PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1397, 16 June 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Replies, to Questions. Wellington, Last Night. hi the House to-day in, rejilx jtcuquestions the Government stated :—l.: — 1. That they were alive to the desirability of establishing a r direct service between the colony and the United Kingdom, and intended to instruct the Agent-General 'to obtain full information as to terms on which sw?h service would be established, so that next session > the' < 'House could fully consider the matter. — 2. Thab it was intended to .provide for the erection of new lighthouses ; but was unable to say ,the amount or,, localities at present.— 3. Could not 'say until the Financial Statement was made whether it was intended to impose import duty on maize. — 4. That they could not promise to remtroduce the drainage clauses struck out of the Public .Works Act last session.

Motions. The following motions were carried :—: — Certain census particulars (Mr Gisborne) ; men employed on public works and A.C. Force in each district (Mr Macandrew). In reply to a motion by Sir George Grey, Mr Hall Btated that the detached squadron would only visit Auckland in New Zealand. , Mr Ghsborne moved — " That the. House go into committee on a future day to consider the placing of, £6000 on the estimates for public libraries." Mr Hall hoped it would be postponed till after the Financial Statement. Messrs Speight, Shepherd, and .Bunny supported the proposal. Mr Russell objected. It was agreed to go into committee on July 13. . ,

The Address-in-Reply. , Mr Bunny resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply., He believed, the Government had done its duty well in a case of great emergency. He would be very loth to do anything to endanger their seats, but that was no reason why their friends should not give them good advice. It was greatly to be regretted that the only reference to the most important question of the day was jjroviding local government for Chatham Islands. Instead of handing over the whole government of the country to the heads of Departments, Government should, during the recess, consult representatives of the people during the recess, as well as during the sitting of Parliament on local matters. All members, whether Opposition or not, would gladly give assistance and avoid the ridiculous blunders, causing much local inconvenience, which now constantly arose. The number of local bodies should be reduced, the counties should be united and made independent, and each chairman should be made a member of the Waste Lands Board, and vote money to open up the country by roads, atid bridges before selling the land, even if the money had to be borrowed. The Government must take up the question of local government, or he and others would support someone else who would do so. The railway management was rotten to the core ; if it was made what it should be the railways would pay far better. Regarding native matters, too much had been made of Te Whiti, and he regretted Mr Bryce had not been permitted to end the nonsense once and for all. Mr Beetham thought that though county government was capable of improvement, it was not so bad as represented. It might be advisable to appoint a committee to consider the local government question. Mr Hursthouse expressed general satisfaction with the present position of public affairs. The motion for the Address-in-Reply was then put and agreed to.

The Licensing Bill. Mr Dick moved the second reading of the Licensing Bill, explaining the points wherein it differed from the bill which passed its second reading last session, and expressing a desire to push it through the House as early as possible. Sir \V. Fox said he would not oppose the bill, but did not think it would do any good, as it was founded on a totally wrong principle, lie was speaking when the House rose for dinner.