HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2516, 25 August 1888, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

FRIDAY. The House met at 12.30. Sir H. Atkinson said, as the conference between the two Houses in the Mining Act Amendment Bill was still sitting, he should move that the House adjourn till 2 p.m. Agreed to. Replying to Mr Hutchinson, the Premier said the Government had not yet had time tn consider the report on the Joshua JonesMokan case. The House adjourned till 2 o'clock. On resuming Mr Hutchinson proceeded to speak on the Mokau-Jones cuse alleging that the report of the Commissioners on that case wa3 not of a very definite character. The Speaker ruled him out of order on the ground that the present sitting was expressly set apart for local Bills. Hon. Mr Fisher moved the second reading of tho Wellington School of Design Bill, to provide for the establishment of a school of design, technical and other educational purposes in Wellington. Messrs" Samuel, Goldie ana McKenzie (Clutha) opposed tho Bill. Messrs Newman and Wilson supported it. Motion agreed to. Several Bills were read a second time. A lengthy discussion ensued on the committal of the Wellington School of Design Bill. Mr Samuel again protested against the Bill. The committal was agreed to. After some further debate, Mr Thompson (Marsden) moved that progress be reported. Carried by 2!) to 20. Ths Bills mentioned abovo were committed, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 0.30. The House resumed at 7.30. The Local Bodies Audit Bill was read n second time, but on the motion to pass it through the remaining stage Mr Walker objected, as the House knew nothing about it, and further consideration was postponed. Hon. G. F. Richardson reported the agreement come to with the Couucil on the Mining Act Amendment Bill. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr Walker said he thought, after a few months' experience of the Government's finance, it would be found no better than that of tho last ten years, and twitted the Premier with his unwillingness to furnish details of tho £233,000 which lie claimed to have saved last year. Speaking generally, he was of .opinion we had gone too far in borrowing, and the money had not been spent sufficiently on reproductive works, an evil which was being perpetrated by the Government who recognised apparently no law but that of expediency. The general policy of the Government was of a negative character. Dr. Newman criticised the method of raising loans, and objected to the heavy charge for brokerage, etc. Votes were very carelessly placed on the estimates, and money was badly allocated. Col. Fraser said the Thames district had nothing to thank the Government for. Their port had been closed, their property confiscated, and their railway, which Mr Mitchelsou had promised should be gone on with, allowed to rot. He wondered Ministers, who had done these things, were not ashamed to sit on those benches. Mr Mentieth gave it as his opinion that the policy of the Government had been as great a failure as Sir J. Vogel's and condemned the manner in which members obtained votes for their districts and the pressure brought to bear on Ministers in that respect. Hon. Mr Fergus defended the Government from the attack made on it, especially with reference to the defence vote, which was principally required to meet liabilities incurred by the last Government. Mr Goldie said the Statement altogether departed from the proposals laid down in the last Statement. He wanted to know why the Government had broken away from their promises, and ventured to say were it not for the late period of the session tho House would resent this behaviour. The Premier remarked upon statements of the pretended friend of the last Government. Mr Walker resented this term, and also the charge of intriguing for a seat in the Ministry. Sir H. Atkinson warmly retorted, and accused Mr Walker of being qaite unfit for leader of the Opporition, and not knowing how even tb help to in the House. He had undertatyfito to save £300,000 on their estimates and actually had saved £233,000. He denied the Public Works Statement had ever been altered again and again, as stated by Mr Seddon, and claimed that on the whole, every district had been fairly treated. The House then went into committee on the public works estimates. RAILWAY, IIKLKNSVILLE NORTHWARDS. Mr Thompson (Marsden) said he intendea to eppose every vote because'this line had been singled out for au exceptionally small expenditure. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson said the. Government had gone on the principle that they would only recommend expenditure this year on lines that would be beneficial to the public. This lino would be completed when the colony was in a position to do so. (Left Sitting). Mr J. S. Buckland will sell a fine lot of mixed cattle at Ohaupo on Tuesday, and also 25 sacks of the prolific Pringla Triumph oats. We call attention to Mr G. J. Noal's new advertisement.