PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 417, 20 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

On Thursday, after a very little formal bnsiness. the Council adjourned (having only Rat five minutes), on the motion of tho Hon Mr Whitaker, out of respect to the Hon N. Edwards,'one- of its oldest members, news of whose death., at Nelson had just been received. In the Houne of Representatives, after •ome unimportant business. Sir G. Grey moved—» That a Select Committee ho appointed to inquire into and report upon the petition of Louis Ehrenfried, of the Thames, complaining of tbe manner in which licenses had been refused to be renewed to certain public-houses in the Thames district. On a, divim'on, after a long discussion, the motion was lost by 27 votes to 32. The adjourned debate on tho second reading of the HoHpital and Charitable

Aid Endowments Bill wan resumed. ' Mr Turnbull suggested tbat the Bill be read that day six months. The Hon J. Hnll said he intended to support the second reading. He denied that it would clash with tlie. 8i11,.0n this nubject'introduced by the Government., ■. Mr thtß jlili would have to. be altered before it could possibly pass through Committee. Mr Stewart spoke in favor of tlie Bill. Sir G. Grey said the whole system proposed in this Bill was adverse to the public interest. Ijt would be prejudicial to the poor of New Zealand. The funds would be badly administered. He would allow residents of localities to choose the persons to administer charitable aid, and levy the rates requisite for that purpose. The Hon W. Gisborne said he thought the Bill would be highly beneficial to the community at largo. Mr Shephard also considered the prin- | ciple of the Bill to be sound, and would support the motion. Mr Stevens replied, and on being put the motion waa carried on the voices. In Committee on tbe Otngo Harbor Board Empowering Bill, a diacuanion arose as to the liability of the colony in the event of local bodies who had been authorised to borrow,, repudiating their engagements. Tbe Hon J. Hall hoped it would bo moat distinctly understood that the colony was in no way responsible for loans contracted by Harbour Boards or any other local bodies. . If. they repudiated their debts, he would be no, party to advocate 'the propriety of the House stepping in and. defraying tho amount. The lender 1 could see for. himself that the Government of the Colony was in nowise ..to be held responsible for the amount. ■'..■. i ~

"■■'.Mr Driver said ho did not dispute the .legality of what luuLheiPre- , ?n-^id;!»y-'-tlie-c ,- !mier:< still he for one. would, never think about sitting there and clothing these bodies with borrowing powers"uiileim he thought that ill the event' of repiiilintiota tlie House would step in for the relief of the bondholders.

Major Atkinson said they allowed these local bodies to pay ah extra hiten'st. which of itself showed that the Colony never contemplated any reHpon nihil iiy. He apprehended that if they found a locality inclined to repudiate its debts, they would step in and cause a rate to be levied so as to provide for tho debt. Timt was all he apprehended • the Government would-be asked, or even expected tt> ib>. Ho wished that to be most distinctly understood.

Mr Mobs said that if that was the case, why. not allow those bodies unlimited borrowing power: why restrict them if it was not from a sense that was desired to keep them within such bounds as we were disposed to face? ■ ■ •

On Friday an animated debate took place in the House of Representatives on the Maori Prisoner** Trial Bill, the second reading of which was moved by the Native Minister (Hon Mr Bryce). The Bill proposed to give the Government power to detain tbe Natives now in custody and awaiting trial for the trespassing and ploughing business which took place some time ago for another year, if thought necessary, and to .discharge any of them at any time without trial, on such conditions as might seem fit to Government.

Sir George Grey regarded the Bill as an unnecessary measure—one which violated almost every prmeiplo of law. It was in point of fact a penal statute, a measure hurriedly conceived, and none of the ordinary precautions or safeguards wei« enacted. It proposed to indict pennltion on persons who might be innocent.. It was different from any other measure ever before the House. It said these persons were to be imprisoned at tbe pleasure of the Government of the day, and all ordinary means for legitimate escape were to be taken away, and then, at the will of the Governor, they were to be cast forth upon the world with a stigma on their character, and no hope of redress. During the course of the lion, gentleman's speech an unprecedented scene took place, which is thus described by the Times' correspondent:— Another scene of a most unusual nature occurred in the House to-night. Sir G. Grey commenced to speak on the Maori Prisoners Bill, about 20 minutes to eight o'clock; about ten minutes afterwards ho observed that the Premier, who was correcting a Hansard proof of his speech, was treating him with contempt by not listening to his remarks, and he said he should not proceed till he gave him his attention. Mr Hall rose, and merely say-

ing that be wus not bound to attend to •Kdrnt was said by an hou inemNer, went on with his proof reaiing. Sir IJ. Grey again said he would not goon till Mr Hall listened to him, when there ensued a perfect of cries of "Order," "Question," wid much confusion. Sever I members rose to points of order as to whether Sir G. Grey could detain the Huuse without speaking to the question under debate. Mr M'Lean endeavored -to Apeak to'the Bill, but he was howled down by the Opposition; and Mr Andrews met? with siurilar treatment from the -Government supporters. Sir G. Grey slid persisted in refusing to goon, and Mr Hall continued his reading. Mr Johnston here* rose iaAd; asked the Speaker's ruling as to whether SirG. Grey was not wilfully obstructing the business of the House, but Mr Seymour did not consider he was wilfully obstructing. Sir G. Grey had then-been standing for half an hour, and «ume of; lita friends brought him a chair, on the back of which he leaned looking round at Ministers. Mr M a-and re w then rose and said a few words about tlie. Premier's discourtesy, which brought Major AtkiiK wm to his feet. Itewiid that Mr Hall had not only been paying attention to ; w»iat. was said, liht had *lso taken full notes as well as the other Ministers. Major Harris caw Bed roars of laughter by asking whether all the silence would be recorded in IfowtardA Points of order were. heie raised by Messrs Whitaker. Sheejiari, Sutton, M'Lean Trimble and' others. Sir O. Grey still refused to go on, aud said be should remain in the" same position till ttiorning, uiileas the Premier gave him his attention. Mem'lierMhen commenced walking about the Wmee and. cunyersed In loud tones. Mr ICh.II at this t««e had finished reading his proof, and ,-','•-was; apparently looking over «n Act. Mr M'Lean again rose to a point of order, and had tit eneouhier a good deal of hooting. He said he wished to know how ho could put a tuolimi for clewing the House of strangers, of which there a 'grpat* many present in all Sthe galleries. TheSpeaker said lie should ; like to -leave ,the •chair for half au hour, at which the Opposition cheered loudly, and the Hotise adjourned at twenty minutes past nine, Sir G. Grey having been standing at this time about forty minutes.' The' House Wet again at 9.15,' when Sir G. Grey rose nnd asked the Premier if ho would now give him liib Attention, to which Mr Hal replied that he had heed attending all along. Sir George Grey then resumed Ids b'peech, and continued speaking for only live minutes longer. Colonel Tritfible briefly supported the Hill, and the Hon. J. Hall then -moved the adjournment of the 'debate.' The House ruse at' 1.30. -'."'• v )n. nifr j\', irfiiti.lt Hil.l '11/' "<?'' '[