PARLIAMENTARY.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 359, 25 September 1878, Page 2

PARLIAM E NTARY.

(Per Press Agency.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON. September 24. The House was in Committee on the Electoral Bill up till about 9 o’clock last night, without making any material amendments. After that, the House went into Committee of Supply. There was considerable discussion on a few of the items, hut all passed as brought down, until five minutes to 2 o’clock, when progress was reported, and the House rose. The House met at 2.30 this afternoon. An Imprest Supply of £25,000 was granted making a total af £1,000,000. Major Atkinson complained that Government had failed to keep the promises they had made, of reform in respect to the early passing of the estimates, to avoid the necessity for grants by Imprest Supply. In Committee of Supply, Mr Richardson moved, in view of the largo expenditure for public works now going on, that in future no contracts should be entered into by Government until after the money had been appropriated by the House. He admitted that 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 intended as a safeguard of public money only. Mr Macandrew quoted the ’Frisco Railway, as a precedent, and defended the course adopted as being in the interest of the colony, and in pursuance of resolutions of the ITonso. Tito debate was continued until the House rose at 5.30 p.m.