GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1750, 14 June 1888, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

. , LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Tuesday . Dr Pollen presented a. petition from Auckland fruitgrowers against the Codlin Moth Bill. ; , , Tli" o;iiii':Vitfcee oh'the Midland Railway preHentod th«ir report, suggeatiug that the! final route be left.'td'lbe Government and Me engineering* staff in "the colony, to The Committee. were of opinion that suggestions from colonial! engineers would have,mora weight than; thoae outaide the colony. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On Tuesday ■ ■ Sir George Grey gaveinotioeto move on Friday, "That the Speaker Exceeded his powers id 1 allowing* the debate on the Uustoms Duties Bill to be interrupted by a debate on ' the Midland•• Railway, the Stending Orders not having been previously suspended." Mr Samuel brought up the report of the Select Committee on the proposed new cooceasionJ to J the Midland Railway Company, recommending (Hat the proviso proposed by Govarunaerit be adopted with an alteration to the effect that Government must basatisfied that the "incline line" when made will be suitable for mineral and'o,ther heavy irafSc.—After considerable discussion the debate was' adjourned till half'past nine o'cJQck.,, ; i,The motion for the second ireadiog of the: Customs Tariff Bill was carded without further debate by 53 to, .29. Messrs Buxton,. Turnball, and Steward voted with the ayes, and Mr Rhodes with the BO»».r-Tht Premiar moved that-the ■ Bill be committed \ forthwith.—Mr leetham hopedthat the committal would be delayed.. Many members were taken by surprise. He had- intended, rjioving that the committal of the Bill should .not bo taken till Government had iasosrtained, what amount'of taxation was really necessary.—A lengthy discussion 'ensued,- Mr Macarthur, Mr Buchaoani Mrißruce, Mr Scobie Mackenzie, and others urging that the committal of the Bill should be delayed.— After further discussion'!''the motion f«r the commiital of the Bill forth-' with was agrsed to.—The Premier said the Government, which included both Freetraders and Protectionists, had come to 'he conclusion that the tariff was neces«ary for the country, and the iprincipla of j?reetrade and Protectian did not enter the question at all. They would be willing to accept any sucgestidns in Committee, but were determined not to al'ow the tariff to ba torn to pieces by either side. '

The debate was interrupted iby the 5.30 adjournment. 'At'7.3o, on |tha , motion, that tho report of the Midland 'Ruilwsy Committee lie on the table, a short debute ensued, after which the motion was agreed \o. The debate on the" motion! to go vioto Ccmmitiee on the Uuslbms Tariff Bill was then resumed.—Mr B'efctliam concluded a rather long address'by moviDg ai an amendment that the committal of the Bill should be delayed to give Government an, opportunity of aacertaining whether the necessity for additional taxation could not he partially obviated by further retrenchmeit.

Mr Rhodes moved the adjournment of tbt debate, and the House rose, at 12-35 a.m.