PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2299, 19 May 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

(United Press Association.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. When the House met this afternoon; there were 51 members in their seats, ; | and three others afterwards put in an appearance. Among the papers laid on the table, was a letter from Sit 1 - Penrose Julyan on Sir J. Vogols claim with memo by Vogel upon it, Sir George Grey in the course of his speech on the New Hebrides, said he had reason to know the .Victorian Government had received a cablo from their Agent General, which by no means bore out the statement in cable published yesterday that England was averse to giving them up. Leave was granted to Sir J. Vogel as usual to sit while addressing the House, ■ While the usual Sessional Committees wore being appointed, Messrs Sutter, Fergus, and Grey, made protests against the practice of voting Chairmen of certain Committees honoraria, Mr Sutter said such votes would meet with vigorous oppositions from himself and other members,

The house mot at 2.30 p.m, when Mr Sydenham took lug oath and seat. Replying to questions.it was stated it would be 'an unnecessary expenditure to have railway carriages and trucks manufactured at Petone. That the route of the Helensville Extention Railway had not been altered since the Public Works Statement had been mado last sessions.

yir George Grej gave notice of a resolution for no.it 'sitting day protesting against handing ovor the Now Hebrides to Franco. He spoke at some length on the question and said tho whole of the colonies should unite and enter a protest against the wrong that was about to be done'them.

• Mr' Stout said he had informed Sir George Groy that tho proper way of dealing with t-.hp.qucatiuii would be by referring it to a select. 'committee. Soihc of the papers relating to it were of a confidential nature.

Sir George Groy moved- the adjournment of tho House. Hosald the House was elititlod to all papers in connection with this matter. Tho motion for the adjournment was tost, Mr Stout introduced the Municipal Corporation Bill, and Counties Bill, The usual sessional committees were appointed Tho'House.row at 5.25 p.m. Evjkjto Sitting;. Tho Houso resumed at 7.30. » Mr Bevan moved the address in reply, He said the colonies should express its satisfaction at the Queen's approaching jubileo. -He said the relations between Colonists and Maoris were most encouraging: He referred in eulogistic terms to Bryee's reconfc action against Rusden. Depression, he thought, was the result of great social reforms and overproduction. Notwithstanding the depressions, the fin&rccs of the colony wore sound. The settlement of land was the burning question, and he regretted to say there was ignorance of tho great liberality of our land laws. The policy of the Government as shadowed forth in tho speech was of a steady progressive character. . He concluded by expressing his admiration at the zeal and earnostness with which the present administrations ought to benefit the colony.

Mr Taylor seconded the address, and said he did so as the Government views' coincided with his, He would like to see largo estates reserved at valuation, and »'■ Village Settlements Scheme applied, ■' . Major Atkinson thought the time had arrived when the address should cease to bo made the battle field of party politics, and ho trusted in future it would be made purely formal. The Government should have mentioned the questions i'of representation in the speech, and until they promised to deal with the matter, little business would he thought be done, No scheme for the future would be found in the speech, He would tell the Government it was useless to build a network of railways, and neglect the roads, which were badly wanted to feed existing lives, He said the speech was the worst ho had ever read for faulty, expressions, Mr Stout thought it unwise to abolish the address, They might as well abolish 'the Governor's speech. The address was used to shadow forth measures to be placed before Parliament. ' He said ho could not deal with representation until he knew the population of the colony and how it had been changed. When the returns were compete' tho Government would not shirk the readjustment if found necessary. -The policy of the Government was ready and Ministers had agreed upon its measures, and statements would be down much earlier than usual, Mr Wakefield said there was a misunderstanding about the address. It was merely suggested that by tacitly accepting it, th« Opposition should not be understood to accept the opinions expressed in it. He thought'representation should have been mentioned in tho speech, but tho Premier's assurance was satisfactory, If the Government had put down its foot! and refused to allow- the' House to deal with more legislation than could be yot through they would be taking a very wise step, and would meet with co-opera-tion in quarters whence they had never recoived it before.

Mr J. W. Thomson though* that political agitation during the receas Bhowed the Colony averse to bi« borrowing schemes and inclined to prudence, He hoped a new Land Act would be Introduced

Mr Turnbull attributed the depression to not producing enough, The Government had not over-borrowed, but certainly private individuals had, and vast sums of money had been drawn out of the Colony, Ho had hoped the Government would have brought down a bold policy, as he was. convinced it would do much to relievo the stagnation. Mr Moss criticised tho action of the Native Minister regarding Native Lands, which was viewed with the keenest dissatisfaction in the North. He took objection to the purchase of a battery site at Auckland, and the statement that tho finances of the colony w«M sound,

He agreed with Mr Bevan that the depression was due to over producing, New Zealaniover producing was debentures. Mr Bectliam said tha address omitted the two great industries of Agriculture and commerce, and he- hup»d mention would))«made in the mover's rMy, Mr J. 0. Buckhud criticised the lavish expenditure, and contended that; it was their duty to out down luxuries such as the outlay on the Hinemoa, etc. Mr Ballance said |he House had the opportunity of reducing estimates when they came down. He denied he had given Maorisan idea of the value of their lauds, The battery eite tt Takapuna had been purchased at property tax valuation, and on the advice of the commissioner and he was prepared to defend It, After a few remarks from Messrs Levestam and W, F. Buckland, the motion was put and crrried, The House rose at 10;45 p.m.