PARLIAMENTARY.
HOUSE OF REPEESENTATIVES,
Wellington, Sept 3. Mr Pitt repeated the speech whieb he had previously made in Committee, and again expressed conviction that following the operation of the Bill would be the moving of tiie seat of Government to either Canterbury or Otago, and that following thereupon separation would ensue, and by-and bye the public works scheme would provide for the construction of the Otago Central, and Clirist_ church and West Coast railways out of colonial funds, and that probably all available money would be thus spent. He said it had been rumored in the lobbies that the provincial members who had opposed the Bill would be punished when the estimates came down, and be believed there w«s more than rumor in threat. The Premier sard that if the Iron, member referred to or insinuated anything against (he Government, he should mention the name or names of any member who bad so spoken. Mr Pitt said he could do that, and on being pressed said the rumor camp in the usual form “ They say,” but that the person mentioning it was the Postmaster General, and he said Messrs Levestam and Gibbs could endorse his statement. The Premier said in the absence or the Postmaster General he very much regretted the statement. Mr Moss thought the lust of power and dominion would soon seize Canterbury and Otago, for the present members would soon be succeeded by strangers, who would have no mercy or regard for rights now respected. He then referred to the fact that the House was gagged last night. The Speaker checked him, and sard the fact that he (Mr Moss) was now speaking was proof that the House bad not been gagged. Mr Moss continued in tbe same strain.
The Speaker then ordered him to sit down, and warned him that if he repeated the offence his conduct would be submitted to the opinion of the House. . Mr Moss said there was no political amity in the North Island. More sympathy existed between Wellington and Canterbury than with Auckland. He said he would oppose the Bill to the last. Mr Ballance said the proposed number of members was not too large if really efficient representation was needed, hut he condemned single electorates as increasing the power of the property vote. Separation, he said, could not be brought about in the face of the great financial responsibilities of the colony. Mr Tole deplored the determination of southern members to hold a propopderence of the voting power, and said the Bill in its operation would produce most serious consequences, which the House apparently had not fully considered when helping the Ministry to force on the measures without any concessions.
Mr Turnbull expressed himself in favor of special representation for the Maoris. He was also in favor of single voting. He thought there was nothing in the present debate calculated to set the North Island agaiast the South. He concluded by moving that the debate be adjourned till Monday. Mr Hall said be had no objection to adjourning the debate on the ground that members were not altogether in a fit position to consider this important question after such a long sitting as they had had.
Sir G. Grey suggested the adjournment should ho till half-past 7 on Monday. The House then, at 5 o’clock, adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on Monday,having sat since 2 30 p.m. on Wednesday.
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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2639, 5 September 1881, Page 2
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568PARLIAMENTARY. South Canterbury Times, Issue 2639, 5 September 1881, Page 2
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