HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1896, 30 August 1884, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY.

[»Y TKLKGHAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] The House met at 7.30 p.m. NEW BILLS. Sir George Giey gave notice to more for leave to nitioduce a bill for the repeal of the Property Tax and the introduction of a Land t<i\ ; a bill for the reduction of members' lionoiam this session, a bill to regulate the admission of persons to the practice ot the law, and a bill to admit uttinnations in lien of oaths. brAL'EMENT BY MAJOR ATKINSON. Maior Atkinson, said he had been succesful in forming a Go\ernni'nt, and six Ministers had been sworn in that afternoon. He took the poitf olios of Premier and Commissioner of Stamps, Mr Wakeheld that of Colonial Secretary ; Capt. Russell, that of Postmaster-Geneial, Mr Huitathou>e that of Lands, Mr Mitcholson, tli.it of Public Works, and Mr McLuan, that of Trade and Customs. He hoped to be able to till up the vacant portfolio in less than a week and meantime craved the indulgence of the House. On Tuesday ue\t he trusted to be in a position to make a statement of the policy of the Government, and would now ask for .supplies for a foitmght, viz., £7-"),000 for consolidited revenue purposes and £75,000 for public works. Mr Stout said he would not oppose the granting of supplies, but he meant to att-ick the Government in another way. This was simply a revival of the Atkinson Government, against which the country had htiongly pronounced. He would at the very eailiest moment give notice to move that the House has no confidence in the Government. Major Atkinson denied that the Government could justly be designated a revival of the old Atkinson Government. He could not help being an Atkmsoman, but the Government was in eveiy 1 expect different from the old Government. He was prepared to go on with the no-confidence motion the following night.

WAN'f-OF-oovFinKXCE motiov. Mr Stout then gave notice that ho would move hii motion on the following day. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Sir Julius Vogel, in a short speech, ciiticised the financial administration of the Atkinson Government. He contended that £400,000 worth of deficiency bills, issued by the Goervnment should have been shown on the accounts. He also complained that unnecesbaiy delays in the payment of moneys due to contractors hadoccnired. M.ijnr Atkinson characteusert Sir Julius Voxel's speech as his own Financial Statement of last session dished up. He defended his actions as Treasmer, and pointed out that the deficiency bills were taken up as the revenua came in. Nothing would be gained by showing them m the accounts. He considered the alleged delay in payments to con ti actors was caused by the fault of the contractor a themselves in failing to carry oue the terms of their contracts.

SUPPLT. The House then \\ ent into Committee of Supply, when a bill for the amount asked, £150,000, \va*i passed through all itb stages. The House rose .it 8.45.