GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2375, 28 June 1892, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wellington, June 24. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Mr White made a personal explanation relative to the charges being preferred against him. Of these charges he was innocent, but until they were disproved he should decline to sit in the Council. He had merely taken his seat as a right, and having done so he would retire. ADDRESS IN REPLY. Mr Barnicoat moved the Address in Reply, ami congratulated the Government upon the improved condition and prospects of the colony. Mi’ Dignan seconded the motion. Mr Scotland supported the motion, and congratulated the Government upon their assertion of a great constitutional principle so far as it related to the cancellation of the appointment of ex-Judge Edwards. The motion was agreed to without further debate. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr Rolleston, Mr BalJauce said that it was quite correct that Grovawior had been advised during the make such additions to the Legislative Council as. in the opinion of the Government, was necessary to enable the Council more efficiently to discharge its functions. As to the course which Ministers intended to take under the circumstances, that would depend on the progress of legislation. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced Printers’ and Newspapers Registration Act, 1868, Amendment Bill, Manures Adulteration, Prevention of Offensive Publication, Coroners Inquests, Noxious Weeds, Electoral, Civil Service, Bankruptcy, Inspection of Buildings, Industrial

Conciliation, Land, a Bill to amend the Mining Act, 1891, Land Boards Election, Land for Settlement, Native Land Purchases, Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Grants, North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Application Act Amendment. avomen’s franchise. Sir John Hall gave notice of the introduction of a Bill conferring the franchise on women. THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr McLean moved the Address-in-Reply to the Governor’s Speech. Aftei referring to the bereavement sustained by the Royal Family in the death of the Duke of Clarence, he said that he was surprised to hear from the Governor’s Speech that the finances of the colony Avere in a bettor condition than they had been for the last thirteen years. His surprise arose from the fact that the Opposition had prognosticated, that the colony would be in such a bad state Avhen the House met this year, and so much capital had left the country, that there Avonld not bo enough left to pay the honorarium of members. Mr Sandford seconded the motion. Ho should not go into details of the Speech at present, but with respect to the statement of the progress of the colony, and the charge made by the Opposition that capital was leaving, he wished to say that the reason that such a large amount of money was lying in the banks at the present was by the direct design of their political opponents. His' opinion was that not only was our public position improved, but that private business in the colony was improving of late. Mr Rolleston complimented the mover and seconder of the Address in Reply. He specially alluded to the late Sit F. Whitaker and Mr Fulton as being men avlxo were sincerely desirous of promoting the interests of the people. It Avas not men like those who should be referred to by the Premier as “ tones ” who Avere eager to override the wishes of the people. He felt really ashamed Avhen he read that the Minister for Lands had stated that he Avould like to parade the personal appearance of members of the other House before an audience. Of this he ventured to think the settlement of laud had gone on as Avell under the Opposition side of the House as under the present Government. The action of the Government over the Land Bill last year showed that they did not wish the Bill to pass and that they Avished to provoke a quarrel with the Council. The question Avas far above politics, and members on both sides should approach it with a desire to promote smiling cornfields and prosperous settlers. His own opinion was that the masses were awakening to the delusion that was being practised on them by the present Government. The country looked to Ministers not for electioneering speeches, hut for careful and judicious administration. The effect of the new taxation bethought, and the statements of Ministers with respect to this taxation, had done infinite injury 1 1 the country. Mr Reeves also congratulated the mover and seconder of the Address. Mr Reeves charged Mr Rolleston and several of his party with having raised misleading and alarming cries on the subject of the withdrawal of capital. The Government knew of several damaging letters that had been AvriUeu from the colony to England, What cry Avas more damaging to the colony than that of the exodus of capital '! It was raised solely for party purposes, and the action of the Opposition in this respect Avas utterly unpatriotic. He ([noted the remarks of Lord Ohsloav in Sydney to the effect that a great scare had been caused in Ncav Zealand as to the withdrawal of capital, but that the feeling had been created for party purposes. That Avas the opinion of an impartial critic after lie had ceased to be the Governor of the colony. Mr Reeves defended the special settlements, and thought that Mr Rolleston had no Avarrant for the statements that the settlers Avere not of a bonajiilc character. Mr Scobie Mackenzie and Mr Bucklancl spoke, and tbe debate Avas adjourned on the motion of Mr Guinness.