HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 218, 2 October 1873, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Monday. Messrs Fitzherbert, Bunny, Pyke, and a number of other ordinary supporter! of the Government, refused to attend the caucus held to-day, it having leaked out that the GoTornmont, in the Cabinot meeting on Saturday, had resolved to let matter* remain at they are. It is iaid that Mr Vogel strongly urged a more decisive action and resignation rather than submission, but he was overruled. The number of member* who have 'heretofore supported the Government are intensely disgusted. Only 35 attended the caucus, and not above iinlf voted for Mr Maeandrew's proposal that things bo allowed to remain as they are for the present, but that during the recess the Government should prepare a measure for the reconstruction of the Legislative Council.— Mr Harrison urged the Government to at least a«k the House to affirm this by resolution ; but they refused.— Mr Macandrew left in the s.s. Alhambra to-day. A number of others go to-morrow. The prorogation is expected on Thursday. y Some lalk is expected on the item on the supplementary estimates of £1,265 for refund of itamp duty fine. The person whom it is proponed to reimburse is Sir F. I). Bell. In tho House today Mr O'Rorke introduced a Bill to prevent the introduction of imbeciles into the Colony.— Mr Reid objected to the introduction of so many important measure* at »o late a period of the session. -Mr T. B. Gillie* said recent occurrences had rendered •uch a Bui necessary.— Mr Fitzherbert said the bill wa« a very dealrabloone.—lt was read a fir»t time. The Premier in introducing a bill to deal with the .Extradition of Criminals, wid the bill would enable the Governor to delegate the powers which he bad been recently obliged to exercise to judges and magistrates.— Mr Stafford said he supposed the Premier was acting under legal ad \ ice, but it appeared to him that the bill sought to amend an Imperial Act.— Mr Vogel said he would explain the principle of the bill at the second reading — The bill was read a first time. In the supplementary estimates items for various departments, amounting to £24,430, and Legislative, £5,519, were passed. In the discussion on the latter it transpired that the item furniture, hanging, &c, £1,250, included £400 for red blanket hangings round the chamber ; smndry small votes were passed. Mr Fitzherbert is now speaking on the un-business like mode of putting down a lump sum of £5,000 for trigonometrical survey. The Premier explained regarding the throwing out of the Loan Bills that the question arose, what was to be done ? He bad formerly expressed his determination to adopt all constitutional means to carry out the objects of the Hou»e. He had then expressed his opinion that the Government would be prepared to go the length of proposing and holding a new session with the Tiew of introducing a measure to enable the colony to borrow money on the security of its lands, and to lend to the provinces. He found, however, that the House was averse to a new session, and there was no chance •of the Upper House accepting the measures in any shape. The proposal for the colony to make provision for the provinoial wants for the present year would alio be rejected by the Council. The Government were not prepared to propose suoh a course ; and he doubted if the House would accept it. Wit #ut question tie ictory iay with the Upper House, not with tue Government. There was no desire to retaliate on the part of the Government. He thought that provision might be made for placing the Constitutional relations of the House on a more satisfactory footing. For the time being he hoped thst the members of the House would, during tire recess, obtain an expsession of opinion from their constituencies on the question and to which branch of the Parliament the Gorernnoent of the colony wu to rest with, and whether it wu virtually to remain in the hands of the nominee House. He denied the truth of the rumour that the Government had been lukewarm in the matter of the Loan Bills. — Mr Harrison moved, on tho House going into Committee of Supply, That the action of the Legislative Council with respect to financial measures demand the attention of the Government, and that the Government should, next session, bring down a measure providing for suoh reconstruction of the constitution of the Legislative Council as will place the relations of the two Houses on a more satisfactory footing. He said it was desirable that the House should express its opinion on the question. — Mr Vogel deprecated »ny auch expression of opinion. — The. motion was lost. At the caucus convened by the Ministers to-day a resolution was proposed by Mr Macandrew and carried, to the effect, — that the session be brought to a close as speedily as possible, and that during the recess the Government should carefully prepare bills to put the relaiims of the two houses on a more i>atia<actory footing. Many members will leave to-day and others will leave tomorrow. _

Tuesday. The Railways Bill has just been read a third time in the Legislative Council, with amendments of an unimportant character, whioh hare been acoopted by the Government. It is said that the new District Judgeship, for which a salary was yoted last night, is intendod fir Mr Hyde Harris, and to be at Napier. It is expected that Mr Fitsherbert will review the session. Additional Supplementary Estimates for public buildings were passed last night. Under the head of postal the following items were pnised :— Drury, £300 ; Newcastle, £300 ; Hamilton, £300; Nomwood, £300. Under the head of Publio Department :— Auckland, £1,300; Alexandra, £300. Mr Wakefield delivered a long speech on immigration, on the motion for the adoption of the resolution from the Committee of Supply. The resolution from the Committee was agreed to. The Imbecilt; Passengers J*nlfc\si* The bill Ihrows U|ion the Superi'itcn lent tin; onus of oUainin9

imm tuns c<b, owncre. or charts era ot vessels bringing itnbe< ilo peiaona to the oolouy. bonds for £100 for each such p rson brought fcut, against which the maintenance may be charged. Messrs Hitzhe'rbert. Swariaonj Giliea, and Bunuy urged tlmt the fmliecile/perapiis brought out by the colony Should be a ohargej upon the cbloriy, and not upon the provinces to which they' may' be brought. — Mr Fitzherbert moved the introduction of a new clause accordingly. — The Ministers opposed the amendment which was lost by a majority of 16 to 13.— The bill was roported without amendments, and was read a third time and passed.