PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1467, 29 October 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, October 28. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BILL. After 1.30, iu Committee on the Financial Arrangements Bill, Major Atkinson said ho acknowledged the responsibility for abolishing provinces, but held the present Government culpable for the failure of the system. He moved that a respectful address be presented to his Excellency the Governor, recommending that the surplus land fund of the provincial district of Otago for the year ending December 30th, 1878, shall, after deduction of all charges imposed upon the land fund of the said provincial district in the 4th secton of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1870, be paid over without further deduction to the local b.dies, as provided iu the ninth section of the said Act. After d scussion, the amendment was negatived on the voices. Mr Kolleston moved—'“ That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency, praying that ho will cause a separate account to be kept of mo. eys accruing within each county for the sale of lands named in the first schedule to the Public Reserve® Sale Act, 1878, and that there shall he yitlil to each comity oni of the consolidated fund, quarterly, a sum equal to 30 per cent, of such moneys so accruing in each ’minty.” c .nsiderable discussion followed, members contending that notice of the clause should have been given. The Ch.u usian ultimately ruled it out of order. Mr DeLautour moved a further amendment that the Hot so regrets that the surplus land fund duo to the provincial district of Otago as shown by the Finance Arrangemmts Act, to 30th ■ .December, 1877, has not been landed over. Mr Ballad the Gwrament acted

upon the advice of the Solicitor-General as to legal rights between the general Government and the province. Mr Mac •nd. ew said he had no evidence thj,t any sum was due to Otago, and he desired some pivof. He would prefer to see the pr .nted evidence of the Finance Committee on the question. rhe detention of the * dago land fund amendment was negatived by 30 to 27. 'J he following new clause was added on the motion of Mr Wakefield —“ The committee of any hospital or any benevolent society may, through its secretary, chairman, or manager make contracts for the maintenance care, or attendance of persons in any hospital or charitable i> stitution, and the secretary, chairman, or manager may sue in his own name, by direction of the committee for such maintenance, care, or attendance.” SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply. Mr Murray strongly denounced the expenses in Regina v. Jones. In reply to Mr Montgomery. Mr Stout said the present votes in aid of domains would probably be lost. The following items pas-cd : —Miscellaneous, ,£71,767 ; roads in Native districts, ,£SOOO. The committee reported progress, and the House adjourned at live minutes to five this morning.