HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3136, 20 August 1892, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

FRIDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. McKen/.ie moved that Clause 48 of the Stock Bill (providing that twopence perhead be paid yearly for every head of cattle over 10 head and two shillings for every hundred or fractional part of a hundred sheep) bo referred to the Committee or tho whole House. Lost by 35 to 22. Mr McKenzifl said after the decision arrived at by the Committee he should not go on with the Bill.

Mr Rolleston said the clause which the Committee had rejected was a very small item compared with th« whole Bill and he could not congratulate the Minister on the stand he had taken. The Minister had proposed taxatun which would be vexations to every etriall farmer in the colony, and the Bill was just as complete without the clause that had been rejected as? with it and he could not understand the exhibition A temper shown by the Minister over the matter, Mr McKenzie denied that he had ehown any exhibition of temper. Mr Ballance said Mr Rolleston made a great deal of small matters of this kind. It was not a question of taxation at all, and the proper time to discuss this clause wan when the Bill was in committee of the whole House. Hβ was surprised at the want of courtesy shown to the Minister fur Lands in this mattor, and said it was unprecedented. A lengthy discussion ensued, during which Mr Hutchison (Waitotara) came into conflict with the Chairman, and was reported to the Speaker for disorderly conduct. Mr Ballance therefore moved that the House regrets that Mr Hutchison, member fur Waitotara, bus been guilty of disorderly conduct in refusing to obey the chairinau of committee*, and after considerable discussion Mr Ballance sail it would be his duty to move the resolution that the chairman's authority should be upheld. Hon. Reeves moved the adjournment of the House till 7.30 to enable some settlement of the question to be arrived at. Several members spoke to this motion tho debate being interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Sir George Grey said Mr Hutchison had asked him to read the following statement to the House : "It having been suggested that an assurance should be given by me that I had no desire to defy the authority of the Chair, I readily give such assurance in addition to what I have already said. The Chairman of Committees had signified to him (Sir G-eorjje) that the statement would satisfy him altogether. The Speaker said that no doubt the Hi .use would regard the explanation a< satisfactory. Mr Rees said the assurance given by the member for Waitotara seemed to him to absolutely remove the difficulty. Mr Ballance then asked leave to withdraw his motion which was granted. Mr Hutchison was then readmitted to tho Chamber and informed of the settlement of the matter. Mr Cadman moved the second reading of the Native Lands Purchase Bill to provide for payments and purchases of native lands and for facilitating the caquirements of such lands. After a long debate the second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill referred to the Native Affairs Committee.