General Assembly.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1111, 7 August 1879, Page 2

General Assembly.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TUESDAY. QUESTIONS. Mb Murray asked the leader of the Opposition, " If lie favoured and would support a measure for permanent agricultural improvements, on the principle of Sir Robert Pcel'a Drainage Advances Act, and for obtaining better faoilities for outfall, and the carrying out and regulation of ditching and drainage operations ? The Speaker ruled the question out of order, and disallowed it. Sir W- Fox said he had no objection to

answer the question. If he were the head of the Government after the election, ho would give the matter his support personally. I THE LOAN BILL. The New Zealand Loan Bill Act was gone into in committee. Several changes were made on the motion of Sir George Groy, when Mr McLean proposed an addition to one of the clauses, providing that none of the money should be expended until it had been duly appropriated by the House. The Premier pointed out that such words had never been in any previous Appropriation Bill. Mr Whitaker thought the words should be inserted. Such a Bill as this ought not to be an Appropriation Bill. There was some s musing sparring on the proposed alteration, in which Major Atkinson, Messrs McLean, Gisborne, and Sheehan took part. Mr Rees thought the words were right enough, but the arguments used for their iusertion went too far. The amendment was carried on the voices. The schedule of the Bill tvas amended. The two suins of £IBO,OOO for colonial defence for 1880 and 1881 were omitted, and the following inserted: " for purposes hereafter to be declared by any Act of the General Assembly, £369,000." COURSE OF BUSINESS. The Premier said that after the discussion on the Imprest Supply Bill number 2 he would ask the House for one days delay, till Thursday when he would bring down the Financial Statement. In moving that the House go into Committee of Supply, he mentioned that he had the authority of the Governor to say that he recommended the House to make provision to 30 th September next. The motion for going into Committe of Supply was then put and negatived. ANOTHER AMENDMENT. Sir Wm. Fox moved as a further amendment" That the following words be inserted in the beginning of the amendment on the Loan Bill—"That a respectful address be presented to Hio Excellency the Governor, that this House is of opinion that the the writs should be issued within two days after the dissolution.' '' Mr Rees characterised the amendment as an indecent attempt to bring the Governor and the Government into collision. Mr Moss said, the amendment wa3 an insult to the Government. Some other Members spoke.on either side, and the House divided on the amendment, which was carried. The division list is as follows : Ayes, 43.—Adams, Atkinson (teller), Baigent, Barff, Beetham, Bowen, Brandon, Bryce, Curtis, Cutten, Douglas, Driver, Fox, Gibbs, Green, Hart, Henry, Hobbs, Hursthouso, Jackson, Kelly, Macfarlane, McLean, Moorhouse, Morris, Murray, Murray - Aynsley, Oliver, Ormond, Richardson, Richmond, Rolleston, Rowe, Saunders, Stevens, Stewart (teller), Studholme, Sutton, Tawhiti, Tomoana, Waknfield, Whitaker, Williams. Noes, 28 —Barton, Bastings, Brown (J.C., Tuapekaj, Brown (J.E., Ashley), Carrington, DeLautour, Feldwick, Fisher, George (teller), Gisborne, Goldie, Grey, Hamlin, Hislop, Joyce, Macandrew, Nahe, Rees (teller), Reeves, Shanks, Sheehan, Shrimski, Swanson, Tainui, Thomson, Tole, Turnbull, Wallis. Pairs. —Ayes : Fitzroy, Seymour, Hunter, Woolcock, Bunny, Johnson. Noes: Montgomery, Ballance, Seaton, Manders, Bunny, Hodgkinson. The original amendment, as amended by the insertion of the words stated above, was put and carried.