PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 352, 2 December 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

In the Council on Thursday, replying to Mr Miller,

The Attorney-General said there were at present five emigration agents in the old country. Mr Holloway got £150 a year, Mr G. M. Reed £600, Mr John Bathgate £300, Mr A. Clayden £250, and the Rev J. Berry £300.

The qualification of Electors Bill was read a third time, after an unsuccessful attempt by Mr Wilson to allow Maori land owners in common the right to vote. In the House of Representatives Sir G. Grey gave notice that on going into Committee of Supply he would move—" That the finding of the Select Committee that he (Sir G. Grey) had not been duly elected a member for Christchurch be expunged, as also the finding that the Hon. E. Richardson was duly elected." Replying to Mr J. T. Fisher, Mr Hall said that the subject of making provision on the Supplementary Estimates to provide suitable accommodation for His Excellency when he may please to visit the large centres of population— Christchurch and Dunedin—was under consideration. Mr Wakefield asked whether the Government have any information as to the Agent-General having taken up his residence at Falmouth ; whether they consider he can properly attend to his duties while residing so far from London, and whether they intend to insist on his abstaining from taking part in politics while retaining his present office. The Hon. J. Hall replied that with regard to the first and second questions, Government had no information on the subject, but they believed he had merely gone to reside at Falmouth for a holiday. They had, and would continue to insist, that he took no part in British politics. Several Bills were .advanced a stage ; after which the members of the General Assembly Expenses Bill was considered in Committee.

Sir G. Grey moved—" That the clause providing for the payment of members in the Upper House be expunged," and in explanation said that he was not advising the non-payment of members of that branch of the Legislature. That being a nominated body, it was not right that they should be provided for in the same Act as the elective Chamber.

Mr M'Lean opposed the motion, and moved—" That progress be reported." The House divided on Mr MLean's amendment—Ayes, 29 ; noes, 32. The House re-assembled at 7.30 p.m. In support of the contention that a difference should be made in the amounts paid to members of the Lower and those in the Upper House, it was argued that the former were put to the trouble and expense of a contested election, whereas the latter had not such expense to provide for. Messrs Gisborne and Reid argued in support of that view of the subject. Mr Dick thought the defeated candidates were more entitled to be considered than the successful, and if they were going to put a sum on the Estimates for themselves, he would move—"That the claims of these gentlemen also be considered." There was no argument, in fact, that gentlemen in the other House were men of large means. If that argument was good, the same thing would apply to this House. They had men of means amongst them, and these men would bo equally entitled not to receive pay as members of the Upper House.

Sir G. Grey, replying to Mr Dick, said that the effect of his proposal would be that the elections would be contested by every qualified man in the place. There would be a perfect rush to the hustings were candidates to be assured of their expenses. On the question being put, the House divided—Ayes, 41 ; noes, 23. The amendment of Sir G. Grey was accordingly lost. Mr Lundon then moved—"That the Chairman leave the chair." The House divided—Ayes, 48 ; noes, 23. The Bill was consequently shelved. In the Council on Friday, it was ordered, on the motion of the Hon R. Hart—" That a month after the beginning of next session, a return should be submitted showing the number of electors in every district subject and not subject to the new Property Tax." Several Bill were advanced a stage. The Council then went into Committee on the Registration of Electors Bill,'and had not made any important amendment up to the adjournment at 5 p.m. The whole of the evening sitting was spent in Committee on the Registration of Electors Bill. Many amendments were made, but none of importance. The Hon J. N. Wilson made an ineffectual attempt to abolish plural voting. In the House of Representatives, after the questions had been disposed of, and on the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Sir G. Grey moved —" That the finding of the Committee declaring he had not been duly elected for Christchurch, and that Mr Richardson had been elected, be expunged from the records of the House." The mover contended that an entirely opposite decision had been come to by a previous committee, and that in the face of that decision it would be wrong that a large number of electors should be absolutely disfranchised.

Mr Hall admitted that the argument put forward by the mover might very properly have been urged before the Committee who tried the case, but contended that it would be dangerous to go behind the decision of a Committee and upset it.

On a division, the motion for going into Committee of Supply was carried by 36 to 21.

In Committee of Supply, on the vote for the Native Affairs Department —salaries and contingencies,

The Hon J. Bryce said there were a good many things in this department with which he was dissati-fied, and if he continued in office, he would attempt a considerable retrenchment, failing- which, he would retire from office. In reply to Mr Montgomerj*, Mr Bryce said that .Government (had already taken steps to check the spread of contagious diseases among the Natives at Little River. . ./ 1 On the item of general contingivicf-dj for purchase-of food, and clothing fur ithe

Natives, also for rewards and presents to the Native chiefs, and for the encouragement of agricultural purposes, &c, of £6000,

Mr Gisborne moved that it be reduced £2000.

Mrßryce opposed the 1 reduction on the ground that a sum of £2000 out of the vote had been spent before the present Government took office.

The vote as printed was put and carried.

Of the other votes submitted, most of them were passed as printed, one or two unimportant reductions being made.

Mr Turnbull proposed to reduce the item £21,575, expenses of members of both Houses, by £2157, being ten per cent.

A division was taken on the question, the ayes being 27, and the noes 22.

The motion for reduction was therefore carried.