HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3743, 14 July 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said a township Avould be laid out at the Oripuki railway station, and sufficient reserves Would bo made In it, the Government would not provide for paying Messrs Allan and Stubbs the amount due by the Duntroon and Hokotaramea Railway Company, the Government had no option about paying compensation for losses by tho burning of the Blenheim goods-shed set on fire by sparks from o, locomotive. As common carriers they Avere legally liable. NEAV HILLS. The Registration of Electors Act Amendment Bill and the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendraont Bill (Pyko) were read a first time. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Mr Shephard resumed the debate on Mr Montgomery's motion. He contended for increased powors to local bodies. He supported tho first and second resolution, but would propose to omit tho words "including public works " in tho third. Mr Watt opposed the resolution, although ho thought some change desirable, as it avus unnecessary to have both Road Boards and Counties. Mr Duncan enumerated a largo number of local grievances to prove the evil of contral administration. Ho supported the resolutions.

Mr Ivess would not regard the question ns a party one, and in default of anything better being proposed would support tho resolutions, as tho present Bystcm of central

government was unsatisfactory. Increased pOAvers to local bodies Avere desired. Mr AVynn-AA r illiams ridiculed most of the petty complaints made, and most strongly deprecated any return to the old follies of tho proAnncial system. He blamed Sir George Grey greatly for the reckless charges he was always making againsthis opponents. He also warmly defended Mr Bryce from Mr Rusden's calumny.

Mr Bracken said the question at issue on these resolutions would soon stir the colony to its heart. He bclieA-ed 99 out of eA-ery 100 in Otago Avould approve of them. The country Avould not long submit to central government.

Mr Hursthouse opposed the resolutions as useless, and thought timo was being wasted in discussing them. People throughout the colony, however, were not satisfied with the present system of administration. There ought to be fewer local governing bodies of one sort or another, and those left should have greater powers. He warmly defended Mr Bryce from Mr Rusden, and censured Sir George Grey for the tone of his speeches. Mr Holmes made a feAV additional remarks in reference to some statements of Mr AVynn-AVilliams about the AVest Coast railway. The House divided on the first resolution, "That tho cxisiting system of central government has failed to "realise the results anticipated, and that the promises and engagements made at the time of the abolition of the provinces have not been fulfilled." — Ayes, 23 ; Noes, 34. The folloAving is the diA'isiou list:— Ayes 23. Barron " M'Donald, A. Buchanan, J. Montgomery Daniel Pearson DeLautour Pillictt Duncan Seddon Feldwick Shephard Fish Shrimski George Steward Green, J. Thomson, J. AY. Harris Turnbull Joyce AVhite, AY. Macandrew Noes, 31. Atkinson M'Millan Beetham Mitchelson Buchanan, AY. C. Morris Conoily Moss Dick Munro Dodson O'Callaghan Driver Postleth waito Fergus Rollesfon Fit/Gerald Sutter Hobbs Sutton. Hurst Swanson Hursthouse Trimble Johnston, AY. AY. Watt Kelly Whyte, J. B. Larnach AVilson, J. G. Leo AVright Mackenzie, F. AY. AVynn-AVilliams Paibs. Ayes. Noes. Bracken Peacock Pyko Green, M. AY. Siicclian Pearson M'Konzie, J. AVhitaker Cadman M'llwraith M'Donald, J. AVilson, J. Ivess Levin Taiaroa Brown, J. E. Tolo Mason Brown, J. C. Thompson, 11. Levestam Bryce Bathgate Johnston, C. J. Grey SteA-ens Te AVheoro Alhvright Tomoana Tawhai Hutchison Petric Smith Fulton Holmes Shaw Tlie AVords, after the words "and that," were accordingly struck out. Mr Pearson explained that he had voted Avith the ayes only to serve his pair. The House then divided on the question that Mr Moss' amendment be adopted.— Ayes, 19; Noes, 38. The following is the division list:— Ayes, 19. Barron Pilliot Daniel Pyke DeLautour Seddon Duncan Shrimski Feldwick Steward Fish SAvanson Joyce Thomson, J. W. Macandrew AVhite, AY. Montgomery Noes, 38. Atkinson M'Donald, A. Beetham M'Millan Buchanan, J. Mitchelson Buchanan, AY. C. Morris Conoily Munro Dick O'Callaghan Dodson Peacock Driver Pearson Fergus Postletlnvaite FitzGerald Rolleston George Shephard Hobbs Sutter Hurst Sutton Hursthouse Trimble Johnston, AVatt Kelly AVhyte, J. B. Larnach AVilson, J. G. Lee Wright Mackenzie, F. W. AVynn-AVilliams The pairs Avere the same as before, expect that Mr Pyke and Mr Pearson voted. Mr O'Callaghan protested against the waste of time of the House Avhich had taken place in discussing resolutions Avhich were never seriously meant. Mr AY. White gave his version of Avhat took placo betAveen the Government and the Canterbury members about the West Coast raihvay. After somo further discussion, in which Messrs Lee, Pearson, A. M'Donald, J. C. Brown, AY. C. Buchanan, and others took part, Mr Montgomery replied, and the House divided on the remainder of the original resolutions.—Ayes, 24 ; Noes, 31. The following is tho division list: —■ Ayes, 24. Barron Montgomery Bracken Moss Buchanan, J. Pilliet Daniel Pyko DeLautour Seddon Duncan Shephard Feldwick Shrimski Fish StcAvard Green SAvanson Harris, J. Thomson, J. AY. Macandrew Turnbull McDonald, A. AVhyte, AY. Noss, 34. Atkinson McKenzie, F. AA r . Beetham M'Millan Buchanan, W. C. Mitchelson Conoily Morris Dick Munro Dodson O'Callaghan Driver Pearson Fergus PostlethAvaitc FitzGerald Rolleston Hamlin Sutter Hobbs Sutton Hurst Trimble Hursthouse AVatt Johnston, AY. AY. Whytc, J. B. Kelly AVilson, J. G. Larnach AVright Lee AVynn-Williams PAIRS. Ayes. Noes. Sheehan AVhitaker Bathgate Stevens M'Kenzic M'llwraith Cadman AVilson, J. M'Donald, J. Levin Ivess Brown, J. _. Gardiner Mason Tola Thomson, H. Levestam Johnston, C. Pykc Pearson Grey Alhvright Te AVheoro Tawhai Tomoana Pctrie Joyce Green, M. AY. Hutchison Fulton Smith Shaw Brown, J. C. Brycc Holmes Peacock Tho House rose at 1.25 a.m.