HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 3, 3 July 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tbe House met at 2.30. The Speaker read a cablegram he had received from the Agent-General to the effect that Sir George Grey had posted his resignation of the Auckland seat on Friday last. He (Sir G. M. U'Eorke) said a similar ease had occurred in 1888, when a member had resigned his seat in the same way, and the Agent-General had acquainted him (the Speaker) by cable of the fact. Hon. Seddon said he had received a cablegram from the Agent-General to the same affect as that read by the Speaker. Under section 139 of the Electoral Act power was given to a , member of the House to resign hia^fl seat m this way, but it must.be (to^^H in thß presence of two Justices'^^^^^H Peace. He felt satisfied th^^^^^H George Grey's resignation hac^^^^^fl giyen to the Agent- General, a^^^^H should move nest day that &<pHM^fl be issued for the election for Auck-^H land. Eeplying to questions it was statec^H — That a Bill would be introducecr^B this session to amend the Shops &nddfl Shop Assistants' Act. That Govern-; ment intended to have another analysis mado of the waters and muds of the Thermal Springs district. That Government did not consider any change in the present management of the Eotorua Sanatorium was necessary. That a Bill was being prepared dealing with the whole question of the supply of lime for agricultural purposes. That Government could not reduce the railway haulage rates for potatoes. That Government did not propose to amend J.he_ "Fascination Act in the direction of making^aftenra&eir--—-----optional. That no further propose Is had been laid before Government duiing the recess for tbe amalgamation of the Colonial Bank with the Bank of New Zealand, and no legislation on the subject was proposed to be introduced by Government during^ the present session. That an order had been sent Home some time ago 1 for a new cable to lay across CookY • strait in place of the broken three; V core cable. 'Ihe question of esfcab^ Ilishing a depot of warlike stores at Wellington was under the consideration of the Military adviser to the Government. That it was not the intention of Government, to surrender the pre-emptive right /j^er Nativo Land, but anomalies ii^the- -,- Native Land Court Act of last session would be taken into consideration with tbe view of affording a remedy. That Government would endeavor./to make some arrangements in the direction of granting free railway passes to enablo country pupils who have pasjsd the sixth standard to attend the District High School nearest to their homes. That Government was endeavoring to obtain land for a State farm in the South Island. That a Bill would be introduced regulating the right to prospect and mine for gold and other minerals on private property. That a Bill was being framed to amend the " Chattels Transfer Act, 1889," and consideration would be given to the proposal to include book debts m the definition of chattels. That the school reader to bo published by the Government was now almost ready, and the Minister for Education hoped to have it circulated in two or throe weeks. Hon. Mr Seddon moved the resolution authorising the Goyernnient to expend £5000 in forming the Midland Eailway between Jackson and Otira and in completion of the line between Belgrove and Moutupiki. Ho fully explained the events which led up to the seizure of tbe line by the Government, and said the Midland Eailway Company was practically bankrupt. If Government spent the £5000 asked for by this resolution and if the Company did not repay it within fifteen months from the date of seizure, there would be an end to the Contract be- v tween the Government of this Colony and the Company, but if the Company could pay the money the .• responsibility would Test with ythe Government whether they : would f\ r low the Company to go on with the line. Government did not propose that this resolution should be a portion of a great loan policy. : - V Captain Eussell contended that to pan the resolution would probably commit tho colony to an expenditure of £2,000,000 in the construction jof the lino- andNn order to give' mdre time he moved as an amendment that consideration of the question of the -. ' y

be" deferred til Public Works Statement ii R. Stout thought the Governmen righiiin taking possession of the line Wf-y but his- opinion was that anyone wh< voted for the Premier's resolution votet for construction of this line for eve: hereaft&irY Y 5 * -Mr Seddon, speaking to the amend - rnent.said it^was simply bunkum to sa* y that theYHo'ttse^was committing th< colony to two millions of money. - "' l)r;Newmaii, and Messrs Allen anc Eai_shaw the Premier's reso lution, and Messrs Guinness, G. W Jiussell,/ and the Hon. Mr Reeves sup Yy -ported -it;, --the latter denying that the v vote meant the construction of the whoh line. The debate on tbe Midland Railway question was carried on until 12.40 . ■when it was adjourned till 2.30 to ;- morrow, and -the House rose.