General Assembly.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 428, 27 August 1880, Page 2

General Assembly.

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.,

On Friday in tho House of Representative! at the morning bitting, the Houso •* went into Committee on the Wellington Racing Club Bill. Mr Mason hoped the Bill would bo dropped, and no more time wasted over it; and to bring matters to an issue would move that the Chairman leave the chair. Mr Levin paid, so far as he was concorned, he should stick to the Bill to tho last. , Mr Whitaker supported Mr Levin. Mr Hutchison subsequently wished to withdraw his opposition, but the Houso *, *~ would not allow this course to be adopted. After a few more observations from Mr Levin, the motion for the Chairman leaving the chair was put and carried. The Bill was conseqnenfly shelved. During the afternoon, Mr Pyke asked the Government,—(l) Whether they are j aware that the railway line from Oxford to Malvern .(Sheffield), recommeded by the Railway Commissioners, ie a mere pretext, committing the colony to building a line from Oxford to Teuiuka; (2) whether such railway will be of any public benefit, and to what extent; (3) J whether the proposed line of railway passes 1 through the estates of the Hon. John Hall, tho Premier, and of Mr Wight, a member h of the Railway Commission ? In asking the question, Mr Pyke said he was not quite sure what it was that had vexed the Premier on the previous day, but if it was the form of the question he would slightly alter it and leave out the word " pretext" in the first part of the question. He would ask whether the the construction of the line from Oxford -to Malvern- would result in the making of the line from Oxford to Temuka. :He would ask the question in that way, to remove any feel- ;- ing there might be on the subject. He put the.othor questions as "stood upon tho paper. The Plon. the.Minister of Public Works said the first part of tho question would open up debateablo matter. With regard ~*< to the second part of the question, he would answer in the negative. The Government was not aware it was a mere *" * pretext that would commit the colony to *" the line from Oxford to Temuka. The

■ '*'■ ■"■ Tnm mutt mtvmtmam wmrfnafirmtammw im*eMnmmmmmaiiL ■!—■■ ■ I^— c ctiou from Oxford to Malveni would Lv a most useful one, and had been recommended by the* Oommiseion. No person on the Commission had property on tho Jino of that railway. Tho third part of the question was put in such a way aa to make it very doubtful which of the lines it meant. The lino was commenced some years before tho present Ministry took office, and abandoned finco they came into office, and he could assure the lion, gentleman that neither of tho gentlemen interested had property in the neighbourhood of tho line at present under con sideration. In tho evening the debate was resumed on tho West Coast Bill, adjourned from the previous evening. Colonel Trimble would content himself with Haying he entirely agreed with tho Bill as it stood, and he thought it was enly right for him, on behalf of the people he represented, to thank the gentlemen who had formed the Commission for the great pains and trouble they had taken in .preparing their report. Mr Tomoana said if ho could form a clear idea as to what waa in tho reports •of the royal Commission, but they had never boon translated —and he had no means of being made fully acquainted with their contents. He had not agreed with the Maoris being taken into enstody, and had protested agninst it. He objected to the present Bill mixing up, the report of the Native Commission. With regard to the prisoners in custody, he was strongly of opinion that they ought to be releasedThe wives and families of these people ■were left at home wholly uncared-for, which could not but lead to evil results. He did not wish to speak in favor of Te ■\Vhiti, on the contrary, he condeined hie •conduct and that of his following.

Sir William Fox begged to express tho pleasure which he had and his brother Commissioner felt at the .manner in which their report had been received. They also felt thankful to the Government for the great confidence which they had placed in them, and which had enabled them to bring their labours to a successful close. He likewise desired to express his thanks to the lion, member for tho Thames for the manner in which he had spoken of the Commission ; and alwo to the press throughout the country, which had recognised the valuo of their work when it was done, lip sincerely trusted the Govern, ment would carry out the recommendation •of tho report, and he felt sure they would do so to a successful issue. There was not an opinion they had formed which was not passed on absolute facts, after the most careful consideration. In the words of thoir greatest English poet, the}' had determined when they first entered upon the commission, to ."tell a plain nnvainiahed tale, nothing extenuate, nor si* down aught in malice." [Applause]

TheHon Mr Bryce said it was a matter of gratification to him that so much "commendation had been thrown upon the Commission, and to a certain extent iipon the Government, for the selection they had made. [Applause, ami ciies of "No no."] He did not know ..whether Sir George Grey had intended to praise the Government, but he had undoubtedly done so in tho course of his remarks. The lion, gentleman at some length proceeded to criticise the speeches which had been made adversely to the Bill. Te Whiti was not doing this thing to test the ques tion before our Courts of Law—it whb to try and shew New Zealand that he held himself above the Parliament and the people both—that he was above all men.

The motion for the second reading was then agreed on the voices.

The Speaker then left the chair, and the House went into Committee of Supply.

In Committee, Mr Pyke protested against the Act again. He held it to be entirely opposed to every feeling of freedom with which an Englishman ought to be imbued- Members opposed to the Bill, and who had any regard for their own character, ought to walk out of the House and allow Ministers to enrry out their wickedness without contradiction. did that they would do what would be considered right and just by future generations. Mr Montgomery said the Act as it stood gave power to imprison a Maori for two years simply if he was suspected, which he held was altogether unconstitutional. The Bill was reported, with slight amendments, which, on the motion of the Native Minister, were agreed to. On the motion for the third reading, several members expressed their strong disapprobation of the measure. . Mr Montgomery spoke a few words in favor of military settlements, and giving fiuch settlers email farms, on condition that they occupy them for a certain number of years. Ultimately the Bill was read a third time and passed, and the House adjourned at 1.15 a.m. On Monday the House met at 11 o'clock. The Special Powers and Contr otora Bill was rend a second time. The Hon \V. llolleston moved the second reading of the Debtors and Creditors! Bill. It was intended, he said, to carry out the recommendations of the Joint Committee of both Houses. On the motion for going into committee on this Bill, Mr Bain and others objected to tinkering the BanknipU-y Law in this way, and urged that tlio Bill should be withdrawn till the whole subject could be considered and dealt with.

' The motion for going into committee was lost on division by 30 to 24. The Impounding Bill waa withdrawn. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Otago Eoad Bates Validity Bill were agreed to. The House went into Committee on the Fencing Bill. The Hon. J. Hall moved amendments to make the Bill additonal instead of compulsory, bo as to require a requestion from, a local body before coining into operation in any district. After eonsiderablo discussion, progress was reported, and the House rose till 2.30 p.m.