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

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2193, 29 July 1886, Page 2

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

WEDNESDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Sir R. Stout moved that Government business take precedence on Thursday tor the remainder of the session. Sir G. Grey hoped the Houso would not allow the motion to be carried, as sevotal important bills in charge of private members were on the order paper. Agreed to by 4(5 to 19. Replying to questions, it was stated that engine-drivers and firemen on the New Zealand railways were classified, and wages increased up to 12s per day. No further increase could bo promised ; that the unemployed were receiving the serious consideration of the Government. Sir J. Vogel introduced the Government Life Insurance Bill and the Property Ta\ Bill. The House resumed at 7.30. The Gold Duty Reduction Bill passed through committee, and wa<3 re.id <\, third time. The Beer Duty Amendment Bill, on the motion of Sir J. Vogel was restored ta tlie Order Paper. The Tieasurer moved the pocond reading of the North Island Trunk Railway Loan Application Bill, limiting the expenditure of that loan to the purposes of that railway. Tho Bill was read a second time. The Loan Bill was cormtdtuvd in committee. Mr Bryce asked Sir J. Vogel if there would be a loan next year. The Treasurer refused to be catechised and declined to give any opinion. Being i pushed, he said so far as he could see there would 1)8 no necessity to negotiate a further loan hpfore September 1888. A discna.sinn took place on the question of postponing Clause 3, naming the amount of the lo.in, till after the schedule: was o»nsidered, during which Mr Bryce urged the reduction of the loan. The Chairman refused to allow the schedule to be taken before all thu clauses were disposed of. Mr Dargavillo proposed an amendment allowing part of the loan to bo used for. the puipose of purchasing native land, but tho Chairman ruled it out of order. Major Atkinson pointed out that the clause tallowed a sum not exceeding £1,500,000 to be raised, and argued if they reduced tho items of the schedule it would affect the clause, as they would only need to borrow to the reduced extent. Sir J. Vogel said the Government distinctly refused to accept less than a million and a-half. Negotiations were already in progress with the Agent-General, pointing to a loan of that amount being iaibed in October. Mr Wakefield said this was unheard of. The Premier had definitely invited the House- to cut down tho schedule, and now they were told that Goveriuurnt were already committed to the full amount before the House had given them any authority to r.iihe the loan at all. After some further discussion the clause was earned. The subsequent clauses were then passed. A motion by Mr W. J«\ Bm-k!:md to htnko the vote for the H.unil-tou-Grahamstown Ra.iiw.iv, £53,100, out of the schedule, w.\*< lost by 61 to liJ. (L-jft Sitting.)