HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3008, 5 October 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING. ' ' WELLINGTON. i , . \ Friday. ' LIjCBHSIire FBBB TO BX EQUALISED. MrO'Borke wilt introduce a bill for equalising . publicans' licensing . fees throughout the colony. ' THB LAND TAX DIVISION. - Mr Carrington and Mr Green corroborated Major Atkinson and Mr Murray* Aynsley saying that they paired on the Land Tax £111 only. adjoubnmentJ •-- It was agreed, on the motion of the Premier, that the House at its rising at 5.30 adjourn until 7.30 on Monday. STATEMENT BY THE PBEMIBb! On the first Order of the Day being palled the Premier made a Ministerial Statement that, after what occurred last night, he had inquired and satisfied him' self that there was a feeing amongst the Government supporters hostile to these ■bills, and, consequently, the Government did not think it would be practicable to pass them in such a form as to render them useful measures. The Government, therefore, determined to withdraw; them; but, as the Colonial Treasurer would be embarrassed thereby, a.Statement would be made in a few days informing the House how that financial embarrassment was to be surmounted. ■.

The Hon. J. Sheehan recommended Mr Johnston© to withdraw his amendment, if he did not, those Government supporters ifcrhofoted with him last night would now vote against him. This led to a- long recriminatory discussion, whioh was kept up till the hour for the House rising armed, the majority of those speaking being Opposition members. Mr Bryce expressed the utmost astonishment at the course adopted by Government, saying he could not have believed it possible, after their assurances that they would stand or fall by their policy as a whole. The majority of the Opposition speakers expressed a hope that Mr Johnstone would withdraw his amendment.

Several Government supporters congratulated the Government on abandoning their bills, and said that, although they must have supported them if pressed on, they still did not approve of .them. Mr Kelly said that if he had known the Government were going to abandon the bills he would not have voted for the Khird*reading of the La^ Tar Bill. .: The debate was continued almost to 6.30, when the Speaker interrupted, ex.niainiflgjfaat if. the debate was cut ihort

without beinp adjourned, the bill would be killed in. an' irregular manner. Mr Wason, being the last speaker, expressed his willingness to move the 'adjournment of the debate.

The Speaker put it, and it was agreed to. p

The last five minutes was somewhat disorderly, a clamour following a'complaint from the Hon. Mr Stout that they were talking against time.

, MINES KEGTJIiATION ACT. Mr Wason asked when the Government would, give effect to the promise given, by the Minister .for Public Works on the withdrawal of the Mines Regulation Bill, that he would bring the Mines Regulation Act, 1874, into general .operation? , • The Hon. J. Macandrew said that ,one mining district was averse to it. The Governor had, however, taken the matter into consideration,

The House rose at 5.40.-