PARLIAMENTARY.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 467, 15 October 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF IIEP RESENT ATI VES. Wellington, October 14. Mr Murray gave notice that the House sit on Mondays, for the disposal of Government business. Mr Hall explained that the statement to the effect that he had promised Tomoana that a .Maori Minister should have the same power and privileges as a European Minister, and sole control over all sales and leases of lands, was an entirs misapprehension. Ho never made any such promise. He read documents giving an account of the interview with Tomoana and Te Wheoro, signed by Messrs Ormond, Rolleston, and Beetham, to corroborate bis statement. Mr Sheehan accepted the denial, but having heard Tomoana, construed bis words as reported; Mr Hall then asked leave to bring down three of their Bills that sitting,,, and the remainder to-morrow. Major Atkinson would ask the leave of the House to make a statement regarding the finances of the colon}' to-night. He hoped the Native Minister would make his. statement on Thursday or Friday. It was not possible before. He promised reform regarding native lands administiation. Would distribute Government advertisements fairly, regardless of polities of paper. Would lay up one Government steamer as soon as West Coast difficulty was settled. Mr Hall then proceeded to explain the provisions of the _ Electoral Reform scheme.; . He .-would, divide the question into five Billfij for.' .simplification. Government officers would see that all who had a right to be on the roll should be so enrolled. Persons residing six months in a district should have a vote, if twelve months in the colony. Ample opportunities should be given to see who were on the roll, and he would sweep off those improperly on. Provision would he inade for lodgers’, miners’, and ratepayers franchise. He would endeavour to put a slop to the large expenditute going on on the West Coast. A Royal Commission would enquire into unfulfilled promises to natives. He hoped to satisfactorily settle the present state of affairs at an early date. The Native Minister, in his statement

''Would ch-al more fully with the matter. Mr Hal: then moved the first reading of the Bill. Mr Macandrew essayed to move an amendment, —“ That, while determined to pass a Bill for amending the electoral law, the : House decline to grant leave to do so until the Ministers possess the confidence of the House.” The Speaker ruled that a similar motion being before the House, it was not competent to move such an amendment till the other was disposed of. Mr Macandrew said in that case he would negative every measure except Public Revenue Bill, until Government faced the 'question. • The Speaker pointed outtthat motions on the order paper would require to be disposed of before a similar amendment could he introduced. Sir George Grey said it was competent for them to make their oWn forms, and proceeded to argiie in favor, but the Speaker Called him to order. Sir G. ’Grey still continuing to refer to the matter, was called to order a second time. After further discussion, House adjourned till 7.30, when the Speaker will give his opinion on certain points raised, and Major Atkinson will probably make his Financial Statement.