GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2072, 15 July 1890, Page 1

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On Friday, The Council met at 2.30 p.m. BILLS ADVANCED. The Roman Catholic Lands Extension Bill was read a third time. The Education Reserves Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Coroners Inquest Bill was committed. After consideration of clause 2, progress was reported and leave given to sit again. The Educational Reserve Leasing Act was further considered in committee. A new, clause was inserted so that a lease shall be let in future by auction or public tender. The Bill was reported as amended and the third reading fixed for next Tuesday. HOUdE OF »BPaB3ENTATIVE3. On Friday, ME HUTCHISON’S CHARGES. Mr Mitchelson said-that the House would recollect that the member for Waitotara had on the 2nd July made some grave charges againt the Government, who offered to meet Mr Hutchison in every possible way in order to have a fair enquiry made into those charges, but he regretted to say that they had not been able to come to any arrangement as yet. They had offered to have the charges enquired into by a committee, four of whom to be approved ftf by : Mr Ballance, and four were Government supporters. They were willing that the ninth man should be Mr Withy, but Mr Hutchison insisted on Mr Saunders as the odd man. Government also offered as an alternative to refer the enquiry to a judge of the Supreme Court to be chosen by Mr Hutchison, to be assisted by one member of the House selected by the Government, and another member by Mr Hutchison, but this offer also had been refused. Government, therefore, bad done all they possibly could in the matter. He then moved, “ That a select committee be appointed to ascertain whether all or any of the accusations against the Government, and especially against certain members thereof, made by Mr Hutchison, the member for Waitotara, in a speech in the House, on Wednesday, the 2nd inst., are in substance true or false, and to report their opinion thereon, the committee to consist of Mr Ballance, Mr Bryce, Dr Fitchett, Mr Fulton, Sir John Hall, Mr Larnach, Mr McArthur, Mr Ormond and Mr Seddon.” Mr Kerr moved that Mr Saunders’ name be inserted in the motion instead of that of Mr Ormond.

Mr Ballance regretted that some agreement was not arrived at, but he thought Mr Hutchison himself was just as anxious to have those charges investigated, either by a committee or the House, or in some other way, as the Government were. (Mr Hutchison: “ More so.”) He thought the Government should have accepted Mr Saunders, except that perhaps he had more independence of character than some other hon. gentlemen. Mr Ballance held that it was a moat improper thing to have a Supreme Court Judge sitting in this ease, and he considered Mr Hutchison's objection in this respect was quite propei. All he could say was this : His side of tl\Q House was exceedingly anxious to have a fairly constituted tribunal. After sorge debate Mr Withy’s name was substituted for Mr Pulton’s.