PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1041, 6 September 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, Sept. 5. ■ , The Hoh Mr Whitaker introduced a Bill to unable Land Boards to enquire into cases of dummyism, which was passed through all its stages. The Companies Act Amendment ’Bill was also passed through all its stages. The following Bills were read a third time—The Justices of the Peace "Bill', Special Powers and Contracts Bill, South Island Native Reserves Bill, Harbors Act Amendment Bill.

Council adjourned from 5 to 7.30.

EVENING SITTING, The Council resumed at 7-30. gore-kblso railway.

On the motion for the second reading of the Gore-Kelso Railway Construction and Authorisation Bill, The Hon Mr Richmond moved that it be thrown out.

The Hon Mr Holmes and the Hon Mr Williamson having stated that it was undesirable that the branch lines Should be made before the main lines were completed, the Bill was thrown out by 14 to 9. '’* ' ’’ ‘

THE WANGANUI BRIDGE BILL. This Bill was read a third time. RECONSTITUTION OF THE COUNCIL.

The Hon Mr Whitak.br laid oh the table the Government Bill for the recopstitutioh of the Council, to be considered by members during the recess and debated next session. He said the Government did not intend to propose the passing of the Bill until after the general election. The . Bill provided that the Council shall ballot half its members out in 1885, when twenty-two others shall be elected. In 1890 the remainder of the present members go out, and twenty-two others are to bo elected. The Council will only consist of forty-four members (and three Maoris to be nominated by the JGovernoi), and hal f will retire every five years, thus making the duration of the {seat ten years. The members are to be elected on the Hare, system, and the whole colony is to constitute only two electoral districts, each island being one. Every male person, aged twenty-one or over, will be qualified to vote. Each island is to have twentytwo members, and casual vacancies are to be tilled up by election by the members of the House of Representatives. Whenever a Bill is passed by one House and rejected by the other, both Houses may sit jointly. The Speaker of the Council is to preside, and the Bill receiving a majority then is to pass. The Council adjourned at 11.6 till 11 a. m. to.morrbw. 1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, Sept. 6. The House met at 2. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. The Hon. Major Atkinson stated that before the House rose, a short Bill to give effect to what were known as the dummy- 1 ism clauses of the i-and Bill which theOouncil had rejected would be passed. It was not intended to proceed with the Russell i,aud Bill this session, as several members seemed to feel strongly about it. Pull reflection and enquiry would, he was sure,, convince them thst it was a just and neceaaary measure. He feared the Railway Improved Lands Bill would not be read a second time this sessi v n, bo circulated to-morrow, With reganptp the, re-organisation of the Civil service, he regretted that the uoverument bad not been able to obtain the advice and assistance of the House, but they - would- notj, shrinfc&dni the responsibility 6£ ( dealings wilh the aubject during thofreoepsiJFhsgr would carry out the re-Organjsation as far as possible during 1 the recess, and submit the entire scheme to-the House next session. The Bill to alter the constitution of the Legislative Council would lie on the i *...

table before the House rose. 1 He bad ' been so busy during the session that he had not had time to fully revise Mr tional Insurance Bill, but as soon as ever he could do so be would forward copies t* a I the members. BILLS. The Council's amendments in the following Bills were agreed to .'—District Railways Act Amendment Bill; Otago Dock Trust Bill; Rating Act Amendment Bill, and Caver, ham Improvement Bill. ■' PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. , Mr Moss brought up another report from the Public Accounts Coihmittee. .Ho, would move it-be read. The Hon Ma j or AtkiitsOK said howouidoppose this, and move it be referred back. He was astonished at what had been done tlie ® omm ‘ ttee i and so a ° Uße would also beaatotfished when it knew the facte. A special meeting of the 0 mmittee was held this morning to finally revise tha report on tha r Assurance Department. As he had other engagements, he did not attend. Mr Moss was in the chair, and the members present were Messrs Dargaville, Barron, .and Wright. Thes9gehtlemen,amihoritybftaef ' Committee, took occasion of: the abseOde of the others to rescind; the. resolution agreed to, and reported jester 'ay by the full Com Htee, on the, JSew .DlymqetKl Harbor B ard LXB,OOO, and to pass a resolution censuring the Govern < ent, although those very gentlemen, yesterday,, declared that there was no charge agaihtti them in the matter. - It waß- h 9 discreditable trick.

. Mr Barron said -hat amongst, the; supv who yesterday carried the. report ? were three Ministers, who had voted in own defence. When the mihateheamb'dp to-day.he thought him-elf quite jus ifieo in trying to ra;.cL.d There" was .no desire to snatch a. decision. t A messenger was sent out to look ,for all the other members. • They had acted strictly /, ini order. ' , - V' <-.V < " *"

i Mr J.E. Brown said he neverheard of such an unworthy attempt tq- snatch: 9 verdict from a small minority, : ' Mr Sheehan thought that the report ought to be referred back, , and a fqjl meeting called. be no harm in reading it. )

Sir G. Grey said-the minority, of Abe Committee had got a chance of rifingj against the tyrannyofthat.Robespierrq» the Colonial Treasurer, and being , heard .- for once ; the Go vemmon t were evidently greatly afraid. L , M i«ji! Mr Petrie and Mr Lbyestam condemned the action of the Committee, and Mr S*D- . don strongly supported it - . - After considerable farther discussion,, ! tlm report - was ordered to be referred cttfcltf ,■ to the Committed for furthW ‘consider** * .... . ■. -,i yunos tlOUi ' The Hon Major Atkinson thenmdvW «• that the Committee be instructed tqpwet : at 5 o'clock.—Carried. -Li >. .iKvi TOWN, DISTRICTS AOI.ll The amendments of the .Council in the amendments on the Town Districts ( At* Amendment Bill were- disagreed Ip, *nd t reasons, approved of as prepared-by thereCommittee. - - .oiifirri; PUBLIC REVENUES. LI The Hon Major Atkinson moved 1 rite ■ second reading. of the Publioi.ißeVenuee ,> Act Amendment Bill, to.exteudr the annual appropriations to the 30th xldne, instead of the 31st May. . :Tbis wastoeoosuit the convenience of members aa Ao the date of meeting of Parliament , The Bill also proposed to. accept fixed deposit re* oeipts as security for the-investment of trust funds. " At five o’clock the House rose- to en- - able the Public Accounts Committee to sit. ' ■ y’;. EVENING SITTING. _ TheHQUse_reaumed a at. 7JK>- .! The Justice of Peace Act Amendment Bill was introduced from the Legislative . Council and read a first time. - ‘ The amendments made; by the Legisla* tive Council in the {Special Powers and Contracts Bill were agreed to. . Those made in the Harbor Act Amend* meht Bill were not agreed’ to, end a Committee was appsinted to diaw up reasons.;’, . '. , ; The Land Boards Empowaring Bill was introduced from the Legislative Council and read a first time. ‘ ' On the motion of the ton it was also read a second'.'time, as was also the Companies Act Amendment Bill •; ... , PUBLIC REVENUES. Mr' Montgomery resumed the debate on the second reading of the Publi£ Be* venues Act Amendment Bill , r . I The Bill was read a second, timei I * the controller’s srB&O. ‘ Mr Moss brought up the. rephjet of the Public Accounts Committee re the Controller’s memo.. It was read to the effect that the Committee had Expunged, previous report, which, had. beep referrepL back to them, from their mindtds/'hs hot sustained by the evidence, and agreed to adhere to the original report.. ' 4 Mr Barron moved that . jihe. miaptes and proceedings of the Committee should be read. ’ J ... . . The House divided on the question that, . the minutes of the proceedings be read:— Ayes, 25 ; noes, 33. ‘ ~ ’ - ■ j : The motion that the J report and_ proceedings lie on, the jtable and be, prmted was, afteHiahniaioh, p’ttt ahd IN COMMITTEE. “ The following Bills wAe considered ia Committee :—The Land Boards Ifimpbwering Bill—Ordered to be reported without amendments. The Public Revenu s Act Amendment Bill as amended by the addition of a ; 'hpV clause was reported. , Tfie Companies Act Amendment BuJ in Committee passed without amep4mSh% was read a third time and passed. The Justice of thePeaoe Act, 1832. Amendment Bill in Committee passed wi hout amendment, was read a thirc time, and passed. ■ ~ The following Bills were read a thirtime and passed Land Boards ering Bill, Property lax Amendment MU, Public Revenues Bill. The House rose at 12.30 till 11 to-nipr* row. , ,<■ ■