PARLIAMENTARY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 31100, 23 October 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Oct. 21. On resuming last night on the Public Works Bill, Sir George Grey raised a point that the Bill was a money Bill, and should have been introduced in that House by a message from the Governor. The clauses he took exception to were held by the Speaker not to be appropriation clauses. Mr Rees, however, again raised the point, and went at full length into the Bill, to show that it was bristling with clauses that dealt with revenue and levied charges upon the people. In support of his conclusion he quoted from ' May ' and other journals of the House of Commons. On the motion of the Premier, the debate was adjourned to allow the Speaker to decide whether the privileges of the House had been infringed. The House then went into Committee on the Abolition Financial Arrangements ' Bill. A very keen debate took place on a number of clauses, and progress was very slow.

A very long discussion took place as to making the road North of Auckland, Mr Stafford strongly supporting the arguments adduced by Sir Robert Douglas, to show that the Government should provide main lines of dray road. The Premier would have been only to delighted to do so, but their means were limited, and it became an absolute necessity to cut their coat according to their cloth. A discussion also ensued on the clause for giving Superintendents' salary from their term of taking office. The clause was struck out by 26 against 20. When clause 34 was reached progress was reported. ' Before rising the Speaker ruled that, after careful consideration of the Public Works Bill, he was of opinion that it was inconsistent with the privileges of the House to go further with the Bill in its present shape. It will be re-introduced to-day. The House adjourned at 3.35 a.m. The House met at 2.30 o'clock this afternoon. The House sits on Monday at 2.30 for Government business only. The Frisco mail telegraphic correspon. dence was laid on the table. It showed that the contractors wera prepared to forfeit the penalty sooner than continue the coastal service. A telegram from the Sydney Government on the 17th says that the colony 'will not be content with longer postal time without sharing in savings onsubsidy. The only principle they approve of is to share the subsidy equally. They recommend Frisco, Honolulu, Bay of Islands, and Sydney, thirteen trips a year. Separate tenders for coastal service to be jointly approved, and the cost to be equally divided between both colonies, the whole to be subject to the approval of Parliament." Sydney presses for an answer speedily. The Hon Mr Whitaker pointed out the urgency of the. matter, and put to the House a resolution to the following effect :-^-" That as a temporary arrangement; pending negotiations with the New South Wales Government, we consent to the proposal contained in your telegram of the 17th October, substituting Auckland for Bay. of Islands." His object in doing this was to prevent any breakdown of the service in the meantime, and give time for negotiation. Motion agreed to. Sir George Grey moved for the expunging from the Legislative Council records all mention of the Public Works Bill being introduced there. Motion lost by 34 to 20. Sir George Grey's Manhood Suffrage Bill was thrown out by 28 to 21.