PARLIAMENTARY.

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 73, 8 December 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF BEPBESENTAWYEB. J PEB UJUTKD PBEBB ASSOCIATION."! Wellington, December 6. On the motion for the committal of the Representation Bill Mr Pratt said he understood the Government were willing to make a compromise respect* ing the Bill. Mr Seddon said if that were so, an arrangement would have to be made to suit particular members. He intimated his intention of moving the amendment — "It is inadvisable that' the Bepresentation Bill should proceed further than the second reading until some suitable form of local self- go. vernment should have rendered dependence upon Parliament for local works unnecessary." I Mr Perciyal opposed the Bill, but | would be willing to support a reasonable reduction in the numbers of members, though he saw no necessity for the measure this session. Mr Bruce supported the Bill as a temporary measure. Sir .Julius Yogel thought it was time to go into committee,' so as to decide the question whether the Bill be proceeded with or not. He intended to vote for the amendment as he believed constituencies should hare an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the subject. Mr Hodgineon asked if Mr Seddon's amendment would be taken as a noconfidence motion. ; if so, he should vote against it. If the Government gave promise to local self-government it would be considered during the recess. Mr O'Connor explained that he had supported the late Government in the previous Parliament, biit he Lad come to this Parliament unpledged. He intended to support the Bill. Sir George Grey complained that a number of necessary measures which would be of real benefit to the colony were put off to make way for a mass of rubbish. He would join any members who refused to proceed a step further with this Bill till the financial measure! of the Government were brought down. Major Atkinson asked Sir G. Grey to point to one single useful piece of legislation he ever passed to benefit the working man. He twitted Sir G-. Grey with establishing landed aristocracy in Canterbury. He asserted that Sir G. Grey assisted him (the Premier) in his present position, and because he would not bow to his (Sir G. Grey's) dictation, he attacked the Government. If there was a shance of bringing down a complete scheme of local government next session, he would do so. None of the members who talked of local government had ever made the suggestion to the Government, though he had often asked for it. The Government wished to have the number of the House definitely fixed, as to the whole system of registration it would have to be altered next year. With regard to the Maoris, he would ask the House to agree to the natives retaining four members, and to deprive them of voting for Europeans. He wished it to be distinctly understood that the Bill was a Government measure. — Mr Downie Stuart moved that the Bill should not come into force till 18th October 1889.— Mr Stewart's amendment was carried by 36 votes to 81. — Major Atkinson moved to report proress, carried, and the House rose. BEPRESENTATION BILL. December 7. Major Atkinson said it would be within the recollection of the House that Government thought it necessary to report progress on the Bepresentation Bill the previous night. Government had since come to the conclusion to ask the House to again go into Committee on the bill, and to pass it through. They would then ask the House to re-commit the bill for the purpose of altering clause 2. The House went into Committee for further consideration of the Bepresentation Bill. On clause 2, providing for 70 members including three Maori members. Major Atkinson said he proposed to make the total number of members 74 that is, 70 European and four Maori members. If the House would agree to that he should oe prepared to move it at once. Clause 4, giving the Maories three instead of four, was struck out on the motion of the Premier. A new clause for the amalgamation of city electorates was moved by Dr Fitchett. Lost by 44 to 12. [Left Sitting.]