HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1031, 25 August 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday, August 24. The House met at 2.30. LOCAL.

The Local Bills Committee reported that the Standing Orders were not complied with in regard to the Christchurch Cathedral Square Bill, and that the Wanganui Bridge Bill was not a local Bill. On Mr H. Thomson’s motion, the Standing Orders were suspended 1 1 allow the former Bill to be proceeded with.

QUESTIONS. Replying to questions* Ministers stated —That as there were conflicting opinions re the extension of the Mount Somers railway, in determining the one to be adopted the Government would be glad to avail itself of the opinion of some independent Commission. —That before long nearly the whole of the provincial Acts would be consolidated, and the Government did not see the necessity for reprinting them.—That, unless when the public service demanded it, railway guards and engine drivers would not be shifted from place to place, so as to prevent their settling in one place for any great length of time.—That Government would consider the following proposal before submitting any resolutions for the reform of the Civil Service :—That all officers employed by the Government in the service of the colony shall be members of one Civil Service, and not members of distinct departments of the service as at present; that in order to secure first-class men, and relieve Ministers, members of the House, and heads of departments of the imputation of favoritism in making appointments, and to make the Civil Service a popular one, all appointments or promotions in the service shall be made only from candidates who have passed an examination of a practical character with respect to the special duties the officer will be called on to perform,

similar to the examination now made in the Customs and Postal Departments of New York. Indeed, his own proposes would in some respects go further than the question.— That the Government would consider the question of the introduction of a Bill next session to place Fire Brigades on a more satisfactory footing, but they did not think the members of such brigades were entitled to capitation grants.— ‘hat Government saw no hope for passing the Municipal Consolidation Bill this session, but if pressing amendm-nts of the law were demanded he might endeavor to get a short measure passed this session.— That the defects in the provincial surveys arose from defects in the system, and not want of professional knowledge. In that case the propriety of the surveyors being again employed by the Government did not arise.— That Government was considering what could be done to remedy the difficulty of farmers protecting themselves from storm water without being liable for damages.— That Mr W. A. Murray had made representations to the Government about an invention of his to prevent the collision on railways, and had been requested to give more detailed particulars, wh ch had not yet been forthcoming.—That the Government were taking steps for making improved arrangements for the despatch and conveyance of immigrants to this colony. —That for convenience sake post charges for railway carriage on the Dunedin and Port Chalmers and Lyttelton and Christchurch lines were made upon a different scale from the charges on ordinary lines. That accounted for any disparity that might appear in the charges made, and to which special reference was made in the question. As regarded the charge made on the Wellington line, they are higher than ordinary rates, as extra miles are put on the freights for the extra haulage required for the hill traffic. On the Port line coods were charged by measurement, and on other lines by weight.— That the Shag Point coal lease had been surrendered to the Crown, but it was questionable if it was worth while taking up.—That there was a recommendation before the Library Committee to make the library available to the public during the recess, and that report yould be considered shortly.—That the Government was not aware distilleries had been established in Victoria.— That for railway curves jarrah timber sleepers were considered moat advantageous. That was the reason 60,000 were got from Australia. They cost between 4s and ss, and experience in Canterbury proved them almost indestructible. Their general use would render our railways much more profitable. The Government found great difficulty in getting any tenders for puriri oleepers, which were also and durable.—That the Government did not think -it possible to pass a Consolidated Native Lands Bill - that wonld be readily comprehended by , all. The only chance for simplificating the law was to modify it bit by bit.

BILLS. ...; . , The following Bills were introduced and read the drat time The Civil Lists Acts Amendment (Mr Conolly), the Special Powers and Contracts (Mr Relieston), to Amend the Road Boards Act, 1882, to Amend the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882, to Amend the Rating Act, 1882, to Amend the Town Districts Act, 1881 (Major Atkinson). PRIVILEGE. The adjourned debate upon the question that the printers and publishers of the Wellington Evening Post newspaper be summoned to appear at the bar of the House to answer to a question of a breach of the privileges of the House was resumed.

The Hon Major Atkinson said the Government had considered the matter and consulted with the Speaker. He would, under ordinary circumstances, recommend that no further steps be taken. If Mr Dargaville thought he would be prejudiced he would, however, be prepared to carry the matter on. Mr Dargaville said that he had no desire to follow up the matter. He was satisfied with what had been done already. The Hon. Major Atkinson then moved, ,e That the order be discharged." Mr Swanson said the only effect of their motion about privileges was to prevent information of this kind from being made public Mr Dargaville thought it would be better to , admit reporters to Committee sittings. In that case they would be sure to get correct reports, and not the garbled reports they now g >t. Mr Turnbull concurred in ithis opinion.

Sir George Grey moved, as an amendment —“ That the press be admitted to Committee sittings, except when deliberating or when specially ordered to withdraw. ”

Interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment,

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7 30. Sir G, Grey resumed the debate on jthe breach of privilege motion. He spoke at some length on the importance of conserving the interests of a free and independent press. He would even go the length of saying, although the proposal was not embodied in the amendment, that under certain reservations the meetings of the Executive Council should be opened to the press. The holding of inquiries in secret was one of the last vestiges of a barbarous age, and it was the duty of the Government to have snatched this opportunity for getting this remnant of barbarism swept away, He concluded by moving as an amendment that the Speaker and Chairman of Committees be asked to devise the best means for admitting the press reporters to all committees not being secret ones when taking evidence. The Hon Major Atkinson hoped the amendment would not be consented to. It would be refreshing for the press to hear of Sir G. Grey’s sudden conversion to a belief in the press. They had been told by Sir G. Grey day after day that the oress was bur, the tool of the Government. The course he had taken yra.a the right one. Having brought the matter forward, he left it with the gentleman aggrieved to say what more should be done, and he expressed himself satisfied, With .what had been done. Any Committee could now admit strangers to its sittings if it pleased. The present system worked very well, and it was absurd to say that it was to foe interfered with on the whim of Sir G. Grey. Mr Joyce said that, seeing that the Press was liable to pick up wrong information, it might be more judicious to allow the Press representatives to be present.

Mr Babron thought the presence of reporters would delay the business of Committees, and lead to members making long speeches. Mr De Lautour thought that the evidence correctly reported in Committees would tend to improve the method of carrying on the business. The Treasurer had spoken in favor of the press. 'He was not at all surprised at it. The press had lauded him high enough, and he was afraid that these laudations had had a hand in producing in him that tyrannical, over-bearing conduct which had done so much to retard the business of the country. Mr Whitaker said that if reporters were to be allowed to be present at these Committee, and all proceedings published, the evil would be greatly aggravated of which Mr i)e Lautour had then to complain of. Asa matter of fact Committees decided nothing. They simply took evidence, and the House reserved the right of decision.

Mr Swanson objeoted to ment as impracticable; He moved the adjournment of the debate. , Mr Turnbull and Mr Bracken supported the amendment. Mr Petrie also contended for the press reporters being allowed to be present at the Committee.

The motion for adjournment of the debate to that day six weeks was then put and carried. NATIVE LANDS AMENDMENT BILL.

This Bill was further considered in Committee.

The Hon Mr Bryoe moved the following new clause:—“ Restrictions upon the alienability of land,owned by natives may be removed in the whole or any part by the order in writing of the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, and not otherwise. The Committee divided, and Mr Bryce s clause was lost by 37 to 23. The Hon Mr Bryce withdrew the remaining clauses on the subject. Mr Swanson moved a new clause in lieu, to the effect that it should not be competent to remove restrictions to the inalienability of such land until the same had been notified in the Gazette nine clear days. C*rned on the voices.

The new clause moved by Mr Stevens to validate the existing bona fide negotiations was lost on a diviai n, by 24- to 13. The Bill was then reported as amended. miscellaneous The following also pa-sed through Committee, were reported wi Jx amendments, read a third time, and passed ISative Committees Bill, West Coast Settlement Reserves act Amendment Bill, "Volunteer Act. 1881, Amendment Bill, Kawhia Township Sale Bill. Auckland Hospital Reserves Bill. 1

The Counties Act, 1876, Amendment Bill was also considered, and after progress was made and leave asked to sit again, the House rose at 12.45.