PARLIAMENT.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1286, 20 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, 18. Supply was again brought forward at yesterday afternoon's sitting of the House, but arrested by the following resolution, moved by Mr Bathgate : — " That it is desirable that the place for the meeting of Parliament should be in a situation more generally convenient for, members, and more easily protected than the present, and that any change be effected at the least possible cost. The Government be authorised during the recess to enter into .provisional negotiations for the purchase of 2000 acres, or thereabouts, situated on the main line of railway in the Middle Island, say within 20 miles from some centre of population, for the purpose of founding a legislative capital, with suitable parks and other appropriate accessories. Mr Bathgate submitted the arguments in favor of the removal of the seat of Government to a site, nob named in the South Island. lie argued that the present seat of Government was exceedingly inconvenient to members representing constituencies in Otago and Canterbury, and estimated the total expense of adopting the proposed removal at £100.000. He believed an excellent inland site could be procured in the Canterbury district for £10 or £12 an acre, for the amount he had named the necessary buildings could be got, which would be a credit to the Colony. He pointed out the unwisdom of selecting a capital which was on the sea coast. One reason why Otawa was chosen as the seat of Government in Canada was its freedom from surprise by the enemy, and expressed his opinion that in Wellington we were holding out a temptation for enemies to come and attack us. It was absurd to think of fortifying the sea coast of New Zealand. To attempt to do such a thing would be literally throwing money into the sea. The Minister of Lands remarked that he could not believe that Mr Bathijate was serious in moving his resolution. He asked the House to go on with the business of the country. The present proposal was not within the range of practical politics. Having said this Mr Eolleston sat down. Mr J. W. Thomson could not agree with him that the proposal was not within the range of practical politics, in which respect it differed from some other schemes! the national insurance scheme for instance. He supported the resolution. Mr Moss voted against it, believing there was already too much of an attempt on the part of the South Island to interfere with the management of affairs in the North Island. So long as the present system of Government was in existence he for one, would prefer to see Wellington the seat ofc Government, though it was time that the present system which kept the Wellington members distinct in the House, as in all questions that came before them they had Wellington to consider (Mr Hutchison ' no ') He wanted, however, to give the member for Wellington credit for rising above that view. Mr Montgomery said his own view was that we should have local Government in the North Island, and local Government in the South Island, He intended, however, to vote for Mr Bathgate's motion, simply because it was his friend's motion, and that of a gentleman he respected very highly. He firmly believed that the future ■would see either the seat of Government removed from Wellington, or local government established in each Island. The motion was then put to the vote, and rejected by,a majority of 4, the votes being 29 in favor of the proposal, and 83 against it. The question was put in the form of the words " That the Speaker do now leave the chair, in order that the House may go into Committee of Supply " stand part of the question. The Estimates were gone through very slowly, and progress was reported at 3.30 a.m., when the House rose. It is now fully expected that the work of the session will be brought to a close the week after next, and that the prorogation will take place either on the 31st inst., or on the following Tuesday. The c are, however, still no fewer than 73 bills on the parliamentary order' paper in various stages of progress. It is hardly improbable that more than half of these, if so many, will reach the Statue-book. It is understood that the Government will introduce, next week a Bill providing for the reconstruction of the Legislative Council as an elective body, and for the election of Councillors. It is not intended however, to proceed with it this session, the intention being to read it a lirst time, and then circulate it for the consideration of the Government and the constituents during the recess. The floating of the proposed Wellington Woollen Company is making good progress, in spite of the counter .attraction existing in the Terawhili Gold Company.