YESTERDAY'S SITTING. Willingron,, Last Night. The House met at 2 30. NEW MEMBER.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1555, 22 June 1882, Page 3

YESTERDAY'S SITTING. Willingron,, Last Night. The House met at 2 30. NEW MEMBER.

Mr Ivess was introduced by Messrs Macamlrcw and White, and took his seat. yaw .bills. The following new bills were introduced and read a first time : — Bluff Harbor Watei works (Mr Joyce) ; Educational Distiicts (Mr Dick). VISIT TO Tin; EXHIBITION. After some discussion, Mr Sjirim.nki's motion, " That the adjournment of the House to visit Christchurch be from Friday to Wednesday, instead of Thursday to Tuesday," was agreed to, with the addition that the House meet on the evening of Monday, the 10th. July. TIIK LOAN. Mr Barrox, in a brief speech, moved, "That, in the opinion of this House, any proposal for the increase of the public debt of the colony by further borrowing .should be submitted to the electors, and receive the approval of three-fifths of their number before being finally sanctioned by the Legislature. " He pointed out that this principle was already adopted in regard to municipal loans. Mb. Hurstuouse seconded the motion. He and his Nelson colleagues were returned pledged to oppose further borrowing, and to talk of completing trunk hues ot railway which would never pay 2^ per cent, was absurd. Mr Fergus opposed the motion, and contended that many railways were now not paying, which, if carried on to completion, would pay upwards of five per cent, directly, and ho would like to see a measure introduced to enable local bodies to borrow more freely for necessary works. If the motion were carried all the districts already opened up would of course vote against borrowing, and so leave others out in the cold. Sib G-. Grey supported the motion, but admitted that it had been brought forward rather late in the day. Still it was a good motion, and he would support it. Mr Smith regretted that the arrangement by .which districts getting public works were bound to make good any deficiency in working expenses had not been carried out. Mr Suttox opposed the motion, contending that to obtain the vote of three fifths of the electors would be impracticable. Major Atkinson argued that this was an attempt to strike, a blow at representative Government. If they relegated this question to the electors, .why not refer every other question, , and in that way their functions as representatives would be wholly superseded. If representative institutions were to be weakened, it ought to have been attempted in a direct manner, and not as in this instance on a third rate question, - -- - v

Mr Barkon, in reply, "said a question of finance was a first and not a third rate question. There were railway works which ought to be completed, as in the case of the Waikato-Taranaki line, but these lines could be provided for out of the lands through which they passed. The House divided : Ayes, 25 j Noes, 44, and the motion was negatived. EDUCATION VOTE. Mr Hutchison moved that an address be presented to the Governor, praying that £1000 be divided amongst the education boards for encouraging technical education by means of night schools or otherwise, and for establishing and the encouragement of female classes for sewing and cookery. The motion was discussed and carried. The House adjourned at 5.30.