House of Representatives.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 854, 6 December 1877, Page 2

House of Representatives.

[Press Agp.ncy.] .. Government BcncoiNas, Wellington, Tuesday. The House met lasfe.riight at 7.30. FINANCE. ■■ -. Sir GEORGE GRE7 m moving r .he secoil revimg of the Financial Arrange nents Bill, explained its >jrtrati m* to be to equalise the espenliture and in.roau as far as possible )/ m tking the Ltnl Fund colonial revenue. He pointed out the advantages of this. Twenty per cent •jou; d be sived for local purposes, tfexb year steps would be tako to secure that this per-c^ntag * should oe devoted .tv_ owning _up the Yjountry. For the present it was •thought, desirable to distribute it with restrictijn. Even taking the Lind Fund, the revenue won id ab the end ; of the ye;ir show a deficit of £138,000, taking a3 correa*: the ••stiimtes of the late Minstry. L'his deficit they ho ed to be able co reduce or ext nguish by a saving ia expenditure an i iv similar yfxja. Major ATKINSON c intended there wa*. really a deficit of £3 18,000, and ho means whatever were proposed for meeting if Supplementary esti hates and provincial liabilities wou'd achualy iucrease tho deficit to Mr REES replied to Mijor Vbkinso.i's figures, and supported the'Mhrs'eri il proposal. Sir ROBE.tT D J [JUL AS opI pwed raising ihe lind to unifor.u price, as it would stop all sales m many dis- riots. Mr GISBORNE agreed with Sir Robert Douglas, aid pr^te t-*d against the price of land being raised. Mr WO'JD (In vere irgil T ) thought the land should be classified, as this is already done m Southland. It should be so;d ab uniform prise He generally supported the bill. After a few words from Mr REID, the amendment was lost by 45 to 12, and the bill was r-ad a second time, by 40 to 12. Tne House rose at 12.35. The House met to-day at 2.30. ANSWERS. Tn reply to Ms- Hamlin, Sir GE >RGE GRiStf snd the Steila would be seat to Port W akato to survey the eurranca anl place beacons m their proper 00-übions. In reply t- Mr 'Roaxti, Sir Gi*>RG<J GRB¥" a aid efforts woul 1 be made witho it de'ay to secure a playground for the Aucklan I Gtammar Sohool. New bill* introduc d : —The Hutt Cmnty Office* Site Bill (Mr Sheehan), Middle Islanl Half-ciste Crown Grants Bill (Mr Sheehan), The Rating Act Amendment Bill (Mr Sheehan), Tne Cointies Act Amendment Bill (Mr Sheehan). WASTE LANDS. The House went into Committee on the Waste Lands Bill. The term " W iste Lands " was change! to "C own Lands." Mr LUM-JDEV mov-d to strike out all of clatue 4 after the word "situated." Thia would excis? al" about the pricj of land beiu* £2 an acte by free selection, aud iil by auction. This was t-upported by Mr Bowen, Major Atkinson, Mr McLean, niv Sutcon, Mr Seymour, Sir K. Douglas, Mr Reid, Mr Ormond, Mr Wason> Mr Rolleston,

Mr Minders, air Gibbs, Mr Kennedy, and Mr Wooloi>ok, and opposed by Mr St mt, Mr Surimski, Mr Rees, Mr Joyce, and Gisborre. llr Mr ROWE and Captli|;MO'RW^ condemned raising^thefpl-be ol lkndjfi bat £»|d th^SdWont. kM bill waVoniy. a t|j^jfoij||jmaasujre^ On <* J||iy isic«|| < M||| .Lu ■ nsden^ amend^^ 'was^|st-^pj3i ,|o|l t6. An amand'nent fy Mr /'StoulHwasj agreed to, providing that where land has been off^red v at auccioti bin free seleotion by proclamation ot the Governor at *£1 per acre. Clause. 6Y was struck out as unnececsary „rhe remaining clauses •passed- ywithbdtimatevial i al teracion. A- new-clanse proposed'by M> " MbnU gpmery^ to abolish^ the ?Homestea'd system m Auckland and V^eltland was lost by -307tb 16.