PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4263, 25 October 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[By Telegraph.] HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. October 24. THE LOAN AGENTS. In Committee on the Loan Bill, Clause 3 (loan of two millions authorised) waa amended by limiting the sum to one million pounds. The Bill then passed. The Hon. Mr Whftaker Btated that he had received telegrams from Messrs Gilchrist, Watt, and Co. to the effect that they desired to omit Honolulu in the 'Frisco service, as it would effect a saving of time. The New youth Wales Government were in favor of the< proposal, and desired to know the opinion, of the New Zealand Government.

THE WASTE LANDS ADMINISTRATION BILL. On the motivon to go into Committee, Mr Sheehaiv moved that the Bill be committed that day three months. He complained that no provision was made for special settlement, and said the Bill was calculated to reteird settlement. The Prkmier pointed out that special settlements should be dealt with specially by the House, an d not by a general meaeure. He considered the- Bill favorable to settlement, and express e d his intention of introducing a clause wfien in Committee giving power to the Waste Lands Board to fix a special price on pa> tucular blocks of land. Mr Stafford pointed out the necessity for guarding against ±he exclusion of small communities by large landowners. Sir Robert Dottgl'<as said the country should be opened up first, and sold afterwards. The contrary had been the case in Auckland. He hop>fd the member for Rodney would withdraw his motion. Let the onus rest with the Government if the result should be the prevention of settlement. Sir 6. Grey was of opinion that the Government proposals had thue effect of locking up the land. Mr Stafford supported the deferred payments proposals. 1 he Minister for Justice pointed out that the non-success of the .forty acre system in Auckland was due to the fact that men could not prosper on forty acres of land. The Government proposed to give the opportunity of settling on 200 acres, and paying for it on the defer red" payments system. It was absolutely necessary that in the present state of affairs a Bill of this kind should be passed. Mr Montgomery suggested there .should be three agents, and pointed out. the objection to reposing power in the hands of Sir J. Vogel, whose natural inclination would be to place all loans with the firm of Messrs Rothschild, which he thought was undesirable. Mr Rolleston wished to know whether Sir J. Vogel had definite powers, or whether he was empowered to use his own discretion in the appointment and discharge of officers in connection with the Agent-General's department. At the evening sitting, after a good deal of discussion, the House went into Committee on the Bill, and the rest of the sitting was taken up with the measure. Ultimately it was put through Committee and reported with amendments, the thud reading being fixed for 2.10 p.m. to-day. During the debate on the Public Works Bill, a twenty minutes' characteristic speech having been made by the member for Auckland City East, Mr Eollkston complained of Mr Rees laising technicalities for the purpose of obstructing business. .Sir George Grey said that the freedom of debate was being interfered wish. Mr Donald Reid complained of the personal attacks of Mr Rees during the session. He (Mr Ueid) had endeavored to act loyally by his party, and been humiliated and disgraced by the conduct of that party and its leaders. They had been told that the Opposition had come down that night to promote

- public business, but their sole object appeared to be to. worry the Government. He was quite content to leave his public career to other hands than those of the member for City East. (Loud applause). ' Mr Swanson hoped there would be an tod to personal recriminations. _ Mr I>e Laxjtour complainsd of the action taken by the leaders of the Opposition, and said that he felt bound to desert his party. Mr. W. Wood hoped that the Opposition would wash their dirty linen at Home. Mr Sheehan thought that Mr Reidtook an erroneous view of the matter. He complained that directly a member got on his legs, immediately there were cries of " Question " from those lying down on the benches.