HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 106, 1 November 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SIR PATRICK BUCKLEY OFFERED THE VACANT JUDGESHIP. (Per Press Association). Wellington, Oct. 31. On the third reading of the Appropriation Bill, Mr Bteward regretted Government had not dealt with the unemployed question as satisfactorily as they might have done and urged that the Minister of Lands should go farther in fostering village settlements. He hoped to see the Referendum Bill and Elective passed next session. Mr Duthie referred to the banking legislation of the session and contended that Ministers had failed to understand the position of the Bank of New Zealand. He adversely criticised the policy of the Government and thought they should be remembered as a continuous borrowing ministry. They had borrowed sinking funds and in every other possible way to keep up their revenue. The Hon. Mr Ward, in hia reply, said the criticisms of the Government policy by the Opposition was not very severe, and Sir R. Stout in bis attack on the Government administration had over* looked many important measures whicb Government had passed during the session. He referred to the strictures passed by Mr Saunders in regard to the sinking funds, and said Mr Ballance had used the sinking funds in the same way as he had done for the ordinary expenses ot the Colony. Government had passed through a most difficult session and had had a trying time, bnt he believed a prosperous period was in store for the Colony in the near future and members could go to tbeir homes full of hope for the future. The Appropriation Bill was then put through its final stages, Hon. Seddon said it would be seen from a return he had laid on the table that the work of the Supreme Court of the Colony was not getting in arrears as was stated, but he thought the work still required adjustment. Government had considered the whole question and had come to the conclusion that another Supreme Court Judge was necessary. They had decided to offer the position unreservedly to their colleague. Sir Patrick Buckley, the present Colonial Secretary, Mr Pirani asked what course would be pursued in the case of Sir P. Buckley re* fusing the appointment. Hon. Seddon said he did not anticipate a refusal, and it would be a slight on the Attorney General if the position was not offered to him. He might say he had never spoken to Sir P. Buckley on the subject. In reply toDr Newman, Mr Seddon said Government had not yet considered tbe Agent-Generalship, but would do so at an early date. Mr Buddo urged that the House should iv future be called together at an earlier date than hitherto. Hon Seddon said he could not give a definite promise on tbe subject. The Midland Railway arbitration proceedings would commence on the 22nd of next month and they would probably require bis daily attendance. He could not say how long the case would last, but one of the arbitrators had expressed the opinion that it would occupy five or six months. If the work could be got ready he might be able to call the House together earlier. However, the illness of some of his colleagues threw a considerable amount of extra work on his shoulders, and he could give no definite promise. At 5.45 p.m. the House adjourned until noon to-morrow to receive tbe Governor's assent to the Appropriation and a number of other Bills. This Day. The House met at noon to-day. The Hon Mr Seddon Laid on the table of the House a list of shareholders in the Colonial Bank made up to within abont a> fortnight. He said that during the banking debates some uncharitable and unjnst suggestions had been made nnd he thought it only fair that his list should be made public. The list was ordered to be printed. Mr Seddon laid a letter on the table from tbe Registrar-General to the effect that it would be impossible to give the returns of the cencus up to the Sth of April before September, and that it would not be in time for Representation Commissioners to realtor the basis of representation. That was his (Seddon's) opinion all along and he had told the House so. However, it was the intention of tbe Government to carry ont the lawful census which would have to be taken, and tbe suggestion that only a part of tiie census should be taken could not be given effect to. He had taken this course as a precautionary measure as he would otherwise be attacked for having kept back the census returns. The Registrar-General's letter was ordered to be laid on the table. "