HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3359, 27 September 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m., when Mr Fulton presented a petition from the Presbyterians at the Taieri praying that the Bible be read in schools. Mr Adams gave notice that he would ask what steps had been taken to place tho Public Works of Nelson and Marlborough under the Public Works Department at Wellington. In replying to Mr Moss, the Premier said the Government would lay before the House a return, shewing the expenditure of public money on each of the museums in the colony,; and the endow clients from crown lands, (with reserve derived from same) whichhave been made to the said museums respectively. AUCKLAND MATTEBS. Replying to Mr Moss, the Premier stated that the Government would lay before the House a return showing the expenditure of the Auckland Improvement Commissioners—(l) on streets, roads, and footpaths in the city of Auckland ; (2) on the recreation reserve for the said city; (3) for all other purposes ; also the amount of debt due by the said Commissioners, and their present annual revenue and expenditure, together with a plan of the endowment administered by the said Commissioners, showing the sections leased and unleased at the present time; Mr Moss further asked th« Government what steps (if any) they purpose'to take with reference to the petition presented, last session by the Borough of Parnell, and referred to the Goverament by the Public Petitions Committee in their report thereon. The Minister of Lands, replying, stated that the Government had the matter under consideration, and he hoped to be in a position to stale definitely what was proposed to be done in this and other matters of a similar nature. THE lUGLIS TELEGBAM. Mr Sauuders asked the PostmasterGeneral whether a telagrani sent by the .Colonial Secretary to Mr Inglis, a Justice of the Peace at Kaikoura, and which' Mr Inglis reports in a letter to tho Canterbury Press to be iv substance —" Will you stand on the policy as defined in the Governor's speech. It you will you shall have the entire support of the party, even if defeated you will have claims to consideration," but which a Government organ claims to have been sent in exactly the following words :—" 19th August— Will you stand on the policy of the Governor's speech in opposition to Saunders. The party will support you as far as possible, and consider you to have a claim upon it even if unsucceaslul." Was it franked by Colonel Whitmore as a telegram on public service, or was it; paid for as a private telegram? * The Premier rose to a point of oraer. The Government knew of no Govenment organ, and he submitted that the newspaper referred to should be named. The Sneaker ruled that the paragraph as printed having been quoted it was unnecessary to name the organ. The Postmaster-General said he h?sd seen the original telegram, which was marked " urgent." It was not franked in the ordinary way. He had communicated with Col. Whitraore on the subject, and he had been informed ■by him that it was to go as a private telegram, and he would of course have to pay for it as such. IMPBOPER MIEATSICAI PEfiFOKMANCES. Mr Dick asked the Government if they have been requested, to take any action to prevent the actual representations- of an immoral tendency in the City of Dunedin, and what steps they proposed to take in the nfatter. In reply, Mr Macandrew stated that the police had been instructed to enfore any local ordinance that mi^ht be in force to prevent such representations. He also stated that the owuera and theatrical managers . were under very serious responsibilities in the matter, the licenses granted to theatres in which such plays took place being liable to be withdrawn. Mr Murray asked the Government if they will cause three additional polling I places for the electoral district of Bruce to be appointed: namely, the schoolhouse at Wanganga, Starling and Lovell's Flat respectively. The Minister for Lands replied that it was the intention of ! tho Government to make inquiries, and to appoint additional places all over the colony, and any suggestions by hion. members would be attended to. PEOTECTION POLICY. Mr Murray asked the Government if they propose this session to re-impose the duties upon grain, flout, aud timber. The Premier replied that when the financial statement was brought down to the House ha would be informed what Government proposed doing in the matter. Mr Murray then asked when the financial statement was likely to be brought down, when the Premier replied that there was nothing to prevent Mr Murray taking action in the matter, but he could hardly bo eipccted to say when the statement would be brought

down until something definite- had b* en settled upon. BILES INTEODUCED. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—' A Bill to authorise the Corporation of the City of Auckland to consolidate certain loans. A Bill to enable the Auckland Harbor Board to dispose of ceriam lands' reclaimed from the foreshore iv the Harbor of Auckland. A Bill to transfer tin? powers of Auckland Improvement Couiinissiouers to the City Council of Auckland. j ' A Bill to vest the Auckland Provincial Council Library aud Auckland Mechanics' Institute in the Mayor, Councilors and citizens of the City of Auckland. (Hurst.) A iJill to suspend the plurality of voting in certain cases. A Hill to make pro?isions for the representation of the people in the General Assembly. The Triennial Parliaments Bill, tho Alienation of Maori Land Bill. (Grey.) The "Eaitangata aud Wangaroa Athenaeum Reserves Bill. (Murray.) On the motion of Mr Brandon, it was agreed that a return showing the population and number of electors on the electoral roll of each elector*^ district, and the number of electors who polled in each district on the occasion of the last general election, should be prepared and laid on the table. CHAIRMAN OF COXMITTUg. : ! Sir George Grey moved the appoint' xnent of Mr Seymour as Chairman of . Committees. He said the experience they hi.d had of Mr Seymour as a Chairman of Committee during the last session fully justified the anticipations entertained of his ability, in the discharge of the ■duties. ' • Hon. Mr Hall seconded the motion, which was put and carried without dissent. . Mr Seymour, referring to the unanimity of the election, said that he accepted it as evidence that his conduct in the past had given entire satisfaction and he could assure them that he would me his very best endeavors to merit a continuance of that confidence. ; The Speaker likewise congratulated the House and Mr Seymour on the unanimity of the election. ' • ■■■-.■' -\ A number of Sessional Committees were then elected. The appointment of Public Accounts, and Public Petitions Committees was -postponed, Mr Hail taking exception to the proposed constitn* tion. ■■•"'.■'. ; -„'! OPPOSITION MOVEMENT. : . On reaching the notice on the Order Paper for the Address in Reply, the Premier moved that before the nest business was proceeded with, the adjournment of the House takes place until Tuesday. The Hon. Mr Hall said before the question was put, he would observe that the object was, of course, to postpone tbe reply to the Address. He would avail himself of that opportunity to state the course the Opposition had resolved upon for the convenience of the House and the public. It was a matter of regret that the motion could not come on that day, as proposed in the Order Paper. The Opposition were anxious to go on witk the business of the country with the least possible delay. They were prepared to go on with the discussion then and there; and the Government might have a division that night if necessary. It was of course possible that members on the other side of the House were not quite so raady, and the Opposition was willing to consult their convenience. He hoped, however, that when the matter was agaito brought up, there would be no further delay. He, made these remark so that it might not' again be said by the Government organ that it was the duty of tho Opposition not to throw obstructions in the way of tbe public business. With these few. remarks, he begged to inform the Govern-' [ raeut that when the question was brought forward he would be prepared to move the following addition as an amendment to the Address in Reply:—" That while this", House is prepared to give effect to the.' Liberal measures desired by the country,' we feel bound to submit that yovr Excel-: lency's Government, as at present constituted, does not possess the confidence of this House." He added that the Opposition was prepared to proceed with the' debate at once, to.go through with it, and to come to a decision as soon as possible. He concluded by seconding the motionfor adjournment. The motion. for the adjournment was then agreed to^ and tha> House rose at 3.40 till Tuesday,