GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1591, 7 June 1887, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30-p.m. on Friday. On the motion of Mr Holmes, it was resolved to print a return of the expenditure on education for the last year.^ The Sydenham Borough Coubcil Empowering Bdl passed all'it's singes. A triessage Was received from the Governor returning the Representation Bill with amendments, restricting the time allowed to the Commissioners to one month instead of ihreej and with holding the operation of the Mackenzie clause (appeal) until after the first report of the Commissioners. The Colonial Secretary moved the suspension of the Standing Orders, and the Bill aj amended was- passed without discussion.

Mr Bridie's motion ehablitig 'private Bills of this session to be taken up ,at the present stage next session, on certain conditions, was agreed to. Tha Church Properly Trust Bill (Canterbury) was passed through Committee. HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. Mr Blake, the-new member for Avon took his seat. Mijor Atkinson resumed thri debate on the motion “ That this House crincur in the message of His Excellency, and is of opinion that the "Representation Bill should be amended.” lie said the differenct between the Government and the Opposition? at present Was very small, merely that of fixing a date for the House meeting, namely, Ist September, Ho would therefore ndOveasan amendment—- “ That a respectful.address, be presented to fl-is Excellendyrihe'Goyernqr, ihfor ruing !him that this House thanks His Excellency for his message, , and concurs with his opinion that the Representation Bill be amended so as to shorten the time for holding the election ; but this House is of-opinion that steps should be taken to enable Parliament to meet not later than the Ist September.” The Premier said he was exceedingly anxious that the; House should meet as soon as possiblcj but he could not accept the !l»tjier 'pan ,>fy Major 1 Bmendmeht.‘‘'He agreed with' the ‘first portion of the amendment, but would move that the words ‘‘ not later than Ist September” be struck out, in order to insert the words “ under, the new Representation Bill; at the earliest possible moment." He thought if was not pessible for Parliament to 'meet' on the Ist September. He' undertook to say that the House should meet at the earliest possible date. If' Major Adkinsoh’s amendment were amended as ho suggested he would accept il, and he asked the Mouse if it'Was bo a fair thing to’ contend for. /! ‘

After Mr Samuel, Sir Julius Vogej ,and Mr Ross had spoken Major Atkinson agreed to accept the Premier’s amend, menti and it was then pot and carried. The words “not later than Ist September” were .struck out, and. “under the new Representation Bill at the earliest possible date” were 1 inserted; Major Atkinson’s:amendment was then carried in its amended form on the voices. The House went into Committee of Supply, arid supplies to' the extent of £28,000, on account of the Consolidated Fund and and; £285,000 on account of the Public Works Fund to 30th September, were agreed to. The Public Revenues Bill was read a second time and committed. On Clause 4—ApprObriatipn.on ; . behalf of Public Works Fund—Mr Richardson said that tha abstract of expenditure for Public Works last year was £1,161,000 which left £468,000 of the vote unexpended.,, Parliament having seen fit lo divide the.expenditure into three classes under loan, Government could not take this balance and apply it to different loan votes, but had to ark. for money, for.eacb. of the woiks standing over from last year otherwise the £468,600 would have been spent. Ho then proceeded to make his Statement. ’

Progress was reported *so enable the' Statement to be printed. ' , T he Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, and the Local Bodies Loans Act Amendment Bill were read a''third time and passed. / The Westland and Grey Education Boards Act Gontinuabifo Bill, The Building Societies Act Amendment Bill, and the Interpretation Act A mendment B'H were committed, read a third time, and passed. The House adjourned at 4.45 till 7.30 p.m. {■' On resuming Colonel 1 Haulttlin, Dr Hislop, and MrE. Dobson,-M.1.C.E., were appointed ae members of trio Representation Commission. Mr G. F, Richardson asked for some information in regard to the Midland Railway and a long discussion followed. Ultimutely;the Premier said that the present works, had been let by the London Company under the original contract, and Government were in-no way responsible, and had not given nny guarantee of any kind.

Mr Peacock referred to the reported sale of a million debenture# at Home privately, by which the success of the last loan had been injured. Sir Julius Yogel said it, referred to inscribed stock created to p«y off the 4| per cent, five-thirties. There was a balance of a little over a million Which had to be paid off, and inscribed stock was sold at 97i for the purpose. In reply'to' MrlSeddori, the Premier said; that the expense dt the'delegates to 1 the Stock Conference a{ Sydney w«» J 5300, The actual sum Received by the Commi-> loners was £s3;.foi* r a!I expenses incorr-'d. On the rote for roads, the qhestidn 'was brought under discussion, Mr Ball a nee s*iJ that £BOOO had been spent, and liabilities of £50,000 incurred. In reply to M»-j t Atkinson, hes»id the work was sill : goipg on as fast. u« was, donverrent, and Governmeiit' intended to continue it. , , . .. M-jor A’kmson, Mr Rolleston, and Sir Geo. Gray Attacked the schema. ’ MrßolUfl.ee defended his adminlstra-' tion of the lands, Progress Was reported at IT2O p.m. l The Premier moved that the House at its rising adjourn till 2.30. on Monday. Agreed to. The Representation Bill was received frojp the Council with the/amendmenty embodied in the Governor’a message. The Premier moved that the amendment be agreed to, and this was ciffied. The Public Revenues Bill was again considered in Committee.

M»jor Atkinson said he had agreed tc the Village Settlement experiment being tried, but ho protested against liabilities of £60,000 being incurred on tbe strength of a vote of £6OOO. Whore was ths mo’iey-to feome from 1 Mr Ballance said that the 1 present vote would be devoted fo such liabilities as would come' dlie,' and he bad intended to at-k for £50,000 this year. Of course if the House chose to sny that settlers should not be placed on the land they were at liberty to do so. A long debate ensued. At 1.30 progress was reported and the Honseros'e. 1