HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 40, 17 September 1889, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Saturday, (September 1.4. The Hospitals and Charitable Instituions Bill [ ass d through cm inittee, and was read a third time and passed. Amendments suggested by the Governor in the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loau Application Bill were agreed to. The Treasurer moved the second reading of the Property-Tax Bill. The Bill was reported aud read a third time aud passed, Mr Larnach moved as an amendmerit to the motion for Supply that the sum of £2000 he granted to the daughters of Mr James Macandrow, £500 to each daughter, as a recognition of the deceased gentlemen's services to the Colony. The motion was carried with one dissentient voice. Mr Ballance moved, aa an amendment that of which he had given notice, to the effect that there should be a dissolution immediately after the present session, and that Parliament meet for the despatch of business as soon as possible after the expiration of the present financial year. Mr Ballance pointed to the present unsatisfactory condition of the House and the Government, in that neither possessed the confidence of the country. The only solution of the difficulty was an appeal to the country. The Premier said, it was the duty of the Hou&e and the Government to avoid a dissolution as much as possible. After a short debate a division was taken when Mr Ballance's proposal was defeated by 35 to 30. Monday, September 16. The House met at 10.30 a.m. On the motion for going into supply Parata moved an amendment to the effect that it is desirable there should be a reduction of the stamp duty on Native lands from .£lO per cent, to i's per cent. The amendment was lost by 28 to 22 and the house went into committee of supply. The remainder of the Supplementary Estimates were passed-without reduction. On the extra vote for a grant of j£2ooo to the late Mr Macandrew's daughters being put, Monk moved that the vote be struck out; he said he did so in order to assert a principle. Sir M. O'Rourke warmly eulogised the services Mr Macandrew had rendered to the country, and hoped the vote would be carried without a division. The amendment was lost by 29 to 7, and the vote was agreed to. "Replying to Mr Hutchison, Mr Mitchelaon said as far as he knew the Railway Commissioners had no present intention of reducing the wages of railway surface men, but after the debate that had just taken place he should feel it his duty to direct the attention of the Commisioners to the expression of opinion by the House against any such reduction. In committee of Ways and Means the amounts voted by the Committee of Supply for services for the year ending March 31, 1890, were agreed to and reported to the House. Mr Fisher, speaking on the motion for the second reading of the Public Works Appropriation Bill, strongly condemned the policy of the Government, aud advocated a dissolution as the only solution of the present difficulty. The Public Works Appropriation Bill was passed. On the third reading of the General Appropriation Bill, Mr Ballauce deplored the recent grea' loss of population which tho Colony had sustained, and said the Government had never realised the great extent of that loss. Mr Balance said the Opposition had discharged their duties well, and had been actuated by a wiah to serve the interests of the Colony. • The Premier replied that the Gover.i ment had been successful in carryiug out the main features of their policy, which were to reduce public expenditure and restore confienoe in the credit of the Colony. The Bill was read a thud time and passed,