GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2064, 26 June 1890, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HODoE OF B,BPRE3ENTATIYEg. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. NEW MEMBER. Mr Arthur, the new member for the East Coast, took the oath and his seat. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions it was stated that the Government expected to have the Manawatu G-orge railway open for traffic in November; that the formation of a superannuation fund had not been lost sight of, but that Government hoped that some scheme would shortly be initiated; that no proposals had yet been made by the Government of South Australia for a reciprocal tariff treaty with this colony, but that if such were made they would receive due consideration ; that the Government had not yet quite decided whether to introduce a Bill amending the Eabbit Nuisance Act; that no action had yet been taken to obtain reciprocity with Canada and New South Wales, but no doubt the matter would be considered at the convention to be held next year; that a Bill would be introduced providing for payment of common juries, and also dealing with the radius within which juries may be selected ; that no proposals had been made by Canada for a Pacific mail service with a terminal port in the colony.

ADDRESS-IN'REPLY. The debate on the Address-in-Eeply was resumed by Major Steward, who said the Governor’s Speech was very unsatisfactory, and complained of there being no proposal to reduce taxation. He strongly condemned the administration of the Railway Commissioners, and dwelt at length on the question of land settlement, and said that he was disappointed at seeing no reference in the Speech to any attempt to remoye the disabilities under which people desirous of obtaining land labored. Referring to Sir Harry Atkinson’s illness he regretted that the honorable gentleman should be compelled to relinquish office, and he asked what they were going to do when the pilot left the ship ? Were they going to allow Ministers to remain in office without their bead ? Certainly not, Mr Bryce felt that they were now in a critical state of the colony’s history, and it was surely the duty of the Government to disclose the full financial position, which could not possibly be stated in the Governor’s Speech. Before sitting down he

suggested to the Minister for Public Works that the Public Works Statement should be brought down at the same time as the Budget. Mr Fisher proceeded to quote a case in which several large and influential firms bad received consideration from the Customs Department, while some small firms had been cast in penalties for breaches of the law. He denied that there was any necessity for increased school buildings. Referring to the purchase of estates on the Fast Coast, for the benefit of the colony as Mr Fergus stated, he (Mr Fisher) thought it was time that the connection between the colony and the Bank of New Zealand should be severed once and for all. Mr Fergus said as to his speech at Queenstown, all he had stated with reference to the liabilities of local bodies was not that Government should take them over, but that when these local loans fell in the local bodies should be assisted to go to the cheapest market. He bad no difference whatever with his colleagues over that speech, as stated by Mr Fisher, Mr Mitchelson made an explanation with regard to the purchase of East Coast lands by the Government, and

remarked that, as far as he personally was concerned, he acted not in the interest of any financial company, but of the Natives and at their request. The idea of the Government in appointing Mr Edwards was to set in the Commissionership a man who would be in a high position, and would be aboye suspicion. The Government had no idea that he had appeared in a case likely to come before him as Commissioner. With reference feo the Eotorua purchase, of which Mr Ballanee bad made so much, no man knew better than that bon. gentleman the difficulty the Government bad in collecting rents on that block, asd Government therefore thought it advisable ;n the interests of the country to make the purchase, and ; he felt sure that the purchase wag a good one. The address-in-reply was agreed to on the voices after a great many members had spoken on it, S'if fjporge Grey’s motion praying the Government to grant an immediate dissolution was pui and lost, the voting being as follows -Ayes, 19, BaUance, Feld wick, Fisher, FiUb.eft, Fitzherbert, Fraser, Goldie, Grey, Griramond, Hutcheson, Joyce, Lance, McKenzie (Waihemo), Moss, Beeves (Inangabua), ir’mith, fcieddon, Steward, land Walker. Noes, 89. Allen, Anderson, Arthur, Beetham, Bruee, Buchanan, Cowan, Dodson, Fergus, Fish,Fulton, Fergussou, Kali, Hamlin, Harkness, Hislop, Hobbs, Lawry, McArthur, McKenzie (Ciutba), Marchant, McGregor, Mitchelson, Mcap ; Monk, Newman, O’Connor, Ormond, Peacock, Bjchardson, G. F. (Mataura), Bussell, Stewart, W . D. (Dunedin West), Taipua, Tanner, Thompson, B. (Marsden), Thompson, T. (Auckland North), Valentine, Verrall, and Withy, Pairs, for Hodgkinson, Wilson, Bryce, Izard, B. Bhodes, Scobie McKenzie, Menteath, Atkinson, and 1 Boss. Against Cadniau, "W, P.

.Reeves, Turnbull, E. Richardson, Taiwhanga, Barron, Kelly, Kerr, and Loughrey. The House rose at 1.30 a.m.