HOUSE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 278, 4 December 1879, Page 2

HOUSE.

Wellington, Wednesday night. In reply to Mr Johnston, Mr Rolleston ■aid the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Courts originated with the contractor, and that the Government had nothing to do with it. A Committee has been appointed to report «pon claims under the " Land Claims Act ' In , reply to a question, Major Atkinson mid the Government would during the recess take into consideration the condition of the smaller hfrbora of the 'colony, with the view of the encodragtmeiit of the coastal trade.

Mr De Lautcmr moved that the .louse concurs in the report from the Reporting Debates Committee tbat the Hansard reports te coh'dehsed next session.— The Premier Said they had not men of sufficient political experience to do the work properly, but they quite concurred in the uecWsity for an earlier issue of the publication. — A considerable debate xollowed. — Mr Tole thought n-e-robete should be asked to curtail their "speeches.— Mr Reeves thought that tbey ought to pay 10s per column for all over a certain number of lines. — Mr 6aiind'ei*s suggested that members should be limited in time, Bay to 20 minutes, and to speak not more than 20 times a day —Mr Gisborne concurred in the report of the Committee. — Major Atkinson opposed the condensation of the reports.— The question of the adoption of the report was negatived by 37 against 29. Mr Reeves moved, That it is desirable .to impose a da y on all coal imported Into the colony. The import value of imported coal amounted to yearly, and if coal I were restricted they would be able to employ some three or four hundred more men on the West Coast mines, aud by doubling the output of coal reduce the cost accordingly. He suggested that the duty -should be on a sliding scale for five years, commencing with ls per annum, until the import of coal Was diminished entirely. He argued that the imposition of the ditty frould reduce the cost to the consumer. — Mr Masters and Mr L-Mt-floa supported the motion. — Mr M'Lean opposed it on the ground that the hfc&l mines could not yet produce all that was required.— The Premier opposed the motion, not agreeing in the statement that the imposition of the duty wonld not raise the price of coal to the consumers. The Government were assisting the industry in every way by the construction of lines of railways. He did not think the imposition of a duty the proper way to encourage the industry. The debate was interrupted by 6*30 Thursday. All l&st evening's sitting was occupied over Sir G. Grey's New Zealand Constitution Act Amendment Bill. In moviog the second reading;, he stated that it was the most importaut Sill ever introduced into Parliament. He sail there was no representation for the people in the Upper House, and an unfair representation in the Lower House. He alluded to his being unseated for Christchurch, which, he claimed, would not have occurred had there been a proper representation. Large estates had been improperly robbed from the people through the sah.e defect in the representation. If there was a proper system of representation established, they would insist on the measure becoming law, and thereby give fuli effect to the original Constitution Act, and give to the people of New Zealand their inalienable birthright, which birthright had been kept from them for party purposes. Mr Hall regretted that Sir G. Grey had not made a speech worthy of the occasion instead of going, over the old story, of which the people of New Zealand were heartily tired. It was lamentable to see a gentleman of Sir G. Grey's position unable to treat in a practical manner any subject be handled. If there were any inequalities in the system of representation, Sir G. Grey was the one who was responsible for them, as he had had tbe power to remedy the defects for three yeare, and would neither do it himself nor let others do it. Every one admitted that the representation was unequal, which was merely due to the more rapid growth of population in some places than ia others. He denied the accusation that the preseut Government were insincere in the question of reform and representation. Ihe late Government had merely talked of Liberal measures, but had not done anything except to make the real work more difficult for their successors, who bad now carried a number of reforms, actually in the teeth of much opposition from the other side of the House. He claimed that this Government had not only passed a number of Liberal measures, but had saved the Colony from what would bear a more serious name than financial embarrasment. He agreed with much that the Bill contained, but it waa impossible to deal with such a subject at that period of the session, and he therefore moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Hereupon followed a long debate, the Opposition supporting the Bill and the Government opposing it. Major Atkinson condemned the Bill as unworkable. The Premier, he said, was most desirous to deal with the redistribution question but it was wholly impossible to do it this session. In was an inique circumstance to find the leader of the Opposition at the tail end of the session fingering in such an important constitutional Bill as this. He hoped the Bill would be rejected without further loss of time. Ultimately, about one this morning, it waß found tbat there was no quorum, and as a House could not be obtained the debate was adjourned.