GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1120, 12 July 1883, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

In the House on Tuesday, Sir George Grey moved his Constitution Bill, the object of which is to refer all questions in dispute between the two Chambers, to a vote of the people at large" After several members bad spoken, Sir George Grey in reply said the statement that the plebiscite proposed by the Bill would not check corruption, was, perhaps true, aud he could only add that so long as the present Government sat on the Benches, the corruption of which he complained could not be checked. A plebiscite, however, would have the effect of placing another Government on these Benches, and by that means he was hopeful of- checking such corruption. Give the people the right of saying under what laws they would be governed, and such abuses as the continuous Ministry would disappear. The family Government set up by the Treasurer would also disappear, and the Civil Service and its influence would be weakened and brought within reasonable proportions. That was what the Government dreaded, and that was why the Treasurer and his friends were so opposed to his Bill. The measure was recommended by many great thinkers, and he had endeavoured to convince the House that it was a grand system. Having done this he left it without farther comment in their hands. The second reading was lost by 24 to 46.

Messrs Postlethwaite and Sutter voted against the Bill and Mr Turnbull for it. Mr Green’s Eight Hours Labor Bill was discussed, and reached its last stage when it was thrown out by a majority of two votes.

Sir " George Grey’s Law Practitioners’ Bill passed through Committee, but thrown out on the third reading by the casting vote of the speaker. Mr Bracken gave notive he would ask Government if they would issue orders to the police at the various seaports to exercise special vigilance so as to prevent Janies Carey and the other Pcenix Park murderers from landing in this colony. Sir George Grey gave notice to move the following on going into Supply That this House regret that the Government has expressed its intention not to make any proposals to deal with the land specially benefited or advantaged by the construction of railways, in so far as such benefits or advantages have accrued in the past, as in the opinion of this House the principle of taxing all property increased in value by the construction witli the public money of railways, roads, bridges, harbors and other works is just. Mr Montgomery moved—(l) That the existing system of central government has failed to realise the results antici-

P a ted, and that the proraisea.fnd engagements made at the time of abolition of the provinces have not been fulfilled ; (2) That in consequence of the centralising policy much discontent prevails throughout Zew Zealand; (3) That to ensure economy and efficiency in the administration of local affairs, it is necessary that all such local affairs, including public works, should be drawn from the control of the central Government and vested in local Government bodies elected by districts having community of interest. He 1 reviewed the history of the colony since 1874, and held that the promises made at the time of abolishing the provinces had not been adhered to. He then said that the central Government should deal with Customs, Post-offices, Telegraphs, Education, Law, Land, Defence, etc. Local bodies should be elected by the people having community of interests. They should administer the Land and Education Acts, police, gaols, charitable aid, and have the administration of railways. He had kept as near as possible to the lines laid down by tbe British Parliament in granting them their constitution. Then the session of Parliament need not exceed a month or six weeks. Otago, Canterbury, and Westland, would have fjuch a community of interests, and should form one province, having a governing body with certain powers of legislation, The Cook’s Strait settlements, by which be meant Nelson, Marlborough, Taranaki and Wellington, would go together, and the rest of the North Island as a third district. Although there might bo a difficulty in the uniting of Hawke’s Bay with Auckland, he would not like to coerce them. What he wanted was to embody them in a Bill, and hold the matter over till the next election.

Major Alkinson denied that the policy enunciated at the time of tbe abolition had not been adhered to, and in a violent speech opposed the motion. Sir George Grey supported the motion, and in doing so referred to the way in which the present Government assisted in putting large blocks of land in the way of their friends, the Patetere block for instance.

Mr Turnbull said no man had done more to lower the House than Major Atkinson. The country was the brink of a great crisis. They had gone to the end of their tether. He intended to move the estimates be referred back to the Government.

Mr Thomson moved the adjournment till Thursday, but Major Atkinson moved for its adjournment till next day. The amendment was carried, and the House adjourned.