GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1671, 10 December 1887, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m, on Wednesday. Dr Roden, in moving a motion to the effect that the Council coacnr with the House in any reduction of allowances to members which shall maintain the equality of treatment between the two Chambers established hy the Parliamentary Honorarium Act 1884, said that the country did not desire the reduction. The fact was that it was a sort of cheese-paring in the kitchen wlil'o riot ran throughout the hall. Sir Frederick Whitaker said that the country demanded reduction from the Government down to the junior messenger in the service, and he warned the Council not to run contrary to the popular demand.

After discussion, the debate on the mo* tioa was adjourned. A number of Bills were read a second time.

The remaining Orders of tho Day were discharged and made Orders for next day. The Council at 8.15 adjourned.

The Council met at 2.30 on Thursday, The Select Committee on dairy farming brought up its report, recommending a State system of technical training in this matter.

Tho debate on Dr Pollen’s motion relative to the agreement to the reduction of the allowances of members of the Council was resumed by Mr Reynolds. A debate ensued, and after some discussion Dr Pollen's motion was carried—ayes 16, noea 12. The second reading of the Members’ Honnnrium Bill was agreed to on a divi-sion-ayes 18, noes 2, The Pharmacy Bill was read a third time and passed. The Governor’s Salary Bill and Ministers’ Salary Bill was read a second time. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Premier introduced tho Naval and Military Settlors and Volunteers Land Bill, and the Crown and Native Lands Rating Acts Repeal Bill. Sir Julius Vogel presumed that the Premier would make a statement as to the course of business for the rest of the session, but before doing so he should like to know what opportunity would be afforded him of moving the resolutions he had placed on the Order Paper. After twitting the member for Marsden with having been the tool of someone else, Sir Julius said that during the previous day’s debate he heard language used of a far stronger character than he made use of when stopped by the Speaker. He went on to refer to the fact that a newspaper partly owned by a member of the Government bad made an attack upon Parliament which went far beyond anything be had said. Was it fair that this should remain unchallenged I He thought in fairness that the resolution passed by the House in reference to his (Sir Julius Vogel’s) action should be cancelled, but he should like to dak whether Government would give him any facilities for moving bis resolutions. Ho would not press for an answer that day, but ask whether he would receive a reply later on. The Premier said he would give no facilities whatever.

Sir Julius Vogel said that in that case he would throw on the Premier the responsibility for any action which be might be compelled to take in the matter. The Premier said it would be within the recollection of the House that the Government thought it necessary to report progress on the Representation Sill the previous night. Government had since come to the conclusion to ask the House to go into Committee oa the Bill, and pass it through. They would then esk the House to recommit the Bill for the purpose of altering clause 2. Sir Julius Vogel asked whether tho Premier would not make any statement as to the progress of business. The Premier said he intended to have done so, but it would depend ou the aoiion of the hon. gentleman hitqself on the Bill under cnijside^tioq. ’jTjo Hoqse tyent into Committee for further consideration qf the Representai lion. Clause 2, providing for 70 numbers, ] including 3 Maori members. j

The Premier said he proposed to make the total number of members 74, namely, 70 European and 4 Maori members, if the House would agree to that, be should be prepared to move it at once. Mr Seddon proposed that the Bill should not come into force until after the next session, and Mr Beeves moved that the number of members be 84, These amendments were lost, and the Premier then moved to fix the number of European members at 70, the number of Maori members being 4. These proposals were agreed to, Mr Seddon moved that the quota of county districts be 26 instead of 18, but this with another amendment was lost, and clause 2 as amended passed. A number of amendmenvs were proposed on clause 3, but the clause was passed as printed. Clause ft, providing for the Southern Maori district being added to the Western Maori district, was struck out. The Premier moved the re-committal of the Bill to re-consider clause 2.

Mr Downle Stewart argued no good reason bad been ebown why the vote of the previous evening should be reversed. Be accused certain hon. gentlemen who hud voted with him last night of now threatening to vote against him or walk out of the House.

Mt Menteath explained that when he gave hi* vote on the previous day he was unaware that Government bad made the Bill a Ministerial measure. After a debate the recommittal was agreed to, and Major Atkinson moved in clause 2 to strike out the words inserted at a previous sitting—“ Thai the Aft should not come into force earlier than 18th October, 1889.” The motion was carried without discussion by 39 to 16. The clause as amended was agreed to, and the House rose at 2.30 a,m.

The House met at 2.30 p.m, on Thursday.

The Premier moved that an Imprest Supply Bill be considered at half-past 7 o'clock in Committee of Supply. Sir Julias Vogel said that the Premier should before that question came on give somtf information to the House as to the course of business for the remainder of the session.

The Premier said that udner ordinary circumstances the request wonli be perfectly reasonable, but if the honorable gentleman would inform him when his party would allow the business to proceed he should be in a position to make a statement. The Public Works Statement would be brought down on Wednesday, and the discussion could then bo taken bn Friday. Owing, however, to the extraordinary way in which the business bad been obstructed it was quite possible that he should have to ask the House to sit over Christmas iu order to transact business which the Government were determined to submit to it.

Mr Seddon protested against the Premier's remarks, and said tbit be should not submit to such treatment. His side «f the House oared not whether the House sat over Christinas or not, bat they irere determined the gag should not be applied to members. Mi- Fish and Mr Samuel also Justified the action of the Opposition, The Premier moved that the amendments made in the Representation Bill be agreed to by the House, The discussion which followed was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. On resuming at 7.90, on the me ties of Mr Kerr it was agreed to postpone the debate ou the Representation Bill be postponed til after the Imprest Supply Bill was disposed of. Sir George .moved an amendment to going into Committee of Supply—- “ That in the opinion of this House it is desirable that it should without farther delay ' consider what measures should be taken to relieve the distress among the farming, laboring, and industrial classes.” He said he wished to raise no discussion at all ot present, but would be glad to bear if the Government would name a day on which the question could be considered.

The Premier said he could not agree to any day for the discussion on auoh a motion. If the honorable gentleman had consulted Government before bringing his motion some arrangement might have been made.

After some discussion, in which the Premier said the matter was engaging the attention of the Government, the amendment was put and lost. Sir Julius Vogel asked whether the Premier could reply to his question as to the course of business.

The Premier regretted that ho could not reply then, but he hoped that if the business proceeded satisfactorily that night he would be able to trake a statement next day.

In reply to questions, the Premier stated that be should give anjopportuuity to discuss the education question, and he should also make proposals respecting a renewal of the Srn Francisco service under certain conditions.

Mr O’Callaghan asked whether Government .intended to drop the objectionable part of the Representation Bill, which be considered quite unconstitutional, The Premier said it was. the intention of Government to pass the Bill as it stood. They regarded the clause referred to as not only constitutional, but as very beneficial to the public service.

Tha House want into Committee of Supply, and an Imprest Supply Bill for £250,000 was passsd through all its stages. The debate on consideration of the amendments in the Representation Bill was then resumed.

The amendments were agreed to on the voices. 1

On the motion for the third reading Sir Julius Yogel moved that the Bill be read that day three months. This was lost, and at 1.10 a.m. the motion for the third reading was pot and carried on a division by 38 to 13, ~

The Wellington correspondent of the Ashburton Guardian, telegraphing yesterday, says After passing through a series of vicissitudes the now famous Representation Bill was carried through all its stages last night, and was passed at a quarter to three, when the House adjourned. Before the last motion (fixed title) wae carried, all the differences and vexations which had arisen in connection with the measure wore buried under a monument ot personal explanation, and everything was cleared up in a most satisfactory manner, hoo, gentlemen apologising to each other and setting things right. The Heuse sits again at midday for Government to an-

swer the questions on the Order Paper, of which there are the unprecedented nmn- , her of ,57. It was elicited from the JR Premier last night that Mr Fisher has been appointed Commissioner of. Customs