HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 2420, 31 July 1891, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

j The House met at 2.30 pm. HBPLIK3 TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers stated that the Rail.vay Commissioners were not aware that the railway employees had received an intimation that unless they left the Railway Servants' Society there was no chance of their being promoted ; that steps would be taken to stop the destruction and exportation of oysters at the Bay of Islands ; that the Government did not consider that business had progressed sufficiently far to justify them m bringing down the Public Works Statement as yet; that the Government were considering the expediency of opening an intercolonial cable, and that if it could be arranged it would make a great reduction m the cost of cabld messages ; that fines collected from telegraphists for mistakes m transmitting telegrams were put aside for the special purpose of assisting officers who were m financial difficulties, and whose cases were such as warranted assistance. THE AGENT GENERAL. Replying to Mr Bryce, Mr Reeves said that the Goveanment had not yet decided who was to fill the vacancy iv the AgentGeneralship m London. Mr Fisher moved the adjournment of the House. He said that it was a very unusual proceeding that the Howse and the country had not been informed who was to be appointed to this important position. Mr Bryce said that he was not satisfied with the Minister's reply. His opinion was that the Government should take the House into their confidence, and ask for its counsel on such an important question. Mr Reeves agreed that, this was a question that affected the character and reputation of the colony, aud he assured the House that the Government would do nothing derogatory to the reputation of the colony m making the appointment. Mr Fisher replied that a certain section of the House were determined to know more about this appointment before the House was prorogued. TEBSECUTION OV RUSSIAN JEWS. On the motion of Sir George <irey, seconded by Mr Ward, it was decided ".Thit a memorial be addressed to the Czar of Russia respectfully praying that all exceptional and restricted laws which afflict his Jewish subjects may be repealed, and that equal rights with those enjoyed by the rest of His Majesty's subjects may be conferred upoa them, and that the said memorial be signed by the Speaker and be by him transmitted to His Majesty." Th c House rose at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. A PROTEST BY THE OPPOSITION. Mr Bryce said that he wished to refer to the attitude assumed by the Government towards the Opposition, an attitude which he considered unfair, unjust, and particularly obnoxious. He quoted from recent issues of the " Lyttelton Times" and Dunedin "Star," and read paragraphs which had been sent to those papers from their Wellington correspondents, commenting on the obstruction which had been coming of late from the Opposition benches. He went on to say that, he had made full enquiries into the action of the Opposition on Friday night last, when they were said to have stonewalled the btnd Bi!l, and he had ascertained that there was nothing on that evening m the shape of obstruction on the part of the Opposition. With reference to a statement m Ithe newspapers that the Opposition Whips had stated m the lobbies that the Opposition would not allow the Government to transact any business this session except passing the Estimates, he characterised it as a slight on their reputations as politicians. He must, therefore, give the statement a direct denial. He condemned the action of the Government m counting out the House on Saturday morning, just as a member ef the Opposition was rising to refute certain statements that had been made ©n the Government side of the House. Mr Buckland complained that he had been grossly misrepresented m connection with the part which he took m Friday night's affair. Mr Valentine, m explaining the part he took on Friday night, said that the Land Bill was attempted to be thrust dqwji their throate by the Minister" qf Lauds, who had a large majority afc'his back, the Opposition had no dpsire to stonewafl, bift they did claim that freedom of speeoh which would enable them freely to ventilate their opinions on the measures brought before them by the Government. Mr W. 0. Smith said that Mr Buckland distinctly mentioned to him on Saturday morning that the Government would only be allowed to pasa the Estimates,,and that the Labor Bills and Land Bill would have to go this session. Mr Buckland rose and declared that ]\|r Smith had put a wrong construction, on his remarks."'" After some further discussion the matter was dropped. INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS BILL. On the motion of Mr George Hutchison the Indecent Advertisements Bill was road a second time. GAMING AND LOTTERIES BILL. Mr George Hutchison moved the second reading of the Gaming and Lotteries Bijl' to suppress improper pastimes, and tore! gulate&e use qf lotteries. ' '.' " "" Captain Russell thought that the House qweel the member for Waifcotara a debt of gratitude for introducing this Bill, as the Act m force iv the colony at present was m some respects extremely absurd, and m other*} a dead letter. The motion was agreed to. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS CANCELLATION BILL. The House went into Committee on the Legislative Council Appointments Cancellation Bijl, ■" " Sir John Hall gave a long list of ap> pointments. made by previous Govern* ments, as. showing that more thank on« Gjoveynment had tried to obtain an undue proportion of power m the Legislative Council. He was inclined to move that certain names to added to those contained m the BilJ. Captain Russell moved that all the iwqes hi t% B;iir he struck gut. He ob< jeefced to. tins *' society hunting," Let them carry on their businesslike sensible man, and not »o on playing like a lot of school-boys. Mr Seddon agreed with the last speaker that very little would come of this measure. Mr Bryce suggested that the best way of getting rid of the measure would be to report progress, and ask leave to sit Jigaiib Allowing, full welli. that nothing axote would fee heaixl of iii tliis passion. , r •Several members took'exception to (this course of action. ■ ' . \i Mr Rees said that he was willing that progress should be'reported, after a votj

had been taken on Captain Russell* amendment. Mr Scobie McKenzie said that the Bill would degrade Parliament, and he was certain that if it were to go to a third reading its progress would be arrested. Sir George Grey was not satisfied that the Bill should be withdrawn. .It was their duty to carry the Bill, and if the Legislative Council rejected it, they should put a sufficient number of now councillors into that Chamber to carry it. Captain Russell's amendment was lost by 28 to 19. The following is the division list on Captain Russell's amendment: — Ayes—lryce, Buchanan, Buckland, Duthie, Hall, Hamlin, Harkness, Lowiy, Mackenzie (M.J.), Mackenzie (T.), Moore, Newman, Rhodes, R:chardson, Rolieston, Russell, Swan, Thomson (J. W.), Valentine.—l 9. _ j>oks—Buick, Carncross, Dawson, Duncan, Fish, Fisher, Fraser, Grey, Hall-Jones, Hogg, Houston, Hutchison (G.). Hutchison (W.) Joyce,Kelly (J.) Kelly (W.), Mackintosh, Meredith, Mills (C.H.), Pinkerton, Rees Saunders, Slier*, Smith (E.M.), Jmith. (W. 0.), Tanner, Taylor, Thompson (i.)~ 28. Pairs—For : Wilson, Wright, Bkke, Mills. '„ j ii Against: O'Conor, Reeves, Macdonali', Palmer. Mr Rees moved to report progress, which was agreed to, and the Bill was ordered to be considered that day fort night. The House rose at 12.10 a.m.