PARLIAMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1718, 10 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

YESTERDAY. Tjie House met at 7.30. Mr J. McDonald took the oath and seat for Bruce. Sir Geo. Grey moved the second reading of the Constitution Act Amendment Bill (No 2), which was the same motion he had introduced last session. He held it to be the inherent riuht of the people of such a colony as this to choose the form of Government under which Miey would live. This right was only partially secured by the present Constitution Act. No provision was therein made for any deadlock between the two Chambers. He held that the Assembly had full power to make provision on the subject, as he now proposed to do. It would prevent all ill-considered constitutional changes by taking the deliberate opiniou of the people of the colony on all such changes. Major Atkinson said nothing had been advanced to justify the enormous change in the habits, customs and constitution of the colony which this bill proposed. The only great change in the constitution which had taken place was the abolition of the provinces, and on that the deliberate opinion of the people was fairly taken. If it was worth the while of any Government to corrupt the electors, it had been said a plebiscite would afford a very easy means of doing it, Mr Macandrew denied that abolition had been carried on in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the people of the colony. Sir G. Grey replied. The House divided on the second reading : — Ayes, 24 ; noes, 46. The Eight Hours Kill was considered in committee. (Left Sitting.