PARLIAMENTARY.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 140, 2 June 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[ PRB UNITED PhKSS ASSOCIATION.! Wklltngton, June 1. In the Legislative Council, the Representation Bill was passed without amendment. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. >. __^_ Wellington, May 31. In the House this afternoon the PreHiior stated the Governor had granted a dissolution. Ho proposed to push the Representation Bill through and hold the new elections under it. Six months sup- | plies would be asked for by Bill that afternoon. Parliament would be summoned at the earliest possible moment. He concluded by moving that Government business for the remainder of the session have precedence. Major Atkinson protested strongly against the conduct of the Government in asking for a dissolution. A message was received from the Governor, recommending the House to grant an Appropriation Bill till September. — The Public Revenues Bill was introduced, and on the motion to go into Committee of (Supply to consider it, Sir J. Vogol said the Government thought that if the appeal clause were struck out of the Representation Bill, they might do their work in thirty days, and the new Parliament bo elected by October the Ist. The Government had therefore determined to ask for supplies till September "the 30th. He explained the provisions of the Bill, and with regard to tho tariff said that until the resolutions were rescinded, or Parliament dissolved, the duties would continue to be collected. He suggested for the consideration of members whether it would not b« better to go on collecting the now duties for the six months, and tho money could be refunded aftorwards. Major Atkinson said ho had heard the Treasurer's proposition with a feeling of dismay, and to give time to consider it he moved the adjournment of the debate. Sir Robert Stout said they simply asked for an extra month's supply, in order to let tho new Representation Bill come into law. If the elections could possibly be held earlier they would be. Mr Pyke objected to the Representation Bill being delayed m any way. Sir Julius Yogel asked whether the Opposition really wanted the new Representation Bill or not, for every day they delayed the debate added to the difficulty of gettiiig it into operation. Mr Ormond said the Representation Bill ought to have been considered in the Council that day. He saw no need for a delay of four months. They could easily meet in August. Sir George Grey said the Premier had laid it down that the duties under the uew tariff could be collected for six months. He strongly opposed tho duties being collected for the period named. The motion for the adjournment till to-morrow was carried, and the House rose at 11.30. June 1. SUPPLY. Major Atkinson resuming the debate, on the motion to go into Committee of Supply, said the 1 Government had entirely abandoned their duty m looking after the constitutional rights of the House. They had actually threatened the House by demanding supply, and saying a measure should not puss until they had get it. Such a spectacle was never seen in this or any constitutional assembly. A beaten Government, a Government without a policy, except that they might remain in office in the hope that something would turn up. He would move, "That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency the Governor, informing him that in tho opinion of this House the election of members of the next Parliament should take place under the new Representation Bill now before Parliament, and that the new Parliament should be convened for the despatch of businoss not later than the Ist day of September next ; and that the expression of this opinion be an instruction to the Government to act m accordance therewith." A long and acrimonious debate followed, the resolution being ultimately carried, and the House adjourned.