PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1025, 2 August 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

"Wellington, August 2. The House of Representatives met at half-past 7 o'clock last evening. Mr. Macanch'ow presented two petitions from members and office-bearers of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, relative to the reading of the Bible in schools.

The Premier said that in accordance with an arrangement come to at the last sittings, he had endeavored to arrive at an understanding with the leader of the Opposition as to what Eills should be brought up and passed thro.ugh the House. He read the correspondence, setting forth that he (Sir Q- Grey), besides the Loan Bill and the granting of supplies, wished the Representation Bill, the Electoral Bill, and the Prohibition of the Introduction of Chinese Bill to be carried. To that Sir "W. Fox replied declining to consider any other but the question of supplies and the Loan Bill. The Premier went on to say that, such being the case, he would be prepared, when the first order of the day was called, to move that on Monday they go into Committee of Supply to consider the Loan Bill and Imprest Supply Bill. In reply to a suggestion made by Sir W. Fox. the Premier said that a statement, showiug the financial condition of the Colony, and every available information on the subject, would be forthcoming when the House went into Committee of Supply. Mr. Sheehan expressed a hope that provision would be made for the passing of important private bills, a proposal which Sir W. Fox said would have the best consideration of the Opposition, j Sir W. Fox said the party he represented did not in any way desire to go 'against the strict principles of Parliamentary government. He would be prepared to grant supplies, as they were determined they would not be parties to any of those discreditable transactions which had brought the affairs of overcount, lies to a dead-lock. They took their stand on this : They were prepared \o givnfc such supplies as would enable ihe Government to go to the country, but those supplies would only be granted for such a time as would necessitate Parliament being called together again at the earliest possible date. The Premier replied that the memo, was printed, and that it contained nothing that required to be interpreted by anything that took place in any other colony. He would defy the Opposition to withhold supply. If they attempted to do so not one of them would ever come back to l

that House. The Opposition said they would give no supplies unless certain stipulations were agreed to. His reply to that was that he and his colleagues would agree to no such stipulation, and that the House would grant supplies. Mr. Saunders admitted that the Premier was in a position to defy the House, but he warned him that his reign, for the term of his natural life, would soon come to an end. Mr. Rees spoke in support of the view taken by the Premier, as did also Mr. Gisborne and Mr. Adams. Messrs. Wakefield, Moss, and Brandon having spoken, the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply was then put and carried. In Committee the motion that supply be graiited to Her Majesty was carried. On resuming, the House adjourned at 11.40 till Monday at 2.30.