PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 974, 20 June 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Tuesday, July 19.

The Legislative Council mot at 2 30. BILLS.

The following Bills were received from the statute Revision Commissioners and read a first time :—Criminal Code Bill, Criminals Execution Bill, Property Laws Consolidation Bill, Trustees Bill, Crown Grants Bill, Sheriffs Bill. questions In reply to the Hon. Mr Wilson, The Hon. Mr Whitaker said the Government intended this session to introduce a Bill to Amend the Native Land and Land Court Laws. COMMITTEES. The usual Sessional Committees were appointed, being those for Petitions, Local Bills (three), Native Affairs, Statute Revision Bills, Standing Orders, Waste Lands, Reporting, Goldfields, Mines, Printing, Private Bills, and Joint Committee on Bills. THE MARRIED WOMEN’S PROPERTY BILL. This Bill was brought in by the Hon. Mr Whitaker and read a first time. ADJOURNMENT. The Council adjourned at five minutes to three. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 19. ThsHouse met at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS. Messrs Bracken, Bathgate and Feldwick presented petitions from the Roman Catholics in Dunedin and Invercargill, praying for modifications of the Education Act. NOTICES. Mr Fish gave notice that he would ask if the Government would introduce a clause into the Licensing Act abolishing the elective Bench of Commissioners, and reverting to the nominated system. Mr Bebtham gave notice of motion—- “ That in the opinion of this House, colonies should be fairly represented in the Imperial Parliament.” Mr Levesxam gave notice that he would ask what saving, if anj, was effected by sending the Government steamer Hinemoa twice to Auckland to bring members to Wellington. Mr M. W. Green gave notice that he would introduce a Bill for regulating the hours of business carried on by shopkeepers. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Ivess, the Colonial Secretary said the Government would introduce a Bill to amend the Regulations of Elections Act, 1879, but as it was within the power of the Judges to regulate the expenses under the Elections Petitions Act, 1880, it would not be amended, but the Judges would be requested to exercise the powers they possessed. —Replying to Mr Hutchison, the Colonial Secretary said tho Government was not aware of any necessity for Instructions being given to the public vaccinators of the colony touching the nature of the lymph used and the conditions and restrictions under which vaccination is to bo enforced.—Replying to Mr Steward, the Minister of Justice said the arrangement for holding a weekly R. M. Court at Waimate would be perfected at the end of this month.—Replying to Mr Ivess, the MiNihTBR for Justice said che Resident Magistrate had been appointed for Ashburton and Wakanui, and he would probably take his seat at the end of this month. Illness had prevented him doing so at an earlier date.

BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read the first time;—Local Courts, Tenants’ Fixtures, Prisons, Bankruptcy (Mr»Conolly); Chattels Securities, Mortgage Release (Mr Feldwiok); Fisheries Bill, Impounding Bill (Mr Dick); to amend the Stamp Act, 1882 (Sir G. < rey); to Provide for the Payment of Coroners’ Juries, and otherwise amend the Coroners’ Act, 1867 (Mr Steward.) COMMITTEES. The usual sessional committees were appointed. ADVERTISING. On the motion of Mr Bracken, a return was ordered, showing the amounts paid per inch to the newspapers throughout the colony which were successful in securing the Government advertising for the current year ; also, tho amounts per inch tendered for by non-successful newspapers. The House adjourned at 3.35 p.m. till 7.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. THE ADDRESS IN REPLY.

Mr Shaw moved that an address be presented to the Governor in reply to the Speech made to both houses. He said the Speech deserved their hearty thanks. He would confine his remarks to the more prominent subjects dealt with by the Speech. He landed the high personal qualities of the Governor, and congratulated the colony on his appointment to New Zealand. The proposal to extend the British rule over the New Hebrides group was one of great importance, and he hoped that sufficient data would be forthcoming to enable them to come to a correct decision on the point. At present he could offer no suggestion on the subject. The improved relations between the two races was next referred to, and he was sure the House would endorse the sentiment expressed by the Governor as to the services of Sir Wiiliam Fox. He thought they might also pass a vote of thanks to the Native Minister for his

share in the improvetaehts thus wrought, He expressed disgust at the calumny cast upon him under the guise of a history of the colony, and felt sure that when the real facts developed themselves he would be completely freed from the imputation. The goldfields industry was next alluded to. He did not desire to set one industry against another, but he showed from statistical information that the mining industry had been even more productive than the wool export, about which they had heard so much, and it had not received fair attention from the House. Direct steam and the San Francisco service were referred to Had they dreamed last session that a forty-three days’ service with England could have been established by the pluck and enterprise of the colony, he questioned it the San Francisco service would have been extended to the extent it hid been. The elective Upper House question was one which would be found most difficult in detail. His present information was not sufficient to guide him on the point, and it was significant that a neighboring colony, where the elective system had been adopted, showed a disposition to return to the nominated system. He trusted that an effort would be made to amend the existing state of the Bankruptcy Law. As it stood the law was a disgrace, and tended to foster commercial immorality. He hoped they would grapple with the subject at the earliest possible moment. He also hoped that stringent measures would be adopted for the punishment of wife and family desertion. The law as it stood at present virtually allowed this class of defaulters to go off free. The administration of justice in inferior tribunals also required amendment. Other places wore far in advance of them in th s respect. He could not understand how it was that the colony delayed adopting the County Court system, which was one which would go far to remove existing grievances. Mr Lee seconded the motion. He reiterated the opinions expressed regarding the admirable qualities of the Governor and his fitness as Governor of this colony. He acquiesced in the expression of opinion re the native question, and it was of the utmost importance that, as far as possible, the islands of the Pacific should be brought under British law. Immigration of the right kind should be fostered, the nominated system being referred to as the most eligible mode. The establishment of a colonial exhibition in London was a judicious method for fostering their commerce, and would tend to increase and extend it.

Mr Montgomery recognised that the Governor had the qualiaes imputed to him, and was glad to find he had been well received by the people throughout the colony, He took exception to the Speech, inasmuch as no reason had been given why the House did not meet in May. The financial year was changed so as to enable the House to meet by the middle of May. All expenditure subsequent to the 31st May was contrary to the spirit of the Appropriation and Control Acts. It was the most barren speech ever delivered to any Parliament, it contained more words and less matter than any previous speech. The nontender for the direct service was just what might have been expected, considering the conditions with which the tender was clogged, and under which no sane man would tender. They were promised the estimates at an early date, but he reviewed and condemned the conduct of the Government in this respect. On the previous year the Estimates were put into their hands five and a half months after the close of the financial year. He charged the Treasurer with deliberately misleading the House. The Roads and Bridges Construction Bill was passed in order to relieve the Estimates from the provisions of that nature, and yet after pressure had been brought upon the Government, favored districts had provisions of this kind made in the Estimates. He alluded to the Queenstown banquet to Mr Fergus as showing this. In other cases, where these provisions were made on the Estimates, it was not so much the result of pressure on the Government as a sense of gratitude for the support given by members. Ihe Taieri and Hamilton bridges were instances in point. Ail these sums were voted in direst opposition to the spirit and purposes ot the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. He hoped this year they would have the Estimates down as promised them, so as to enable them to carefully investigate these abuses. He defied the Government to bring in a Bill to effect the proposed change in the constitution of the Upper House, 'as it would endanger their position. They would bring down resolutions expressing opinions which could be altered if they did not suit. The present Government had done more to bring the Upper House into disrepute than any other Government. They foisted men upon it who had been repeatedly rejected by constituencies. The Prime Minister was an instance in point. He also complained that Wellington was over represented in that Chamber, which was of itself most unfair to the rest of the colony. There was a strong feeling that Wellington legislation was most prejudicial to the rest of the colony, and the time would come when a demand would be made to sweep the Chamber away altogether, unless it was radically reformed, and perhaps the seat of Government might also bo removed. There were a great many things omitted from the speech. There was not a point of policy set forth on which the Ministry would stand or fall. The Government must feel that it had done a great deal to promote a feeling that the entire constitution required immediate and sweeping reform. Mr Fergus and Mr Bathgate having addressed the House at some length, Sir George Grey alluded to the reference to the opening of Kawhia Harbor and the establishment of a township. That had been done in a most flagrantly unfair manner. The first duty of a Government was to its subjects and their rights. If these subjects, in times of trouble, were driven from their lands, in better times it was the duty of Government to restore them to their rights. There was located at Kawhia a family that had been driven from their lands, and instead of rest ring them to their lands the Government allowed the land to be put up to auction, and the Government itself did it in a private name. It was a fraudulent transaction. That family had been robbed, and he asked the House not to endorse such an act on tho part of the Government.

The Hon. Major Atkinson said that the whole transaction referred to by the previous speaker had been before the House, and the House voted money for the purpose. Everyone knew th it sooner or later Kawhia would be opened, but the Government would have acted exceedingly wrongly to have told anyone about its intentions, so as to enable them to make a profit as again t the State, He challenged Sir G. Grey to tost the feeling of the House as to whether or not thi; la d or its value should be given to the family referred to. Regarding the complaint about the House not meeting in May, it arose from the fact that the House was not ready. Every diligence was used in getting the alterations pushed on, but, simply, tney ,could not get the work finished sooner. Mr Montgomery fiad tabled a most unconstitutional motion — a vote of censure on Government to be discussed after the Estimates were brought down. It involved the question of taxation, and he challenged them to proceed with its discussion at one. His speech throughout was a lowering of the tone of the House as accusing members of being bribed. It was a majority of the House that carried these votes, and consequently

it was die'? £oase, mid Government, that was to bUraie, Wit the hon. member, knew there w«|,t no bribery. The Roads and‘Bridges Construction Bill had been passed for wise and prudent purposes, and he believed, that it would save much of the imputations that had been made against them. He defended the action of the Government in freeing the Wanganui and Hamilton bridges. In regard to the Taieri bridge, a vote was sub- : J mitted and approved of by the House, so that Mr Montgomery'* complaints under these heads fell to the ground. The complaint about the Upper House, and that the Government had foisted rejected candidates upon the Upper House, simply amounted to this; that one man who had had a seat in the House continuously for twenty years saw fit to resign, and was called to the Upper House. It was monstrous to think that a leading man like the Premier should be debarred from the Legislature of the colony simply because he happened to be once defeated in an election. It rested with the Crown to say who was to be called to that Chamber, and no good cause had been shown why its choice should be limited in the way proposed. He regretted that the Opposition was not more united, so as to enable it to do its duty more fully. r All the Government business of the session I was ready, and unless obstructed by the | Opposition it would be put forward at ] once. Last year the Opposition was entirely responsible for the Estimates being brought down so late. It might be that they would have to proceed with their business without reference to Mr Montgomery, and if necessary they would adopt that course in order to save time. He challenged them if they had a policy to try - conclusions at once, and having settled the question proceed with the business, and, get finished with as 1 ttle delay ai possible.'' The Government wanted to have a short session. They were willing to have a fight, and then go on with their reah work, but if' the other aide would not meet them in fair combat, but try to embarrass them with such motions as were bn the Order Paper—motions not really meant—the Government might have to call on its supporters to proceed with the real business of the country, irrespective of anything the hon. member for Akaroa might say or do. Messrs Fish, J. W. Thomson, Fulton, and Joyce also spoke.

Mr Seddon moved the adjournment, ol the debate. - ' 3 The Bouse rose at 11.40.