HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1862, 12 June 1884, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TUESDAY. The House met at half-past two. Mr Steward gave notice of amendment on the Addreas-in-Reply, that the Government as constituted did not possess the confidence of the House. Sir Geo. Grey gave notice of motion for 'the abolition of the postage rate on newspapers, and a bill to regulate the admlasjon of persons to the practice of the law.*Sir Goo. Grey gavo notice that he would move on Friday, " That this House has no confidence in the Government, either m its administration or in its general conduct of affairs." Replying to Mr Hutchinson, Mr Bryce said the restriction hitherto placed on' the alienation of lands vested in the natives, And specified in the Gazette of May last had been done at the request and in the interests of the owners, with the exception of 0113 case rec nntneuded by the We 4 Coast Commissioner, Sir William Fox. Replying to Mr Dargaville, Mr Mitchelson said Government would shortly be in a position to make a formal recommendation to the House a^ to the route of the North Island main trunk line. He hoped to make his Public Works Statement in a lortnight, and the repoit and maps would be attached to it if not previously pubJished. , , , The following Bills were introduced and read a first time : Land Act, 1877, Amendment (Mr Rolleston) ; Married Women's Property, Alienation of Land, Local Courts, Bankruptcy Act Amendment, Supreme Cmrt Registrar, Taratiaki Empowering (Mr Gon.>lly) ; Auckland -Harbour Board, Timber Floating (Mr Mitchelson) ; OUgo Harbour Board Empowering Act, 1875, Amendment; RoguUtion of Election* Act, 1881, Amendment ; Representation Act, 1881, Amendment ; P.t.liwnentary Electors (Mr Diok) ; Persons (Mr Shriuwki); To Amend the Anatomy Act, 1875 (Mr Fulton); To Amend the Auckland College and Grammar School Act, 1877 (Mr Dargaville). On the motion for the appointment of a Select Committee to consider Bills that may be introduced affecting land, Mr Sedd-m objerted, in view of the adverse motion that bad been given notice of. He called on the Government to state what course they proposed to puisue in tho circumstances. Major Atkinson said th.it as the amendment on the Address in Reply had not bsen tabled by a recognised leader, Government did not think it would be right to delay the business until that motion had been disposed of. If a recognised leader of the Opposition asked for the delay the Government w mid be prepared to acp/e cc. Sir G. Grey objected to the business going on, and suggested a postponement of the debate until the amendment had been disposed of. Major Atkinson said the Government at once recognised Sir George Grey as tho leader of the Opposition, and willingly accepted the proposal for postponement, which was agreed to. It wan then agreed that the motion for the Addresi in Reply should be taken up at •half -past seven.

THK ADPBKSS-IN-REPLY. Dr. Newman moved tho address-m-reply. Referring to the depression in the colony, he recommended as a remedy that the exports should be increased and the imports lesiened, and that the colonists generally should practice frugality. He deprecated froe immigration, because its tendency was to swell the town population to tht) detriment of the country. What was required was a better class of immigrants. H« thought the State should retain the land now in its hands for the benefit of the State and the ultimate easing of taxation. Such a policy would also tend to prevent the acquisition of large estates by private individuals. He advocated leasing tm * long tenure and the resumption of pre-emption by the Crown. He favoured federation, and defended the Civil Service. He was favourable to electoral reform and the enfranchisement of women. Mr M. VV; Gfreen seconded the motion, and spoke generally in fa\our of the Government policy as shadowed forth in the Governors speech. Mr W. J. Steward, in moving as an amendment''That the Governor's advisers have not the confidence of the country," accused the Government of want of consistency and fixity of purpose. They had been promised nil sorts of reforms, but these were not forthcoming. The country had heard a great deal about the reform of the Civil Service, but had the Government, as it ought, addressed itself to this question last year there would not now be a deficiency. He referred to the numerous changes in the Government land policy, and condemned the present" system of taxation. He hinted that hft was acting for Mr Montgomery. Mr Lstfestam seconded the amendment. On tho motion of Mr Macandrew tho debate was-adjourned to enable many members not yet arrived to be present and take The House rose at 10.15 p.m.