GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2075, 22 July 1890, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUjE op representatives. On Friday, GUI AWT TO THE MISSES MACAWDEBW. Mr Larnach, by permission. of the House, read, a letter from Miss Macandrew, daughter of the late James Macandrew, member for Port expressing the thanks of herself and sisters for the allowance granted theqi by the House last session. It was ordered to lie on the table.

QUESTIONS, Mr Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture if he would recoinmend the Railway Commissioners to reduce the cost for carrying manures, lime, ploughs, and other articles used by farmers in tilling the land to the lowest possible rate. Mr Eichardson said the Commissioners were now considering whether they would be able to arrange for those articles to be carried during the slack season at reduced rates. Mr Barron asked the Government if the Native Land Department had been amalgamated with that of the Colonial Secretary, as promised in the Financial Statement of 1888. . Mr Mitchelson said the Government had not yet seen their way to carry out this premise. Mr WilgVn asked the Government if intended to take any steps to enable the Property Tax Commissioners to call upon Banks and Companies trading in New Zealand to furnish returns (for property tax purposes only), showing each depositor and the amount of his or her deposit held by such Bank or Company. Mr Mitchelson said the Government sympathises with this petition, but the Colonial Treasurer had not yet seen his way to effect the object in view. The matter would not be lost sight of. Mr Wilson asked the Government if there was no means (other than by an Act) te enablothem to call upon Banks'to publish a list of unclaimed deposits, and if not, would they bring in a Bill to effect their purpose. Mr Mitchelson said the question was a complicated one, but" enquiries would be made into it. TARANAKI HAEBOE BOAD DEBENTURES. Replying to Mr Seddon, Mr Macarthur said he had thought good taste and propriety would prevent Mr Seddon asking whether the Public Accounts Committee had sanctioned the payment of interest due on the Taranaki Harbor Board debentures, as the whole quest on was now before the.Cpmmittee appointed to investigate Mr Hutchison’s charges. Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of the House. If the Accounts Committee, of which Mr Macarthur was Chairman, Had tendered. such advice to the Premier as to the payment of this interest they placed the Premier in a false position. He felt sure that no other Committee had ever acted before in this manner, and he protested againt such a discourteous reply being given to his question. Mr Samuels explained that the Treasurer expressed no opinion one way or another, but asked the advice of the Committee on the matter. It was carefully considered without reference to party, Messrs Ballance and Larnach were both present, and gave their advice. The result was that one member moved that it was not advisable to, take any steps against , what was moved as an amendment “ to the previous question,” it being distinctly understood that ' the “ previous question ” was carried.' that would mean an affirmative answer to the question as to whether this interest should be paid. The “previous question was moved by Mr Larnach, 'seconded by Mr Ballance, and carried by a large majority of the Committee, and he was glad to rind that those bon. gentlemen had risen superior to party on that occasion. Mr Ballance said Mr Samuel had only given a partial account of the proceedings of the . committee. He did not exempt from responsibility any member of that committee, as he understood eyery member of it agreed with what was dope, The committee, hp asserted, : was not. a creature of the Colonial Treasurer. They were convinced that the credit of the colony would suffer it this advance was not , made, and he (Mr Ballanpe) came to the conclusion very reluctantly that in order to save the credit of the coloriy this money should be advanced r on security. There w’as rib doubt, although they might have acted that they had done so in .the interests of the colony, ' ' Mr Mitchelson thanked Mr Ballance for his statement, as it Tallied. with what the Premier had informed him as to the facts of, the case.

After a good deal of discussion the matter dropped. A OENEEAL ELECTION. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply Mr Tanner moved as an amendment that in the opinion of this House it is undesirable that a general election through effluxion of time shall take place before next census is taken, and that the Q-overnment'be requested to bring in a Bill to give effect to this resolution.—Lost. . In reply to Mr Richardson (Kaiapoi) Mr Mitchelson said that the Public Works Statement would be delivered on Tuesday next. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. ’The House then went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Estimates. Mr McKenzie (Waihetno) moved that the salary of the clerk of the Executive Council and secretary to the cabinet be reduced from £SOO to £450, Captain Russell hoped that the committee would pause before making this reduction; His opinion was that by reductions of this kind they would not saye £2OOO 'on the whole of the Estimates. The reduction was earned by 49 to 31,

Messengers arid office keepers —- £4300. Mr Fish moved to reduce the item by £270 the amount of the increases. The motion was lost by the casting vote of the chairman. Mr Rhodes then moved a redaction of £5 by way of-protest against the increases of salaries. Carried by 31 to 30. V; Electoral department—£27oo. Mr Seddon moved to reduce the vote by £IOO. He protested one of the Representation Commissioners being a near relative of the Minister for Education,” ■ --

After a long discussion the motion for reporting progress was lost by 30 to 21. The total vote of £27QO was then passed as printed. > Audit office—£62ls. Mr Ballance moved that the vole of £4OO for chief clerk, and £4OO fdr'au audit officer in London be strudk out, and the amount .for contingencies jbo reduced by £SOO. , I: ... Captain Eusseli moved to - report progress in order to get more information's to the Audit Department.’ The motion to report progress-wai agreed to. 1 he House rose at 1.15 aim.