PARLIAMENTARY.

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 150, 19 July 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[ PER UNITED PRESS ASSOOIATIOW. | Wellington, July 17. In the Legislative CouncH, Sir George Whitmore moved for a return of members and distribution of the permanent force* whom in is proposed to maintain for the harbor defences of the colony. - He thought the defence vote had been reduced to such an extent as to endanger the safety of the colony. — Motion agreed to. The Industrial Schools Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, on the motion of the Hon. Mr Stevens. In the House of Representatives, On the motion that the House go into Committee on the Fair Rent Bill, Major Steward hoped Government would adhere to tho Bitt as originally brought down. Messrs Valentine, Fish, Cowan, and Seymour took the same view, and dissented from the amendments made by the Waste Lands Committee. , The Hon. Mr Hislop said, with tho exception of some amendments he should propose in Committee, he would ask the House to pass the Bill as originally brought down by the Government. The Bill was taken in Committee, and clause 2 passed, after which progress was reported. Mr Fish resumed the debate- on the retrenchment motion of Mr Withy. The Premier asked that the amend*ment be withdrawn, on the grounds that the Government had shown every desire to do all possible in the direction of retrenchment, and during tho recess every effort would be made 'to' f reduce the expenditure to the lowest possible sum. Should the amend- ' ment be carried, it would result in one of two courses, ' either sweeping reductions in the wages of workmen, or a serious reduction in the education vote. Government thought the House was not prepared to adopt the latter, and Government would do nothing without the specific vote of the House. As regards workmen, he thought no undue reductions should be made in wages, as Government should obtain the very best workmen and pay rather more than tho market rate. He asked Mr Withy to let the matter stand aa at present, and accept tho Government's assurance that they would effect every possible retrenchment. Mr Withy asked leave to withdraw the amendment, as the Premier had made such an explicit statement. The Speaker asked if the withdrawal was opposed. Mr Levestam opposed it, and th* Speaker ruled that the motion could not be withdrawn. The debate was then continued, a number of members speaking on it. On the motion of Mr Feldwick, the . debate was adjourned. The regulation of the Local Acts Amendment Bill, aud Volunteer DrUl Shed and Lands Bill passed through Committee. The Puhoi Settlers BiU was passed through Committee, and tho three Bills above mentioned were then passed through all their stages. July 18. Sir Harry Atkinson gave notice to move at an early date, That in the opinion of this House the Government should be responsible for tho Legislative Estimates of Parliament, Replying to questions, it was stated that there was a precedent for the Governor absenting himself from the colony when Parliament was sitting, Sir Arthur Gordon having left for Fiji during the term of office of tho late Government while Parliament was in session. — That communications had taken place between the Government and other colonies as to tho advisability of laying a cable between New Zealand and Vancouver. The House went into Committee on the Slaughterhouse Act Amendment Bill. Mr Fish urged the Committee to throw the Bill out altogether. It was merely brought in in the interests of a Wellington Company, and was intended to give them a monopoly. The Hon. Mr Hislop moved to Btrike out the preamble, in order to make it agreeable to the text of the Bill. — Agreed to after considerable discussion, and the Bill was reported with amendments. In Committee on the Fair Rent of Land Bill, the Chairman announced that the Minister in charge did not intend to move any of the amendments made by the Waste Lands Committee. At 2.10 progress was reported on tho motion of the Colonial Secretary, clause 13 having been reached. Consideration of amendments made in the various BiUs was set down for Friday. Tho House rose at 2.15.