GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1111, 21 June 1883, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. lii the House of Representatives, last Tuesday, Mr Bracken, Mr Bathgate, and Mr Feldwick presented petitions from the Roman Catholics in Dunedin and Invercargill, praying for modifications of the Educa'ion Act. On the motion of Mr Bracken, a return was ordered showing the amounts paid per inch to the newspapers throughout the colony, which were successful in securing Government adver ising for the current year ; also the amounts per inch tendered for by nonsuccessful newspapers.

Mr Shaw moved that an Address be presented to the Governor in reply to the Speech made to both Houses. He said the Speech deserved their hearty thanks. He lauded the high personal qualities of the Governor,and eulogised the conduct of the Native Minister for bringing about a better understanding between the two races. He then spoke highly about our direct Steam Service. He trusted that an effort would be made to amsnd the existing state of the bankruptcy law. As it stood the law was a disgrace, and tended to foster commercial immorality. He also hoped that stringent, me sures would be adopted for the punishment of wife and family desertion. Mr Lee seconded the motion.

Mr Montgomery took exception to the Speech, ns no reason had been given why the House did not meet in May. All expenditure

subsequent to the 31st May was contrary to the spirit .of the Appropriation Act. It was the moat barren Speech ever delivered in any Parliament. The for the Direct Steam Service .was just what might have He spOke very strongly at the Government favoring certain districts in the construction of roads and bridges, and hoped tbs Estimates would be brought down early. He defied the Government to bring, in a Bill-to effect the proposed change in the constitution of the Upper House, as it would endanger their position. The present Government had done more to bring the Upper House into disrepute than any other Government. ■ They foisted men upon it who had been repeatedly rejected by constituenis. The Prime Minister was an instance in point. There were a great many things omitted from the Speech. There was not a point of policy set forth on which the Ministy would stand or fall;

. Mr Bathgate characterissd the Speech as disappointing. ! Its only merit was its length. Ever since the Government took office, the prosperity of the colony had been steadily decreasing. , He admitted the good services rendered by the Minister of Lands in introducing the leasing system, and hoped that he would continue in the course he had begun.

Sir George Grey referred to that part of the speech affecting the family who owned the section of land at Kawhia now held by Government, and,slated that the family had been robbed of it. He asked the House not to endorse such an action.

The Hon Major Atkinson replied. He challenged Sir George Grey to test the feeling of the House as to whether or not this land or its value should be giyen to the family referred to. Regarding the complaint about the House not meeting in May, it arose from the,fact that the House buildings were not. ready. Mr Montgomery had .tabled a, most unconstitutional ’ motion, which amounted to a vote of censure on the Government, to be discussed after the Estimates were brought down. It involved the question of taxation, and he challenged him to proceed with its discussion; at once. The ' complaint about the Government haying foisted .refused candidates upon; the Upper House-simply amounted to this, that' one 1 man who had held a seat in the House hbritihuously for 20 years saw fib to'i'esigu arid : wAs;call(3tl to the. Upper House. It was monstrous to think that a leading man like the Premier should bo debarred from the Legislative Council of the Colony simply because | he-happened to be once defeated m an election;. All the Government business of the session- was ready,; and unless obstructed by the-Opposition, it would be put forward at once. The Government wanted a short session, but if the Opposition embarrassed them with fictitious , motions, they might have to call on their supporters to go on with the business] of the country irrespective of anything Mr Montgomery might say. After several other Members had spoken, the House rose.