PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 983, 30 June 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, June 29. The Council met at 2.20. QUESTIONS. In reply to the Hon Mr Holmes, The Hon Mr Whitaker said that a lump sum of L 2,000 had been agreed to be paid to Sir P. Julyan for his assistance in financial operations in London at the rate of one-third a year. The time was now expiring, and his services would not be continued, DAW REVISION. The Hon Mr J. C. Richmond was added to the Statute Law Revision Committee. EXTENSION OF FAYMBNTS. The Council concurred in a resolution of the House, that the time during which the Treasurer may issue and pay money should be extended to a further month after the financial year. This was all the business, and the Council rose at 3.15 p.m. HOUSEIOF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, June 29. The House met at 2.30 p.m. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence for seven days was granted to Mr Dodson. QUESTIONS In answer to questions, Ministers said : —That the money voted for procuring a tugboat for Kaipara Harbor was found to be too small to procure a suitable boat, and the Government had the position of the matter under consideration. —That the Government was doing its best to prevent the wholesale destruction of valuable kauri timber. The Waste Lands Boards had been directed to exercise great care in issuing licenses, but despite these precautions these forests were exposed to fire arising from causes which could not be provided against.—That the attention of the Government had been called to the fact of an error in the survey of a school reserve in Wairaate, and instructions were given to make the necessary correction. That a Bill would be introduced to make provision regarding grants of land to halfcastes residing near Wairoate.—That the line from Wanganui to New Plymouth was being pushed on with all reasonable spaed, and so soon as the money was voted the intervening gap would be gone an with. It would take about eighteen months to complete.— That the Government had no intention of providing a sum for the purpose of subsidising public libraries this year, as funds were scarce.—That the facilities provided for the registration of trade marks were found to be sufficient'for all the requirements of the case without local registry offices. —That the Government could not undertake this session to bring in a Bill for the Abolition of the Grand Jury system, and to make better provision for the payment of jurors, although the Government admitted the whole system required some alteration. —That inquiries would be made as to the propriety of parcels sent by sample post being registered without being charged postal rates as letters.— That the Col. Secretaiy was not aware of any opinion having been given by the Attorney-General that the Auckland College and Grammar School Act prohibits the granting of scholarships to boys attending public primary schools. —That an amendment of the Rating Act, 1882, would be made so as to empower Town Districts to levy rates in the same manner as Municipal Corporations —That it was intended to introduce a Bill re Native Lands Court Procedure, and the question of the employment of lawyers in these Courts could then be discussed.—That if application was made for the purpose forfeited runs in the Lake district would be put up to auction, and the road to Glentui road, Lake Wanaka, would be open during the current year. Enquiries would be made as to the necessity for connecting Bendigo with Cromwell by telephone.—That every publicity would be given te the intention to sail Reserve Np. 1263, Otaio survey district.—That a clause could be inserted in the Town Districts Consolidation Bill conferring borrowing powers on these bodies.—That the claims of Brunnerton to have a local police force would be considered in connection with similar applications sent in from other places.—That the Government had not provided a doctor for the Waikato natives ; still medical aid had been supplied them from time to time. —That steps were being taken to establish a sanatorium. Leases would be given with the view of inducing persons to provide accommodation for visitors and invalids at the hot springs.—That it was intended to bring in a Bill for increasing the salaries payable to the Supreme Court Judges, as recommended by the Judicature Commission. —That it would not pay to extend the telegraphs to Orepnki and the Nightcaps townships. AN URGENT BILL. The Hon Mr Conolly introduced the Gisborne Courts Proceedings jYalidation Bill as a matter of urgency, and asked that it might be passed through all its stages. It had been discovered that the Registrar at Gisborne had exceeded his power by adjourning the Court from the Courthouse to Macfarlane’s Hall, consequently all the proceedings were invalid, A similar error had bean made for two years back in regard to the District Court. This Bill proposed to validate the proceedings. After some discussion, the Bill was parsed through all its stages. THE ES rIMATBS. The Estimates were brought down by message from the Governor. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. On the Hon Major Atkinson’s motion, Messrs J. G. Wilson and Wright were added to the Public Accounts Committee. Mr J. Buchanan moved—“ That the Unauthorised Expenditure Account for 1882 be referred to the Public Accounts Committee, with power to report their observations thereon and the minutes of evidence they may take.” After discussion, the motion was put and carried. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. The Hon Major Atkinson moved that for the remainder of the session Government business have precedence on Thursdays. If more time was not extended to the Government, then it was a direct invitation to private members to deal with the subjects which ought properly to belong to Government. Moreover, private members could always have an opportunity for being heard on the motion' for going into Committee of Supply, and this they largely availed themselves of. He would indeed like to see the practice of private members introducing Bills on large public questions much curtailed. This, ho thought, might be done if members had to embody the principles of measures they wished passed in resolution, which, if passed by the House, could be remitted to a properly qualified draughtsman, or a Committee, to be shaped into a Bill. Ho proposed that the local Bills ou Thursday afternoons should not be affected by his motion, and that as there were some private members’ Bills already down for the two next Thursdays, the House should ait on the two following Monday evenings bo dispose of them. Mr Montgomery approved of the Hon Major Atkinson’s proposal as to Thursday and Monday. . Sir George Grey believed that one central Government in Now Zealand could not govern the colony properly. It was of the utmost importance that no restrictions should be put on private members desirous of introducing Bills of a more or less important character. Why then not leave members the privilege they had until at least a later period of the session 7 The debate waft interrupted by the 5 20 adjournment

' The House resumed at 7.30. , Sir G. Grey resumed the debate on the motion that Government business have precedence on Thursdays, They had been told that the session would only last two months and a half, so that the time at the disposal of private members would, under the most favorable circumstances, be limited, without this farther proposed limitation. Be counselled them to assert their rights to the two days a week as least until towards thu close of the session, otherwise their privileges thus curtailed would eventually disappear altogether. Mr J. W. Thomson, Mr Joyce and Mr Ivess spoke against the motion Mr Macandrew suggested that Monday evening should be taken by the Government. The Hon Majr Atkinson said the Government would not be prepared to take Monday evening. They had business outside the Bouse, and it was necessary they should have Mondays. The Government was charged with the business of the country, and after their business was done private members might sit as long as they liked. Mr Fish thought the Government had no right to ask private members to concede a single day, especially at this early period of the session. It appeared to him that this request was an attempt to deprive them of their rights and privileges as private members. Mr Guesthouse supported the motion. The Hon Major Atkinson said he would be satisfied to give Monday, as requested, but for the reasons he had already stated, the Government was here to do the work of the House;, and till that work was done they had a right to get their own way in this matter. No private member was deprived ef any right he had already. The Bouse divided. Ayes, 40 ; noes, 28 The motion was carried. MAIN HOADS., The Hon Major Atkinson intimated that the Government proposed to extend the time allowed for, local bodies to send in applications to have main roads gazetted to the 30th June instead of the 31st March. Messrs McKenzie and Smith complained that this extension would prejudice the local bodies who had complied with their law, and sent in applications within the time prescribed by the Act as it stood.

SCHOOL COMMUTEB3. Mr Steward moved the second reading of the School Committee Election Bill. One improvement in the election of Committees under this Bill was that only a proportion of the members went out at a time ; by that means a continuity would be provided for which w*s not the case under the existing Act. Then, again, if the Committee worked satisfactorily there was no need for the householders to attend and elect the Committee anew. The date of election had, in compliance with the expressed wish of Committees, been changed to the end of April, the financial year ending with the 31st March preceding. The majority of the Committees were also in flavor of abolishing the cumulative vote, and that proposal had been given effect to under this Bill. After discussion the Bill was read a second time. EVIDENCE BILL. Mr Hutchison moved the second reading of the Evidence Bill. The principle of the Bill was similar to that of the criminal code, which lately passed its second reading in the British House of Commons. He believed the same or similar provisions wore contained in the Criminal Code Bill, and if this one passed its second reading he did not propose to carry it further. The Hon Mr Connolly moved the adjournment of the debate, and this was carried on the voices. The House adjourned at 12.35,