PARLIAMENTARY TELEGRAMS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 251, 1 September 1874, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY TELEGRAMS.

Friday, 21st Auwst,

In the General Assembly, on the House meeting, Mr Fitzherbert gave notice ,that he would, when the House was moved into Com-> mittee of Supply, move a resolution to the effect that no attempt should be made to carry out any organic change involving cen tral and bureaucratic authority, without the opinion of the people being taken, and that an address should be presented to His Excellency the Governor praying him to dissolve the present Parliament. The announcement was received with loud applause. The Pacific Islands Trade Encouragement Bill was discharged from the Order Paper. The Premier said that the Government deemed it inadvisable to proceed with the measure at this late period of the session. The Premier stated also that, for a like reason, the Government did not intend proceeding with the Qualification of, Electors Bill. It was evident that the details of the Bill would occupy a great deal of time in discussion. Mr Wales opposed the Premier's proposal to withdraw the measure, and hoped the Government would reconsider its decision, and proceed with the Bill, which would place upon the electoral roll a large class of young men of judgment and education who did not happen to hold property qualification. Among this class were miners, and he regretted to say that the principal opponents of the Bill were goldfields members. He wished. «the Bill made one of the questions to be submitted to the country if there was a dissolution. A draft Bill was brought down, recommending a "retiring allowance to Wilson Gray, late District Judge of Otago. The Premier spoke in high terms of his services to the country, and said he would be prepared to increase the allowance if the House so desired, as his (Mr Gray's) health was utterly shattered, and he had again and again refused a higher position than that he occupied. Mr Macandrew warmly supported the recommendation, and said Mr Wilson Gray had sacrificed his health in the service of the country night and day. "He would gladly support the proposal to make the amount larger, Messrs Fox, O'Neill, and M'Glashan each spoke in a like manner. The Premier said that the Government proposed to give him a year's leave of absence on full salary. The report of the Ward-Chapman Committee stated first, that after taking a considerable amount of evidence with the object-of ascertaining the means through which it was alleged the telegrams were communicated to the Olago Daily Times, they were satisfied the Times received the telegrams from Mr James MaeaSsey, but the manner in which they came into his possession had not been satisfactorily proved. Second. That the evidence was very contradictory, and involves distinct charges of perjury against one or more persons. Third. The Committee suggested that a fuller investigation should be made, and recommend that their reports, together with all evidence, should be transmitted to the Governor with an address, praying that a Royal Commission be appointed to make a full investigation of all matters connected with the enquiry, and of all necessary evidence as far as the witnesses might be able to give it without criminating themselves. The Committee was of opinion that irregularities had been committed in the telegraph and post office at Oamaru, but that Messrs Clayton and Holdsworth had given their evidence in such a ready and straightforward manner that the. Committee felt justified in requesting that the Government, should overlook their past misconduct

Monday, 24th August.

Mr T. L. Shepherd obtained leave to introduce a Bill to borrow £3OO for the purpose of establishing "Water Works at Clyde. In reply to Mr Stafford, regarding the resignation of the Governor, Mr Vogel said he might say that His Excellency had not resigned through any dislike to the Governorship of the Colony, or to the arrangements. His desire simply was, that he wished to resume a more active life at home than pertained to the Governorship of the Colony. A considerable debate took place on Mr Johnston's motion that an address be presented to the Governor, together with the reports of the Committee on the Ward-Chapman inquiry, and the evidence taken by it, requesting a full investigation by a Royal Commission ; and that should the Governor be indisposed to accede to the prayer of the address, he be requested to place the reports and evidence in the custody of the Speaker. Dr Pollen said the Government would itself make further inquiry into the Oamaru Telegraph-office affair, and were not disposed to shirk any responsibility in connection with that. The motion was negatived by 17 to 14. The Premier then introduced a resolution for granting equal allowances to members of both branches of the Legislature, and providing that after this year the allowance of members of the Assembly be regulated by Act of Parliament, but that during this year the allowance shall be 150 guineas to all members of the Assembly residing beyond three miles from the place of meeting of the Assembly, and 100 guineas to all members of the Assembly residing within that distance. The Premier defended the principle of paying members of both branches, so as to relieve them of the charge of being mere representatives of wealth. This was,carried.