PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1289, 15 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LSGISL \TIVK COUNCIL

Wkdkhsdat, July 14,

The Council met at 2 SO p.m. 1 '1 he Ho" J. A. H. Menzies presented a petition in favour of the repeal of the Contagious Disi s.se» Act. The Public Service Reform Bill was received from the Lower House, and read a first time. Tee amendments made by the House in the Police Force Bill were agreed to without discnasi m. 1 The Hon P. Buckley moved—“ That ihe amendments made by the House in the Charitable Trusts Extension Bill be I agreed to.” 1 The motion was agreed to 1 The Hon P. Buckley moved the second 1 reading of the Destitute Parsons Act j Amendment Bill.” I The second reading was agreed to. 1 The Municipal Ooporations Bill was I further considered In Committee. Several I amendments were agreed to, and progress I reported. I The Council adjourned at sto next day.

HOUSE-OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday July 14 j AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.3CLp m THIRD READINGS. The Wellington and Manawatn Railway Company’s Additional Capital and Debentures Validation Bill was read a third time and passed. The Govermnent’Loana lo'Looal Bodies Bill was reported from Committee, read a third time and passed.

QUESTIONS. Mr Taylor asked the Government if they intend, during this session, to amend the Land Transfer Act, in the direction of reducing the fees aliowad to brokers, and fixing solicitors’ fees under the Act on the same scale as those allowed to brokers, in order that the present charges in connection with the transfer of land may be reduced. 1 The Hon Sir R. Stout said this matter was discussed when the Land Transfer Act was before the House hut year, but the House did not see fit to make any I alteiation in that, duecion. I Mr Cowan asked the Premier if, in I making future additions to the Legislative Council, he will bear in mind the d<1 tioiency of representation that the district of Southland has in that branch cl the Legislature. The Hon Sir R. Stout agree '• ‘hat the ] lacce district of Southland had not re 1 ceived sufficient attention in this respect, but in any future appointments the Cabinet would consider the clai r-s of that district. I Dr Newman asked the Govarnm nt if they have any papers dea’ing with the I proposed purchase of the German interests in Samoa. The Hon Sir R, Stout said the papers received had already been laid on the table. new bills The Hon Sir R. Stout introduced the Pn d o Bodies Leaiebolda Bill. The lion W. J, M Larnacb introduce' a Bill to reduce the export duty on gold WEST COAST RAILWAY. The East and West Coast Railway Construction Act Amendment Bill was received from the 1 egisiativa Conned, with \erbal amendments, which ware agreed to ORDER OF BUSINESS. Major Atkinson asked wether the Pnmier would state definitely when the discussion on the Public Works Statement and Representation question would The Hon ?>r R. Stout said the Loan Bill would probably be brought do*n on Monday or Tuesday next, aud the ,Public Works dissuasion could then take place. He would give an opportunity for discussing the Representation question on Friday. ' DISTRICT RAILWAYS.

Before the ntxt order was called on,

Mt Peacock made a personal explanation with reference to the report of the Committee on the District Railways Par chasing Bill. He said that owing to his name having been brought into the matter by the Premier, most injurious telegrams had been circulated stating that he (Mr Peacock) was equally blamed with Major Steward. Ho explained that he in no way used his influence in favor of the Act of last year. He neither spoke, lobbied, nor voted for it, nor did he act in consonance with any other members In snpporting it. As regarded the Rotorua Railway, with whlych he was connected, the Company managing it wished to sell their debentures, bnt had no idea that the Government would bny them. At this time the company received a telegram from Mr Steward. They did not know that gentleman. Mr Steward had said that he had, previous to this, conversed with a gentleman as to selling tho?e debentures, but he found that that gentleman was not a Director of 'he Company. The Company did not know but that Mr Steward was acting for a priyat Company, and they continued to believe tint ; but Mr Steward referred to Sir J. Yogel. He (Mt Peacock) had expressed an opinion that if the Government was to be the purchaser, no intermediary wa necessary. The Directors, however thought differently. It wauld be seen fr m the evidence that he had taken up that stand. Had he thought for one moment that his name was to v ' = ■ ' rward, he should have take- -. re clearly

explain hla position. As it was, he did not lay stress upon hia individual opinion, and he read a telegram from the Chairman of Directors (Dr Campbell), stating that tKwriter remembered Mr Peacock’s objection to Mr Steward acting until the Board had applied, bat that h*d been over-ruled. Mr Peacock, in conclusion, hoped he had shown to the House that there was no ground for suspicion against him. Mr Steward taid he was glad this opportunity had come, for he did not wish hia worst enemy more pain and suffering than he had passed through since the Committee’s report was received. He was utterly astonished at that report. He conld not have imagined that such charges would be made against him. In what he had done, he considered he had never infringed the ruler of the House. He proceeded to make a statement of the facts of the case, and said that one evening before the last session had concluded, when the Act had pasted both Houses, he received a telegram from the Secretary to the Waimate Company asking him to offer the Company's debentures to the Government Insurance Association, and he then wrote to Sir J. Vogel asking him whether the Association would purchase them. Sir J. Vogel promised to lay it before the Association, and ho (Mr Steward) then went to Auckland. When in Auckland it occurred to him that, if the Duntroon and Hakatermea debentures were added, the total amount would coma to £IOO,OOO which amount could bettor be dealt with. He accordingly wrote to the liquidator of the Company. Not receiving a reply from the Association, j he applied to the Bank cf New Zealand. He found first, then, that the debentures would be better dealt with under the Inscription of Slock Act, and he wrote asking If Plr J* put them under the Act It would thus be seen that he had no intention of making money by the transaction. He came to Wellington and found that the debentures could not be sent to the House at all. Sir J. Vogel told him that the Government were prepared to buy thedebentu.es, and asked him whether he (Sir J. Vogel) had authority from one Company. Meanwhile, he might sar. he bad written, asking the

Botorua Company ♦» <fl fcieir debenuroa also. Ha went across <o uiatralia afterward;, and on his retuftn fo a 1 d tba‘ several damaging stories were going abmt to the effect that ho ha 1 received large sums for the negotiation for the sale of the debentures. He did n t think it was worth while to contradict those reports Members who knew him knew that if ho was interested in a Bill he would not

have taken any active pa t in its pas* gage Whit enprised him was that it should be supposed that he could pot himself in such a position as that of which he was accused in a finding that was admittedly against the evidence. He was asked now to prove a negative, and that he thought be could prove. He aent his wife Home in Map !ait, intending to follow her. Wou'd anyone think he would be capable of doing this under false pretences? Ho read a telegram from the Secretary to the Waimate Company, who said the report of the Committee had stunned him, and stating that Mr Hteward had not been asked to sell the debentures until the Act was passed. He (Mr Steward) had never given cause to any hon gentleman to hold personal enmity against him, but he was afraid a party fte'lng to some extent bad coloured the report, and that members were, perhaps, uncoDßcions ; y biassed by the reports that wonkl teud t° injure others more then himself. He had admitted in evidence that he was anxious for the Act to pass, I and had got the Waimate line re-inaerted in the schedule. Ha had always done hta best to get Bills passed that he took op, and had left no stone unturned to assist such measures. It was only an act of justice to the settlers, having the Waimate line inserted in the schedule, and it was just to the Government also. So long as ha held a seat in the House he should act in the interests of his con— | rtituents. He had beard It. stated that he and Sir J. Vogel were in collusion In this transaction. Sir J. Vogel could speak for himself ; hot as for him, he would have died before he woo’d enter into such a transaction. It would be better, perhaps, for him to have with* drawn when the Government expressed its willingness to buy the debentures. Ho thought the Committee had come to a conclusion not justified by the evidence, and be asked the House to throw aside all party cons deration and not make him a scapegoat, and not to sacrifice him in the hope of casting a slur on the Government. His conscience entirely acquitted him of the charge brought against him, a charge which was a foul one to lay at the door i of any man without evidence to snbstan* tiate it. The Hon Slrß Stout thought it would be fitting that this matter should be passed over in silence, and be intended to move a motion which he hoped the House irould agree to unanimously. He would »sk the H' use to say whether Messrs 8t wa d and Peacock had not acted honorably in retard to the purchase o( the district railway debentures, and that there was no charge whatever against seemed to him that Mr Steward, owing# to having p*oduced private letters before the Committee, which he was not asked to produce, was not conscious of having acted improperly In any way. He thought it would be better, however, that they should lay down soma rules for the guidance of members in matters of this kind. He hoped there would be no acrimonious debate on the question, but would be approached calmly and dispassionately. He, therefore, moved the following resolution —“ Tha*, while it appears there was no corrupt motive on the purt of Major steward, whose action in relation lo the matter in question has been open snd atra r gitforward, the H 'Use desires to express its opinion that the members of the Legislature should not act as paid agents, or receive any remuneration for regotiating any transaction in which the Government is direedy or indirectly a party, ei her as buyer or seller.” The motion was carried on the voices, without dissent, and the matter then dropped.

SECOND READINGS. The Fisheries Conservation Act Amendment Bill wasre’.d a second time. The Hon J. A. Tole moved the second reeding of the First Offenders Probation Bill, which was brought in to permit conditional release of first cffeaders for probation of good conduct. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment EVENING SITTING The House resumed at 7 30. The Workmen's Wajfes Act 1884 Extension Bill, the object of which was to destroy the truck system, and enforce payment in coin or in bank notes to artisans or laborers engaged on work to be paid for by day or piece, was next considered, debate was read a second time. Sir Jnlias Vogel announced that Government had received acable regarding the exhibition, which said a meeting of the commissioners had been held at which a resolution was passed that the aspersions on the New Zealand Court were utterly unjustifiable and nnfair, the court being th most attractive and representative so fa” as the exhibits admitted. The best assurance was that no snch comments had appeared in English papers. HOSPITAL ANE CHARITABLE AID. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mt Pearson moved that contributions for hospital and charitable aid should be raised by a tax on property without any exemptions, Government to collect and pay it over ; also that Government be requested to bring in a bill to that effect.

After someTdiscussion the motion was carried. Me Ivors moved an amendment that the ordinary property tax exemption should be*allowed. —Carried. The resolution as amended was then put—Ayes 25, Noes 25. The Speaker said he would give his vote with the ayes, on the ground that to his mind the question of charitable aid had not for some time been on a satisfactory footing, and this resolution might tend to an improved state of things. The resolution was carried, and ths House rose at 1.15 a. m.