HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3591, 30 June 1880, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 to-day. THE CHABGES AGAINST CIV£L SEBVANTS. In replying to questions, it was stated that the Commissioner of Bailways of the South Island had sent in a statement in reply to charges made in the Civil Service report, and that it would be printed and produced.

CANTERBURY BAILWAYS

The Wniraakariri Gorge railway line had been reserved for the unemployed, but until other sections of the line were filled up the work could not be gone on with.

PISEWOOD FOB LOCOMOTIVES

Firewood for locomotives would be more expensive than coal. Further investigations, however, would be made with the view of ascertaining if firewood could not be judiciously employed under certain circumstances.

THE WAKA. MAOEI LIBEL CASE.

The report was uot true that plaintiffs' solicitors in the Waka Maori libel case had been £8000 in excess of the sum taxed) or in fact any sum in excess of the taxed amount.

The amount paid to the solicitors in the Waka Maori case was £3160.

KAIPABA HEADS

In the present state of colonial finance Government could not undertake to place a light on the Kaipara Heads.

TAPANT7I BAILWAY.

The first section of the Tapanui railway would be opened in a week.

MINISTEBIAL TBAINS,

The total amount credited to tie Kailway Department for special trains for Miuisters from Ist of July, 1878, to Ist of July, 1879, was £455.'

EDUCATION B *ABD EXAJIINATION PAPERS. \ Suggestions would be,got from the Education Board with the view of providing a uniform series of examination papers; to hare questions given in accordance witlr the standards issued by the Education Department, and under which children attending the Public Schools of the colony are classified and taught.

IMPBEST SUPPLY.

■■* Major Atkinson gave notice that he would on Thursday ask for an Imprest Supply for public purposes.

BEPSESENTATION BILL

This bill was introduced and read a first time, and the second reading made an order of the day for Thursday eight days.

NO CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

The debate on the no-confidence motion was resumed by Mr Speight. He contended that attempts bad been made to mislead them re the operations of the Property Tax. They were told that it would fall on not more than. one-third of the population. That might be true as a direct levy, but as an indirect levy the tax would hare to be borne by every member of the community. Enterprise would be restricted, and rates for labour reduced. What he mainly contended for was that retrenchment had not preceded taxation. That had not been done, and although the Government saw and acknowledged -the necessity for retrenchment, they professed that it could not be carried out until next session. It could be given effect to at once, and until it was done no taxation should be imposed. Debate adjourned at 5 30.