PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3973, 22 September 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Pee Peess Association.)

Weliihgton, Yesterday,

The debate on the second reading of the Public Eevenuea Bill was resumed by Mr Turobutl, who spoke of . the importance of getting a Minister for Public Worts appointed, and spoke of opposing the Appropriation until definite information on' the subject had been given—Mr Saunders agreed in the importance of getting the House called together as early, as possible. The present Government represented neither the country nor the House. It was a Conservative Government supported by the Liberals against what was conceived to be a reckless Liberalism. He went on to argue that it was absolutely necessary that;they should have a little tinge of the true spirit of Liberalism in the Government, and for that purpose ho advocated the propriety of curtailing the duration of the votes.—Sir G. Grey said they were bound as a House to cousider their duty to their successors. 1 f Government were outvoted at the elections they ought to resign, so as to allow their successors time to prepare their measures. He thought their supplies should be ' limited to February. In that way they would be bound to call Parliament "together at the earliest possible moment. It was most absurd for the Treasurer to make the duty of remodelling the Civil Service a plea for twelve months' supplies. The House had delegated that duty, not to the Government, but to a Government. If he had his will, no supplies would be voted beyond the 31st December. Let them have a short session, and re-assemble again at the ordinary period for meeting.—The Hon. J. Hall agreed that the proposal for an early meeting of Parliament was to some extent, antagonistic to Government. It was not the idle that desired to represent the country, but the busy and the thrivingi Now, they could not possibly get that class to meet Bgain at an early date. He believed they would be consulting the the interests of the colony and the. wishes or the people by. calling Parliament together at the usual time.—Mr Macandrew counselled them to proceed to business. The bill, if passed as brought down, would enable them to delay calling Parliament till the middle of July. That was wrong, and, he thought something should be done to prevent it. He looked upon the whole thing as one of party, and the sooner they had a new Parliament the better. He would support the limitation when in Committee.—The motion for the second reading was then put and carried. —On the'motion for going into Committee, Sir George Grey made a few remarks- Jn reply to the Hon. J. Hall, after whicli:~the House went into Committee on^:the Public Eevenues Bill.— Clause 4, on a division of 31 to 27, was altered to read " two months " instead of three. —Mr Montgomery would propose a further limitation unless Government gave a pledge as to when the Parliament would be called.—Major Atkinson said that if Mr Montgomery had not threatened them a'distinct understanding on that point would have been come to, and Mr Montgomery knew of it. Now no further Sledge would be given.—Mr Montgomery enied the truth of the statement. He knew nothing of the sort, and he denied any threat.—Major Atkinson said Government would call upon its supporters to uphold the original proposal.—-Mr Beeves moved as a further amendment that the clause be to read " during the space of two weeks," instead of two, months.— Messrs Thompson, Pitt, and Gibbs supported, and spoke to the amendment, which was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.—The following is the division list on clause 4 of the. Public Revenues Bill:—Ayes, 38: AUwright, Atkinson Bain, Beetham, Bowen, Brandon, Bryce, Bunny, Colbeck, Collins, Dick, Finn, Fisher, J.B. (Buller), Fox, Fulton, Hall, Hamlin, Hirst, H., Hurst, W. J., Hursthouse, Johnstone, Kelly, Levin, Mason, McLean, Murray, Oliver, Rolieaton, Shanks, Stevens, Studliolme, i Swanson, Trimble, Wakeh'eld, Weston, Whitaker, Whyte. Noes, 33 : Andrews, Ballance, Barron, Brown, DeLautour, Fisher, J. T. (Heathcote), George, Gibbs, Gisborne, Grey, Harris, Hutchison, Jones, Levestam, Lundon, Macandrew, McDonald, Montgomery, Moss, Pitt, Beeves, Bead, Saunders, Sheehan, Shepherd, Speight, Taiaroa, Tawbai, Te Wheoro, Thomson, Tole, Tomoana, Turnbull, Wallis

On the House resuming in Committee on the Public Revenues Sill, a division was taken on the amendment to limit the supplies to two weeks beyond the financial year, instead of two months. The amendment was negatived by 36 to 33. The clause as amended Was then carried by 31 to 36. The remaining clauses were then agreed to, the bill read a third time, and passed. Lat&b, This day, • THE ESTIMATES. In Committee of Supply, the Supplementary Estimates in " Class Legislative, £3648," the item Cutlery and electroplate for Bellamy's, £98, was struck out on the voices, the remaining items were passed, as were also the following votes : —Colonial Secretary £18,842, Colonial Treasurer £2526, Minister of Justice £859, Postmaster General £1193, Customs £1132, Stamps £52, Education £9200, Native £8942, Mines £6338, Public Works £1630, Defence £12,764, Lauds 19#26.

The item of £10,000 for the abatement of the rabbit nuisance, on a motion to reduce it by one half was lost by 26 to 9. A motion to omit the item remission of royalty to Westport Colliery Company, £531, was negatived on the voices, and the rote passed. The following Public Works Fund rotes vrprc also agreed to:—Kailways, £5000; [Roads, 4311,681.; Native Land Purchase, £565; Public Buildings, £3200;" Lighthouses and Harbor, £1168; and Contingent Defence, £100,000. The following other votes .passed:— Government Insurance Department, £2750; Consolidated Fund Services, not provided for, £57,420; Public Works fund, unauthorised expenditure, £3423 ; extra Supplementary Estimates, £14,119. The House rose"at 4 o'clock until 11 today.