HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4532, 14 July 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wemingtox, Yesterday. The House met at 2.30.

Replying to questions, Ministers said atownship would be laid out at railway station, sufficient reserves would be made in it.—Government would not provide for paying Allan and Stumbbs the amount due by the Dun troon and Hokotararaia Sail way Company.—The Government hid no option about paying compensation for losses by the burning of Blenheim goods shedf It was set on fire by sparks from a locomotive. As common carriers they were legally liable. The Begistration of Electors Act Amendment Bill, and the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill (Pyke) were read a first time. ANTI-CENTKALISATION. Mr Shepherd resumed the debate on Mr Montgomery's resolution. He regretted that the House seemed to be re^ duced to the position of a colonial de bating society. There was nothing practical in what they were ditoussing. He opposed the resolutions at considerable length, stating that if the third one came to the vote he would move the omission of the words " including public works." Either the Counties or Soad Boards ought, he thought, to be abolished. The resolutions really meaot Separation.— Mr Watts opposed the resolutions, but

thought either Road Bwds or Counties were unnecessary—one should bo done away with.—Mr Tt Duncan supported the resolutions, and accused the Minister of Vlines of neglecting goldfields" interests especially in the Waitaki district in regard to water rights. [The debate was interrupted by the usual adjonrrimant.] On the House resuming at 7.30,

Mr Duncan continued the debate, narrating 9. number of local grievances as evidence of the evils of Centralism. He was in favour of insular separation, but would support tbe resolution.—Mr Ivess said his district hud pronounced against Centralism ; that system Had tailed. He was not in favour of reviving provincialism, but thought that the powers of the iCounties should be largely increased and !the -numbpr of HEfoantips reduced.~Mr Wynn Williams ridiculed the ridiculous and trivial local grievances which were being urged as a ground for a serious constitutionul change. The resolutions had neither licarl nor tail, or inside or out side. He wan surprised at the audacity of Mr Montgomery in bringing down such resolutions to that House. Canterbury/ at least, would never revive 'he farce of Provincialism. He charged Mr Holmes with doing more than any other man in the colony to injure the prospects of the West Coast rail war by the course he was ndopting. The idea of Otago, Canterbury and Westland RRre<nngJjin4er \fine r local, government was ridiculous. ' H'tT" strongly .condemned Sir George Grey's conduct in ■ constantly making serious charges of dis honourable conduct against Ministers) He characterised Mr Rusden's statements about the Hon. X Bryc* as infamous, vile, and scurrilous, and such as the' House should' resent.—Mr Bracken thought the resolutions would soon secure the hearts of the people of the colony. Ninety»nine. out" of every hundred men in the colony would* condemn*"the present system !of government, which fostered ancl stimulated local jealousie*. He-advocated a federal union and several states as the'best form of government for New Zealand. Owing to its con figuration the colony would not much longerdubmit tobegovernedirom Wellington. Mr Hursttifjuse said thfre was nothing in the question to start with. .Nothing had been disclosed^ n the debate, and it would end in nothing The subject was long *ago worn threadbare. He strongly op* posed the resdlu 1 ion and condemned the idea of reviving Provincialism, although admitting that everything expected from tbolition had not been realised. If any scheme to improve Ideal government or reduce taxation was'proposed he would support it, but these resolutions would do neither. He protested strongly against Sir Geo. Grey's conduct and speeches, maligning honest men in the most shameful manner, without being able to produce the slightest proof. He challenged him to prove even one of those charges. If this could be done he for one would •■pport Sir Geo. Grey to the utmost in rooting out tie perpetrators.- He also repudiated with scorn the charges of Mr Eusden against Mr Bryce.* He had himself been led into action by Mr Bryce, and was well acquainted with the whole facts, tie thought there were altogether tdo many small locaUbodies of one kind and another., t The central administration was, also, capable of great improvement. . - — .* . Later.—This day., After a few additional remarks'ty Mfc Holmes, in reference to dome' statements of Mr Wynn Williams', about the West Coast Railway, the House divided on the question that toe latter half of Mr Montgomery's first resolution be retained ror struck out, to give place to the amend* ment by Mr Moss. The words were struck out by 34 to 23. On the question that Mr Moss's amend* ment be inserted, another division took place, the amendment" being rejected by' 38 to 19. Then, after some little further discussion, Mr Moßtgomeay replied at length, and a division took place on the first part of the resolution,, the under* standing being* that the second and third should be settled by the result—Ayes, 21; noes, 34. * Aybs : Barron, Bracken, J. Buchanan, Daniel. Delatour, Duncan, Feldwick, Fish, J. Green, Harris, Macandrew, A. McDonald, Montgomery, Moss, Pilliet, Pyke, Seddon, Shepherd, Sbrimski, . Steward,; Swanson, J. M. Thompson, Turn bull, W. White. Nobs: Atkinson, Beetham, W. Buchanan. Gonolly, Dick, % Dobson, Driver, Fergus, Fitzgerald, Hamlin, Hobbs Hurst, Hursfhduse, W. Johnston, Kelly, Larnach, Lee, F. McKenzie, !\dc« Millan, Mlfcheltion, Munro, Morris, O'Callaguan, Pearson, Postlethwaite, Rolleston. Sutter. Sutton, Trimble, Watt, Whyte J. fl! , Wilson, Wright, Wynn Williams. Pairs, ayesTShceban, Bathgaie, McKen* zie, Cadmari. >T. McDonald, Ivess, Taiaroa, Tole, Leveatam, Pyke, Grey, Te Wheoro, Tomoana, Joyce, Smith, Hutchison, J. C. t Brown, and Holmes ; noes: Wbitaker, Stlvens. Mclllwraith, S. Wilson, J. E. Brown, Levin, Mason/ H. Thomson, C. Johnson. 'Pearson, Allwright, Tawbai,, Petrie.M.W.Green^Fuiton.Shaw, Bryce, and Peacock. * The resolutions were lost, and the House rose at 1.28 a.m.