PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 400, 4 June 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

On Tuesday, in the Legislative Council, the business was purely formal. An Address.in relpy was brought ap by the Committee. Dr. Grace gave notice that he would move its adoption on the following day. In the House of Representatives, Sir G. Gray gave notice that he would on June 16, move for the repeal of the Property Assessment and Property Tax Acts. Mr Pyke gave norice that he would ask Government whether it was their intention to bring in a bill to prohibit religious and party prpcessions. Mr Hurst gave notice that he would ask what steps Government intended taking to prevent the spread of pluero-pnuemonia from the North to the South Islands. The new Licensing Bill was introduced by a message from the Governor and read a first time. The following Bills were introdnced and read a first time : — Regulation of Elections Bill, Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill, Election Petitions Bill (Hon J. Hall); Native Reserves Bill (Hon W. Rolleston) ; Native Land Sales Bill, Native Lands Contracts Valuation Bill (Mr Tamoana); Tauranga Land Bill (Hon J. Bryce) ; Bill to Ametid the Several Acts Relating to Municipal Corporations (Mr Hutchison). Colonel Trimble moved the Address in Reply. He defended tho Property Tax and the Royal Commissions, and spoke somewhat gloomily of the financial outlook. To judge from the remarks of the correspondent of the Press, his speech wae by no means a success. The correspondent i_ question says:—" The gallant colonel cannot be complimented on his speech, which lasted over an hour, and was eminently unsuited to the occasior. As was remarked afterwards, it would have been more in keeping had the motion been one of no-confidence in the other side. He criticised the action of the late Ministry at wearisome length, with a tedious elaborate discourse on finance and their policy and administration. His remarks were coldly applauded, as a matter of courtesy, by his own side; but it was plain from the ex-

pression on the faces of the Ministeralists that they were unspeakably chagrined at the blunders the indiscreet colonel wasmaking, while the Opposition evidently clutched the chance thus afforded them of a free fight and of harassing the Government with impunity. Colonel Trimble at length concluded amid a general sense of relief." Captain Russel seconded the motion. (Jenkins cannot forbear informing us that the Captain was attired "in faultless evening costume," and that his " deportment" was "unexceptionable.") His remarks consisted of a fair echo oi the speech itself. Mr Macandrew supported the motion, saying if the Address had any faults, they" were sins of omission rather than of commission. Tlie best part of the Speech, in his opinion, was that which promised them a short session. Dr Wallis treated tho House to a "sermonic" speech, dwelling at length on the errois and faults of the Government. Major To Wheoro and Hone Tawhai spoke, referring to the aspect of Native Affairs. Sir G. Grey attributed the depression in New Zealand to the present Ministry. He objected to the stoppage of Public Works, and also to the Property Tax. The Hon J. Hall said the advice of the previous speaker about getting rid of the Property-Tax had not been accompanied by any suggestions as the mode in which they were to provide for the large delict created by the Government of which he (Grey) was the head. In conclusion he said he had been challenged to state the policy of Government; it was this—to amend its laws, reform its administration, and place its finances on a sound basis. After a short speech from Mr Pyke the motion for second reading was then put and carried Without dissent, and the House rose at 9.35 p.m. In the Council oa Wednesday, after some formal business, Dr Grace moved the Address in Reply in a brief speech, in which he expressed a hope that all parties would do their utmost to help the Colony out of its difficulties. The Hon. G. R. Johnson seconded the i Address. Colonel Whitmore spoke at length" on tho Government's policy, chiefly in its favor, especially as to Native matters. He highly eulogised Mr Bryce as the best Native Minister the Colony had ever had. He criticised the Government's finance, | and said he would further their interests to help the Colony out of its difficulties. Finance came before eveiything. Their house was on fire, and it must be put out before any abstract questions could be discussed. He opposed the withdrawal of subsidies, but would raise half the cost of education (in which there was gross extravagance, M.A.'s teaching boys the alphabet hy direct local taxation. The Hon F. A. Whitaker briefly replied to Colonel Whitmore's remarks, when tlie address was carried. In the House of Representatives, the business was unimportant, consisting chiefly of notices of motion and questions. Among the latter was one asked by Dr Wallis re Government advertising, to which The Hon J. Hall replied that a circular had been sent to the heads of Departments to distribute advertisements to all the leading papers, independent of any question of polities, and he had no reason to suppose that his instructions had not yet been strictly obeyed Sir G. Grey moved for copies of all correspondence and telegrams which have passed since the first day of October last, between Government or .any of its officers with Messrs Sheehan and Whitaker, or either of ihera, or with any judge or officer of the Native Land Court,' or with any Land Board or member of a Land Board, or with any surveyor, relative to any lands. Native or Governmental, in the Patea district, or in tho n< ighbourhood or vicinity of that district. The motion was seconded by Mr Whitaker and agreed to. The Regulations of Elections Bill was read a second time without discussion, and the House adjourned at 4.40 p.m. Poor Colonel Trimble has been handled very severely by the Ministerialist organs. The correspondent of the Lyttelton Times says :— " Altogether the Government is very sore over this mutter, oud also over Mr Pyke's ridicule of the Royal Commissions. ' The only monuments of whose existence are,* he said, ' to be found scattered over the Colony in the shape of piles of broken battles.'"' The same writer says that severe criticism has been evoked by what he calls--44 the packing of sessions as Committees."