HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3760, 3 August 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. MR DAROAVILLE'S CHARGES. . Major Atkinson gave notice to move the [ following: —"That the hon. member for ( Auckland City West, Mr Dargaville, having charged the Premier and the Colonial Treasurer with using for years their political , position for the purpose of prompting , legislation, not for the good of the colony, j hut in the interests of tho Bank of New ! Zealand, especially in assisting to pass the . Public Debts Act, 1807, and further having \ accused the Premier of receiving the sum of ] £10,000, or some portion of £10,0(10, as payment for services rendered in passing ] the Public Revenues Act, 1807, a select ( committee bo appointed to enquire and re- ( port to the House: 1. Have tho Premier ( and the Treasurer, or either of them, used -j their or his political position improperly in < assisting to pass tho Public Debts Act, f 1807, or in any other way in promoting j legislation favorable to the interests of the ] Bank of New Zealand and against the , interests of the colony ? 2. Did tho Pre- j mier receive directly or indirectly the sum of £10,000, or any larger or smaller sum for ( helping to promote the passage of the Public - Debts Act, 1807, or any other Acts since ; 1807, in which tho Bank of New Zealand . ■was interested ? —the committee to consist j of Messrs Driver, Hurst, Macandrew, Mont- -, *" gomery, Steward, J. E. Brown, and J. AVil- , son, four to form a quorum, and report in a fortnight." QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said that tho local loan authorised last year had not been raised or anticipated, and there was no immediate intention of raising it—when . raised it would be paid into the Public Works account under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, and would not be devoted to the construction of the East and AVest Coasts Middle Island railway; the number of wardens in Nelson gaol was ! sufficient in proportion to the number of i prisoners; the Government would liberally : assist the importation of ferrets, stoats, and ' weasels to destroy rabbits ; the Government believed tho passengers by the Catalonia had grounds of complaint about the cooking, and though not very serious, steps would be taken to prevent a recurrence ; the Government could not extend tho telegraph to Cape Maria Dioinen lighthouso ; the Government hoped, if possible, to pass a bill making better provision for auditing tho accounts of local bodies. NEW BILLS. Tho following new bills were introduced and read a first time:—Elcctiion of Land Boards (Grey), Disposal of Pastoral Lands (Grey), Russell Exchange of Land (Rolleston), Animals Protection Amendment (Hamlin). SECOND READINGS. Tho City of Auckland Additional Loan Bill, the AVaiiriatc High School Bill, and the AVellington Harbor Board Land and v Reclamation Bill were read a second time. BILLS PASSED. The following bills were passed through committee, read a third time and passed: — Massey Frauds Indemnity, AVestland High School, Invcrcargill Reserves Exchange, Masterton and Greytown Lands Management, Taiaroa Land, and the Guardian Trust and Executor's. ROADS AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION. _ Major Atkinson moved for the appointment of a committee to consider what roads should be gazetted main roads under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, whether applications should be received after the 31st March last, and what applications should be received this year from local bodies which had not applied last year, the committee to consist of Mr Bcctluim, Mr Larnach. Captain McKcrizic, Mr Mitcholson, Mr Postlethwaito, Mr Cadman, Mr Seddon, Mr Shepherd, Mr Sutton, and Mr J. AY. Thomson. The Government wished the assistance of the House in deciding irregular applications. Mr Montgomery opposed the motion, as there was not enough money to satisfy those bodies which had applied in time, lie objected to tho Government shifting tho responsibility on to a committee. Mr J. Me'Kenzic objected to any comx mitteo, and more especially to one composed mainly of Government supporters. Mr AY. Johnston defended the course the Government took in asking the assistance of the House to decide a difficult matter. Mr Macandrew thought the House was being reduced to the position of a Road f Board. Mr Barron condemned the motion, and moved, as an amendment, that the names of tho proposed committee be left out, jiiid those of the Ministry substituted. Mr Fergus, Mr Sheppard, Mr Bectham, Mr J. McDonald, Mr Hurst, Mr Pyke, Captain Mackenzie, andMrAV. C.Buchanan defended the motion, while Mr Shcehan, Mr Fish, Mr J. AY. Thompson, Mr DeLautour, and Mr Stevens opposed it. ' Mr Fulton moved, as au addition to the motion, that the committee should enquire into what' amendments were necessary in the Roads and Bridges Construction Act ' This was agreed to on the voices, aud Mr Barron's amendment was negatived. Major Atkinson rflplicd at length, dc- ' fending the operation of the Act, and the course now adopted by the Government. On a division the motion as amended was carried by 35 to 21. " ' PASSAGE OF BILLS. The Bills of Exchange Bill'was read a

third time and passed. ' Tho' Criminals Execution Bill and the Property Law Consolidation Bill were read a second time ' The Crown Grants Bill passed through committee. The Mining Companies Act Amendment Bill was further considered and amended in committee. In clause 3 six mouths was fixed as tho time transferrers of shares should remain liable. A new clause was added, that when shares were held iii trust

for a company they could not be disposed of by private sale. The bill was then roported as amended. The House rose at 1 o clock.