HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3779, 25 August 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said railway employes would not be removed from place to place more than could be avoided ; the Government did not sco its way to grant capitation to members of volunteer fire brigades, but would consider the propriety of bringing in a bill next session to place those bodies on a more satisfactory footing. The Government did not think the unemployed difficulty in Dunedin a very large one, but work Avould be found on the Lindon section of the Otago Central lino for all wanting it; the Government did not intend to proceed with the Municipal Corporations Bill this session, but were willing to amend any urgent defect in the existing law ; the Government would regret any movement to establish distilleries in tho colony; the Government found jarrah timber almost indestructable, and had obtained 50,000 at between 4/- and 5/- for use on curves, etc.,—groat difficulty had been experienced in getting Puriri sleepers from the AVest Coast ; the West Coast Royal Commissioners, beforo crossing the ranges, had obtained warm clothing at the public cost in Christchurch, and on arrival at the West Coast had handed it over to the resident engineer, who sold it for £13; the Government did not think it possible to consolidate the Natives Land Act so as to ronder the law easily understood ; when the Waipawa County- Council furnished the necessary information steps would be taken to lay off a road through native lands, between Wainui and Porangahau ;— the Government were in communication with Mr A. M. Murray about an alleged invenvention of his for rendering railway collisions impossible; the Government would if possible, admit material for the manufacture of cardboard boxes duty free ;—nearly all the provincial Acts were out of _ print, but most of them would soon bo consolidated, and the cost of reprinting would be very largo; the Government would not undertake to make a railway siding at the Waverley racecourse ; — the Government could not deal in tho Counties Act with the question of farmers protecting themselves from storm and flood water without rendering themselves liable to damages, but would consider the subject. NEW DILLS. Tho following new bills were introduced and read a first time:—Civil List Act Amendment (Conolly), Special Powers and Contracts (Rolleston), Road Boards Act Amendment, Roads and Bridges Construction Act Amendment, Rating Act Amendment, and Town Districts Act Amendment (Atkinson). BREACH OE PRIVILEGE. On the resumption of the Post breach of privilege debate, Major Atkinson said, after due consideration and consultation with the Speaker, he thought that, as Mr Dargaville was the person aggrieved, it should now rest with him to say if he wished the publishers brought to the Bar of the House. If so, he would proceed with the motion. Mr Dargaville said ho had no desire at all to push the matter further. He would, in fact, like to see committees open to reporters, so that time reports could be published. Major Atkinson moved that tho order be discharged. Sir George Grey moved, as an amendment, that the Speaker and Chairman of Committees should devise a plan for admitting press reporters to all committees when taking evidence. In doing this ho apoko for half an hour on the advantages of a free press, and even thought the press should be admitted to meetings of the Executive Council when acting judicially. Great public wrongs would thus be prevented. Major Atkinson congratulated Sir George Grey on his conversion to a belief in the purity of the press, as he was wont to describe it as tho corrupt tool of tho Government. He hoped tho House would adopt tho proposed amendment. Mr DcLautour, Mr Joyce, Mr Turnbull, and others supported Sir George Grey's proposal, while Mr Barron, Mr AVhitaker, and others opposed it. Mr Swanson shelved the motion by moving the adjournment of tho debate for six weeks, which, was agreed to on tho voices. NATIVE LAND LAWS AMENDMENT HILL. In committee on the Native Laud Laws Bill, the first of Mr Bryce's new clauses, to give tl. c Chief Judge power, instead of the Government, to remove restrictions or alienations, was rejected by 37 to 23, and tho other now clauses were withdrawn. A new clause, proposed by Mr Swanson, was adopted, to the effect that due notice should be gazetted beforo any restrictions wore removed. A new clause, proposed by Mr Stevens, to validate bona fide agreements and negotiations now pending, was negatived by 2-1 to l_. The bill was then reported as amended. PASSAGE OE DILLS. The Native Committees Bill, the AVest Coast Settlement Reserves Bill, tho Volun*

teer Act Amendment Bill, the Auckland Hospital Reserves Bill, and the Kawlua Township Sale Bill passed through committee without substantial alteration. Progress was made with the Counties Act Amendment Bill in committee. Tho House rose at 12.15.