GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 617, 19 September 1878, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PRESS AGENCY.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, September 18. Mr Ormond gave notice to ask whether Rewi consented to the construction of a railway from Waikato to New Plymouth, whether he has given land for the purpose and upon what terms, and will such information be placed in possession of the House. Mr Macandrew, replying to Mr Henry, said that during the recess a survey would be made of a railway line between Westport and Reefton. The Government promised to consult with the North and South Island Railway

Commissioners as to obtaining pattern railway carriages from America. A motion by MrHodgkinson for reducing the rate of postage on letters and post cards one half, was negatived by 40 to 12. •

A motion by Mr Pyke to increase the pay of the police force in the Middle Island ended in Mr Sheenan promising to move for a Select Committee to enquire into the whole matter. - Mr Barff moved that the House tomorrow resolve itself into committee of the whole to consider the following resolution : "That, for the purposes of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, Amendment Act, 1877, it is desirable the gold duty be considered as rates, arid subsidised from the Consolidated Fund accordingly."

Mr Ballance opposed, and hoped the hon. gentleman would be able to at once give substantial reasons for such a motion. The tax was surely a County one, and involved a sum of £38,000. The gold duty had been given voluntarily by the Government in aid of local rates, and he could not agree with the action of the hon. gentleman now in trying to make it an ordinary rate, and thus by an imposition to demand the usual subsidy from the Government.

Mr Pyke strongly supported Mr Barff, and said they did not want the question discussed on its merits just then, but would see it was done at a future time. Mr Barff complained of the Government putting him in an unfair position by demanding he should speak fully to the motion at once, and said that it was obstruction of business. Had the. Government been true to their pledges, the Treasurer would not have been in a position to ask how they were to make up revenue lost that way ; had they brought down an income tax that the Colony wanted for the last ten years, and of which three to one in the House was in favour, there would have been abundant means. He believed there was some pecuniary interest somewhere which accounted for such a state of things. Motion negatived by 45 to 16. September 19. On the House resuming, at 7.30 p.m., Mr Curtis moved his resolutions regarding the Legislative Council, and which have been on the order-paper so long. He made but a brief speech. Mr Stout opposed it on behalf of the Government, and referred very briefly, to the bill, saving a country could have no greater curse than an elective Upper House, and' concluded by moving the previous question. After a few other speakers, the motion was put and negatived on the voices. A few private bills were then advanced a stage, when the adjourned debate on the Triennial Parliaments Bill was resumed.

After a very brief discussion the motion was negatived by 24 to 18. ■ Ayes, 18: Messrs Baigent, Bastings, Digman, Feldwick, Fisher, George, Grey, Hamlin, M'Farlane, Montgomery, Moss, O'Rourke, Sheehan, Stout, Swanson, Tole, Waller, Wood. Noes, 24 : Messrs Atkinson, Barton, Bowen, Brandon, Brown J. C., Fox, Gibbs, Henry, Hursthouse, Kelley, MTjean, Moorehouse, Morris, Pyke, Richmond, Rowe, Seymour, Sutton, Teschemaker, Thomson, Turnbull, Wakefield, Whitaker, Woolcock. There were a number of pairs. The remaining business was of a private character, and the House adiourned at 12.45.