PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1106, 26 July 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[FEB UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Legislative Council. WELLINGTON. This Day. In Council yesterday, Col. Whitmore moved the second reading of Sir George Grey’s Affirmations in lieu of Oaths Bill. The Hon. Mr Whitaker moved that the Bill be read that day six months, as the Council had already passed a Bill on the same subject, but more complete, introduced by himself. After debate the motion for adjournment wrns lost by 20 to 8, and the amendment carried on the voices.

House of Representatives. July 25. The House continued. Weston said when Government had an opportunity of testing their strength with the Opposition, it had not done so. He could not submit to the action of the Government and’ had deserted it, and was pTompt to say so. The House was held up to contempt and ridicule, by all the newspapers of the Colony, and the Government was responsible for this, and the sooner a vote of No Confudence was proposed, and carried, and new men placed on the Government benches the better.

Mr Whitaker condemned the action of the Opposition. Mr Hurst begged the Government to allow the question on voices. Mr Thompson (Clntha) said Government w’ere responsible for tho disorganisation of tho House, and delay in business, and waste of time,

Mr Morris said that the Government side wished a no confidence vote to be brought on and decided one way or the other, and the business gone on with. Ae to the wages of railway employes ; if there were plenty of applicants ho did not see why the pay should be increased unless the Government wished to do so.

Mr Hobbs eaid the delay in business was caused by the disorganised state of the Opposition.

Mr Levestam and Mr Holmes spoke against the Government.

Mr Smith said he did not look on the question as a party question. He only desired public expression from the Minister of Public Works. He had the interest of poor working men whom he knew, at heart, who were not receiving pay sufficient to support their families, Ho believed the debate had done good in getting an expression of opinion from members that these men had a grievance. He thanked members for the good natured manner in which they had debated the question.

Mr Bryce said in asking leave to withdraw his amendment, Mr Smith had coupled it with the condition that it should be given practical effect to by the Government. He took it that if a division was taken on this proposal all the Opposition members should have voted for it, and been beaten.

Mr Montgomery said all the Opposition members would not vote for it.

The motion that debate be adjourned was negatived on voices, and the original motion to go into supply was carried on voices.

In Committee a motion to report progress was made. The Committee divided—Ayes, 19 ; noes, 42. The motion to report progress was therefore lost. The estimates were then considered. Class 2, Colonial Secretary, £24,880. Mr Duncan moved that the item of £15,000 for repairs to dips, expenses of working cattle, rabbits, sheep, and Fraud Act, and contingencies, bo reduced by £12,000. Mr Fieldwick proposed that the item £2,400 for six Chief Inspectors be reduced by £2OO. Question put—that the item of £2,400 be reduced by ,£2OO— Ayes, 13 j noes, 27. The motion to reduce the item was lost and progress reported, and the House adjourned at 7-20 a.m. This Day, In the House yesterday, the Imprest Supply Bill, No. 3, for £250,000 (?) was passed through all its stages In reply to a question from Mr Petrie, the Minister for Public Works stated that Mr Smith's motion having been disposed of, he was prepared to say in accordance with recommendation of Engineers of the Middle Island the rats of wages for surface men and platelayers would be raised to 6s 6d per day. The House went into Committee of Supply when a large number of votes were, after discussion, passed as printed. The item of £1,600 for the purchase of land next to Ministerial residence in Tinakori Road was, with the assent of the Government, struck out.

Progress was reported, and the House adjoui'ued at 1,55.