 28 to 35. Mr Smith, In reply to Mr Ormond, quoted from his speech at Napier to show that he voted ayalnefc the Government because he was afraid of tho property tax. Mr Mills thought it had been mad© clear that, under the new Act, the eleotiona could not be held till October or November, and it would be preferable to take them under the old Act rather than wait bo long, If that , were done they could reconsider tho new*Ao.t, and reduco the number of members to 60. Mr b\ Fraßer urged the necessity of retrenchment. Colonel Fraser moved the adjournment of the House. Lost on the voices. < Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of , the debate. Major Atkinson said he oould not agree to It. Ayes, 23, Noes, 30. Mr Duncan said f-a tbe member for Egmont had taken the matter hi o his own hands, they had better leave it to him and let him do as ho likad. Major Atkinson's amendment waa carried by 30 to 23, and the House roao at 2 a.m.