HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1456, 13 October 1884, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

estimates. Wellington, 6. On the item Higher Education, Hatch moved that it be I'educed £650. The committee divided — Ayes 17, Noes 35. Item as printed passed. Miscellaneous Services, £4.000. Hursthoijse moved that the vote be omitted. The committee divided on the motion that the amount be received — Ayes 41, Noes 5. Item | passed. Progress was reported end the House rose at 2.50 a.m. October 7. The House mrt at 2.30. Keplyingto questions. It was stated that a classfication of j native school teachers was about to be made with a view to a readjustment of salaries. It is intended to complete the sanatorium at Ohinemute as soon as possible. Government had no ohjpccion to get the waters of a medical spring at HaveI lock, Marlborough, analysed for public information. The conditions of the lease of Wallsend Coal Mine Company, Grey River, would not be enforced, as the Company had gone to great trouble and expense in carrying out operations. A boiler which burst at Timaru last year had been inspected and reported | as safe. The accident arose from ! altogether exceptional circumstances. > The ground at the foot of Mount ; Cook and the Muller glacier would be , reserved, and • Government would consider the necessity for reserving the land 5 chains wide round the lakes and rivers in Mackenzie county, for fish and boating purposes. ; On the motion of Stout it was agreed that Government business should have precedence on Wednesday for the remainder of the session, half days being given private members from to- ; morrow. | Vogel moved the second reading of j the Government Insurance Associaj tion Bill. ■ Atkinson supported the motion. j The late Government felt the assistance j of a board such as that proposed was ! very necessary in regard to many questions of management and control The motion was carried on the understanding that a term would be allowed for considering the measure before going into committee. On the motion for going into committee on the District Railways Leasing and Pui'chasing Bill, J. W. Thomson moved as an amendment that the bill be referred to the Public Accounts Committee for further information and investigation. ' The debate on the motion for going into committee on the District Railways Leasing Bill was resumed by Lake. He asked what was the urgent necessity for such a measure as this, and he would like to know why Government had brought it down at so late a period of the session. Further information should be placed before the members, and until this was done he would oppose the measure. J. B. Whyte, Sutter and Walker spoke in support of the bill going into committee. Bryce had no objection to the bill going into committee, but at the same time he would like to see a select com miltee appointed to collect information to lay before the House. Pyke urged that the bill be allowed to go into committee without further discussion. On the second reading he said the House affirmed the principle of the bill by three to one. Atkinson would favor the bill going into committee. He had read the bill carefully, but could not understand what Government intended to do. He doubted whether they knew themselves. He asked that now that the House had affirmed the principle of taking over these railways, will it render the colony liable. If the bill was referred to a committee it would expedite its passage through the House. Vogel, in reply, could not see what harm "would be done by allowing the bill to at once go into committee. After further discussion the House divided on the motion for going into committee— Ayes, 47; Noes, 29. On clause 3, J. B. Whyte moved an

amendment that not contract for the purchase of railways be of any avail until laid before the Parliament and sanctioned. On a division the amendment was lost by 38 to 25. On clause 5 Turnbull moved that the words " With the addition thereto of the actual amounts of rates." The committee divided and the question was put that the words stand as printed — Ayes, 26; Noes, 25. The clause was then passed and progress was reported. The House adjourned at 1.15 a.m. Wellington, 7. The following classes of the estimates were passed last evening : — Customs, Marine and Harbors, Stamps, Post and Telegraph. Considerable discussion took place on this class — Mr Guinness complained of the treatment of the postmaster at Charleston ; jMr W. F. Buckland expressed a hope that the West Coast members would not in future be suchanuisance in the House as they had lately proved to be. The item passed without amendment. I Higher Education . — Mr Hursthouse opposed the vote. — Mr Guinness moved that the. vote be struck out. Higher education had no right to be maintained at the public expense. — Mr Seddon considered that higher education was inseparable from the free, secular, and compulsory primary schools. It would be more in unsion with common sense of the member if he had moved in the matter of getting £1000 each for the high schools of Grey mouth and Hokitika. The vote passed. Education department and school buildings, vote passed.