GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1242, 23 September 1884, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on F riday,, September 19. On the motion of Mr Barton, the Perpetual Trustees Estate and Agency Companies of New Zealand Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr Walker gave notice that he would move that the country volunteer corps be placed on a more satisfactory footing. Mr Seddon gave notice that he would ask the Government if they would introduce Bills making it compulsory that vendors of tobacco, cigars, aad patent medicines take out a license, the fees thereof to become local revenue. Replying to Mr Locke, the Hop. Mr Ballance said that in 1873 the Magistrate at the Chatham [slands (Mr White) was instructed to prepare a record of the traditions and language of the Maori race. In 1879 he reported it was nearly completed, but although repeatedly urged on ti e subject, nothing yet had been done. The renumeration was to be £2OO a year for four j-ears, and a bonus of £SOO on the completion of the work to the satisfaction of the Government.

Replying to Mr Gillies, Sir Julius Vogel said that an endeavor %vould be made to secure similar facilities to the New Zealand manufacturer as those secured to the European exporter in the matter of the transmission by post of foreign patterns and sample post. The Public Revenue Bill was introduced by message from the Governor. Sir Julius Vogel explained that the Bill would enable the £50,000 deficiency bills mentioned in the financial statement to be issued. The Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Tuesday next. Sir Julius Vogel moved the second reading of the Parliamentry Honorarium and Privileges Bill. Captain Russell argued that the amount of the honorarium (£2lO per annum) was too jireitt, and quoted from the property tax returns to show that it was excess cf the average income of men in this colony. In Committee he would move its reduction by one half. Mr Montgomery suggested that the rule to aMow members five days' leave of absence should be rescinded, and that for every dry's absence two days' pay should be deducted. He also objected to the prospect of two or three Commissions being held out for the employment of members during the recess as a practical violation of the Disqualification Act. Sir Julius Vogel said that it would be a mark of good taste on the part of the favored few who were ready to dispense with the honorarium that they should quietly stand aside, and not apply to the Treasury at all at the end of the session. . He also reprobated the practice of certain members who paraded their liberality at the close of the session by getting_ paragraphs in country papers, having given so much in the shape oi donations. The motion wa3 put, and the Bill read a second time. The House adjourned at 4 35. The whole of the evening sitting was taken up with the debate on the Financial Statement. Mnjor Atkinson opened the debate with a really good speech in which he ■■reviewed the proposals of the Government. He concluded by stating that the ' real fact was their great object was to make things pleasant, or, in the worda,.of the Book of Common Prayer, their language was ''Give peace in our time, O Lord," The statement was pleasant to the eye, but it would prove gall and wormwood to the taste of posterity. Mr Moss moved as an amendment "That in the existing condition of the finances of the colon}', it is not desirable ' to reduce the amount of the tax, unless there be a corresponding reduction in the expenditure oi the Government of the colony. Ue claimed to be an independent member, and denounced the Government as being responsible for the large debt of the colony, which they now proposed to hand over to posterity. Sir Julius Vogel replied at length, and he was followed by Mr Wakefield whomade a speech abounding in good hits. At 12.55 Mr Holmes moved the adjournment of the debate, which wascarried, and the House rose.