HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1912, 7 August 1888, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING,

Monday, August 0,

The House met at 2.30 p.m. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.

On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr O'Oonor moved aa an amendment that m the opinion of the House no farther appointment should be made to the Legislative Council until the legislature should have had an opportunity of determining upon any alteration to be made In the dlreotion of limiting the nntnber, altering the words of appoint* maot, and for fixing the term for which suoh appointment shall be valid. He said that he would move the resolution without any consultation with Government, and he hoped the Houae would support I*. Dr Hodgklnßon said that if he thought the resolution would effect any reform In the manner of making appointments to the Ojuncll he should support It, but he did not think It was likely to do so. '

Sir John Hall said that he bad frequently advocated a ohsnge m the mode of making those appointments, bat he thought that a large question of this kind should not be brought forward without notice, and he therefore oould not sup> port it. . . Mr Verrall, Mr Leveatam and Mt Samuel, supported the amendment.

The Premier considered that a more In* opportune time for bringing forward a resolution of this klud oould not h»ve been chosen , The Goternment had already deolared that they were nbfc going to make any further appointments. The question must ba d<souai9d by the House next session, and it would. then have to be decided whether the number of the Legislative Oouooll should be limited or whether the two houses should ait together, on the Norwegian plan. He submitted that at this time of the session it was most undesirable to_ open a large question of this kind. Mr O'Oonor said that after the Premier's explanatlonjhe should aakj for leave to withdraw his amendment.

Leave was refused.

The Premier, In reply to a question b/ Mr Kerr said that he did not intend to make any further appointments to the CoudoH this year, unless by direction of the Honae. Of oourae it might be absolutely neoessary to do so ie order to carry on the Government, but he did. not anticipate any contingency of that kind arising.

The motion for going Into Supply was carried on voioen, and the amendment lost. " • . .-

The Estimates were then farther oonsldered.

A lengthy dlaoaaaion ensued on the vote, £300, for compilation of Maori history, and at Me Hialop'a suggestion the sum was redaoed by £5, upon his pro-* mißing to enquire into the matter.

Considerable dieousaion was caused by vote £2660, contribution towards the expenses of the protactorate of New Guinea. . -

Mr Hlslop said that the late Government had agreed with the Home Govern* ment to pay a contribution for this '■ purpose. He suggested that the vote be reduced by £5, and Government would undertake not to make any farther payment after this year without Instructions from the House.

Mr Peacock moved that {the vote te reduced by £5. '

The amendment was agreed to. The House rose at 5.20 p.m.