THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 2954, 7 August 1872, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[By Electric Telegraph.]

(From Grevillc's Tdcyram Company.)

Last night the debate on Mr Creighton’s Permissive Bill was resumed ; and its progress in committee was resisted at every successive stage. The first and second and first prohibitory clauses were postponed on divisions, 3 he first of the prohibitory clauses was negatived by 38 to 34. Mr Creighton moved the re-committal of the Bill to-day ; and Mr Vogel moved that it be recommitted that day six months—which was negatived. The voting on the prohibitory clause was as follows : A/es : Messrs J. E. Brown, J. C. Brown, Bathgate, Bryce, Calder, Creighton, Clark, Fox, Gillies, Hunter, Luckie, M'Gillivray, M'Lean, M'Leod, Murray, O’Connor, Peacock, E. Kichardsou, Steward, Tribe, Tairoa, Thomson, White, Williamson. Noes: Andrew, Brandon, Bunny, Bell, Bluett, Buckland, Bradshaw, Carrington, Collins, Fitzh.rbert, Gisborne, Harrison, ■Jackson, Johnston, Katene, Kelly, Kenny, Macandrew, Ormond, G. B. Parker, Pearce, Parata, Beeves, Reynolds, Rhodes, Rollestou, R. Richardson, Swauston, Studholme, Seymour, Stafford, Sheehan, J. Shephard, Vogel, Wood, Webster, Wakefield, and Sir David Monro. The debate on Mr Gillies’s resolution re the definition oE the functions of Provinces was resumed. Mr Sheehan said the Ministry which went into office on the shoulders of the Provincial party was now crippling the Provinces ; and that the general opinion of the public was that the public works and immigration policy could not be administered from one centre. Mr Reader Wood said the various motions on the subject showed that the House considered a change necessary. He condemned the principle of Mr Ormond holding a seat in the Ministry while he retained his Superiutendency, and referred to Dr Featherston’s resignation under similar circumstances in obedience to an expression of opinion by the House. He further said Superintendents being in a Ministry gave an unfai. advantage to the Provinces they represented. Mr Gillies replied at considerable length. He said the Government wer§ abrogating their functions by not bringing down a policy regarding Provincial institu-? tions, and adduced figures showing that the General Government was denuding the Provinces of their revenue. If the Ministry did not indicate what was to be their policy in regard to the Provinces, the House would force a policy upon the Government. As the Government had stated that they had no intention of bringing down a policy, and as other motions oa the same subject were

already on the Order Paper, he would withdraw his.

The North Dunedin Cemetery Bill v.as read a first time to-day, Mr Bathgate gave notice of his Interest Bill.; also of a proposed amendment of the clause in the Licensing Bill affecting grocers’ and bush licenses.

The petitions of miners at Mount Ida and residents at Papanui were referred to the Public Works Committee.