HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3749, 21 July 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday. met at 2.30 p.m. OTAGO LAND " DUMMYISM." Mr Rollcston, without notice, and at tho request of a select committee on Otngo 11 dummyism," introduce a bill to indemnify witnesses giving evidence likely to criminate themselves. He intimated that it was his intention to ask tho House to pass tho bill through all its stages on Tuesday. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said it would not pay to extend ths telegraph to Capo Farewell lighthouses; tho Government would make enquiries about running a Sunday train between Masterton and Wellington, although Sunday traifio at present was limited to port lines ; the Government would not give Mr Kelly a day to discuss his native laud resolutions, as tho Government Billon tho subject would bo down next week ; tho 'Government did not, see any necessity for altering the Mines Act in the direction suggested by Mr Scddon ; full enquiry would be made as to tho advisability of continuing quarrying on the reserve near Mataura Falls; arrangements would bo mado for trucking sheep and cattle at St. Andrew's station, but not at Waimatc ; the Government would try to get tho Christchurch and Rcoftou mails into Groymouth in time for the afternoon delivery. REWARD FOR DISCOVERY OF OOLD. The Government in reply to a question, (jaid they would not offer a bonus for the discovery of gold fields in the North Island, but had now agreed to give £500 for a payablo ono believed to exist in Canturbury. Mr Seddon objected to this, and moved the adjournment of the House, and some discussion ensued, nearly all the goldiields members censuring the course adopted. COMMITTK OK SUPPLY. The House then went into Committee of Supply, when, after some remarks from Mr Montgomery as to the necessity for the Government reducing tho estimates, Major Atkinson said the Government did not sec its way to the reductions until the proposed reorganisation of the Civil Service took pluco, Mr Hutchison insisted that tho ostimates could be reduced by £-30,000 with great easo. Mr Svvanson concurred, and moved that progress be reported, with a view of sending the estimates buck to tho Government to be reduced by £50,000 or .£75,000. Mr J. E. Brown opposed, and Major Atkinson stated that tho Government could not accept any such proposal. If the House thought other gentlemen could administor affairs more economically than present Ministers it should put them on tho Government benches. Colonel Trimble opposed the motion, and Mr Montgomery and Mr Turnbull supported it. Mr Fish and Mr Smith supported the reforonco of tho estimates back to tho Government, and Mr Dick, Mr Ilobb.s, Mr Fitzgerald, Mr M. W. Green, and Mr Sutton opposing it as amounting to a- vote of no-eontidenco. The House divided on the question to report progress which was lost by 13 to 31. Ayes. Burron Lcvestam .Bathgato Macandrew Bracken A. McDonald J. Buchanan. Montgomery Dargavillo Moss Daniel Pilliet DoLautouv Shcehan Duncan Shepherd Fcldwick Shrimski Fish Smith Gcorgo Steward J, Green Swanson Grey J. W. Tlioinpsun Holmes Tolo Hutchinson Turnbull Ivoss ' W. White Joyce Wright Noes. Atkinson McMillan Bcetham Mitchdson J. G. Brown Morris Bryco Munro W. C. Buchanan O'Callaghan Connolly Pearson Dick Peacock Podsou Potrie

For°-U3 Postlcthwaito Fitzgerald Rolleston Fulton Shaw M. W. Greon Sutter Hobbs H'xtUm _ Hurst Tawhai Ilursthouso Tamoana C. Johnston Trimble W. Johnston Watt Kelly Whitaker Ltirnach J- White Lee J- Gγ. Wilson F. W. Mackenzie Wynn-Williams Mason Pairs. Ayes. Noes. Taiaroa Allright Seddon Driver J. 0. Brown Stevens Cadrnan Levin Han-is H. Thompson J. McKcnzio Molhvraitli To Wheovo J- Wilson Class A.—Colonial Secretary « Department :— Premier's offic, £150.— Passed. Colonial Secretary's office, £1595. Mr Fish protested against tho late decision, after which they might ns well throw the whole responsibility on the Government and pass the estimates in order. A long and very warm discussion eventuated on the general questions, Sir George Grey and Mr Rolleston each speaking strongly on the Canterbury land system and other matters.

Mr Finli, Mr Soddon, Mr Turnbnll, and Mr J. C. Brown kept up the talk till 2.15, when Mr Socldon's motion to report progress was rejected. Mv Holmes then appealed to the Government to adjourn, saying- the Opposition as a- body was not responsible for the course adopted by some independent members, whom the leader of the Opposition could not control or curb.

Captain Mackenzie urged Ilic Government not to give iviij. Ho declined to believe that the Opposition was not authorised.

After some further talk tho items, Messengers and Ofllce Keepers £'i'-)~, wore agreed to, also tho items, Electoral .£2os;'), Audit and Registrar-General's Department ;£SBI9. On the item, £3010 Geological and Mctrologioal Department, an amendment to reduce it by £1500 was lost on a division by 32 to 7.

At 4 o'clock the Agent-General's Department £3500 was passed, Major Atkinson denying , the truth of the rumour about Sir F. D. Bell resigning.

On the item Charitable Aid and Hospitals £80,900, a motion to report progress was lost on the voices, and Mr Montgomery, Mr Holmes, and others left the House, the Government refusing to adjourn.

At 4.10 Mr Turnbull announced his intion of reading the whole of the Inspector's report on the New Zealand Hospitals, a paper of 2S pages. At 4.15 a quorum had to be rung for, Mr Turnbull then went on reading till 5 o'clock, when a motion previously made to reduce the vote by £200 was lost on a division of 21 to 10.

At 5.10 Mr Turnbull continued reading, after moving that progress be reported.

Tho Chairman stopped him, and insisted on his confining himself to the subject.

At .5.20 Mr Hnmlin, in reply to a question, pointed out that the whole vote could bo discussed on its report; to the House.

Mr Fish counselled Mr Turnbull to give way, as no good could now be done by opposing farther.

Mr Turnbull continued, insisting on the groat importance of the subject.

Major Harris condemned the stonewalling.

Mr Turubiill said he would move to reduce the vote £1 for £1.

At 5. -10 a /notion to report progress was lost by 27 to 7.

Mr Fcldwick moved a reduction of the charitable aid vote by £10,000.

Mr Turnbull, Mr Fold wick, and Mr Fish kept up the talk till G. 15 a.m., when the Committee divided, Mr Feldwiek's motion "being lost by 20 to 3, the three being Mr Feldwick and Mr Turnbull (tellers) and Mr Fish.

At G. 20 Mr Turnbull moved that the vote be reduced by £5,000, but did not call for a division after the bell had been rung.

At G. 30 the vote passed as printed, as did also the following votes, after a slight discussion on the various items :—Lunatic Asylums .£3G,G 13, Printing and Stationery £70,517, and Stock Department £23,030.

On thevoteMiscellaneous, MrO'Callaghan moved the omission of the item .£.500 for the introduction of salmon and other fish ova.

Mr Dick expressed his willingness to omit the item, but Mr Fitzgerald and Mr Dodson objected, and at 7.10 a.m. the Committee divided, the item being retained by in to 13.

This was the last vote of Class 11. Progress was then reported, and at 7.25 this morning the House adjourned until 7.30 on Monday evening.