PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 203, 25 September 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF HEPRESENTATIVES.

"Wellington, Tuesday night. In the House another Imprest Supply of £250,000 was granted, making a total d one million. Major Atkinson complained that the Government had failed to keep the promises they had made of a reform in respect to the early passing of the Estimates to avoid grants by Imprest Supply. Air Stout excused the delay by the lateness of floating the loan having put back the session. The Government would try to introduce a change during the recess. In Committee of Supply, Mr Richardson moved that in view of the large expenditure on public works now going on, in future no contracts should be entered into by the Government until after the rnorey had been appropriated by the House. He admitted the Tapanui contract had called forth the resolution, but disclaimed any wish to have a vote of censure implied, because he thought the contract quite defensible. The resolution was a safeguard of the public money only. Mr Macandrew quoted the San Francisco mail as a precedent, and defended the course adopted as being in the interests of the colony, and in pursuauce of a resolution of the House. Mr Bastings defended the contract because it would leave a profit and would benefit small holders, and the whole cost of interest would only be £4,700. Mr Eowen said the question was not whether the line was a good one, but whether the House should have the control of the public expenditure or not. Mr Wood thought the House would have to decide later on. He wou'd oppose the resolution. Mr Saunders called the contract an excellent piece of good generalship for Messrs Macandrew and Bastings' district. Mr Pyke said the appropriation was made only in land not in money. Mr Stout admitted the 'principle of the resolution, but thought the particular case justified the expenditure. The WaipahiTapanuiline applied both to the township and district. Mrßolleston said the precedents quoted all contained provisions which required the consent of the House to ratify an agreement. Mr Barton defended the contract. Mr Turnbull thought the resolution unnecessary, and blamed the House for leaving the question on an uncertain footing. Mr Carrington opposed the resolution. Mr Fitzroy thought the House was being asked to legislate for the past instead of for the future. Mr M-Lean objected on constitutional grounds to the contract, and asked why were contracts laid on the table at Dunedin on July 29, and accepted on July 30 in such haste when the House was sitting. He approved of the line and favored the resolution from no party motives. The debate was interrupted by 5-30. Wednesday. At "'3O the debate on Mr Richardson's motion was resumed and continued till nine o'clock, the arguments being much the same as used before the House rose at 5.30. On the question beiug put that the House do now go into Committee against the amendment there voted for the former 44 and for latter 30. The division list was as follows:— Ayes : Messrs Ballance, Barft", Barton, Bastings, J. C. Brown, J. E. Brown, Bryce, Bunny, Carrington, Cutten,Delatour,Dignan, Driver, Fisher, George, Green, Grey, Hatnlin, Hislop, Hobbs, Hodgkinson, Joyce, Kelly, Macandrew, Manders, McMiun, Moss, Murray, Nahe, Rees, Reeves, Sutton, Sheehan, Shriinski, Stout, Swanson Taiaroa, Takomana, Tewiti, Thompson, Tole, Turnbull, Wallis and Wood, -— Noes : Messrs Atkinson, Beetham, Bowen, Brandon, Curtis, Douglas, Fox, Gibbs, Gisborne, Henry, Hursthouse, Johnston, Kenny, McLean, Montgomery, Morris, Murray- Aynsley, Ormond, Richardson, Richmond^ Rolleston, Rowe, Russell, Saunders, Seymour, Stevens, Sutton, Teschemaker, Whitaker, Woolcock.— Pairs— Ayes: Messrs Williams and Fitzroy. Noes: Messrs O'Rorke and Feldwick. The remainder of the sitting was passed over the estimates on the education vote which ultimately passed as printed and the House adjourned at midnight.