PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 915, 31 October 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY'. Tloplyi )g to questions, The Hon. Mr Hill said a sum of L2IOO ■was proposed to be placed ou the Estimates for the construction of the telegraph line from Cromwell to Wanaka. The Hon. Mr Hall said the Government were not yet prepared to aty whether or iu.it thev would introduce a Bill to grant endowments to County Councils similar to those which have been already allocated to municipalities. The Hon. Mr Rolleston said the Government would bring down proposals in regard to education, in which fair regard would be paid to the question of population and school attendance. In a national scheme of education it was absurd that one dis triot should be fully equipped with buildings, residences, &c , while another district was left wholly neglected.

The Hon. Mr Oliver s lid enquiries would be nude as to the necessity for a survey of a railway line from Lawrence to Ettriek and Roxburgh. Mr Sutton asked whether a sum of L'2lo, or thereabouts, had been charge I against the Government for cab-hire in Wellington; if so, by whom it was expended.

The Hon. Mr Hall said he was not in a position to furnish a complete reply. The information in his possession was as fdlows Between Ist.lnly, 1878, to the 13th September last—for Sir G. Grey, 10s; Mr Sheehan, 1.219 11s Gd ; Colonel Whitmore, L2. Since then vouchers had been sent In, but not paid, for LSI Is 41, cab-hire for Mr Sheehan Of that sum only L2O had been paid. Further claims of a similar kind, amounting to Ll4 ISs, L 5 Gs, and Lll 18s respectively, had been made. Mr Hutchison in moving the second reading of the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition bill, said that as the matter stood the law on the subjett had been rendered one law for the rich and another for the poor. They never heard of a man owing a few hundred pounds being imprisoned." Such a one was able to lile his schedule. It was the poor man who was liable to be imprisoned. Then again, by some fiction of this law the »p cies of imprisonment was construed to he for contempt of Court. The speaker ridiculed the idea of a man who was unable to pay being treated in that way. Hon. Mr Hall said information would be given on an early day as to the advisability. of making such an alteration in the mode ot distribution of the subsidies to the counties and road districts as will apportion them according to the number of miles ot road to bo maintained, instead of, as at present, in proportion to the amount of rates collected. Mr Gibbs moved —“That in the opinion of this House the gold duty should be reduced l-v Is per ounce." MrSeldon moved as an amendment — “ That the duty he reduced at the rate of !s per ounce until the whole duty be abolished, .the reduction to be made on the Ist of PJanuary next.” The Hon. Major Atkinson suggested the adjournment of the debate until Wednesday, pending further information as to the question of what revenue should be substituted for that proposed to be abolished. Mr Reader Wood then stated that he and Messrs Swanson, Colbcok, and Hurst had gone over to the Government side on assurance that the education system would not be disturbed that Liberal mcasureswonld be carried, and a balance struck between Auckland and the rest of the Colony as to public works expenditure, any balance due Auckland to be made up from the present loan.

Sir George Grey strongly condemned Mr Reader Wood’s conduct, and the debate is proceeding. On Tuesday evening, Mr Macandrew said that in consequence of his party having been desertel by certain members on whom they had relied, tho Opposition had determined upon withdrawing the “ no-coufidenco motion ” standing in his name.

Tlie Finn. Mr Hall, in acquiescing in the application, said that all the Government aimed at was to allow their policy to be brought before the country. The Opposition has practically collapsed. The Opposition has resolved not further to oppose the Government measures The Election Committee has unseated Sir George Grey for Christchurch. Mr E. Richardson is declared elected for Christchurch, and he has taken his seat. Ministers have now a majority of five, and probably seven, whilch will most likely be increased to 10 or 15.