HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1890, 27 August 1874, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Aug. 26. Upon the House resuming upon the second reading of the Excise Duties Bill, Mr Macandrew recorded his protest against the principle adopted by this Bill. Mr O'Conor also had his mis-givings. He was much afraid it would lead to the springing up of numerous illicit distilleries, and requiring a special force for their repression. Mr Hunter hailed the Bill as a decided step againsb the pernicious system of protection. Sir Cracroft Wilson approved of the action of the House in this matter. Mr May also regretted that the House Bhould pass such a Bill. It was pouring into one bucket and taking oub of another. Mr M'Glashan supported. The Bill passed through all its stages. Upon moving the House into Committee, Mr J. L. Gillies wished to record a few figures in support of the statement he made during the recent debate, with the object of showing the lesser cost of management of Provinces as compared with Colonial Government administration, and which figures had been converted by the Minister for Public Works. .; Mr Richardson pointed out that there was a wide disparity between the fignres adduced now and those given before, that he need not say a single word in refutation. Mr Cuthbertson characterised the fact of the member for Waitaki in raking up the question, where his figures had been so outrageously incorrect, as silly in the extreme. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, ■»*•■.- Mt»«.iuyr luuilo — •«r-l*»«. e - r - U, 1»---which he found fault with the financial administration of the Colony. He regretted the fathers of the House did not take the matter up. ' Mr Thomson made the same remarks. In the' course of some remarks as to the mode of carrying out the immigration policy in the immediate future, he intimated he would cause the attention of the Department to be more turned in the direction of nominated immigration, and would also endeavor to regulate future shipments, so as to arrive here in favorable portions of the year. The Immigration- and Supplementary Estimates passed thiough Committee without opposition, includiug Estimates for unauthorised expenditure. j The Licensing Act came down from the I Legislative Council with the following amendment in the thirteenth clause— " Provided that the new licenses shall be granted only at the quarterly | annual?] licensing meetings to be held in the month of June of each year." j The Premier did not think it wise to peril the Bill by resisting an amendment which had been fought twice over in the Council, but he proposed to amend the clause, so as to make it apply only to houses not previously licensed ; the amendment to be referred back to the Council along with other amendments disagreed with. ; Mr Sheehan pointed out that upon the committal ot the Native Land Act Amendment Bill, that its expensiveness and complication of machinery must render it practically useless. Mr Rolleston disapproved of the Bill. Takamoana would desire the Bill to circulate amongst the Natives. Wi Pirata said no Maoris opposed the Bill, but merely some detaih. The Bill was committed and passed. The House ad j ourned at 2. 15. ]

Mr Richardson intimated to the House this afternoon that, in order to enable members to go south, the Tararua would be detained till Saturday, and that the Luna and Taranaki would sail north the same day. Mr Reeves called the attention of the House to the extraordinary delays occuring in the transmission of telegrams, in some instances as much as twenty-four hours, more than usual mail time being occupied between Wellington and Ohristchurch. Himself, as well as many of his friends, had telegrams delayed to that extent. Mr M'Lean said that the Government would consider the matter carefully. The Heal Estate Bill did not apply to females as well as males. ' Mr G. B. Parker did not approve of. the Bill, He had always considered tha

primogeniture did more for colonising en- - terprise than anything else, by sending i out younger sons to shift for themselves. Mr Stafford approved of the Bill as a : preventive in cases of great hardship which had occurred in this Colony for the want of such measure. When in office the question had occupied his attention a great 'deal. The House went inco Committee on the Bill, which was . read a third time and passed. On the Burial Grounds Closing Bill, Mr M'Lean moved the second reading. Sir Cracroft Wilson was sorry that there should be any reference to or distinctions between Denominations. .In the Mauritius, he said, the remains of all creeds and countries were interred side by side in one of the most beautiful cemeteries he ever saw. Why could we not do the same? Mr. Stafford welcomed the Bill as a step in the; right direction^ but regretted that the measure was only permissive. It was reported with slight amendments and passed. The following Bills were passed: — Auckland • Improvement Act Amendment Bill, Clyde Water Works Bill, Canterbury Water j Supply Bill. Upon bringing up the report of the Colonial Industries Committee, the Government demurred, to taking action on the resolution of the Committee regarding the establishment of the manufacture of iron in the Collingwood district, and the resolution was then amended to this effect — that the Government be .asked to consider, during the recess proposals made, by Mr Anderson, on behalf of the Para Para Iron Works. This was agreed to.