PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT,

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1292, 19 September 1872, Page 2

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT,

[NEAV ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION,] Wellington, Sept. 18. The greater part of last night was spent in committee on the Public Revenues Bill, Post Office Bill, Reducing Newspaper Postage Bill, which passed committee and their third reading, comes into operation on the Ist January. The Gold Duty Reduction Bill passed committee, and also comes into operation on the Ist January. The Protection to Animals Bill was read a second time, and the Telegraph Notices Bill a third time. Mr Stafford proposed the adjournment of the second reading of the Westland Bill. Messrs Yogel and Fox urged the necessity of doing something to relieve the discontent on the West Coast. Mr Stafford declined to.say whether or not the Government would go on with the present Bill ; but, if not, they would assist any Westland member to pass a measure to . meet the West Coast wishes. He did not think the present Bill would meet the approval of the Nelson gold miners, as the effect of forming them into a Province with the present County would be to saddle them with a proportion of the County's debt. He thought some better and simpler mode of remedying the existing evils might be devised, and would assist any member in doing it. Mr O'Conor declared the present Bill to be a sham, and if no one else did, he would introduce a Bill to meet the requirements of the case. Mr Shephard promised that the Nelson Government would, as soon as possible, bring in a measure in the Provincial Council to meet the complaints of the South- West Gold Fields. Mr White supported the , Bill, but thought too much political capital was being made of the matter. The Bill was postponed. September 18, 7.50 p.m. In reply to a question by Mr Bathgate, Mr Stafford stated that lie did not intend to appoint any members of the Legislature on the Civil Service Commission, and that the; name 3. of the proposed Commisr sion would be submitted to the House for approval. A long debate was interrupted by the dinner hour. On Mr Macandrew's motion to allocate LIOO,OOO of the Gold Fields Water Supply vote to Otagofor expenditure by the Provincial Council, the Government strongly oppose the proposal. Mr Slieehan moved an amendment to divide the loan between the Provinces in proportion to the mining population, to be spent on reproductive works sanctioned by tho Colonial Government.