HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2906, 23 May 1888, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

•Tuesday, May 22. Tlio House met at 2.80.

Mr Fish gave notice to. ask the Colonial Treasurer whether there is any truth in the statement of Ihe Attorney-General to the effect that if the loan was not raised at oiice, the Colony would be in a position of insolvency, and whether there is any truth iu the statement that the financial exigencies of the Bank of New Zealand, were the result of the Government desiring to pass the Loan Act at once..

The Postmaster General, in auswer to Sir John Hall, said the Government proposed to introduce a Bill during the present session to extund to New Zealand the same advantage in respect to a foreign parcel post as are possessed by other portions of tho British dominions. •' The Commissioner of Customs, in answer to Mr Beetham, said the Government were considering tho bringing in of a Bill to give effect to the motion of the House for a tax on totalisators, and if the lion, gentleman would renew the question for a later day, probably a more definite answer could be given. The Evening Sitting was taken up with debates on the Naval and Military Settlers, and Volunteers Land Bill, which was read a second time and referred to the Waste Lands Board. The District Railways Purchasiug Acts Amendment Bill debate was adjourned until Friday, and the Electoral Bill was also adjourned. Legislative Council. Tuesday May 22. The Council met at 2.30. PETITION. Mr Hart presented a petition from the Presbyterian General Assembly of New Zealand, praying that Acts to re-

press gambling, prize-fighting and to amend the licensing laws might he passed. I'EItSONAL STATEMENT. The Attorney-General said he had an explanation to make of a personal nature. In his speech on the motion for the second rending of the New Zea-

land loan Bill on Friday last lie had been represented as having referred to the Bank of New Zealand, He had never alluded to that Bank in any way whatever, noi" had his .remarks any reference to that corporation. Had not said the Colony would be insolvent if Loan Bill was not passed, hut he had said that if the Bill was not passed, the Government would be placed in a disadvmtageous position—something approaching to bankruptcy-if the Bill did not pass. He never used the word "insolvency" throughout his speech. At 4.12, the Council adjourned to next day.