GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 224, 18 December 1897, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SUSPENDED ORDERS. Mr Seddon moved, " That Bills which have not been finally dealt with by the House shall be made Suspeuded Orders, and »et down on the first Order Paper of next session." He would not, he said, have introduced the motion if a new Parliament were to be elected before next session, tut as it was the same Parliament he saw no objection to the motion being carried. Mr Rolleston contended that the proposal was absolutely opposed to all Parliamentary precedent. Mr Scobie Mackenzie characterised the motion as a monstrous one. Captain Kussell opposed the motion, and said that as regards many measures the Home never intended to proceed further than the second reading stage. After a lengthy discussion Mr Scddon in reply stated that the motion, if carried, would mean that three weeks would be saved next session. The motion was carried by 35 to 23. TUB BANK DILL. The Bank of New Zealand and Banking Apt Amendment Bill was committed. Mr Pirani moved that progress be reported. This was negatived by 27 to 24. Clause 2 : Board of Diiectors re-con-stituted. Mr Moore moved that the clause be struck out. Mr Seddon said if there was no change in the constitut : on of the Board there was no necessity for the Bill. The motion was nrgatived on the voices. Mr Larnach moved to substitute five directors for nine. Nine was struck out by 34 to 22. Mr Seddou moved to insert seven. This was negati\ ed by 29 to 28. Captain Kussell moved that four be inserted. , This was negatived by 30 to 28. Mr Larnach then moved that progress be reported. This was negatived by 37 to 21. Mr Seddon moved to insert six on the understanding that ultimately the ber would be seven. This was carried by 38 to 18. Mr Pirani moved that two of the directors shall be appointed by the Governor-in-Council. Ayes 28, noes 28. The motion was negatived on the vote of the Chairman of Committees. Progress wss jeported on the motion of Mr Meredith. FINAL STAGE 3. The Cheviot Estates Disposition Act Amendment Bill, the Cyanide Piocess Gold Extraction Bill, and the Mining Company's Act Amendment Bill passed their final stages. THE HOROWHENITA BILL. On the motion that the Horowhenua Block Act Amendment Bill be committed, Mr IJolleston moved that Sir Walter Buller and Major Kemp be heard at the bar ot the House by counsel in connection with the Bill. He thought the good sense of the House would decide in favoar of the motion. Mr Seddon considered that no good reasons had been advanced for either Sir Walter Buller or Major Kemp being heard at the bar of the House. He pointed out that Sir Walter Buller bad addressed a communication to every member of the House on the sul ject, and had already been heard at the bar. It bad been proved incontestably that the statements made by Sir Walter Buller when btfore the bar of the House on a previous occasion were not supported by facts. Mr Scobie Mackenzie contended that the Bill was a private one, and that its preamble was tull of misstatements. The Hon. Hall-Jones considered that 140 natives interested in the Horowhenua block had just as much right as Sir Walter Buller or Major Kemp to appear at the bar of the House. Messrs Pirani, Stevens, Heke, Richardson, Carroll, and Russell, also spoke. The debate on Mr Rolloston's motion was continued by Mr Wason, who contended that it was a scandal that such an important measure should be brought down in the dying hours of the session. Mr Rolleston's motion was agreed to by 30 to 2'J. Mr Rolleston intimated that Sir Walter Buller and Major Kemp wished -Ato be heard at half • past two tomorrow. This was agreed to.