GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1135, 16 August 1883, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

In the House of Representatives on Monflav,

Sir George Grey announced that In- l.ad received the following telegram from Tawhaio :- ' 1 ;i "i |>n-puvd to -end w of my people t« Wei inuton, :oid they ■• h' carry > n y w 'o»d with > li—-n. \\h t ■ "y> i think of i'? Rep v ' He (Sir Gj .r;e Grey) was unwi iing to etubi-Tiis ilio Government i'i any way, and lim tii refore desired that the Government should put him in possesion of their Mews on the point b fore In- did reply. The Hon Mr P>yce .said h' did - ot very well see what was exoeete I ul : the Government eider ilit* ciuMiois'a- e •*. Tlnjy iegnrde«l Tawhaio us a gi-e..t t i!.i,l chi.--', and in any inaitr 'iiiinec: 'I -.v i *.! i lih own Iribe t ! ey were readv i.i.r-it » do him, but they would refuse 10 tr-at «i(h him iii regard io tnhus ov r "hi'li he had no snub tribal autliori y. Still it niiglit do tie House good, and i-nuld not do any harm, if these people of T»wlmio came there.

Sir G'-otge Grey moved —'That t'.-H House is of opinio'i that the I'renrer of New Zealand should not b" a director <t manager of any hank or eonipaoy Hading in the Colony, nor should he receive any salary, pay, fees, or any remuneration whatever for any services rendered i<» ■•iiy such bank or company.' H-. Relieve l that a few monetary institutions exerted undue influence on this Legisl dure, and that the present Government was nepi in office by that influence. In Europe it would be deemed incredible that the solicitor of such a co -npanv should l>e the Premiei of the hno. H-in-datced the Back of New Z-aland the Trud aid Loan and Mer autde Company, mid the new Mortgage Company. The representative of these comp mies was no v the Premier -if Now Z almd. Af'er dilaiing at length on [th- pou'-; po«scs;-d by th ' Premier, he concluded ■ ny s'aring tint they were mdeht-d to the, P.-mi-r for the services he had lender o ili„ C >bmy in the past, but h was due to tlim as a colony that lie should detah hims if from these institutions or else, disoeiate himself from the position ol Premier. The Hon Mr. Johnston replied that the action of the Government on the point showed that these monetary insiiuitinns did not opera'e as the power behind the throne. The Premier w..s no d iiibr, responsible for the policy of the country, but, be den'ed that he was in any lem-ect the autocrat, he had been repre-eu'ed to be by Sir George Grey. »mi Government could hold office under Mich a eon>tilution, and it was th* very e.-S'nc- ol' their form of administration that a I appointments of any importance were n a Io i y the Cabinet. Tin- agreement wth the Hank was made in 1880. Tie agreement was laid on the table. It was termm-ilVe oi six months notice. Ai\ they could ni"r fere with regarding the matter was i 111■ y found tiie J'retnier's public <iinie* were rendered sulxrdinute to h spriv.-.te duties. After several 'members had spoken, supporting the amendment. Mr Montgomery moved—' That no Mmi-t rof the Crown in Nev Z-atunl h ould be a director or manager of any b.nki' g company yi ttie co'ony.' The House divided <>n the trjntir.n for doing into Committee, as agonsf Sir George Grey's amendment—Ayes 44, Noes 25.

In the Legislative Council on Tuesday, The Confederation and Annex itiou Bid was read a third time and pus •(. The Bankruptcy Bill was r< a I a s.-eond t'me.

In the House of Representatives, On the application of Mr Mason, an extension of ten days was granted to ihe Atkinson Dargavillu Inquiry Committee, to enable them to take endem e.

Replying to Mr Leveslam. the H> n Mr Conody said that a sum of £3.0 had been allocated to the widow and ehildien of the gaol warder who was recently numb red in Nelson Gaol.

On the motion for going in'o Committee ol Supply, Mr Ives- moved 'That in the opinion of this House it is desirable the Government should cause provision to lie made for the payment of all costs which candidates might be mulcted in through no fault of their <-wn in prosecuting elc-'tion petitl n«, subj'.ct to the Court l>ei"g satisfied that the election .vas voided through the laches or errors of the Returning Officet or his deputies, and not by the candidates who may have contested the voided election.' After several members had spoken for and against, Major Atkinson k .id there would not be time to push a Bill dealing with the matter through this session, but the Government would give an assurance that the matter would be attended to next session.

The House divided on the question rf going into Committee-Ayes, 41 ; Noes, 34.

In Committee of supply a vole ->f £55,000 for the extension of the Hurunni to Picton line was passed. Among others, the. following votes were also passed : Hurunui t- Waitaki, with branches, £162,000; Canterbury interior main line, £II.OOO ; Waitaki to Bluff, will. branch-H, £251.000; <»tigo 'Jentral, £l3O 000 jlnve.cngil. to Ki ■%■ ston. £II,OOO ; Western rai vmys, £29500; coiiiing-nt expenses, £3000; expenses of lU'lway CominiHsiun, £SO. In Class 4—Surveys of new Inns of railwejs tlie fo lowing votes were passed :-Nortb Island, £IO.OOO ; MHille lß'and, £4i>oo. Land Purchase, North I hind. £72,000} Minister of Muiw;, £39,C00j