PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 282, 9 December 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE.

Wellixgtox, Tuesday. The House sat till 3 o'clock this morning. After going into Committee on the Maori Prisoners Trial Bill a good deal of discussion ensued on the 4th clause, which ran—" Commissioners shall be entitled to such reasonable remuneration for their services as the Government may prescribe. Any member of the General Assembly acting or receiving a sum by way of remuneration as aforesnid shall not be deemed to have committted a breach of the "Disqualification Act, 1878.' The clause was negatived by 40 to 28. Sir G. Grey moved the addition of the following : — "Provided always that at least one member of the Commission shall be a member of the Native race." — Messrs Hall and Bryce oppobed, and after some discussion the amendment was negatived by 39 to 23. The Bill then passed through Committee. The House then went into Committee on the " Property Assessment Bill," and passed clauses 20 and 21, the latter being considered one of the most important in the Bill. It was amended eo as to exempt agricultural implements in use.

[From a correspondent.] Tuesday. A large meeting of the Government supporters was held to day, when the Premier announced that the Public Works Statement would be delivered to-night, when it would

be shown that four millions out of the five is gone and pledged by their predecessors, ami one of the conditions of raising the loan is that New Zealand is not to enter the money market for a period of three years. The Premier fun her stated with reference to the conduc! of the bushes, that with u view of proroguing on Thnrsrl;iy next the Government intend to carry the following Rills :— Customs, Prnvioion of Statutes, Property Assessment, Special Powers for Contract--, L'ind Tax Collodion, Builiiing Societies, Debtors and Creditors, Counties Amendment, and Electoral Acts Ryjeal.