GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1759, 5 July 1888, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Oi Tuesday, on tho motion of Sir Frederick Whituktsr, the Council adj urned out of rrspecfc 'o the memory of Mr Pearson, M.H.K., who hid died th t morning, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On Tuesday, The Premier said that the House would hear with regntthat Mr Pearson, member for Ash ! ey, had died that morning. Ho felt sure that he would only be expressing the feelings of the House when h« proposed an adjournment till 7.30 p.m., out of respect tor the memory of the honorable gentleman, and to show sympathy with his family. Mr Lane* seconded itho motion, and after Messrs O'Callaghao, Mills, aod Sir G:0. Grey had apoken it waa agreed to, and the House adjourned till 7.30 p.m. ! On resuming, Dr Hodgkimo.i continued tho debate on going in to. Committee of Supply. After criticising the prerious speeches at length, he dilated on the advantage of selling the railways, and begged the House to git on with the business of the country. Mr Monk's amendment was negatived by 52 to 21.

The debate on tha question of going into Committee of Supply was then resumed, Messrs Scobie Mackenzie, Hobbs, Seddon, Macarlhur, Roeves (St. Albans), Moss, Samuel, Levestam, Menteath, Allen, Ward, and Tanner, Sir Gsorgo Grey, Dr Fiichett, and Captain Russell taking part in it.

The Premier said the action of the Freetraders was unacoeuotable. They wanted to defeat the Tariff Bill, and uow they had a chance of making Government consider its position they were going to walk out of the Hoasa. He twitted Mr Seddon with wasting more time than any man in the House. Ho was nleays professing anxiety to have measures paased, vnd did more than anyone to block the business. He reminded the Homo of what ho had stated before, that Government had never preposad to have fiuistied the work of retrenchment. They were going on with it now, aod intended to do so. As to tha resolution mentioned by Mr Seddon (that the Premier now consented to a motion being tabled that Government during tho recess should endeavor if possible to make further reductions to the extent of £100,000), it would be time enough to deal with it when it cams on. Government had only baen actuatad in their measures by «vh it thoy believed to be for the good of the country. They wished to get the Tariff Bill passed, and then, if there were any who thought they should be turned out, that question could ba tried and fought out. He might mention that the Tariff Bill was not quite ready for the third reading yet, as there were two or three little alterations to insert, for which it would have to be recommitted. With regard to the amendment, ha might say that the questiou involved would be considered aloog with others during the recese. He was not indisposed to soo a paid Chairman of Committees abolished, and the office filled by vote from the capable members of the House. The House divided on the question of going into Supply—Ayes 59, noes 4. The Estimates were taken into consideration.

Sir Maurice O'ftorke called attention to what he thought a most unconstitutional and unwarrantable innovation in the Estimates. For the first time, and without reference to him, Government hai thought fit to interfere with officars of the House, and he feared it was merely a step towards making them officers of the Executive. He strongly d.-precitod such action, and pointed out all the ovils that would accrue. The matter had baeo fought out iwanty-five years .ago, and Speaker Munro had boldly stood up for c':e right of the House to keep their officers free from tho influence of flseting Executives. He did not refer to the mutter as it concerned him personally, but on the broad ground that the officers should be servant* of the Hou e and not of the Governmnnt.

Mr Seddon supported ihe action cf ilie Government. Thfl Premier said tho Government lmd only carried out the whiles of the House, but li>« question raised wi\3 no doubt important. Ue would bo glud to tuk> the ttns« of the (JoinmittKe on it. Ti>it« •Iwaya been a difficulty i.i d»»linj; wall Uih leois'ativo intimites in of thSpyaktr being mpposed to bi iu cii of then), aal he ahou'd obtain aa exor.-d

sion of opinion from the House en th" mttter before th> suasion endet. Af ! er some further discussion, progress was repor'ed on the m.ition of the Prtmier, and the House rose at 1.20 n.m . «i i . —^^———p^»—