PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 975, 21 June 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, June 20. QUESTIONS. In reply to Sir G. vVhitmore, the Premier said the reason the accounts of the last three months of the financial year had not been published was because it was usual to reserve them for the Financial Statement. —ln reply to the Hon. Mr Robinson, the Hon. Mr Oliver said the Union S.S. Company were charged the same as the public for goods carried by rail from Christchurch to Lyttelton. address in reply. The Hon Mr Brandon moved the adoption of the Address in Reply, which was quite formal. The Hon Mr Barniooat seconded it. Both speakers doubted whether there was any demand from the public to alter the constitution of the Council. Sir G. Whitmore deprecated the action of the Hon. Mr Bryce in shaking hands with Te Kooti, and eulogised the appointment of the Hon. Mr Brandon to the Council. He questioned whether electing the Council would improve it, and said that ho considered this paragraph in the Speech was the greatest insult ever offered to a body of men. The Hon. Mr Whitaker said he believed Hare’s system would be the best way of electing the Council, but he did not think anything could be done in the matter this year. The Hon. Dr Grace said although the Council was supposed to represent property they had never flinched from taxing themselves.

The Hon. Mr Mantecl said when any improved constitution was brought before them he would support it. The debate was adjourned. BILLS.

The following Bills were read a second time without debate, and referred to the Statute Revision Committee :—Criminal Code Bill; Criminals Execution Bill; Property Law Oonsilidation Bill; Trustee Bill; Crown Grants Bill; Sheriffs Bill. The Ooun il adjourned at 6 p.m.

house:of representatives.

Wednesday, June 20. The House met at 2.30 p.rn. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave oi absence for two weeks was gran'od to Messrs Hobbs and Pilliet, QUESTIONS In reply to Mr Levestam, the Colonial Treasurer said steps would be taken during the ensuing year for the erection of a light in the French pass and a beacon at Jackson’s Head. Want of funds had prevented this being done last year.—Replying to Mr Wynn-Williams, the Colonial Secretary said the Government was looking into the propriety of requiring all Insurance Companies doing business in this colony to be compelled to register under the Companies Act, and defl ate information on the sub-, jeot would be given shortly. The end in view would scarcely be attained by merely registering under the Apt. —Replying to Mr Steward, the Colonial Secretary said dogs required to be registered within the counties in which their owners either resided or carried on business. Ho Bill to amend the Act in that direction was

therefore required so as to meet the case of the Waimate and adjoining county.— Replying to Mr Pearson, the Minister op Public Works said the Government understood the report of the Canterbury West Coast Railway Commission would be available at an early date. —Replying to Mr Levestam, the Minister of Public Works said the Government did not consider it necessary to include the line from Nelson via Tophouse to the West Coast for consideration of the Royal Commission, as provision had been made for carrying out the line, and a portion was provided for.—Replying to Mr Tawhai, the Minister for Lands said, as soon as 'he plans were ready, the Opua block situated at Kawakawa would be offered for sale.— Replying to Mr Bracken, the Colonial Treasurer said instructions has been issued for examinations to be made under the Tea E~-ruination .Act. No oases had arisen under the Act, but there was no reason to believe that adulterated tea was being imported.—Replying to Mr Hutchison, the Minister for Lands said the successful tenders for leasing native lands on the West Coast had been published, and in future all tenders would be opened in public. He knew of no case in which the highest tender had not been accepted. —Replying to Mr Fish, the Minister for Lands said that under the Domains \ct a Board could be appointed for managing the Oc an Beach Sandhills in Dunedin. A Bill for the purpose was not required, and as soon as he had time to select a good Board one would be appointed. If after examination of a book in preparation by Mr Thomson of the Dunedin High School, on the botany of the colony, it should be found suitable for use in the schools, assistance to publish the work would be given. The assistance would not be given in the way of pecuniary aid. but by getting the necessary engravings executed, and the book printed at the Government Printing Office during the recess. —Replying to Mr Fish, the Minister of Justice said the Government would not introduce a measure to alter the Licensing Act by reverting from the elective to the nominated Bench system.— Replying to Mr Fish, the Minister for Public Works said the Government were considering the question of re-erecting the goods shed at Dunedin of stone or brick, instead of wood.—Replying to Mr Fish, the Minister for Lands said the Government was aware that the Otago High School Board, and also the Commissions of Primary Education Reserves, had recently sold blocks of land out of their endowments. These sales had been authorised by the < ’ overnment, the object being to prevent large tracts of country being locked up from settlement, and the conditions on which they were disposed of being favorable to the institutions, and in accordance with the existing land laws of the colony.—Replying to Mr Fish, the Minister for Lands said provision had been made for the introduction of 5,000 immigrants each year, or at the rate of 450 by each monthly vessel. A few single women in excess of the nominated immigrants were provided for in this number. —Replying to Mr M. W. Green, the Minister for Public Works said that if on inquiry it was found that locomotive engines and rolling stock could be manufactured in Dunedin, or in. the colony even, although the price was slightly in excess of the imported article, the local manufacture would be preferred. bills. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—To amend the law of evidence (Mr Hutchison); Hokitika High School(Mr Fitzgerald); St Peter’s Church, Caversham (Mr Barren); to empower shopkeepers and others to regulate the hours of business (Mr M. W. Green); Timaru Racecourse (Mr Sutton); Murihiku Native Reserves Grants ; Taumutu Native Commonage (Mr Bryce); to empower the Corporation of the Mayor, Councillors, and citizens of the City of Dunedin to adopt and redeem as liabilities of the said Corporation certain instruments purporting to be debentures of the Corporation of the City of Dunedin, feloniously stolen, and fraudulently issued and disposed of by Joseph Morgan Massey, late Town Clerk of the said Corporation ; to alter and amend the Dunedin Southern Market Reserve Leasing Act, 1882; to amend the Taranaki Iron Smelting Works Land Act, 1874 (Mr Fish); to amend the Mining Companies Act, 1872 ; Affirmations and Declarations ; Gold Duties Abolition (Mr Seddon); the County of Geraldine Waterworks (Mr Postlethwaite); Libel (Mr Tole). affirmations and declarations. On the motion of the Hon. Mr Rolleston for fixing a date for the second reading of the Affirmations and Declarations Bill, a discussion took place, resulting in Friday being decided on for the second reading of the Bill. HOURS OF SITTING. Mr Macandrf.*v moved —“That the House shall during the remainder of the present session, on ordinary |sitting days, meet at eleven o’clock in the forenoon, and shall sit not later than 6.30 in the afternoon. "

After discussion, a motion for remitting the matter to the Standing Order Committee was put and carried. At five the House adjourned to 7-30.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. ADDRESS IN REPLY.

Mr Sbddon resumed the debate on the Address ,in Reply. He denounced the Speech as a sham and fraud, the perpetrators of which should be exposed and punished. No doubt the Treasurer was very brave in calling on the Opposition to come on, but he had not always been so. He had been glad enough to seek time when trying to manipulate members so as to convert a minority into a majority. It was by such manipulation of members with the roads and bridges and by working the elections, that the Government now boas ed a majority. He quoted many instances of such manipulation. He also attributed Mr Brandon’s elevation to the Council to Mr Shaw’s election for Inangahua. The Government were greatly to blame for not taking notice in the Speech of such an importont question as the Middle Island East and West Coast Railways, taxation of lands improved by public works, elective Waste Land Boards, land settlement, property representation, elective franchise, and other similar questions. Ho also blamed the Government for neglect of the goldfields interest.

Mr Lbvestam said the Government could not have mentioned the East and West Coast line, as there was no money to construct it. All that was borrowed last session was specifically appropriated, and could not be diverted without such a breach of faith as he was sure would never be sanctioned by the other Chamber. He defended the appointment of Mr Barnicoat to the Council. Mr Sutter denied Mr Bathgate’s statement that the industrial classes were suffering from serious depression. Mr Hutchison referred to the accusation made against Mr Bryce in a recently published “ History of New Zealand.” He had special opportunities for knowing the facts of the case, and he had pleasure in stating that he believed these accusations to be utterly groundless, and that he (vlr Bryce) was utterly incapable of the atrocious conduct imputed to f him. He referred to this subject chiefly because it had been mentioned by Mr Shaw in his opening address, and he was well known not to be ah'admirer of the Nadve Minister's general policy. Beferring |to the Governor’s speech he said that it was by far the most barren production of the kind that had ever come under his notice* He tool; exception to tpe manner in which the Treasurer had his abate in the debate. He was disappointed .at not

finding somethingfi& the'ibddress relative to reform’ in the.'Native Land Courts. What he suggested was that the natives should not sell another acre of land but to the Government. In that way they would do away with all the native land camp followers, land speculators, run sellers, and others who preyed upon the native estate. He ventured to say that the Upper House reform would amount to nothing, arid that the end cf the session would find them just as far advanced as they were at present, lie was also disappointed in finding no reference in the Address to the charitable aid question. Mr W-att defended the action of the Government against the imputation that the money voted for the freeing of the Wanganui bridge was the reward of his support of the Government.

Mr J. McKenzie took exception to the mode in which the property assessment tax had been imposed during the recess. The administration of the tax had been centred in Wellington to the prejudice of many other places throughout the colony. The delay in making the assessments had caused great loss and inconvenience. He complained of the railway management, alleging the Government had put in a man to manage their lines who was wholly incapable of the efficient discharge of his duties. He took exception to the waste lands administration, instancing his own district, where not a : single acre of land was ever opened that they had not to fight for as against the grasping «f the squatters. With such a state of affairs before them it was nonsense to talk of promoting a stream of immigration to the colony. He also took exception to the administration of the Rabbit Nuisance Act, for which he held - the Colonial Secretary responsible. Either the Inspec-i tors under the Act were incapable, or else they were afraid to do their, duty. In his district the nuisance was not abating, but, on the contrary, rapidly increasing. Power should be given to people to sue Inspectors who neglected their duties. There was a badge in his district, similarly situated to the Taieri bridge, but he had not got a vote for it. If the Colonial Treasurer would put a sum on the Estimates for it, there was no saying what he might do in return. Mr Bracken thought the Speech ought to have made mention- of the fact that two of their number had been stricken down by the hand of death since last session. He referred to the late members for Bruce and the Peninsula. He suggested that an expression of condolence with the families of the deceased'should' be inserted in the Speech in Reply. Mr Holmes complained bitterly of the treatment ths leader of the Opposition had received at the hands of the Treasurer. They had been told the Wanganui bridge had- been freed "as >t was a debt due by the province. How, then, was it nob satisfied during 1876, when abolition was given effect to. The fact was they had only now got a political supporter from Wanganui. He had been hitherto opposed to an elective Upper House, but seeing the gross abuse of power as exercised by the Government in nominating persons to that Chamber he would prefer seeing the elective system adopted. He objected to the late appointments on the ground that posed an additional charge on an already over-taxed community. Ho was astonished that Ministers could sit quiet under the serious charges made against them, and which he recapitulated, without even attempting to refute them. They were charges which, if true, Ministers deserved to be hurled from their seats covered with eternal infamy. He strongly advocated the Middle Island East and West Coast railway. : Mr Pearson spoke generally in support of the Ministerial policy, but he could not approve of ail the votes passed last session, and he had opposed them. He was surprised and pleased at the sudden outburst of virtue on the part of Mr Holmes, as at a recent Christchurch meeting that hon. member had stated that if the . Opposition could command the public purse they would soon have a successful organisation. All the virtue was not on one side of the House, but he would not be content to jump out of the frying-pan into the fire by displacing the present Government in favor of the Opposition. He condemned the recent increase in number of members of the Legislative Council. He complained that the Minister of Publia Works had not fulfilled the pledge given that the first Commission should report on the Reefton lino. Mr M. W. Green deprecated the wholesale charges of corruption which ha J been made against Ministers, and he did not believe that those members who had made these charges really believed them. He could be no party to such charges. He held it would be a breach of faith with the public creditors to altei the allocation of the LIBO,OOO to the East and We-t Coast line, even if it was a desirable line. He would rather see a fresh loan for the East and West Coast line. . >: The Address in Reply was then agreed to. government business. The Hon. Major Atkinson promised to state on Friday when the Financial and Public Works estimates would be brought down, and other Government business. road boards. In moving the adjournment of the House, the Hon. Major Atkinson, in reference to a question alluded to by Mr Holmes as to the position' of Road Boards through the delay in election, stated that the Crown law officers were perfectly clear that no difficulty whatever existed. The House adjourned t 12.55.