PARLIAMENTARY

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 12, 16 July 1892, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington July 14. Thursday July 14. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30. The Hon. Minister for Public Works, replying to Mr Taylor, pointed out that . there was only one Railway Employes ' insurance Bill before the House. There was no necessity for the suggested con; ference of railway employes, as he would ■cc that the Government's proposals were laid before them and their views would have every consideration given to them when the Bill was in committee. The Hon. Mr Ballance replying to Mr Harkness said that his proposals bearing on the taxation of English debenture holders would be laid before the House as soon as possible. Mr Fish moved the adjournment of the House, »d a lengthy debate ensued, in which Opposition speakers blatned the Government for withholding information regarding their financial proposals which ■ ought to be in the possession of the House. The motion for adjournment was lost on the voices. „■■«... Replying to Mr Swan the Hon Minister for Lands stated that tbe Government would do everything in their power to farther the fruit growing industry. ■ The Hon the Minister for Public Works, in reply to Mr McLean, stated that the time might come when it would be advisable to carry the Wellington railway to Island Bay, but at present the Government did not propose to carry it further than Te Aro. . The Hon Minister for Lands in reply to Mr Meredith stated three tons of flax had been sent to New York and a similar quantity to Great Britain. No report as to the result of the test had yet come to hand. Several unopposed motions were carried without discussion. A division was taken for the third reading of the Oyster Fisheries Bill, and was carried by 30 votes against 25. The title of the Bill was passed. In committee on the Electoral Bill. Mr Buckland moved, as an amendment to subsection 2 of clause 6, the striking out of the word "one" and the substitution ot the word "six" The Hon the Premier offered as a compromise to accept *n alteration to •* three." This subsection had reference to the time of residence required for first registration as an elector, and not to removal from one electoral district to another. Hon Mr Rblleston expressed himself satisfied with the concession, and the clause #as amended by the insertion of the word "three." On clause 7 the Hon the Premier moved an amendment giving Maoris the , option of registration on the. freehold qualification on . the ordinary electoral rolls, but in such case they should not have a vote under the special Maori representation. After » lengthy debate a division was taken, with the result that the amendment was adopted by 33 votes to 12. On clause 8, dealing with disqualification. Mr Blake proposed to add to clause 9 the words; " andL no woman shall be qualified to vote until after next general election." .. A division was taken on the question At' l4lo *.n_V with the result that the amendment 'was defeated by 33 to 14. The Bouse, rose at 3 am. , after the Electoral Bill, the Registration of Births and Deaths Amendment Bill, and the Westland and Grey Education Board Bills had. been reported, nnd the two last read a third time and passed. . July 15. Mir Bruct, the new member for Rangitikei, took the oath and his seat. Replying to questions, the Premier said that Government had no reason to suppose at present that the judgments given .by ex- Judge Edwards were not good in .law, but the matter was under consideration, and if it were found that the judgments were not valid a Bill would be introduced to validate them ; that the Government did not see its way to in. troduce a scheme, having for its object the advancing of money at moderate rates of interest to' perpetual leaseholders on security of their improvements,' that the question of allowing 18-word telegrams to be sent as ordinary messages had been carefully considered, and it would be given effect to when the next change was made. On the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply, Mr Rolleston said he wished to make a few remarks on the Financial Statement. He said he did so at some disadvantage, owing to the House not having been put in possession of the necessary information to enable it to discuss the finances of the colony and the . matter of the withdrawal of capital from the colony. They all knew there hacPbeen a very considerable withdrawal of capital, and in a number of instances that the withdrawal had. been directly due to the uncertainty that pervaded the policy of the Government. As far ai the Budget disclosed the financial position of the colony, it was a matter of congratulation, but that position was not due to the. present Government or the present Parliament. It was, in fact, due to every thing lmt the existence of the present Government. Mr Allan moved the adjournment of the debate.^^V^^^ m^ —^