PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1042, 7 September 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, Sept. 6, The House met at 11a.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said: —That the Government saw no reason why ministers of religion should travel free in the trains to the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum for che purpose of visiting patients. —That it would be inadvisable to empl y the Solicitor-Genera' to conduct and defend in Wellington actions in which the Government was interested, as it would necessitate maintaining a regular staff of a lawyer’s office. The duties of the solicitor were to aduise the Government on any point of law which might arise, and these vvere numerous. —That the Government would not pay railway employees wages for the time they were employed on juries at an inquest case. The Government would not supply platelayers with shovels, nor yet grant them the three public holidays usually allowed to public servants.—That the laying of heavy rails between Makarewa and Thornbury was proceeding. The Government could not at present interfere with the existing postal arrangements at Lake Wanaka.— That, the subject of placing light beacons at the Manukau Heads would be enquired into. —That Mr Bowron’s pamphlet on the manufacture of cheese, butler, and bacon would be distributed over the colony amongst those interested in the subject.— That the Government would see what could be done for the unemployed petitioning for work. The Government was not aware that workmen from the Addington railway shops had been employed repairing the Catalonia. Prisoners from Lyttelton and Addington had been employed at these sheps doing certain work, but the amount was very trifling.—That the Government could not consent to the express train stopping at Waitaki North. members’ wives. To satisfy objections made by the Auditorto Major Atkinson’s memo that the fares of members and their wives residing more than a few miles from the seat of Government be defrayed by the Government for attendance at Parliament, the House divided :—Ayes, 29 ; noes, 15. APPROPRIATION BILL. The House went into Committee of ways and means, when the usual resolution preparatory to the Appropriation Bill was adopted. On being reported to the House and the motion to introduce the Appropriation Bill being made, with complaints of the treatment private members’ business had met with at the hands of Government at an oarly period of the session. They took away one of the private members’ days, and latterly they deprived them of any time whatever. The Hon Major Atkinson replied in effect that members have three days per week for their private business. In addition to these, two days were specially set apart for them. They had liberally availed themselves of the Order Paper for questions, motions, and for bringing forward their grievances, and in going into Committee of Supply. Monopolising as they did so much time, it would be impossible to go on with the Government business at all unless some restriction was made.

Sir G. Grey in a strong speech impugned the general policy of the Government, and moved as an amendment “ That the resolutions of the Committee of Ways and Moans bo not agreed to until a copy of the agreement between the Government and the Bank of INew Zealand is laid on the table.

• Sir G. Grey’s amendment was negatived and the Appropriation Bill brought in and read a second time.

The Hon Mr Rolleston, in reply to a question put by Mr J. McKenzie, said it was a matter of regtet that the House had to part without having got provision made for the pastoral laws as proposed by his I>nd Bill. It was difficult for him to say what course he would pursue during the recess with these laws, but this he could assure them, that his mind was absolutely made up to discountenance in every possible way the alienation of these lands in large tracts. He hoped that explanation would be received as a general indication of the course he would pursue with respect to the whole question. . The motion for the adoption of the resolution passed in Committee of Ways and Means, was put -and carried on the voices.

On the motion of the Hon Major Atkinson, the Appropriation Bill and Public Works Appropriation Bills were introduced and read a first and second ime.

Messrs Steward, Harris, Duncan, W. 0. Buchanan, Shrimski, J. McKenzie, and others complained of the neglect experienced by their respective districts in regard to public works. The Appropriation Bill and the Public Works Apptopriation Bills were then committed.

Captain McKenzie moved an addition to the latter, to authorise the purchase of laud required for a railway in his district.

Lost on a division of twenty-four to eleven.

Mr Duncan wished to add a clause authorising the construction of a bridge over the Waitaki, but was ruled out of order.

Both Bills were reported, and on the motion for the third reading of the Appropriation Bill, !■ Mr Montgomery moved the postponement of the debate until the remainder of the business had been disposed of. The House divided on the question of the adjournment of the debate. —Ayes, 13 ; noes. 27. The Bill was read a third time and passed. On the motion for agreeing to the title of the Appropriation Bill, further discussion took place, and was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

‘EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7-30. The Bill was then put and passed, as also the Public Works Appropriation Bill. PUBLIC ACCOH TS. On the motion of the Hon Major Atkinson the Public Accounts Committee was discharged. MR DARGAVILLE’s ACCUSATION. Mr Mason moved —“That the report of the Dargaville Inquiry Committee be adopted.” Mr Buchanan counselled them now that hey were on the eve of separating to sink all differences and allow the matter in dispute to drop. With that view he moved the previous question. Mr Montgomery thought that the report fully vindicated the Treasurer, and that the matter should not be pressed further. He quoted from the records of the Imperial Parliament to show that a similar c*se there had not been pressed. It would be a wise thing to press the maiter no further. The Hon Mr Bryce agreed in the opinion just expressed, that they should depart in peace and sin no more. The slightest expression of regret from the member for Auckland City West would at once end everything. Mr Dargavillb said there was a principle underlying this question. It was whether or not a member was to be deterred from expressions which he believed to bs the honest truth by any fear of consequences. He would be unworthy of a seat in the House if he refrained from giving expression to his convictions. It was a packed Committee to whom the investigation was remitted. The Speaker called Mr Dargaville to order, and ha withdrew the word “ packed.” Mr Dargaville —The report of the Committee was a most unfair and onesided o e, and not in accordance with the evidence. That was his opinion; he did not care what the opinions of others might be. There had been no even handed holding of the scales of justice in the inquiry. He quoted largely from the evidence, and submitted that every important part of the charge he had made was fully supported by the evidence. The evidence showed that the Treasurer was a party to the transaction with the Bank. It had attempted to be shown that the Insurance Commissioner had power to make

the .investment. No one who knew the two men—the overbearing character of the Treasurer on the one hand, and the

weak obsequious sycophantic Commissioner—could doubt but that the former

was cognisant of the investment. He pointed out the discrepancy in the statemonts of witnesses, despite the fact that they knew beforehand the subjects on which they were to be examined. The Treasurer was in possession of the opinion of the late Actorney-Gene-ral and present Solicitor-General that these investments were and yet, in the face of that knowledge, he must be held to have made this investment. A further opinion from the present SolicitorGeneral was taken since these proceedings originated, which confirmed the foregoing opinion as to the illegality of the deposit. He must therefore have known that his action was illegal, and it was on the knowledge of that that ho (Mir Dargaville) founded his charge. He supposed, however, that Major Atkinson would bo satisfied with being whitewashed by Mr Mason and his servile following. All independent members had already gone away. When he recalled all the political corruptions of which this Government had been guilty he was amazed at his own moderation. He absolutely refused to withdraw a single word or express a single regret. He believed he was justified in even going further, and he defied the Government, and was prepared to accept any consequences, and any decision of that House on the matter he woul 1 treat with the contumely which it to his mind deserved.

Mr Turnbull regarded the report as a reasonable and fair one. Mr Huksthousb said it was a miserable exhibition they had listened to. Mr Dargaville told them he would defy the House, and the sooner they proceeded to an extreme the better.

Mr Seddon .argued that the whole matter was simply a diversity of opinion. Mr Moss supported the amendment. Mr Shaw said that as a gentleman it was Mr Dargaville’s duty to have said he bowed to the decision of the House, although he might have thought at the time that he was warranted in making the imputation he did. ■ Mr Dodson said Mr Dargavule evidently gloried in the little notoriety this matter had given him, and was too obtuse to see what kind of notoriety it was. No one had suffered by the speech on the charges made. He hoped the Treasurer would see his way to rely on his own honor, and let the thing drop. Mr Harms defended Mr Dargaville, contending that in justice to himself he could not withdraw the charge or express regret. Mr Shephard said that the House was bound to support the Committee w|io had been so unfairly assailed. Mr Sheehan hoped the amendment would be carried.

Captain KcKenzie and Mr Stevens supported the motion, and condemned M* Dargaville’s speech.

Mr Barron hoped the Government would accept the amendment. The question was then put, and the House divided —Ayes, 30 ; noes, 17. The amendment being thus lost, the motion for the adoption of the report was put, when all who had voted in the minority of the previous division, except Messrs Barron and White withdrew. Major Atkinson also withdrew. Mr Babron demanded a division, when the motion was carried by 29 to 2. The House then at 10.30 adjourned to 3 p. m. on Saturday for the prorogation.