GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1389, 8 September 1885, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

The Speaker took his seat at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. On the motion of Mr Reynolds it was agreed by 27 to 10 that a second free conference should be requested with the House of Representatives upon the School Committee Election Bill with regard to new clause 4, to which the House disagreed. The Goldmining Company’s Bill was read a second lime without debate,

The Gisborne High School dill was committed and progress reported and leave granted to sit again. The Auckland Railway Land Company Compensation Bill and the Rating Ad 1882 Amendment (No. 2) Bill wore read a second time without debate. Tho Mines Act 1877 Amendment Bil i and the Mining Companies Act 1882 Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed.

The Paten Harbor Board Bill was re ported from Committee. Tho Council rose at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES

The Hoi.so met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday

The Napier Gas Company’s Bill was read a third time and passed.

Mr O’Conor brought up a question of privilege. He called attention to the fact that an lion, member stated that the evidence given by a witness before the Goldfields Committee was untrue.-The Speaker said tint in such a case it was customary to proceed with the utmost severity against the offender.—After some diacmsion the Hon. Mr Stout said he would take steps to have the offender brought before the House.—Mr O’Oonor said he had no wish that steps should be taken in that direciton, and the matter then dropped. A lengthy discussion ensued on a report brought up by Mr Moss, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, on « peiition from the Waimea Plains Railway Company. The report was to the effect that legislation should be affected this session, in order to enable the Company to levy their rate. —It was finally decided that the report bo laid on the Table. Replying to Mr Duncan, if the Government do not consider that the time lias arrived when the importation of catt'e from England may be resumed without enforcing such stringent regulations as are at present enforced, the Hon, Mr Tole said tho Government had already taken steps for the removal of the restrictions. Replying 10 Mr J. B. Whyte, if any reports have been made to the Government by officers of the Department upon him scheme of railway imrag'-menl advocated by Mr Samuel Wide, and in favor of which many thousands of persons have signed petitions to this House, the Hon. Mr Richardson said reports had been received on the question, and he intended referring it to a Select Committee, but it would be impossible to do anything this session. , [Other questions of an unimportant nature were replied to. It was agreed that the House on its rising should adjourn till 2.20 p.m. on Monday for the consideration of the Federation Resolutions. The Hon, Mr Richardson moved the second reading of the Public Works Amendment Bill No, 2. The Bill, he said, contained some useful amendments suggested by County Councils, which he would explain in Committee. Ho explained briefly the other clauses of the Bill, which were agreed to.

The Hon. Mr Stout moved the second reading of the Public Revenues Bill.— Agreed to. The House went into Committee of Supply for the further consideration of the Estimates.

On the item Working Railways the Hon. Mr Richardson moved that the vote be reduced by £20,000.— Agreed to. Item : Government domains, £I2OO. - Carried, Item : Public buildings, £33,700, Mr Hurst moved that the item be reduced by £IO,OOO. He specially condemned the large expenditure on Ministerial residences, gas, etc. A long discussion took place, several members expressing their opinion that the residences should he sold and Minister* allowed a sum for rental, AH proposes for the reduction of the item wf're los' and it passed as printed.

Item : Miscellaneous services. Redaced by £5,

Item ; Treasury Department, £5617. Carried.

Item ; Property Tax Department, £22,195. —Carried.

Item : Friendly Societies Registry Office, £1456. —Carried. «

Item : Miscellaneous services, £20,050. Mr Montgomery asked if £3OOO would be the total amount required for the Wellington Exhibition. He would also like to know how the £6OOO was to be expended for the Colonial Exhibition in London.

The Hon, Sir Julius Yogel replied that probably £3OOO or £4OOO would be required in addition to the sum on the Estimates for the Colonial Exhibition in London, and it was expected that the next cost of the exhibition in Wellington would be about £IO,OOO, of which it was thought £6OOO would be realised by the sale of tickets, etc. There was also a proposal to utilise the Exhibition Buildings for a Government Printing office. The item was them carried.

Item : Internal defence, £24,968,

The Hon. Mr Ballance said no Volnn* teer force could manage the torpedo service that was now required for the defence of the Colony. The Government proposed that during the next ten years the chief portion of the fortification work that would be required should be executed by the Armed Constabulary. He ex* plained the arrangements made with respect to defence, and said he hoped to be able to effect considerable savings in the department in the future, and to reduce the force to about 300 men in all, which he maintained, would be sufficent for the requirements of the colony. He stated that he intended proposing a reduction of about £IO,OOO in the total vote. Referring to recent defence preparations, he said it was the duty of the colonies to help to defend themselves, and not to depend solely on Great Britain. The item Wanganui, officer command* ing, £3OO was struck out. The vote of £43,011 for A.C. f >rce was, on the motion of the Hon, Mr Ballance reduced by £25,000, that amount having been transferred to Public Works fund.

Vote : Mines Department, £24,610. — Agreed to. Progress was then reported, and the House rose.