PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1004, 25 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 24. THE HONORARIUM. The Hon Mr Phakazyn gave notice to move that the honorarium to members of the Council should cease after this year. QUESTIONS. In reply to the Hon Mr Mantell, the Hon Mr Whitaker said he would consider the question of making up to Maori members the loss to them through the late interpreter’s defalcations, though he apprehended the Government had no responsibility. advertising sweepstakes. The Hon Mr Hart moved that the Government should bring in a Bill to prevent advertisements of sweeps appearing in newspapers. The motion was carried. THE EDUCATION ACT. On the motion of the Hon Colonel Brett, after a short discussion, a Committee was appointed by ballot to enquire jointly with the House Committee into the petitions alleging grievances under the present education system. Ct/LONEL m‘DONALd’s PETITION. The report of tho Petitions Committee, on the petition of Colonel McDonald, recommending the petition to the Government for consideration, was r referred back to the Committee for further considera tion. The Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 24. The House met at 2 30. THE LAND COMPANY’S BILL. The Hon Mr Bryce presented a petition from residents in Poverty Bay against the New Zealand Native Land Company's Bill, and Mr Sheehan one from the natives to the same effect. On the order far the second reading of the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Empowering Bill, The Hon Major Atkinson said that the understanding was the Government would consider the merits of the Bill as proposed to be amended, and if they found they could not support it, the mover had promised it should not be proceeded with. The Government had carefully considered the matter, and now came to the conclusion that under all circumstances it was desirable it should not be proceeded with. Mr DeLautoub said he always kept hia promise, and ho applied for leave to withdraw the Bill, which was accordingly granted. The Bill was withdrawn. QUESTIONS.

Replying to questions, Ministers said: That the trade of the Port Chalmers line was increasing rapidly, but the Government did not think that a duplicate line or its straightening would be necessary for the next two years.—That the proclamation under the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act would be issued so soon as the necessary Parliamentary arrangements had been concluded, but the Government was unable to fix the date.—That such compound words as New Zealand were charged by telegraph two words where they were written as such, but when written only one word, they were only charged as one.—That the Government had not completed arrangements to transfer to the temperance Branch of the Government Insurance Department the policies of total abstainers who were policy holders prior to the establishment of the Branch. The matter was under consideration, but was surrounded by serious difficulties. —That no satisfactory contract had been got j,for| the erection of a bridge over the Rakaia Gorge Flood Channel.—That the Government refused to offer a reward for the discovery of a goldfield in the North Island, as they were afraid it might superinduce complications with the natives.—That it would not be convenient for medical practitioners near large centres of population to ensure a constant supply of calf lymph, even although substantial inducements were offered.—That the Government had information from the Australian colonies relative to the existence of one case of hydrophobia in the case of an imported dog in January last.—That the Government saw no objection to reduce the rate of fees on letters within the colony to one penny, also letters posted in railway vans.

SALARIES BILL. The Hon Major Atkinson applied in Committee for leave to bring in the Legislative Officers’ Salaries Bill. A motion by Mr Seddon far reporting progress was, after discussion, negatived, and leave to introduce the Bill was granted. GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS’ EXPENSES BILL. This Bill was introduced by a resolution in Committee, on the motion of the Hon Major Atkinson. On resuming, the resolutions were reported. The Hon Major Atkinson moved the introduction of the General Assembly Members’ Expenses Bill. Messrs Seddon, Montgomery, Holmes, and Sir George Grey having spoken against the Bill, the House divided. — Ayes, 45 ; noes, 9, The Bill was introduced and read a first time. NATIVE COMMITTEES BILL. On the motion of the Hon Mr Bryce, the Native Committees Bill was introduced and read a first time. PACIFIC ANNEXATION. The Hon Mr Rolleston resumed the debate on the report of the Pacific Island Annexation Committee. He believed that the destinies of New Zealand and the destinies of these islands were closely united together. At present there was a trade of nearly L 200,009 with these islands, and it was a matter of great consideration that when the Panama Canal would be cut these islands would become an object of competition amongst the various nations. As colonial stations, their position was of the very utmost importance. He hoped the resolution would be affirmed.

Colonel Trimble believed they had gone too far in this matter, but that was no reason why they should go on with the wrong doing. The colony which initiated these steps had been somewhat notorious in the labor trade. To his mind that trade was nothing short of slavery. Mr Peacock; gave the resolutions a general support. Mr Wynn Williams ridiculed the idea that in the event of a foreign war New Zealand would be prejudiced in the event of annexation not taking place. At the same time he wished same of the previous speakers who had spoken against the resolution had told them what the effect would now be if they retraced them. The amount of morey that would require to be paid was also a consideration to his mind. Mr Montgomery suggested that the amendment stiould be withdrawn, and that they should pass the first part of the resolution, approving uf what had been done, and leave the rest in abeyance until they had all the papers before them, and other information as to the measure and extent of their liability. The report should be put in separate paragraphs. The Hon Major Atkinson professed his willingness to follow this course. Mr Holmes withdrew the amendment, and it was arranged that the report of the Committee should be printed in paragraphs, with the view of their being considered separately on Thursday. The House adjourned at 5.20. EVENING SITTING. The House met at 7 30. AN INDEMNITY BILL. On the motion of the Hon Mr Rolleston, the Parliamentary Witnesses’ In-

demnity Bill was read a second time and passed through all its stages.,» PRIVILEGE. Sir George Grey spoke to a question of privilege. A petition was read in the afternoon containing serious charges against the promoters of the New Zealand Native Land Company’s Empowering Bill, who were accused of having purposely kept secret the purport of the Bill in order that it might be hurried through the House in an unconstitutional manner. Having been read by the Clerk it would, it seemed, appear in Hansard, the persons accused not having had an opportunity for replying. He thought it was improper to'have the petition printed 'in Hansard.

The matter having been discussed, the Speaker said that the petition in question, would not be printed in Hansard, nor would any others which were read by the Clerk, and in "future ■ libellous petitions would be withdrawn altogether from the records of the House. supply. On the motion of the Hon. Major Atkinson, the House went into Committee of Supply. Clause 4 Minister of Justice, L 118,184; vote Department of Justice, L 715 passed; Crown Law Office, L 2,275, passed; Patent office, L 225, pissed; Supreme Court, L7,G88, passed; District, R.M., and Wardens’ Courts, L 49,901. The item for travelling expenses for the Collingwood and Takaka R.M. was debated, but eventually passed, Mr George withdrawing an amendment that it be reduced by LI. Mr Holmes objected to the item Resident Magistrate, Piet n, L2OO. This was a new item. Item passed. The item, Travelling Allowance R.M. at Tirnaru Ll5O was reduced to LIOO, on the motion of Mr White.

The item R.M. Ashburton, LSOO, was reduced to L4OO, on the motion of the Hon Mr Conolly. Mr Iyess objected to the reduction, as it would only giv# an inferior man to this important district, but the Hon Mr Conolly stated a • perfectly competent officer would be appointed.—The vote as amended passed. Criminal prosecution, L 12,300. —The vote passed as printed. Coroners Act, 1867, L 3,005. —The vote passed. Contingencies, L 3,300. —Passed. Prisons, L 38.885. Item, Inspector of Prisons, L7OO. Mr Macandrew pointed out this was an advance of LIOO on last year’s vote. In the present state of the colony that proposed increase was injudicious.—A debate ensued, resulted in the LIOO being struck'but' ora division by one vote.

Mr Sheehan moved to strike out all the items for the Mount Cook prison, considering the Government were trying to establish a central prison for the colony there in defiance of the repeated decision of the House against having a central gaol. The Hon Mr Connolly and the Hon Mr Rolleston said that no such attempt was being made. Only a new prison was wanted in Wellington, and the Government wate trying to build it on the most approved principles by prison labor. They were also building one in Auckland, and would soon be doing so in Dunedin. Mr Bracken and others protested against prisoners being removed from other gaols to Wellington. Mr Hursthouse said that .Wellington certainly did not want them or a central prison. Mr Sheehan’s amendment was lost by 22 to 13, and the total vote for prisons, less the LIOO House allowance, was passed. I he total class of Justice also passed. At 2.30 progress was reported and the House rose.