House of Representatives.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 234, 12 September 1884, Page 2

House of Representatives.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. The House met at 2.30. Notice of Question. Mr. Holmes gave notice that he would ask if it were true that the railway workshops were largely engaged altfring imported machinery and making good defects in the same. Financial Statement. Mr. Stout announced that the Financial Statement would be delivered on Tuesday evening. Replies of Questions. Replying to Mr. Wakefield as to whether it was true that Wi Pere had joined the Ministry. Mr. Stout replied that any change or addition made to the Government would be duly notified to Parliament. Replying to a question put It was stated the extension of the Auckland railway line from Kawakawa to Kamo was under consideration, and the result would be made known in the Public Works Statement. A bill to facilitate sales, leases, and other dispositions of settled land would not be introduced this session. Provision would be made in the Special Powers and Contracts Bill to enable the exchange of sections in the township of Opawa (Albury). Complaints had been made as to the time allowed for loading trucks, etc., and. if proved well founded, they would be remedied. Where found to be necessary free railway passes would be granted to children of railway employees. The fund for providing temporary employment at Waimate had not yet been exhausted, and in the case of men who could not remove to a distance these works would be continued. Two contracts were authorised to be accepted by the Atkinson-Wakefield Government on the Ist September, immediately on the resignation of the then Government. One of these was for the still water section of the Nelson creek and Brunner railway, and amounted to £15,383, and the other was for a section of the Catlin’s river railway, in the Clutha district, £7,203. The latter had not been taken up. No special sum had been paid in connection with the proposed Civil Service reform. The expense incurred for printing the bill was paid in the ordinary way. New Bills. The following bills were introduced and read a first time :— To amend the Counties Act, 1876 (Cadman). To confer additional powers on trustees of recreation grounds (Rolleston). Second Readings. The following bills were read a second time:— Auckland College and Grammar School Act Amendment (Dargaville). Hokitika Racecourse Reserves (Bevan). Napier Harbor Empowering and Loan Bill (Ormond). Bills Passed. The following were passed through Committee, and reported with amendments :— Kaiapoi Domain Board empowering. Otago Harbor Board Empowering. Caversham Drainage Bills. The House rose at 5.30.

EVENING SITTING. Mr. Brown moved the second reading of the Gold Duty Abolition Bill. Messrs. O’Connor, Seddon, Bevan, M< J. McKenzie, and Pyke supported the bill, and the Premier and Mr. W. F. Buckland opposed it. The latter moved that it be read that day six months. On a division the motion for the second reading was carried by 40 to 28. The Drainage of Mines Bill and the Mining Companies’ Act Amendment Bill passed their second reading with but little discussion. Mr. Taiaroa moved the second reading of the Maori Representation Bill. Mr. Ballance admitted the Maoris were unfairly represented. The whole of the ejpctoral laws, he thought, required reform. Mr. Bryce said the Maori race numbered 30,000, and they were entitled to five representatives. The motion was carried and the Bill was referred to the Native Affairs Committee. Committee. The House went into Committee. Mr. Rolleston thought the measure unnecessary, and moved on Amendment that the Chairman leave the Chair, which was lost by 33 to 29. Two other attempts to pass similar motions were lost on the voices, and Mr. Connor moved the insertion of a new clause to the effect that nothing which was contained in the Bill should be considered to vitiate or annul any claim, pension, or superanuation allowance in existence at the time of the Bill passing. On division the motion was carried by 35 to 18. The Bill was reported as amended. The House rose at 12.35.