GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1767, 24 July 1888, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Friday, The Gisborne Harbor Loan Committee brought up their report. It recommended that the sinking fund should be invested in debentuies of the colony. The Attorney-General, in answer to Sir George Whitmore, said that so far as the Education Department was aware theie were no children attending State Schools below five years of age, nor had the Act been contravened. The following Bills were read a second time The Counties Act Amendment Bill, the Regulations of Locil Elections Act, the Public Settlers B'l], and the Volunteer Drillslieds and Lands Sill. The Wellington Asylum, Home, Hospital, and Orphanage Reserve Bill was committed and reported with amendments. The debate on the totalisator question was continued, and disposed of by Mr Swanson moving the previous question, both motion and amendment being thrown out. BOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Stonewalling continued till afte 4 a,m. on Friday, when a compromise was effected between the contending parties, by which it was agreed that the committal of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill should be made an Order of the Day for Thursday next, after the Otago Central Railway Bill. The House ro eat 4.20 a.m. On Friday, Replying to questions, it was stated that ttie contract for the Midland Railway bad not yet been s'gned, and was waiting for a few slight additions, but the Government would take care that no unnecessary delay took p'aoo in signing the contract; that it was clear from the Customs Duties Bill that a primage duty of 1 per cent, should be charged on the net invoiced price of goods plus 10 per cent. The Premier moved—“ That the House do forthwith resolve isself into a Committee of the Whole 10 consider the following resolution: ‘That the House is of opinion that the Government shoo'd be responsible for the Legislative Estimates.’ ” The motion was agreed to, and the House went into Committee. The Premier said that it appeared to Government that this was the most convenient way of dealitg with the matter. He contended that no undue power would be given to Government by putting the salaries of those officers under their contro 1 , and that no possible h«rm could come out of it. He insisted that llie question ought to be considered altogether apart from party feelings. Mr Downie Stewirt opposed the motion at some length, and moved as an amendment that the House and Speaker should continue responsible for the Legislative Estimates. Messrs Barron, Hislop, Pe mock, Fiah, While, Fulton, O'Callagan, G’Conaor, Sir George Grey, and others supporled the Premier’s motion, and Sir Mauiico O’Rorke, Sir John Hal', Messrs Downie Stewait, Ballance, Walker, Morris, Turnbull, Reeves (St. Albans), O’Callaghan, and others Mr Stewart’s amendment. On a division beiog taken, Mr Stewart’s amendment was carried by 39 to 25. The Premier said that the Government, after this vote, would refer the Legislative Estimates to the Speakers of the Houses, and consequently they would have to be withdrawn for the present. The question would also have to bo decided as to whether the Pailiamentary buddings should be placed under the control of the Speakers. Government would now consider themselves absolved from all responsibility for the L°gialittivo Estimates. The House adjourned at 11.55.