HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4578, 6 September 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday,

The Council's amendment to the following bills w,ere agreed to :—District Railways Act Amendment Bill, Otago Dock Trust Bill, Eating Act Amendment Bill, and Caversbam Improvement Bill. \ Mr Moss brought up another report from the Public Accounts Committee, and moved thai it be read.—Major Atkinson said he would oppose this, and move that it be referred back. He was astonished at what had been done this morning by the committee, and he thought the House would also be when it knew the facts. A special meeting of the committee was held this morning to finally revise the report ou the Assurance Department. As he had other engagements he did not attend. Mr Moss was in the chair, and the members present were Messrs Dargaville, Barron, and Wright. These gentlemen, a minority of the committee, took occasion of the absence of the others to rescind the resolution agreed to t and reported yesterday by the full committee on the New Plymouth Harbor Board £18,000, and to pass a resolution censuring the Government, although those very gentlemen yesterday declared that there was no charge against them in the matter. It was a discreditable trick.—Mr Barron said that amongst the six who yesterday carried the report were three Ministers, who had voted in their own defence; when the minutes came up to day he thought himself quite justified in tryiDg to rescind that resolution. There was n° desire to snatch a decision. At the division a, measenger was sent out to look for all the other members. They had acted strictly in order, —Mr J. Evans Brown said he never heard of such an unworthy attempt to snatch a verdict from a small minority, There were only four members present, and as the voting was two against one the Chairman had no voice. Were they to accept this as the report of the Committee—the decision of only two members ? —Mr Sheehan thought that the report ought to be referred back, and a full meeting called. There could, however,vbe no harm in reading it.—Sir (t. Grey said the minority of the Committee had got a chance of rising against the tyranny of that Robespierre, the Colonial Treasurer, and being heard for once. The Government were evidently greatly afraid.—Mr Pefcrie . and Mr Levestam condemned the action of the Committee, and Mr Seddon strongly supported it.—Mr Kelly "maintained that the Committee having reported on the order of reference, it had no power to re-open the matter.—Mr Moss said every time and opportunity had been given for members of the Committee to attend. When the motion was made he had grave doubts as to the propriety of allowing it, but although he regretted its being brought forward, he at length felt it his duty to put the motion.-—Mr Montgomery said that evidently there had been no attempt to snatch a vote. He thought the report should be read,—Mr Joyce thought it would be unfair to read as a report from the committee what was only the opinion of a minority of the committee.—After considerable further discussion the report was ordered to be referred back to the committee for further consideration.rMajor Atkinson moved that the committee be instructed to meet at 5 o'clock.—r Carried '

Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Public Seventies Act Amendment Bill to extend the annual appropriations to the 30th June instead of the 30th May. This was to consult the convenience of members as to the date of the meeting of Parliament. The bill also proposed to accept fixed deposit receipts as security for the investment of trust funds.

The Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill, received from the Council, was read a first time.

The Council's amendments in the Special Powers and Contracts Bill were agreed to, and those in the Harbor Boards Bill were disagreed with.—The Land Boards Em? powering Bill was received from the Council, and passed through all its stages, r-The Companies Act Amendment Bill was read a first time and passed through

all its stages.—The Council's amendments in the Property Assessment Act Amendment Bill were disagreed to, and Messrs Connolly, Macandrew, and Kelly were appointed to prepare reasons. Mr Montgomery resumed the debate on the second reading of the Public Revenues Bill. He denied that it carried out the recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee, as it would still enable Ministers to obtain imprests beyond the three months authorised by law. He thought an extension of appro* priations for two months after the end of the financial year quite long enough. The question of Government deposits was also a most important one.—The bill was read a second time.

Mr Moss brought up the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the matter referred back to them to day. It was to the effect that the report referred back had bee,n expunged from the minutes as not being sustained by the evidence, and the report of the previous day had been confirmed. —Mr Barron said this new report was carried by three Ministers and two other members against four independent members. He moved that the minutes be read.—On a division the reading of the minutes was lost by 33 to 25. —Mr Montgomery expressed regret that this Committee had become .entirely a party one, in which everything was carried by 5 to 4. He thought the Committee should be reconstructed of moderate men. —The report and proceedings ordered to lie on the table and be printed. The report of the Conference on the Property Assessment Bill was agreed to. In Committee Mr Dargaville moved an addition to the clause limiting the amount tobe deposited in any one Bank to£loo,ooo, and the period to one year.—This was lost on a division by 30 to 17.—Sir G. Grey moved a further proviso that all money be lent by tender.—This wasloston the voices. —Mr Montgomery moved that the clause extending appropriations for three months after the end of the financial year be struck out.

Lateb.—This day,

i A long discussion took place in Com* mittee on the Public Revenues Bill, .proposals were made to limit the amount to be deposited in one year to £100,000, to let all money by tender amongst the banks, and to strike out the clause extending the power of spending to the 31st June, but all were lost by large majorities, and the bill was reported without any substantial amendment;, and after speeches protesting against it from Sir Geo. Grey, Mr Montgomery, and Mr ,J. Buchanan, it was read a third time and passed; the Property Tax Bill, Company's Act Amendment Bill, Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill, and Landlord's Empowering Bill were passed through all their stages. Reasons for disagreeing to the amendments made by the Legislative Council in several bills were agreed to, and the Legislative Council Reconstruction Bill was laid on the table.

The House rose at 12.40 a.m. till 11 o'clock to-day.