HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3118, 9 July 1892, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THURSDAY. The House met at half-past two p.m. Mr Soddon returned the interrupted debate on the motion that an import duty should be placed on all coals imported into the colony. Mr Seddon also stated that last year 120,000 tons of coal were imported into New Zealand. He moved that the matter be referred to a select committee to make inquiries, after which the House could deal with it, and coma to a definite conclusion. Mr Kolleston said that ho would not be a party in any way to the entertaining by A committee of a question of this magnitude, A protective policy was a most dangerous one for this colony to adopt. The debate, was interrupted by the halfpast five p.m. adjournment. Mr L:i,wry moved the second reading of (ho Compensation to Licensed Victuallers Bill. He thanked those members who were strongly opposed to his Bill for not putting any obstacles in his way in bring it before the House. Mr Bdlace sp ike in favour of the Bill and Mr Seddon opposed it, Mr Uuthie moved that the Bill be not withdrawn, and that the Government should bring in a Bill dealing with the whole matter. The motion for the second reading was negatived on the voices. Mr Duthie's amendment was also lost on a division by 27 t022. The following is the division list :— For Mr Duthie's amendment, 22 : Messrs Allen, Blake, Auckland, Dawson, Duncan. Duthin, Fish, Fisher, Fraser, H ukness, G. Hutchinson, W. Kelly, Lake, La wry, T. Mackenzie, Moore, Richardson, Raileston, Russell, Swan, Taylor, Wright Against, 27 : Messrs. Ballance, Buick, Cadinan, Cairneros-i, Carroll, Kirnsbaw, IT aII -Jones, Hogg, Houston, Joyce, J. Keliv. J. Mclean. Merest'-, \«w.i.-.n. O'CiM.r, I'aooer, fioLrrfon, i:. 11, J. Reeves, lihod ;s, Sandt .rd, Saunders, Seddon, Sheiv, Tanner. R. Thompson. No correct list of pairs was available. FRIDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr Houston Mr Ballance said it was proposed to continue the bonus on exported fish.

Mr liallanee moved: " That this House desires to express its opinion that the proposed introduction of coloured labour into Australia by the resumption of recruiting amont' the islands of the Pacific is a retro grade step, calculated to do .serious injury; to the people of Australasia, as well us the coloured races concerned, and this House' authorises Sir George Grey to repre-ent this colony in Australia in reference to the question." He said there was no desire on the part of the Government to unduly interfere with the other colonies, but this was a question of intercolonial importance.

Captain Russell expressed tha opinion that if this colony interfered with Queensland in this mutter they would have to re-open the whole question of federation. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. The debate on the motion, re the introduction of Kanaka labour into Queensland was resumed. Mr Fish moved as an amendment: " That the information at the disposal of the llouse on this question is so limited that it would be unwise to express ahy decided opinion on the matter/' After discussion, the motion was agreed lo by 34 to IS, and the amendment lost. Tile motion for the second reading of the Oyster Fisheries Hill to consolidate and amend the law relating to the oyster fisheries was agreed to.

•Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill to validate leases on the West Coast, to

put an end to the- litigation that had been gying 011 for some years, and to establish friendly relations between lessees and (Lett sitting, 12 10 a.m.)