HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1410, 21 June 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In the Houbo yesterday, replying to questions, the erection of a light in the, Frenih Passanda beacbh'oii Jackson's . Head were promised during the currents year. The Government were consider-: ••>- ing how they could best place foreign • insurance companies in the same position as colonial companies when carrying on business in the colony. Dogs were required to Jbe registered in the county where the owner resided or carried on business.' The West Coast Railway Commission report would be ready in a few days.) The. Tea Examination Act "was being' enforced,"and there was no reason to believe that adulterated tea was imported. ■ Tenders for I leasing the West Coast Native Lands would be opened in public. In every case the highest offer had been accepted.), They would, if:the ilworkiwas' found suitable, publish at the Government office a text book for schools on 'New-Zealand ibotanyV prepared by Mil Thompson.,■pfjjthe < Dunedin High School.' It was noli intended to amend 'the Licensing /Act ;by;. reverting ,to;the npminated Committees A limited number pt single women.jwoajd bejsentj out, as'freeimmigrants, in addition' to those nominated.. .If wiling stock^uW,''be'-'roanufftctum in the colbnj nea'riy as cheap as it could •be -imported the Governmeni would; have it I -A '■ r/H'if ■'■/I',J Th<f fpllowiiig/new Jilli weVe^a ; ;

first, time ir-Law of Evidence -(Hutchison).;; Hokitika. High / School (FitzPetoi's'.Cliurcli.MOftyers. hum,.(Barron); Timaru Raco Course JStitter), frauds; Taranaki Iron Works Land Act Amendment (Fish); Native Commonage' (Bryco); Gold .Duties Abolition (Seddon) ;Libcl (Tole)-;'Shopkeepers Closing (Green). ; Mr Seddon withdraw his motion, to introduce tho.payment of iqemliers of ilieHoitseof'■Rep'ri'seiitalives Bill,as ■;tho Government intimatedtheir intention to introduce a pay'imini of members of the General Assembly .Bill, Tim Affirmation and .Dechiratioiis' Bill (llolleston) was read a first lime, : after Sir G. Grey, Holmes, and others, had complained that it' was. an unworthy attempt to deprive Sir ,G. Grey of the credit of carrying the Bill he had now agitated for several. sessions. "•.•" V

"■■ Major Atkinson pointed out that the Government introduced the Bill . last Bession, and that being satisfied of its necessity, it was their clear duty not to leave legislation \on. the subject 'in the hands of private members, > EVENING SITTING.' 1 •" Mr Sbdßon resumed the debate. On . the address in reply lie characterised .ithe speech as a sham and a 'fraud, of , which the perpetrators should be /punished!"- It was by bribery of ;■ members with grants to their districts and improper interference in: elections ■ . as at Inangahua. that Ministers maintained a majority. Ho strongly condemned tho goncml. administration of ' the Government, and commented on the omissions in the speech, notably there being no reference to the Middle Island East and West Railway. : Mr Levestam pointed out that tho Government had no money for suck a jjimyas the £IBO,OOO specially apto another line could not be diverted without a gross breach of faith. . He defended the Nelson members from the charge of being bribed.

Mr Sutton denied the existence of industrial depression as stated by Mr Bathgate, 1 and quoted.the savings bank returns in disproof, Mr'HuTCHisoN having been resident in Wahgiinui at the time alluded to by Kusden in his;cha'rge against the Hon. J. Bryce, and having had a full opportunity of knowing the facts, desired emphatically to 'declare his utter dis-. belief in Eusden's charge He did this more readily as he was no admirer of the native Minister's policy. He especially condemned the Annesty toTeKooti, and adversely criticised the general policy of the Government, Mr Watt, repelled the insinuations about the Wanganui bridge vote, constituents naturally looked, to .their 1 members to get works and votes as well as to support a policy. . Mr J, McKenzib strongly condemned the Govt, administration of property assessment, railway, and land, ■ During the recess they were especially neglectful in enforcing the provisions of thcßabbit'Nuisancc Ace' Mr Biiacken thought the death of Messrs Seaton and Rutherford, late members of the House, should have been alluded to in the speech. Mr Homes recapitulated the accusations made against ministers of corruption and maladministration, and was astonished to find they made no effort to refute,them. They should be hurled from their seats covered with infamy, He condemned the Hon. Major Atkinson's tone towards Mr Montgomery, and the recent appointments to the Legislative Council as adding another burden to an already overtaxed people. On that aecount he would support making the Council elective although he did not much like the principle.

...Mr Pearson pointed out that Mr Holmes, who now so virtuously'condemned inllucricing members by votes for works, when addressing his constituents stilted that if the Opposition hadhad control'of the public purse they would soon have made then 1 minority a majority. He did not approve of all the Government had done by any means, butho preferred; them to tho Opposition. Ho warmly supported the West Coast railway. Jk M. W.' Green desired to dissipate himself from the charges ; of whotyale corruption launched from that side of the House against Ministers. Ho entirely' disapproved of such charges, and did not think those who made them really believed what they said. If the Government did right, ho was prepared to support' them.. To' ' divert, the £lßo,ooo•.authorised:'.'last session* to a \Vest line Would' be : y-to break faith Withihe public creditors. 'Tie would rather' support a new loan "f6r. the. purpose. ' ' '.The address in reply was then agreed to. The Hon Major Atkinson promised oh Friday to state when the financial and public works statements would be made; and also .to;'make a general statement asto the.Governriiei'it business. . ■;-,.• .•■:'■, .. i

A. queatioii.having beon raised during, the debate as 'to tlio legal ■' position of owing to delayp in elections.- the Hon Major Atkinson, for public information, stated that the Crown Law' Officers- had carefully considered the point, and convinced that tho'Road Boards were not in any difficulty whatever. '. The Houseroseat 1-2.55, :-,'