GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 632, 4 August 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

—.— : —«. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, August 1, WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE. Mr Fulton brought up and read the following report by the Waste Lands Committee on the Deferred Payment Settlers' Relief Bill:—" The Committee have given careful consideration to this Bill, and taken valuable evidence bearing on the subject. Interpreting, however, the desire of the House as expressed by its resolution of July 31, that questions of the public policy relating to the waste lands of the Crown should not stand referred to this Committee, and finding that this Bill is of that character, they beg to report the Bill to tho House without recommendation." Sir Gγ. Grey moved—" That the Bill be committed on August 17." After discussion, the motion was put — Ayes 32, Noes 40. Major Atkinson said that the government of the Colony had been rendered difficult, if not impossible by the disjointed state of the Opposition. Mr Montgomery complained that the conduct of the Treasurer to the Opposition had been most discourteous. The conduct of Government all through had been most irregular. They brought down measures, and were afterwards only too glad to withdraw them. It \vb.d in this way that they had kept their seats so long, and he prophesied that a similar course would bo followed on this occasion. The lion the Treasurer said the loans were for the purpose of covering deficiencies, and he had not the courage to face taxation. He (the speaker) said these loans were to purchase support. He (the Treasurer) had heaped abuse upon him, because ho thought he could- not find language to retort. He would tell him that he was quite able to find language and any other thing that was necessary to repudiate such unjustifiable conduct. It was linally agreed that the Committee i-t-poiti v/lthin a week on the Deferred Payment Settlers Bill, Elective Land Board Bill, Pastoral Lauds Occupation Bill, and Land Bills.

THE LOAN BILLS, The House went into Committee to consider messages from the. Governor, transmitting the North island Main Crunk Uai!way Loan Bill. New Zealand Loan Bill, and payment of Expenses of Members of General Assembly Bill. The Bills were reported, read a first time, and ordered to be read a. second time on Friday. SUPREME COURT BILL. This Bill passed its second reading. LICENSING ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The House, in Committee, struck out the second clause in this Bill, referring to local bodies.

Speaking of the debate on the commital of the Defeired Payment Settlers Relief Bill on August 17, the Times special says : —'■ Mr Montgomery towards tho close of his (Major Atkinson's) speech was seen to be divesting himself of his great coat, a move which was noticed with loud cheers by his colleagues). The Treasurer himself hailed it with glee, as a sign that the " smug sententiousness" which characterised the leader of the Opposition was broken down at last. Alliteration's artful aid might have been invoked in a better cause. Many times I have listened with admiration to the Treasurer's straightforward and hard-hitting speeches ; never with the feeling that I had to-day that he had over-stepped the bounds of fair speech. My opinion on this point is by no means a solitary one. Mr Montgomery's speech in answer to this tirade was the most powerful he has yet made, and showed that when fairly roused and forced to speak he can be energetic and direct enough in his replies. Fluency, of course, he does not possess, but he dealt with facts enough to make older campaigners tlian Major Atkinson feel uncomfortable, and the many rounds of applause he received at intervals during his speech showed that the points he made had told. Had Mr Montgomery shown out two months earlier in the colors he wore to-day, the balance of parties might now be different to what it is."