HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4576, 4 September 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday. The Public Accounts Committee brought up a report recommending that the Public Revenues Act should be amended so as to prevent any impresses of public money paying any of it away after the expiry of the financial year. Also that power should be taken to commute the travelling ex ■ penses of members of Waste Lands Boards to 10s per day, and those of members of Royal Commissioners to 20s per day. After a great deal of discussion the evidence and proceedings so far as relating to the matters referred to in the reports were ordered to be laid on the table and printed.

Mr Fulton brought up the report of the Waste Lands committee recommending that the Russell Land Bill be pone on with, and the agreement with Mr Russell, although somewhat irregular* carried out. He moved that the report lie on the table. —After considerable discussion on an amendment by Sir Gr. Grey, that the bill be not proceeded with till the evidence taken was printed, the motion was agreed to. —Mr Rolleston then moved that the bill be set down for its second reading to* morrow.—Sir G., Grey, Mr Sheehan, and Mr Sbrimskj strongly opposed the bill, and the latter intimated his intention to use every means to prevent its becoming law.—The House divided on the motion to fix the second reading for to-morrow, which was carried by 34 to 31.

The Speaker announced, the receipt of a letter from the Auditor and "ControllerGeneral in reference to the proper custody of the £18,000 paid by the New Plymouth Harbour Board to the Minister of Public works for the construction of a certain railway.—Sir G. Grey mo's'ed that this be taken into, consideration to-morrow afc 7.30. — Major ■Atkinson moved, as an amendment, that it be referred to the Public Accounts Committee to report on immediately. —Mr Holmes asked how this money was now vested?—Mr Johnston said the Harbor Board paid it into the public account, but to the credit of the Minister of Public Works, and as the House has decided not to construct the>work the money would be repaid to the Board. Mr Turnbull said that this was another of the tricks of Government. He moved that the House do adjourn till Wednesday.—Major Atkinson said that until after 1 o'clock to-day he was not aware any question existed about this sum, and he at once a"sked for the opinion of the law officers as to the position; the Controller was quite aware of this.—Sir G. Grey urged tfaat the Controller should be heard at the bar of the House.—The motion for adjournment was lost on the voices, and Major Atkinson's amendment to refer the letter to .the Public Accounts Committee was, after farther discussion, agreed to, with the addition by Mr Seddon that the committee should report forthwith. The Otago Dock Trust Bill was road a third time and passed. Mr Eolleston moved the second reading of the Thermal Springs Act Amendment Bill. —Messrs Moss, Toraoana and Sheehan opposed the bill, and Messrs Kelly awd Trimble supported it.

Later.—This day

Major Atkinson announced his intention to move the discharge of the Civil Lists Act Amendment Bill.—The Otago Dock

Bill was read a third (ime, and the GoreKelso Railway Construction Bill was passed through Committee, read a third time, and passed. —On the second reading of the Thermal Fprings Act Amendment Bill, a long debate took place, Messrs Moss, Sheehan, Hutchison, and others strongly opposing the measure, which, however, was a read a second time, and the motion for going into Committee was carried by 32 to 19. In Committee, Mr Moss moved a new clause to prevent the bill having any retrospective action. TLis was lost by 25 to 16, and Mr Moss then said he accepted the division and would oppose the bill no furtheW The bill was reported, read a third time and passed. —The House rose at 12.45 a.m.