HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 25, 27 August 1891, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TtJESDAS, AtTGTOE.2S. Mr Bees gave notice thai? on going intoCommittee of Supply he- would move a, resolution of giving, a trial 1 to the Vaile railway system ► The Hon Mr Bryce presented petition* protesting against any increase being: made in the payment made to members for their services. A week's leave of absence was grantedto Captain Russell on account of urgent private business. Mr Wilson asked the Minister of Public Works if he would advise the Bailway Commissioner to obtain a lease of the Wellington •' Manawatu Railway- - The Minister's answer to this was that' the Railway Commissioners were inclined to* discuss the question of leasing .the line, bat he thought it would require? an alteration of the law,- besides which they thought the first "advances Bhould com© . from- the Company; * --- ' W_ . . - The Hon Mr Bryce said he was anxioustoknow when the Public Works Statemen* was likely to be brought dowiu Also, had- the Government arrived at any definite conclusion as to who was .to be: Agent-General 2 The' Premier' said the Government had not yet . decided whoshouldbe Agent-General but when they arrived at any" decision they 'would take* the House into their confidence. The Native Minister moved that the> Native Land Bill be read a second time. The Bill was then read a second time/ and referred to a Select Committee. I Mr t Joyce then moved that the Public • ! Trustee Bill be brought in authorising the payment of a pension of i"250 per annum to Mr Hamerton on his tendering resignation of 'the office of Public Trustee. Mr Dufchie seconded the amendment,, remarking that the continuous application - by Mr Hamerton ta his duties justifiedthe House in making him some acknowledgement. - -- The Premier said the question-was-simply as to the amount of Mr Hamerton's pension. He thought, they would, express their feeling strongly enough if they agreed to a pension of £250 a yearMr G. Hutchison said he should objectto the Honse bargaining with the Public Trustee as to the terms on which heshould retire from his appointment. The House rose at 2.25 a.m. Wednesday, August 26. On the motion to go into Committee on the land Bill, the principle of" themeasure was discussed at some length. Mr Meredith said the Bill would be the-death-knell of squatterdora, as^far as the future was concerned, and be thought would be welcomed by everyone who had the good of the colony at heart. — The Hon. Or. F. Richardson said lie appmyed of the Bill in many respects, as it embodied the principle .of the late Governments He detended the administra- ' tion of tbat Government, and deprecated the action of the Minister of Lands io. making insinuations against his administration, which be had utterly failed, in establishing. — The Premier said that the Hon. Mr Richardson, during his administration, had tried to rum village settlements, and yet had they been" amarked success. — Mr G. Hutchison, said, that while the Waste Lands Com* mittee had, in many respects improved the Bill ; several objectionable features still remained in it, especially the deprivation of the right of purchase. In* fact, without disguise, the main feature' of the Bill was nationalisation. — Several other members having spoVen the Minister of Lands replied. The Bill"'wasthen committed and immediately reported. 1 Tne House rose at 325 a.m.