HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1724, 1 December 1887, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Widnesday, November 30, The House met at 2.30 p.m. LAUD FOB. SB rn.E-.EHT. A lengthy discussion took place on tbe report of the Waste Lands Committee on the Land for Settlement 8111. Sir George Grey complained that the Committee had delayed reporting on the BUI for nearly four weeks. Mr Fulton denied that any unnecessary delay had occurred. Mr Seddon moved that the B'll be committed next day, which waa finally agreed to. BEPLIES TO QUESTIONS Replying to questions, it was stated that no further aotion would be taken with regard to the case of flogging a ' school girl at Newton (Auckland) ; that a Bill wm under consideration to simply ' ihe Chattels Securities Acts ; that when ; m BUI was introduced to effect reforms In the Education Aot, It would go In the direction of amalgamating education boards; that owing to the state of the ; finances no sum of money oould be put on the estimates for granting subsidies to ' public libraries ; that efforts would be made by Bill this session to oomplete the ( titles of those persons who bave legitimate ' claims to native lands. ADMINISTRATION AMENDMENT SXXL Mr Hislop moved the second reading * of the Administration Act 1879 Amendment BUI, the objeot of whioh was to < ■ prevent exeoutors m the administration ( of estates having preferential olalots over other creditors. The Bill also provides that exeoutors may file a statement of their Inability to meet engagements. It Ie further provided that the estate of pcnons dying bankrupt may be admitted M m bankrnptoy. Mr Samuel agreed that tbe Bill was an Important one but he pointed out that Its effect would be retrospective; and he < should move In Committee to proteot ' the risks ef exeoutors io estates before ' this Act comes into force. 1 Mr Izard entirely agreed with the pro- 1 posed amendment m the law as made m < tee BUI. He hoped Government would I pass the Bill this session. j Mr Downle Stewart said tbe BUI ' wanted some Improvement. The general ' purport of the Bill wa« of a de_lrable ' character, bnt it w»s one calculated to do much mischief unless properly guarded. Ab to the proposal that estates of persons dying bankrupt may be administered a* Id bankrnptoy, he thought It a very objectionable thing to legislate by rules of the Governor-ln-Counclt. The motion for tbe second reading was agreed to. HOSPITAL BILL. Mr Htslop moved the second reading of tbe Christohorch Hospital Bill to transfer to the Hospital Board of North Canterbury the hospital distriot building,used for the purpose of the Chrlstohuroh Hospital and ground connected thereto The motion was agreed io. The House adjourned at 6.30. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. PABLIAJCENTART HONOBABICM. The Premies moved the second reading of tbe Parliamentary Honorarium and Privileges Aot Amendment Bill. It had baen Introduced to give effect to what he believed to b# the wish of the country and of the House. Members of the Hou.e were to receive £150 Instead of two hundred guineas per _e_slon, and Legislative Conncilkrs £100 instead of two hundred guineas. Mr Fish opposed the reduction as tending to throw representation Into the hands of the richer classes. If the times had suited he wou'd have proposed to Increase the sum to £300 per session. He moved that the Bill te read tbat day ■Ix months. Mr Buohanan said tbat the feeling m hli distriot wai wholly In favor of some some suoh measure. Me Walker said tbat the amended Representation Bill ought to be considered first, and they ought to know whether the number of members was going to be reduced. The Premier said that the Bill was ready, and be Intended to have the number reduced to 70 lf he oonld carry it Mr Walker sincerely hoped it would pever he carried, and announced bis iptentlpn of opposing both that and the present measure at every stage. Mr Samuel did not like the idea of the redaction, bnt thought they ought to set a good example by cutting down their own salaries before they Interfered with those of others, Mr Moss had fought this question put at the recent election, aad steadily resisted BDy attempt to make hljn pledge himself to a reduotion':' He considered the amount now paid none too large. Mr' Fish withdrew his amendment. Mr Peacock was m favor of the Bill. Sir Julius Yogel oould not blame the Government fbr Introducing this measure after tbe strong expression of opinion -on the eutject at the recent eleotion, but he aaw no .reason 1 why its operation should - extend beyond the term of the present Parliament. Be spoke strongly In favor of fair payment to members, 'he Wanted to fix at, ny, £300 a year. This would prevent suoh haste as was now evinced by members to get away, even though It was notorious that there were a large number of Bills of the utrooßt Importance yet to be considered . Mr Seddon proposed an amendment to thd effect that, while It was desirable to reduce tbe amount of tbe hor. orari urn oo the estimates <by 26 per cent,' it wbb not neoessary to Interfere with the Act Or proceed with tho Bill further this new Son.- He aydwed ttrot {ie "considered fie had a right to be remunerate^ for his services, and told his constituents so. He did not find that the amount now paid jeft any profty. Mr Frpser and Major Steward supyotfP& t|)f ie y oo4 ft&d.Qf t

I Captain Rn sell was not ln favor of payment at all, but at most £100 ought to be enough, He objected to giving a large amount on the ground that lt would encourage professional politicians. It would be most unjust to curtail the salaries m the Government departments, and not to ' touch the honorarium. He did not agree with the distinction made between the members of the two.Houses In the Bill Sir Julius Yogel said there was a difficulty m dealing with the old and new members, and he thought it wculd bo better not to apply the BUI to this session. Sir George Grey said he would do his best to bave It confined to the present Parliament It was not the only measure of proceedings of late m a retrograde direction. Mr Reeves (St Athene) pleaded for some consideration fo_ the new members, pointiog out that the old members woald lose only £6 this session while the former would be dooked £60. At the same time he recognised that ln the present state of the country members muat make some sacrifices as well as other people. Speaking generally he was sure the democracy of the oountry did not wish to reduoe the honorarium and throw representation Into the hands of the rloh. Mr Buxton said the country did not demand reduotion, aud It was not expected of them. He had promised his constituents above all things to oppose it. Mr Withey held that wealth was no qualification for a legislator, and the honorarium should be no Inducement to bring men into the House. He thought Parliament tried to do too muoh work, part of which ought to be done locally. Mr Turnbull thought they should not deal with the Bill until the amended Representation Aot was settled. It would be much better to deduct cay 25 per cent from the honorarium this year, and leave legislation on the subject till next session ! Mr Brnoe supported the seoond reading In consequence of the financial state of the oolony, but not because the salary was too much. Mr McKentle (Wsihemo) thought the BUI should be limited to the present Parliament. Mr Ke.r supported the amendment- - Mr Marohant considered they were bonnd to accept the lower sum. Mr Richardson (Kaiapoi) favored the resolution, and Mr Thompson (Marsden), Mr Mills, and Mr Thompson (Auckland) supported lt. Mr L.vestam waa entirely opposed to the measure, for whioh he oould see no necessity. Mr Reeves (Inangahua) objeoted to the BUI applying to the present Beaslon. He wanted) to know whether other salaries, were going to be reduoed to tbe same extent. He Intended to vote against the second reading. Mr Ward pointed out that under the aot the Wellington members only got £140, and now they were to have £150. The new members were treated unfairly. As fas as this session wes concerned, the whole reduction wonld only amount to £2000. He would vote against the Bill. Mr Tatwhanga had no faith In this reduction. Mr Jones had given a pledge whioh caused him to support the measure with some rot er vat ion. Messrs Taylor, Taipua, Biakr, andDr Newman also spoke m support of the Bill, and Mr Pratt against. A division was taken on Mr Reddon'o amendment, which was lost by 56 to 14 The Bill was read a second tim - on the voices, and the Honse rose at 1 12.