PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1025, 18 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE council.

Friday, August 17. SECRET COMMITTEE.

In reply to the Hon Mr Reynolds, the Hon Mr Whitaker declined to lay on the table a report by Inspector Scully on the case of E. ff. Ward, as it was a confidential report. The Hon Mr Reynolds then gave notice to move the appointment of a Secret Committee to enquire into the matter. BILLS. The Waitara Harbor Board Loan Bill was read a second time. The Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill, Invercargill Reserves Exchange, Vesting and Empowering Bill, Mining Company’s Act 1872 Amendment Bill, and the Chattels Securities Bill were read a third time. The Bankruptcy Bill was recommitted and farther amended. The Council rose at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, August 17. The House met at 2.30 DUMMYISM. The Committee’s report on the alleged evasion of the Land Act in Otago was brought up and read. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said : That the examination into the claims of Messrs Brogden by special officers of the Public Works Department, stated to be in the course of prosecution in June, 1880, was still in progress. It would be completed before next session of Parliament. He did not think this minute analysis of the claims would establish the existence of any liability on the part of the colony, but next session the Government would be in a position to arrive at a decision on the whole subject.—That the English and German yarns used in carpet weaving had been admitted duty free, in order to assist the establishment uf that industry, it being understood these yarns could not be made in the colony. If they could the matter would be further considered. —That the Government had received from Tasmania a copy of the Codlin Moth Bill before the Parliament there, and would have it printed and circulated here.—That in the case of local bodies which voluntarily or otherwise ceased to discharge their functions with liabilities due, instead of passing a Bill for the purpose, Parliament would be asked to vote the amount required to defray such liabilities.— Relative to a question as to whether the Government would allow either the Hinemoa or Stella to call at Timaru for those unemployed persons and their families who are desirous of leaving there for the North Island, but who are unable to provide means of transit, it was answered that this was the first Government had heard on the subject. Immediate inquiry would be made to ascertain if it was necessary to take any action.

THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Bathgate moved an intercepting amendment, as follows:—“ That as it is desirable the place for the meeting of Parliament be in a situation more generally convenient for members, and more easily piotected than the present, and that any change be effected at the least possible cost, the Government be authorised during the recess to enter into provisional negotiations for the purchase of 2,100 acres or thereby, situated on the main trunk line of railway, Middle Island, say wi.hin twenty miles from some centre of population, for the purpose of founding a legislative capital, with suitable public parks and other appropriate accessories,” He said that the question of convenience was »lone the question upon which this matter should be decided. Neither Wellington nor any other place had the slightest pretext for saying it had any,

sealed right in the matter. On tiro separate occasions Parliament .had affirmed the motion that Welliflgtbnwak nol'Hhe most convenient place. Since then they had had a large accession to the representatives’ ranks, which gave the South Island a great preponderance in point of numbers. Therefore the removal to the South Inland wool' be a convenience to the largest number In Wellington they were in a manner shut up in a corner, and no one had any chance at the close of the week to snatch a few hours to attend to their own business.

The Hon Mr Roileston could hardly think (he proposal a serious one. It was not within the limits of practical politics, and he asked them to dispose of it at once and get to business. Mr J. W. Thomson supported the amendment. Wellington was a most inconvenient place for their meeting. If they were to do the work of the country efficiently they would have to (remain from four to five months per annum. Christchurch would be most convenient for the South Island men.

Mr Moss could not support the amendment, The result of the present state of things was, however, most inconvenient. They| were kept here to all hours of the night and morning. All this arose from the want of a local legislature in each island to deal with local matters. Whi'e there was only one in the colony, however, it ought to be in Wellington.

Mr Montgomery sai 1 that sooner or later they would be bound to have a local Government in the South Island. Entertaining that view he was bound to vote for the amendment.

The House divided on the question for going into Committee of Supply—Ayes, 33 ; noes, 29.

IN SUPPLY. In Committee of Supply, Class 3—Colonial Treasurer : Treasury, L 8,903. Passed. Property tax, LI4 750.—Passed, Miscellaneous, L 25,813. —Pa sed Chargeable on Public Trust office expenses account, L 3,695. —Passed. < Payment of rates on Crown lands, L 40,000. —Passed.

Class s—Postmaster-General : General Post-office, L 7,455. Interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. IN SUPPLY.

Class s—Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs : the following votes were passed :—General Post-office, L 7,456; chief offices and sub-offices, L 111.614 ; maintenance, repairs, etc., L 3,685 ; telegraph cable subsidies, L 5,350; conveyance of mails by sea, L 58.910; conveyance < f inland mails, L 35,810; carriage of mails by rail, Ll 6 000. Class 7 Education : Head office, L 2,425.

Mr Turnbull moved the redaction of the item Inspector-General, L 345 by L 75, which would be equal to six months’ half pay during his leave of absence. Lost on the voices, and the vote passed as printed. Public 5ch0015—L274.235. Mr Turnbull moved its reduction by L 40,000, but after discussion he withdrew this amendment, and proposed that the reduction be L 20,000 Mr Wright thought that children under seven should be excluded.

Mr Smith said this would shut up half the country schools. He would hope to see the Boards abolished. After further discussion this was lost on division by 47 to 5. The vote passed as printed. The following also passed ; —Native Schools, L 15.100; Industrial Schools, L 11,270; Deaf and Dumb Institutions, L 2,315. Higher Education, LI,BOO. Mr Huesthousb moved that this be omitted.

The Committee divided, and the item was retained by 32 to 22. Class 9—Native Affairs: Salaries, European and Native offices, L 6,085 ; passed. Native Land Court, L 16,117 ; passed. Fraud Protection Act, L 546; jwbsed. Miscellaneous, L 370 ; passed. Class 12 Defence, Militia and Volunceets, L 22,235; passed. Armed Constabulary, L 172.307.

Mr Hutchison moved that it be reduced by L 25,000. The natives were quiet, and if an emergency arose they could rely on the Volunteers. Both p lice and constabulary could be reduced onehalf.

The Hon Mr Brvcb replied that so far as the statement about police being correct, the applications for additional protection were numerous. Although he did not apprehend anything like a quarrel ever with the natives again, he did not think it was at all unlikely but that emergencies might arise, and it was very necessary then that Volunteers should be supported by the Armed Constabulary. For some years to come it would be im proper to make any great decrease in the numbers, but every opportunity for safe reduction was taken advantage of. After the Hon Mr Bryce’s statement Mr Hutchison withdrew his amendment and the vote passed. Stores and Magazines, L 3,785 ; miscellaneous, L 7.148 —passed. Clause 11, working railways, L 634.000. Item, general manager, LI,OOO. Mr Turnbull moved it be reduced by L2OO. The Hon Mr J ohnsxon stated that Mr Maxwell was a most valuable officer. In three years he had effected reforms in the working of the railways, so that they now earned L 20,000 a year, while concessions representing another LI,OOO a year had been made to the public. Messrs Mackenzie, Petrie, Duncan, Sutton and others complained greatly of railway mismanagement. Mr vVhxte supported the vote as printed. The amendment was negatived on the voices and the total vote passed. Architect’s office, L 1,660; Government domains, L 1,221 ; public buildings, L 30.630 ; and miscellaneous, L 4,926 passed. Progress was then reported, and the House rose at 3.25.