GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1127, 28 July 1883, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Mr Montgomery intimated that he had postponed his Bill to repeal the property tax until the Government Bill for itcreasing the tax was brought forward.

Mr - DcLatour moved for a return of certain native lands for which Grown grants had been issued to natives since January 1566, but Major Atkinson said it vvoul i take, six clerks two years to get it out, and when it was pat to the vote it was lost by a majority of ten.

Mr Bracken moved that the Government give a preference to all articles manufactured in the colony. Messrs Bathgate and Holmes supported the motion, the latter adding an amendment to the effect that protection should he given to local industries.

On the School Committees Election Bill there was a long debate. Messrs Shechan, Moss, Bracken and othera urging that it interfered with the whole of the. Education Act, that it would do injustice to Catholics, and that the Government had no right to allow it to pass without opposition.

Mr Sheehan moved that it be read that day six months. The third reading of the Bill, however, was carried, 39 voting for it and only 10 against it.

Mr Seddon moved a Bill to abolish Education Boards. The object of the Bill was to havd one Education Board in Wellington, and the rest of the work to be clone by School Committees.

After 11 o'clock the House was counted out. On Thursday, Replying to Mr W. C. Buchanan, the Hon Major Atkinson said he. would look into the question, and if Government had the power, Dairy Factories would be exempted from the payment of annual license fees undor the Stamp Act.

Major Atkinson moved that the British Government ihould, under existing circumstances, take steps for the establishment of its rule overall islandß in the Pacific which are not already occupied by or under the protectorate of a Foreign Power, and that on the annexation of any island taking place, care should be taken that provision be made for preserving the individual rights of the inhabitants. Mr Steward moved as an amendment that the British Government should, under existing circumstances, take steps for the establishmsnt of its rule over such islands in the Pacific as are already occupied by or under the protectorate of a Foreign Power, and the occupation of which by any Foreign Power would be detrimental to Liu interests of Australasia.

The House divided on the amendment—Ayes, 40 ; Noes, 19. Tlie amendment was carried. On the resolution, that in the event of the British Government making it one of the conditions of establishing its authority over any islands in the Pacific, New Zealand, jointly with the colonies ot Australia should contribute its fair proportion of the necessary expense, calculated on the.basis of the Europeaa population of the British colonies now comprised in Australasia, provided that the amount of such proportionate exppiiditnre when ascertained does not exceed the means at the disposal of New Zealand. Mr Wynn-Williams moved as an amendment that in the event of its being made *n absolute condition of annexation that the colonies of Austraiasia shall each contribute a fair' proportion of the cost, it will be necessary that a statement of the amount to be contributed by this colony should be furnished by the Imperii Government before Parliament is called

upon to concur in a course which may involve serous additional taxation on

tliis country. . The amendment was agreed to. On the motion of Sir George Grey, it was agreed that all the above resolutions should he 'embodied, in the Annotation Bill, and trade, a'first Order of the Day for Friday. ; Tlie Bankruptcy Bill, was so mutilated in Committee that the Hon Mr Conolly moved to.reipot't progress, as the, result of this vote would be so material that it would bebetfer to take time to consider its effect on the Bill as a whole. 1 Progress was then reported.