GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1074, 6 December 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegraph.] [PER PEESS AGENCY.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, December 5. The House met at 2.30. In reply to Mr Woolcock, Sir Q-. Obey said he could not say at what time of year Parliament would be called together. It was necessary that the Q-overnment should hold the power to call it together at any time, but so soon as a time could be fixed the date would be made public. The Speaker read a communication From the Legislative Council regarding a new standing order that the Council would not consider any private member’s .Bill introduced more than two months from the commencement of session. Sir G. Grey said this House was the guardian of the privilege of the people, whom it represented, and they could not agree to any such order. Mr Johnston thought it a most unwarrantable attempt of the Council to dictate to to the House.

Mr Barfe said such rule would lead to more than one session in the year. Mr O’Roeke said such an order could only be agreed to by conference between the two Houses. It was unreasonable to suppose that all the Bills could reach the Council within two months.

Mr McLean thought the new rule a useful one.

Mr Reid thought it unreasonable to expect the Bills to reach the Council within two months. They might not do so even if introduced on the first day. There should be a joint rule that such Bills should be introduced in one branch of the Legislature during the first two months.

The Speakeh, said he understood the wish of the House to be that he should inform the Speaker of the Council that such rule should he made a subject of conference between the two Houses.

The Middle Island Half-Caste Crown Grant Bill and Rating Act Amendment Bills were read a third time and passed. Progress was reported in the Counties Act Amendment Bill. The amendment of the Council in the Westland and Nelson Goldfields Administration Bill were disagreed to and a conference asked for.

The Speaker read a further communication from the Speaker of the Council, saying it was not intended to bring new Standing Orders into force this session, and that he concurred in the desirability of both Houses taking joint action in the matter at the commencement of next session.

The Public Revenues Bill and New Zealand Consolidated Stock Bill were read a second time, after a few remarks from Major Atkinson, Messrs Rees, Hunter, Stevens, and Travers, who supported the Bill, and Messrs Rolleston, Montgomery, and Murray, who opposed it.