HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3778, 24 August 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

ij.wi.u_- _■_ _— . Thursday. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. EOADS AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION ACT COMMITTEE. Mr Shepherd brought up a report from the Roads and-Bridges Construction Act Committee, and moved that it and an accompanying report from the SurveyorGeneral bo printed. Major Atkinson said tho Government would carefully consider tho committees report, and so far as they approved them would embody the recommendations in a t Considerable discussion ensued, Mr Slovens, Mr Pyko, and others blaming the committee for having only taken tho Sur-

vevor-General's evidence in place of haA*ing tho local knowledge of members. Captain M'Kenzie, Mr Sutton, and Mr Shepherd defended the action taken. Mr Shrimski said tho scramble for money Avas demoralising tho country, and urged the repeal of the Act altogether. The matter then dropped. THE ANNEXATION CONFERENCE. Major Atkinson announced that as soon as tho session was over the Government proposed to send a delegate to the intercolonial conference on annexation. sir g. grey's charges against the government. Sir George Grey read a lett.r he had addressed to Major Atkinson asking him to fulfill his promise and give him an opportunity to move tho following resolution: — " That a committee be appointed to enquire into and report upon the action ot the Government in administering, since the end of March, 1882, the laws relating to native lands in such a way as to benefit their friends.'' Ho also read Major Atkmsons's reply, intimating that, as the resolution was not at all of tho nature indicated by him, he declined to give any facilities for moving it.

QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said tho Government had given orders to enlarge the platelayers' cottages at the Summit, tho men's families having outgrown tlm accommodation ; tho interim report as to the survey of a main trunk railway through Hawke's Bay showed tho discovery ot a fairly practicable line to Taupo ; the Government would consider the propriety of removing the Supreme Court Judges occasionally from place to place; the Government could not promise a harbor endowment for Wairoa, but the foreshore and pilot reserves might bo vested in the Harbor Board ; tho Government would consider the revision of tho rule:" of tho Civil Service relating to travelling expenses ; the Government Avould during'" the recess consider the whole subject of mining on private lands with a view to legislation :' the Government could not proclaim TcruAvhiti or tho Ninetymile Beach mining districts, as they were private lands; the GoA'crnment Avould introduce a bill next session to further encourage the planting of forest trees ; the Government could not promise to put footAvays on the Maugarangiora and Makatoku railway bridges: the Government did not consider a steam mail service between the Bluff and Stewart's Island necessary : some Australian timber had been imported by the Railway Department for special purposes : that Avhen railway employes absented themselves for the purpose of voting the time was deducted from their Avages ; amendments of the luav of insurance would lie made next session Avith regard to borrowing on polices for a Avifo's benefit. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. Sir Dargavillc drew attention to a paragraph in tho Evening Post which he said was a garbled account of the proceedings of theDaruavillo-Atkinson Committees. He moved that it Avas a breach of privilege. Major Atkinson, although loath to take part in the discussion, avus prepared, as the leader of the House, to make any motion the Speaker deemed necessary to protect its priviliges. Mr Whitaker aud Mr Montgomery argued that, if the report was not a true one, there Avas no breach of privilege, but the Speaker said the publication of anything Avhich purported to be a report of the proceedings of a committee Avhich had not been reported avus a clear breach of privilege. Mr De Lautour thought it high time the Press Avas made to understand this. After further discussion the motion Avas carried. Mr Dargavillc said he did not think necessary to go any further. Mr Fish said they should should find out Avho gave the information, a member or an official. Major Atkinson feared it would bo necessary to do this. He therefore formally niovcd that John, Henry, and Louis Blundell, the proprietors of the Post, bo summoned to the Bar of the House on Monday. At the same time he suggested that the debate should bo adjourned to next day to give him time to consult tho Speaker on the Avhole matter. The debate Avas adjourned accordingly. STONEWALLING.

Major Atkinson then moved to postpone Government business to allow tho local bills talked out in the afternoon to come on. A long discussion arose, Mr Sheehan, Mr J. C. Brown, Mr Fish, Mr Seddon, and others speaking at length, blaming the Go-A-ernmcnt's management of business, and Major Atkinson at last denounced the proceedings as stonewalling to prevent tho Otago Harbor Loan Consolidation Bill being brought.on, the reason being that it Avas in charge of Mr M. W. Green, and certain members who dare not oppose the bill openly Avished to prevent him carrying it because lie had left the Opposition. Mr Montgomery and Mr Bracken indignantly denied tho statement made by the Treasurer. At 10.20 it Avas agreed to postpone the local bills till Monday.

NATIVE LAND LAAVS HILL. The House Avent into committee on the Native Land Laws Bill.

Mr Bryce moved a iicav clause in lieu of lauso 0, to regulate the. negotiation for and after the title had been ascertained.

Mr Kelly moved the omission of nearly tho Avhole of Mr Brycc's clause to make room for other Avords restoring the right of pre-emption, but on a division Mr Kelly's amendment Avas lost by 30 to 11.

Mr Kelly then moved the pre-emptive clause he had given notice of, but it Avas negatived by 38 to G. Mr Brycc's new clause Avas added to the bill. He then moved a series of twelve ncAv clauses having for their object to remove from tho Government tho power of dispensing with restrictions on the alienation of lands, and vesting that power in the hands of the Chief judge of the Native Lands Court. This Avould prevent charges of corrupt practice being made against the Government.

Mr StcA-ons strongly objected to tho Government ski-king its duty and abrogating its proper functions. Tho clauses proposed Avould cause serious injustice in certain existing leases. Progress was reported, aud the House rose at 1.35.