HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 202, 4 October 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Thursday night. The Government said no objection would be offered to the House adjourning at 5.30 to-morrow in consequence of the Members Ball. Mr Sheehan will move the second reading of the Native Lands Bill on Tuesday next. Nearly the whole afternoon was occupied in debating whether the Land Tax report be agreed to. Mr Wakefield moved ihe recommittal of the Bill on the ground that the AttorneyGeneral promised that an opportunity would be offered of discussing the whole question of the valuation of ruus, and the relations of landlord and tenant. The Attorney-General denied that he ever made such a promise. Mr Ballance said he remembered the circumstances, aud knew of no such promise. Mr Ilislop said that had it uot been for such a promise he would have moved certain amendments be had prepared. Messrs Bowen, Roileston, Wason, and others expressed astonishment that Miuisters should refuse to accept the statements of so many members on the point. After a somewhat animated debate, in the course of* wbich several members who usually voted with the Government supported the re-committal of the Bill, a division was taken and Mr Wakefield's amendment was i negatived by 34 to 32. | Messrs Murray and Montgomery then j announced that they could not support the third reading. The debate was interrupted by f> 30. j Friday. On the House resuming at 7.30 last night Messrs Sutton and Wakefield announced their intention to oppose the third reading of the Land Tax Bill. Mr McMinn, while considering portions of it objectionable, supported the third reading. After several other members .'had spoken, tho Premier spoke at considerable length in defence of the Bill, and dwelt on the injustice which the public suffered by tbe way the Canterbury lands had beeu administered. Mr Roileston, who followed, made a vevy animated reply to the Premier's personal references to himself in regard to the administration of the Canterbury waste lands. After a number of other members had spoken the Bill was ordered to be read the third time by 42 against 19. The Customs Tariff Bill theu passed without auy discussion. Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the Beer Duty Bill. Mr Johnston moved that it be read thafc day six month. The question was put " That the words proposed to be left out (" the Bill he now read a second time") staud part of the question." A division taken which resulted as follows :— Ayes 27. Noes 29. Ayes : Messrs Ballance, Barton, J. C. Brown, Bryce, Delatour, Feldwick, Fisher, George, Grey, Hamlm, Ilislop, Macandrew, Manders, McMinn, Murray, Nahe, O'Rorke, Tyke, Saunders, Sheehan, Stout. Taiaroa, Takamoana, Thomson, Turnbull, Wood, and Woolcock. Noes : Messrs Atkinson, Baigent, Barff, Bastings, Beetham, Bowen, Douglas, Fox, Gisborne, Hunter, Hursthouse, Johnston, Kenuy, McFarlane, McLean, Montgomery, Moorhouse, Murray-Aynsley, Ormond, Roileston, Eowe, Sharp, Stevens, Tawiti, Teschemaker, Wakefield, Wason, Whitaker, and Williams. Mr Stout said that three members had broken their pairs, and, replying, Major Atkinson said he was oue, Mr Hursthouse another, and Mr Murray-Aynsley the third. Considerable time was occupied in making personal explanations, all these gentlenieu denying that they had broken their pairs as they only paired ou the Land Tax Bill. This statement was corroborated by eye witnesses who overheard the arrangements. Mr Turnbull explained that he voted on the Government side in mistake. The Speaker explained that the House could not recognise pairs, but allowed hon. gentlemen the privilege of mukiug personal explanations where their honor was impugned. After some further discussion the debate was adjourned till to-day, the House rising at 1 a.m. •