GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 202, 28 October 1897, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TUESDAY. CONTAGIOUS I>I<EASFS ACT. The Contagious Dise ses Act Repeal Bill was read a first time. YOUNG t'KRSOXS I'KOTECTION BILL. Mr Seddon said that the info-mat ion received from Magistrate's and Police officers relating to juvenile depravity would be placed before the Committee on the Bill. He thought it would be unwise to lay the information on the table of the House. MEMBEKS DAY. Mr Seddon moved that for the remainder of the session. Wednesdays be taken for Government business. Sir R. Stout objected, and said that members were being deprived of their rights, and that the only duty left to them was to register the decrees which the Government assisted by their caucus hid decided upon. Mr Rolleston said no consideration was shown by the Premier to the general wishes of the House, and in consequence the business of the country was thrown into confusion. Mr Hutchison moved that Wednesdays be not taken for Government business tid after the disposal of private members' notices of motion. Mr Seddon said that those who supported the amendment would help to block business. There was a great cry in the country about waste of time, for which the Opposition was solely to blame. (Cries of no.) Members of the Opposition had stated previous to the meeting of Parliament that they would not allow any business to go through. (Cries of name) He did not wish to specify the numbers. After a lengthy di.-eussion the motion was carried. EINAXCUL DF.HATK. Mr Hunter pointed out that a large number of Government supporters had speken against tils administration of different departin nts. The Budget placed no policy before the country and was incorrect and iiiisleidu.g. The amount ot the public debt in ISD6 had been misrepresented by over a million, in order to show tint the Govprnment hail borrowed that sum less than they have. He disapproved of the Premier being a director of the Anglo-Continental Compiny. The administration cf the Govermrent had been detrimental to the com.try. He intended to oppose the vo'e if £1750 for the Pender's expenses in England and i'olS for his trip to Hobait. Mr E. J. Allen said as to the Premier

acting as a director Ministers were paid such paltry sahuics, it would not be fair to prevent them accepting such positions. He had been pained by Opposition objections to the amount of the Premier's expenses, anil said he expected it to be i'2'2so instead of the small sum it was.

Mf.T. S. MeKenzie said a financial statement ought to be a plain exposition of the financial affiirs and should not consist mainly of electioneering puffery. The Premier had referred to the "wretched past" of borrowing and scpiandir'ng, but the Premier during his Parliamentary career had voted for loans ainouii ing to £14.439,000, most of which had been spent with naked and unblushing recklessness. Under his administration lailw ay construction tad languished, but a large sum hail been spent on roads and bridges which were more convenient engines of political corruption. As to Mr Seddon being a director of the Anglo - Continental Syndicate, he believed in the Premier's honesty, but he reminded him that Mr Cadmau had lesigncd office as he had a half share in some native hud. He referred to the supplementary mining report issued by the Government} last year as being nothing more uor iessthan a prospectus for the Ziman Company. Mr Wilson thought the references to the Premier in connection with past loans was unjust. The advances to settlers scheme had brought genuine prosperity to settlers. Mr Pirani hoped the Government would stop the scandal in connection with the costs in the Horowhenua case. It was now stated that the Bill dealing with the b'ock would cont in a clause providing for the payment of these costs and if the House did not pass the measure the blame for non-payment M would be put upon Parliament, lie told J the Mhr&ter for Lands that he would I have to give the settlers the right to con- I veit their leases into freeholds. f Mr Lang said that after reading the I Budget he had come to the conclusion J that though it wi's very attractive, it j was thoroughly misleading, and most of 1 the proposals it contained were not in- J tended to be given effect to. The pre- ■ sent Administration had increased t i.\a-|H tit,n. He was opposed to borrowing. Though he had always bf.cn in favour of Commissioner control he admit'ed that ihe liii ways could not be in better hands than in those of Hon. Cadman. Ke urged that the Vailo system tried on a portion of the Government lines. He was dissatisfied wi'h the Governments proposals respecting the beet sutrir industry. Mr McGowan contended that the Government had got the colony into a sound financial position, and they deserved treat credt for constructing so many public woiks out of revenue, instead of borrowing for the purpose. The House adjourned at 12.35 a.m.