PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1022, 15 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, August 14. BILLS. The Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, 1881, Amendment t ill (Mr Robinson), the Licensing Act, 1881, Amendment Bill (Mr Wilson), and the Coroners Act, 1867, Amendment Bill (Mr P. A. Buckley) were introduced and read a first time. The Chattels Securities Bill and the Wellington Harbor Board Land and Reclamation Bills were received from the House and read a first time. BARMAIDS. The Hon Mr Chamberlain moved for a return of the number of barmaids in the colony with a view to future action in the interest of temperance. The Hon Mr Whitaker opposed the motion, as the information could not be got through the Government offices. The motion was then negatived. THE CONFEDERATION AND ANNEXATION BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. THE TAUMUXU NATIVE COMMONAGE BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. BANKRUPTCY BILL. The Hon Mr Oliver moved the second reading of the Bankruptcy Bill. The Hon Mr Wilson opposed the power given to the Judges of delegating their powers to the Registrars, the present Registrars being hardly fit for such large jurisdiction. The Hon Mr Holmes would not allow anyone to be bankrupt were there was less than LSO worth of assets. The Bill was then read a second time. The Council adjourned from 5 to 7.30. EVENING SIFTING. The Council resumed at 7.30. bills. The Christchurch Cathedral Square Bill was read a third t ne. The Council rose at 8 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, August 14. The House met at 2.30. ATKIN SON-DARGAVILLE INQUIRY.

On the application of Mr Mason, an extension of ten days was granted to the Atkinson-Dargaville Inquiry Committee, to enable them to take evidence. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said : —That the Government had no information as to the costs of survey under the Land Transfer Act, as the owners had made their own arrangements with the surveyors.—That as far as possible the management of Hospitals, Orphanages and Charitable Aid was placed under local control.—That the sum of L3lO had been allocated to the widow and children of the gaol warder who was recently murdered at Nelsen. This was the maximum allowed, and the Government could not say yet whether they would increase it. —That the Government had under consideration the tariff duty on boiled fruit imported into the colony. He did not think any alteration would be required in the law, but thought the case could be met under the law as it stood. —That the Government knew of no deduction having been made from the wages of the railway workshop employees for the time spent in recording their votes for members of the House of Representatives.—That a Counties Act Amendment Bill would be introduced, and, if possible, jasaed this session.—That without further enquiry he was not prepared to say the Government would now give a bonus of LI,OOO for the manufacture of the first 50 tons of printing paper in the colony. The question would be considered. BILLS.

The following Bills were introduced and read the first time .—Otago Dock (Major Atkinson), Electric Telegraph Act 1875 Amendment, Auckland Reserves (Mr Dick), Harbors Act Amendment (Major Atkinson), Native Reserves, West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment, West Coast Peace Preservation Act Continuance, The Middle Island Half-Caste Grants (Mr Bryce), Restriction Extinguishment Invalidation (Sir G. Grey). ELECTION PETITIONS. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Ive-is moved —“ That in the opinion of the House it is desirable the Government should cause provision to be made for the payment of all costs which candidates might be mulcted in through no fault of their own in prosecuting election petitions, subject to the Court being satisfied that the election \yas voided through the lashes or errors of the Returning Officer or deputies, and not a by the candidates who may have contested the voided election.”

The Hon Mr Dick opposed the amendment, contending that it would be a means for encouraging election petitions. Mr Shephard suggested that the Corrupt Practices Act should be repealed. Mr Macandrew supported a similar view.

Mr Ddncan supported the amendment. Mr Wynn-Williams thought that the Act should be amended so that all elections should not take place onthesameday, thus allowing the G -vernment to employ experienced and reliable officers to conduct them.

Mr Montgomery, Mr Feldwick and Mr Smith supported the amendment. The Hon Major Atkinson said that a Bill to amend the existing Acts could not possibly be passed through Parliament at this-late period of the session. The Government, however, would give an assurance that the whole question would be dealt with next session, but he could not pledge the Government to the form of the Bill at present, but there would have to be legislation on the subject. The House divided on the question of going into Committee of Supply. Ayes, 41; noes, 34. SUPPLY.

In Committee of Supply— Land purchase, North Island, L 72,000, Explanation being given as to this amount,

Mr Macandrew said that the liabilities of Government for native land purchase had now dwindled down to L 309.000, which the Government might or might not be called upon to pay. He protested against the vote asked for as a southern man.

The Hon Mr Bryce said that the agreements existed for more than a million of money made by the Grey Government, and it was to the credit of this Government that it had got out of these agreements so easily. He did not think that more than the half of the sum asked for would bo required. Mr Macandrew denied that any such agreement had been made by the Grey Government.

Mr A. McDonald accused the present Government of having enabled the Patetere land to get into the hands of private speculators, to the prejudice of the whole colony. In reply to a question put by Mr Barron,

The Hon Mr Bryce said that the Government took land out of the Patotere block in payment of its advances. Mr Sheehan defended the policy of the Grey Government. He charged the present Government with having no Native land policy at all. Neither the Goyerp.ment purchase nor yet private purchase. The result was that all settlement in the North Island was at a standstill, and persons of means desirous of purchasing lauds were shut out. Certain people could get what they wanted quietly and

without trouble; while othern could get nothing. Interrupted by the 5.30 Adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30,' EVENING SITTING. IN SUPPLY.

Mr Sheehan resumed the debate on the Land Purchase Vote. They were entitled to get an answer from Mrfßryco as to whether he was not for free trade in native lands or not. The Bill he had brought on was neither one thing nor another. Mr Macandrew took exception to the statement by the previous speaker tint they in the South had acquired land from the natives at a rate far below what was paid for similar lands in the What he suggested was that the question of these lands should be left to the North Island members themselves.

The Hon Mr Bryce said that what his Native Lands Amendment Bill aimed at was simply to stop negotiations until the title was ascertained. Sir George Grey detailed the circumstances under which the native reserves were made, and also the method by which these reserves were disposed of. What he complained of was that the sale of reserves proclaimed by Government was not thrown open to public competition. The Government ought to have said we will not consent to remove the restriction unless the land is open to public competition. During last year 20,000 acres of these lands were so disposed of, and the public knew nothing about it. For the Native Minister to bring forward a Native Land Bill without making provision against an abuse of this kind was wrong. :ie asked them to assist him in getting a clause of that kind inserted in the Bill. The Hon Mr Bryce said ho sympathised with these remarks, and would nut object to the clause proposed. The vote of L 72,000 was then put and passed. The following votes were then passed:—

Minister of Mines, L 39,00 Lyell to Mokihinui, L 5.000; item Brighton to Seventeen Mile Beach, L 4,000 ; Ahaura to Amori, L 3,000 ; Item Arthur’s Point to Skippers, L 4.500. The vote L 39.000, was then put and p&sssd Class 7 Goldfield roads, L 3 >,OOO. Passed.

Class 8 Waterworks on goldfields, L2l 000.

Replying to question of Mr Seddon’s Mr Rolleston said the Government was not prepared to hand over the waterrace sludge channels, etc., to the local bodies. Yote passed. Class I—Telegraph extension, L 27,190. Class 10—Public buildings, L 215,000. Mr Allwright protested against such a large expenditure on public buildings out of the loan. Mr Fish moved—“ That the item new gaol, Wanganui, L 4,000, be reduced by L 2,000.” Lost by 20 to 19. Mr White then moved to reduce the item by LI,OOO. Carried by 20 to 17. Mr George moved to strike out the item towards the gaol, Dunedin, L 2,000. Mr Connolly explained that this was to enable the Government to purchase a new site if one could be found. The motion for the reduction was lost by 24 to 16. Mr Fish and Mr Steward regretted

there was no vote on the Estimates for new printing offices in Wellington, as the present were absolutely dangerous. The remaining items of the class were agreed to. Class 11 Lighthouses and harbor works, £.04,866.

Mr Duncan objected to the item for Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika harbors, saying those places should be made to rate themselves, as he complained Oamaru had had to do for its harbor.

Mr Fish also objected to some ot these items, and urged to report progress. The vote lighthouse, L 21,900, was passed, and progress reported on the harbor works vote. The House rose at 3.30 a.m, until 7.30 p. m.