GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1124, 21 July 1883, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, In the House on Wednesday,

Mr Pyke moved that a Select Committee be appointed to consider and enquire into and report upon any petitions presen’ed to this House alleging grievances resulting from the existing system of education, with power to call lor persona and papers, and to report within one month ; such Committee to consist of the Hon Mr Dick, Mr Barron, Mr J. Buchanan, Mr DeLautour, Mr Feld wick, Mr Moll wraith, Mr Monro, Mr Turnbull, Mr J. G. Wilson, and the mover ; three to form a quorum. The motion was agreed to. Mr Sutton moved—' That it is necessary that permanent provision be made for the erection and maintenance of hospitals ; that provision be made for the election of local Boards of Governors who shall have the entire control of the hospitals and hospital buildings, and shall be empowered to invest any funds which may be placed at their disposal for the benefit of their local trust; that the Board be entirely independent of Government control, except as regards medical inspection ; that the necessary funds for either building or maintenance be provided locally ; that the Government be requested to bring in a Bill this session in accordance with the Hawke’s Bay system.’ Mr Barron moved as an amendment that 1,000,000 acres of land should be reserved for this purpose. Mr Turnbull supported the amendment, and Messrs Rolleston and Sutton opposed it.

Mr Macaudrew said two years ago they pasged a Bill authorising the Go-

vernment to set aside a landed endow-

ment not exceeding 1,000,000 acres for this purpose, anl he knew of nothing that had taken place in the interim to lead them to change their opinions on the subject. Several members spoke for and against the question, and the debate was interrupted by the dinner bell. The second reading of Mr Ivess s Election Petitions Amendment Bill was carried. Its object was to render Government liable .for the blunders of Returning Officers.

Sir George Grey’s Constitution Amendment Bill was thrown out on a division of 49 against 27 for it, Mr Dodson meved the second reading of the Compulsory Vaccination Abolition Bill.

Mr Postlethwaile supported the motion, but only eight voted for it, while 43 voted against it,

The Religions Trust Bill was read a fecond time. In the House on Thursday,

Replying to Mr Postlethwaile, the Hon Mr Johnson said the Government was aware Westland County had collected tolls on the Otira road, which was entirely maintained out of Colonial Government funds. The toll-gate was erected on that road by the County with the consent of the Government, and if it were removed it would be re-erected elsewhere ou the same line without any material gain to the traffic. The Hon Major Atkinson moved—- • That this House concurs in the recommendations contained in the report of the Pacific Islands Annexation Committee presented to this House on the 7th inst.’

Mr Montgomery opposed and Sir George Grey supported it, and after a great many others had spoken for and against, it was adjourned. The Hon Major Atkinson moved the House to go into Committee of Supply.

Mr Levestam moved as an amendment that the central route of the main trunk lino by the Top House be proceeded with at once.

In the course of the debate which followed, Mr Turnbull said the annual charges were £1,566,000, which was a most alarming state of affairs. He estimated their colonial mortgages represented £25,000,000, which, together with the pubiic debt, made a total of £55,000,000. The Corporations’ indebtedness, etc,, would raise the amount to about ±.70,000,000, on which the annual interest could not bo less than £4,000,000, and they had to import £8,000,000 worth of goods, while the export amounted to about £6,000,000. That was to his mind a

disastrous state o f things, and in private life would simply mean bankruptcy.

The debate was adjourned.