PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1353, 8 September 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTAR Y.

(From our own Correspondent.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday ; September 5. The House met at 11 a.m. Replying to questions, Ministers said :— Government saw no reason why ministers of religion proceeding to Seaclitfe Asylum to visit patents should travel free by rail. -It would not be advisable to employ the Solici-tor-General to conduct and defend actions in Wellington in which Government was interested. —The duties of the Solicitor-General were to advise Government on points of law. —Government could not pay railway employees’ wages while employed on juries — Would not provide platelayers with shovels nor yet allow them public holidays.—The lajing of heavy mils between xMarerewa was in progress.—Existing postal arrangements at Lake Wanaka could not be interfered with—Lighting beacons at Manukau Heads would be looked into.—Bowron’s pamphlet cheese, butler and bacon manufacture would be supplied to those interested in it — Government would see what could be done for the unemployed. — Was not aware men from the Addington workshops repaired the Catalonia.—Prisoners had to a trifling extent been employed at Addington and Lyttelton workshops.—Government could not consent to stoppage of Express train at Waituki North. To satisfy the Auditor’s objections, Major Atkinson moved, “ That the fares of members and their wives residing beyond three miles of the seat of Government, for attendance at Parliament House, be defrayed by Government.”—Ayes, 29; noe.-, 15. Ou the House going into Committee of Ways and Means, the usual preparatory resolutions were carried, and a motion made to introduce the Appropriation Bill. Mr Smith complained of the treatment the business of private members had received at the hands of the Government. Early in the session they took away one of the private members’ days, and latterly had deprived them of any time whatever. xVlajor Atkinson replied to the effect that members had had three days for their private business They had, in addition to the days set apirt for them, made liberal use of the Order Paper, and in going into Committee of Supply, monopolising, as they did, so much time, it would have been impossible to go on with the Government business at all had not some restrictions been made. Sir George Grey condemned the general policy of the Government in a speech oi some length. He moved, as an amendment, “ That the resolution of the Committee of Ways and Means be not agreed to until a copy of the agreement between the Government and the Bank of New Zealand be laid on the table.” The amendment was negatived. The Appropriation Bill was read a second time.