PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 971, 16 June 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE

Friday, June 15. COMMITTEES. The Hon, Captain Baillie was re-ap-pointed Chairman of Committees. The usual House and Library Ooramitlees were appointed, and notices were given for the other sessional committees. The sitting lasted only ten minutes. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, June 15. The House met at 2.30 p.m. COMMITTEES. Notices of the appointment of a number of. sessional committees were given, and a large number of notices of motion on general subjects. BILLS. The Hon. Mr Couolly gave notice of asking leave to introduce the Prisons Bill, Bankruptcy Bill, Tenants Fixtures Bill, and Local Courts Bill. QUESTIONS. Mr Wynn-Williams, without notice, asked if the Minister of Justice was aware of the loss and inconvenience caused in Canterbury by the illness of the Resident Magistrate of Christchurch, and the gentleman who had been acting for him being called to other duties. The Minister of Justice replied that the Christchurch Resident Magistrate was now able to return to his duty, and before Mr Whitefourd was appointed on the Otago Gaol Commission he had stated that arrangements had been made to prevent inconvenience arising from his absence. In reply to Mr Montgomery, The Hon. Major Atkinson stated that when the Address in Reply had been carried, when the Committee of Supply had been set up, and when Sir George Grey’s motion in favor of ihe Land; Tax had been disposed of, ha would take an early opportunity of making a statement to the House as to the order of the Government business.

Replying to Mr J. McKenzie, The Hon Mr Johnston stated he would be prepared to make the Public Works Statement a few days after the Financial Statement was made. Replying to Mr Hutchison,

The Hon Mr Dick said his attention had been directed to the desirability of periodically removing School Inspectors from one district to another. This could only be done by amending the Education Act, and placing all the Inspectors under the Inspector-General, independent of the Boards. The subject was an important one, and there was a good deal to be raid on both sidea. He was not prepared —at least this session—to propose any amendment in the existing law on the subject. In reply to Mr Hutchison,

The Hon Mr Roltesi.on stated that the Government were awaiting proof of the existence of paying gold at Terawhiti before expending money in making roads to that locality;

Mr Hutchison asked the Minister for Public Works whether, when the railway employees were cautioned some time ago to held do communication with members of the Legislature or other persons touching their grievances on pain of dismissal, such a caution was merely a menace of : the heads of the department, or whether it was seriously proposed to dismiss workmen for seeking the redress of any grievance under which thn-y might suffer. The Hon. Mr Johnston said the rule forbidding communication with outside people on official matters applied to. the whole Civil Service. Circumstances had rendered it necessary to recall this notice to the memory of the railway employees. The rule was not an undesirable one, but perhaps the notice might have been more happily worded. Mr Hutchison further asked whether, if a railway employee entrusted him |with a petition to the House about some grievance, would the petitioner be dismissed.

The Speaker said that none could impose any restriction on the right to approach the House by petition. In reply to Sir George Grey, The Hon. Major Atkinson said he would as soon as possible after the Address in Reply was carried, move the House into supply, so that Sir' George, Grey’s Lind Tax resolution should be at once discussed and decided.

Sir George Grey said that his motion had stood on the order paper for two months last session without causing any excitement. The Colonial Treasurer could move the House into supply if he liked, but he (Sir George Grey) intended to take his own time to collect his facts and to bring his motion forward. BILLS. The following -new Bills were introduced and read the first time:—Eight Hours Bill(Mr M. W. Green); Local Option Extension Bill (Mr M. W. Green); Election of School Committee Bill ('Mr Steward); .Pacific Annexation Bill (Sir G. Grey); Moral Training in* Public Schools Bill (Mr M. W. Green); Workman’s Lien Bill (Mr Feldwick); Members’ Privileges Bill (Sir G. Grey); Affirmation in lieu of Oaths Bill (Sir G. Grey); Changes in the Constitution Bill (Sir G. Grey); Law Practitioners Bill (Sir G. Grey). In reference to Sir George Grey’s Bill that the General Assembly of New Zealand shall consist of a Governor and a House of Representatives, The Speaker said it appeared from the title to aim at the repeal of the 32ud clause of the Constitution Act, which was one of the clauses which the Assembly could not alter. He wished to direct the mover's attention to this before the Bill was printed. FORMAL. The Library and House Committees were appointed RETURNS. The following return was ordered, on ti e motion of Mr Macandrew :—Return showing under distinct headings the respective amounts contributed by each provincial district to the colonial revenue from customs, stamps, land and property tax, beer tax, and territorial revenue for the financial year ending 31st March, 1883 (in continuation of a similar return for 1881 and 1882). Mr Feldwick moved for papers in reference to gaol punishments in continuation of, H 32 and H 32a of the session of 1882. He stated this was a continuation of the return of gaol punishments ordered last session.

The Minister of Justice said the return was in print, and would be given in the appendix to the Inspector of Prisons’ report.

ADJOURNMENT. At 3,30 the House adjourned to Tuesday, ■ • : ' :