HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 7, 10 December 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Welling ton, December 6. The House met at 2.30. On going into Committee on the Appropriation Bill Grey reviewed the events of the session and indicated the general policy of the future. Government would do its utmost to deserve the generous confidence the House had reposed in the Government, and would exercise the utmost economy, Next year he hoped ?o be able to bring down measures which would create public real opinion and establish two distinct parties. These would include liberal representative laud laws, and an equitable readjustment of representation. Atkinson,criticised the conduct of the Ministry since they took office and declared they had created an unprovided deficit of £347,000 and yet tliey called this putting the finance on a firm and satisfactory footing. He accused them of taking up in every way the policy of tbe late Government except finance. He ridiculed the proposals of the future policy and advised Ofrey to attend more to practical matters and leave the whole human race and posterity alone. Grey replied at considerable length, saying he relied on the sympathy and support of the people of the co!ony to carry tbe lar^e and liberal measures of reform despite the opposition of the wealthy class led by Atkinson. The Bill was then passed through all its stages. The Disqualification Bill was shelved, and the House rose at 4 33, and meets agßin at eight o'clock. On a division of 23 to 16 the House after a free conference agreed to accept the Council's amendments in the Land Sales Bill, striking out the clauses extending the Homestead system to tbe. whole colony. In committee of supply considerable discussion took place on the vote o* £10,000 for the mountain road, Taranaki. Sheeban and Grey supported it, and Stout and HplJesfcon opposed. It was explained the £10,000 was part of a sum set apart for purpose of Native lands in New Plymouth. The vote was carried on the voice of the Speaker. After some discussion the proposed vote of £50,003 for works opening up land for settlement was struck out on the voices The only remaining items were £40,000 for distribution amongst the Auckland counties to restore that part of the colony to some equality with those parts whii'h had long provincial liabilities. £2n'0,000 for general provincial lia bilities was approved by the Governor in Council. The total vote, £300,000, for the purpose was, after discussion, carried by 33 to 9, the members of the ate Go* vjrnment voting with the present Government in majority. The Appropriation Bill and Public • Works and Immigration Appropriation Bill were then introduced and passed the second readings. On Joyce's motion, the Government instructed to enquire into the leasons for letting the extension of the WinstonKingston railway by private contract. Grey announced the prorogation would be by commission on Monday. The House rose at 1120 to-day. The House sat uninterruptedly up to 9.20 o'clock waiting for the Appropriation Bill and Immigration and Public Works Ap« priation Bill to come back from the Council. This they did wi*h a message, pointing out that certain olausps in tho latter were in the wny of attack to a Supply Bill, and therefor^ in violation of the Council's privileges, but believing the error was inadvertent they bad passed the Bills. Tbe House then adjourned to 215 on Monday for prorogation.