HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9238, 16 October 1895, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, October 15. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30. NEW BILLS. Mr SEDDON said that several of the. Bills now to be introduced by the Government were only meant to be circulated through the country. Replying to Dr. Newman, Mr SEDDON said that there would have to be another " slaugnter of the innocents," and the Government would tnen state which Bills it intended proceeding with thia session. Beplyiog to Captain Russell, Mr SEDDON -aid that it rested with the House and not with the Government as to when the session would close. He thought that members might be able to get away by October 29th. The Pub.ic Works Statement would not be brought down till Friday next and the House would probably not discuss it till the Tuesday following. Nine new Bills were then introduced by Ministers. BBETROOT SUGAR. On the motion to introduce the Beetroot Sugar Bill, Captain RUSSELL protested againtst it being brought down at such a late stage of the session, and said that the Bill pledged the Government of the country for fifteen years to pay a bonus of id per lb on locally grown sugar, which be thought the House would not assent to. Mr SEDDON hoped that the House would take a vote on the question. The motion for introduoing the Bill woa carried by 37 to 25. IMPREST SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply Bill for £155,500 was introduced and read a second time. Dr. NEWMAN asked if a portion of this money was to be devoted towards the Midland Railway. Mr SEDDON said that it was unfair and uupatriotic of the honourable member to bring this matter up at the present stage. The Government was advised by the best authorities that its action over the Midland Railway was perfectly legal, in proof of whioh the Company had not dared to face the Supreme Court to test whether the action of the Government was legal or not. As the House was aware, the Government had appointed an arbitrator, and as the matter was now sub judice, he thought it better to make no further reference to it at the present time. Sir R. STOUT complained of the great delay that had occurred in bringing down the Public Works Statement. He said that the House really had no more control over the finances of ihe oolony than the other House had, and it was highly improper that the Public Works Statement should be delayed till the last days of the session, when members were anxious tq get home, and there was no time to discuss it. He also contended that tbe whole of the details connected with the local bodies' sinking funds should be laid on the table. Mr WARD said that it was very amusing to hear the hon. gentleman say that the House had no control over the public finance when he (Sir R. Stout) was anie to obtain any information he required through the other Chamber. He again defended his action with respect to the Sinking Funds, and deprecated Sir R. Stout continually bringing this matter up in the House. Why, the hon. gentleman himself had Introduced the Bill under which the Government acted. (Sir R. STOUT—" No.") Well, his Government had done so. (Sir R. STOUT—"No.") As to the delay in bringing down the Public Works Statement, Sir R. Stout had omitted to state that the Government had brought down the tariff this year and stuck to it. {Members— "Wk ich tariff?") The tariff that was on the Statute Book. As the Government had adhered to the prinoiple of constructing public works out of tbe Consolidated Revenue, it was only reasonable to suppose I that it had to wait till the tariff was passed !in order to see how much money would be available for public works. The motion for the second reading of the Imprest Supply Bill was agreed to, and the Bill committed. Clause I—Sir R. STOUT asked if he were in order to move an amendment to the effect that the House refused to grant any further supply till the Government furnished full particulars of the £145,400 of sinking funds under tbe Local Bodies' Loans Act. Mr GUINNESS ruled the amendment ou!b of order. Sir R. STOUT moved that the Chairman report progress. He again referred to the question of sinking funds, and said that he should take every possi >le opportunity of letting the colony that the Colonial Treasurer was using £-45,400 of loan money, about which he refused to give the House any information whatever. Mr SEDDON deprecated raising thia question of sinking fund over an Imprest Supply Bill which was to pay the salaries of the Civil servants of the coiony. Thie question was also before the Public Accounts Committee at present. After considerable discussion, the motion for reporting progress was lost by 37 to 15. The Bill passed through Committee without amendment. On the motion for the third reading of the Bill Mr G. Hutchison and Mr Bell spoke strongly against the Treasurer persistently refusing to give the Houae information respecting those sinking funds and other financial matters. Mr WARD accused Sir R. Stout of professing to be a friend of the late Mr B-Hance's finance, and yet, ever sinoe Mr Ballance's death he had been associated with that gentleman's bitterest enemies. He again contended that the Government had acted in accordance with the Act ot 1884 in dealing with tho sinking funds. The Bill was read a third time ana passed. The House rose at 5 30 p.n_.