GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1851, 23 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[Anglo-australian press telegraph AGENCY.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, J uly 22. In the House of Representatives, on the motion of Mr T. Kelly, regarding an article in the Taranaki Advertiser, reflecting upon his character as a member of the House, it was thought best not, to bother about newspaper attacks, an appeal to the civil law being the best remedy. In reply to Mr Mervyn, regarding the deepening of the Naseby sludge-channel, Mr Richardson said the Government was not in a position to comply with his request to deepen it. ' Mr Pyke asked how the [Government regarded the action of the Southland Waste Lands Board in prohibiting the exportation beyond the boundaries of Southland of timber 1 The Government disapproved of the course, and were then considering the whole matter. A long debate ensued upon the follow-^ • ing motion introduced by Mr Sheehan : — " That it is desirable 'a re-adjustraent of the representotion of the House should; be made, so as to. take effect by the next General elections, and that the Go-: vernment should consider the question during, the recess, with a : view to bring forward a properly matured, measure for next session." He; did not wish to see the number of mem-| bers increased, but he wished to see such! an anamalous representation as that of j Taranaki and Wellington, as compared! with Auckland and the West Coast of the! Middle Tsland, placed upon a more raj tional and equitable basi3. Taranaki | ought to lose one or two members, and! Wellington one. . ..; The hon. member quoted ihe figures! adduced on the same question by Mr D. 1 O'Conor on a previous occasion. ] Mr Yogel opposed the motion, on the I ground that there were anomalies in repre- j sentation, and always would be, and that members in approaching the consideration of such a question, would always look more at previous decisions than at any principle, whether of area or population. There was always a -certain degree of expediency in these questions which must be taken into account. Besides, if the principles of the motion were followed out literally, and the uumber of members hot be increased, Auckland would in fact have to yield some of her members in favor of those Provinces such as Canterbury and Otago, which had far outstripped her in the race of progress. He could not see that anything was to be gained by the motion. Considering the part to be played in the government of the country by new arrivals, he thought they should not introduce immigrants and then allow them to govern you. The only way to manage such questions as representation, was by giving members here and there. The Premier moved the previous question. The following speakers came after, all speaking in favor of the motion : — Mr Reader Wood wished the representation adjusted on the principle of a population basis. Mr O'Neill insisted it was unfair that the Thames, with a population of between 12,000 and 15,000, had only one member, while little Taranaki, with a third less population, had three. Mr Swanson thought the adjustment of representation should be made the crucial test at the next election, and the fate of the Ministry ought to rest upon it. Mr O'Conor felt that the representation laws were not creditable to the Colony. ! Messrs T. Kelly, M'Gillivray, Murray, Bryce, Mervyn, and Tribe supparted the motion . A division was called for, and the motion was lost by a majority of three members, the numbers being 30 and 33. Mr Macandrew's motion that members of Volunteer Fire Brigades be exempted from service as jurymen, and that the Juries Act be amended accordingly, created considerable discussion, but was

ably seconded by Mr Pearce and ;Mr Hunter. ""■• . ■ Messrs T. L. Sheperd, Wales, and Cuthbertson opposed the motion, as no case of 3pecial hardship had been shewn. The Premier promised to consider the matter seriously during the recess. Mr Macandrew pressed for immediate consideration of the resolution,- and promised to bring in a Bill that would.prevent any abuse, of the: system, or permit any aham by persons joining Brigades to avoid sitting on juries. " '>~ "T: ! Mr Andrew, strongly, opposed. the motion, which was agreed to on the vbiceßt The Government agreed on the motibn. of Mr Gibbs, to produce all correspondence relating to the inquest on the body of Michael Campion; and also all correspondence relating to leasing of a large block of land in Hawke's Bay to Alfred Cox. - :■■ :. ■:■■■■■ ..■..■=:•■.; ='-.■'• , '