GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 732, 24 October 1876, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

(Per Press Agency HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, October 23, The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Curtis gave notice that early next session he would move for amending the standing orders, so that no member of the House should address the House for more than thirty minutes, unless by leave ; also, that no member should address the House from his place, but only from a rostrum provided for that purpose. HOUSE COMMITTEE. The report of the house committee was brought up and read. It recommended continuance of, and an appropriation of £250 for, Bellamy’s. Mr Murray took objection to the proposal. He thought it would be better for the House if Bellamy’s were suppressed. Sir G. Grey thought that no one but the members of both Houses should be allowed the entree of Bellamy’s. At present the civil servants and others visited there, and votes were likely to be sometimes influenced by these people. Mr Stafford opposed the suppression of Bellamy’s, as without it there would often be great difficulty in keeping a House together. He expressed himself favorable to letting Bellamy’s by tender. The report was received. LEAVE OP ABSENCE. Ten days’ leave of absence was granted to Mr Murray-Aynsley. THE ESTIMATES. In reply to Mr Seymour the Premier said the Government would get a return prepared showing—(l) All reductions made in committee of supply on the estimates submitted during last ten years. (2) All additions made to the estimates in compliance with resolutions of the House during the past ten years. (3) Such return to show amounts respectively in tabular form. NATIVE FUEL. Mr Wason asked if Government are prepared to carry out the recommendations contained in the report of the native fuel committee. Hon B. Richardson said already in Auckland this coal was being used, and in structions would be issued for its use in Otago and Canterbury. As to the otherrecommendations they had not made up their minds yet. WHANGAREI COAL. Sir R. Douglas asked if Government are willing to advance £SOOO to the county of Whangarei for the purpose of forming a tramway to facilitate the shipment of coal from the various mines in the district, such sum to be charged against the land revenue raised in the Provincial district. Hon B. Richardson said that the Government had not the funds at their disposal to meet such a case as this, but they would look into the matter to see what could be done with what means they had. PRIVILEGE. Mr Sheehan raised a question of privilege. The New Zealand Times having made certain comments on a declaration made by Mr Sheehan in regard to the rescinding of a resolution in favor of abolition by the Auckland Provincial Council, he went into an explanation to show that the newspaper was in error, and its strictures unjust. This led to considerable discussion, during which Sir G. Grey spoke at great length in condemning the tone and matter of the Governor’s despatch to Lord Carnarvon as injurious and unjust to himself. He expressed his surprise that, instead of reparation being made for these great wrongs, there had been a repetition of them. He was, however, called to order by the Speaker for travelling beyond the question under discussion. Sir G. Grey then sat down, and the question dropped. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. On the Provincial Abolition Financial Arrangements Bill, the Premier moved the insertion of a clause making a hundred thousand pounds for Lyttelton Harbor a charge upon the Canterbury land fund. Sir G. Grey, Mr Rowe, and Mr Swanson opposed, on the ground that it would give Lyttelton too much advantage over the other harbors of the colony. Mr Eolleston, Mr Button, Mr Stafford, and Mr Hunter supported the clause. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. On the new clause proposed to be inserted in the Financial Arrangements Abolition Arrangements Bill a division was taken, and leave given to introduce a new clause by 34 against 9. The clause was read a second time. THE MAIL SERVICE. Hon Mr Whitaker then read the following telegram from the New South Wales Government in reply to his communication re the San Francisco Service, namely—“ We cannot consent to substitute Auckland for Bay of Islands.” He said, as the Australia had left, he did not propose to do anything now, but to-morrow or next day he would inform the House what the Government proposed to do, i LAST NIGHT’S SITTING. The House resumed at 7,30. On the question being put that the Provincial Abolition Financial Arrangements Bill be reported, Mr Fitzherbert drew the attention of the house to the inadequacy of the provision made for the Provincial Government officers. It was unfitting to make a revolutionary change in the Constitution without also making provision for those who by that revolutionajy change would be thrown out in the eold. It would not be common honesty if the country did not recognise these facts. It would be manifestly an unreasonable position to maintain that the provincial officers should en masse be incorporated with the civil service of the colony, and it would be invidious to single out certain of them who might be taken into the civil service as if they had come in by a wrong way, whilst for those who were cast upon the world by the Abolition of Provinces, it would be cruel if the country did not make proper provision.

The Premier said the Government would consider the whole matter during the recess, and the case of these officers would receive the utmost consideration.

The matter then dropped. The remainder of the sitting was in committee on various Bills, the House rising at 2.40.