PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 316, 15 May 1868, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(Abridged from Ere “Daily Times)

Monday, May 4. Mr, Main presented at petition from Henry Charles Ilertslett, and moved that the petition be received. ‘On a division, the motion was negatived by seventeen votes to eight. Mr. Driver presented a petition from Thomas Murray, having reference to agri•cultural leases at Waitahuna. The petition was received. The Provincial Secretary moved that the House, at its rising, adjourn till 7 o’clock on Tuesday. Mr, Haughton wished to know how long this system of adjournment was to continue, and when the Financial Statement was likely to he made. The Provincial Secretary said the honorable member seemed to assume that there was no business before the House, whereas the fact was they had never been able to clear the Order Paper. He would have made his financial statement that evening but for the the negligence of the committee of which the honorable member was a prominent member. Of course one •did not know what took place in that Committee; but he believed the work would have been very much expedited if the honorable member had not been appointed |l‘i on it. It was only within the last tdn minutes that he (the Provincial Secretary) had been summoned to appear as a witness before that Committee, and it was necessary the Government should have the report of the Committee before the Financial Statement could be made. There seemed to be an impression that the Session Was being unnecessarily extended ; but, if such were the case, it was not the fault of the Government. If the Committee on Retrenchment were able to come up With their report, the Government would be prepared to bring down the Financial Statement one night this week. The motion as to adjournment Was negatived by twelve votes to ten. Mr. Mitchell asked the Provincial Secretary “ Whether the Commissioner of Police gives promotion in the police force from the lowo? grades to the higher, according to

seniority, general efficiency, and good con--1 duct; if so, whether he has any objection to lay upon the table a return showing the dates of the appointment of each member of the police force, and the dates of their promotion since entering the service {"• The Provincial Secretary had been informed by the Commissioner of Police that such return could not be given. There was a very important element in the matter of adaptability. Sometimes very deserving officers could not be promoted liecause they might not be adapted to particular duties. Efficiency for particular vacancies had to be considere 1. He (the Provincial Secretary) thought it would be well not to press for the return. Tuesday, May 5. Mr. Mitchell asked the Provincial Secretary '• Whether the Government intended to compensate Mr. Cameron in the event of his proving that the decision of the Education Board was unjust, and without due inquiry by the Board into the facts of his case?" The Provincial Secretary thought it was quite absurd to ask such a question. The Council had no reason to believe that the Educational Board had arrived at an unjust decision. Mr. Haughton asked the Provincial Secretary "Whether the Government intend to carry the case of ' Cameron versus the " Daily Times"' to the Privy Council, in the event of the "Daily Times' Company being defeated in the Supreme Court of New Zealand ?" The Provincial Secretary would answer that question by asking another. Did the honorable member intend to move for a vote for the purpose ? Mr. Haughton : No. Mr. Haughton asked the Secretary for Land and Works "Whether it is the intention of the Government to place a proper sum upon the estimates in order to plsce the track between the Arrow and the Twelve-Mile in an efficient state of repair?" The Secretary for Land and Works said that an amount would be placed upon the estimates for roads and bridges on the goldfields, and if the work referred to required to be done, it would be in-cluded. Mr. Fraser moved "That the petition of R. F. Badger be referred to the Wakatip Runs Committee." Mr. Haughton objected to the motion. The prayer of the petition was a ridiculous one, and the time of the Committee should not be taken up with it. The motion was negative.!. Mr. Brown moved "That the petition of J. H. Mervyn, as chairman of the meeting at Mount Benger, be referred to the Select Committee on Wakatip Runs." Mr. Shepherd seconded the motion, and in doing so, he said that there were other districts where the miners were anxious for the opening up of the lands. He trusted the Government would lay a statement upon the table, showing what land could be withdrawn from runs without compensation, and what land compensation was asked for. The squatters asked exorbitant sums to surrender the right to graze their cattle, for which they had not paid a farthing. He would caution the Government that a time would come when there would bo an Executive in office who could deal with the Lands. The Provincial Secretary said that the last speaker so often repeated his assertion against the squatters that he, no doubt, began to believe that there was some truth in them. There was nothing easier than to get up an agitation, and he cited an instance in which a squatter, after getting compensation for his lands, still occupied his lands, no leases having been applied for. He did not oppose the present motion but he protested against the general statements made by the honorable member for the Goldfields (Mr. Shepherd) The motion was carried. Mr. Brown moved, " That the petition of certain residents of the Blue Spur be referred to the Select Committee on the Wakatip Runs." The prayer of the petition was that an interest in the management of commonages should be vested in them, jointly with the other settlers. Mr. Hughes said that the Council should pause before sending so many petitions to the Select Committee. He could inform the House that the Government was making regulations of the same kind, and the miners had no reason to believe that those regulations would not give full satisfaction. The Secretary for Land and Works protested against members taking the credit of introducing movement s initiated by the Government, months .ago. Mr. Haughton supported the motion, After discussion, in which the Provincial Secretary, Messrs Mouat and M'lndoe, took part, the motion was, on division, negatived, there voting—Ayes, 6 : Noes, 11. Wednesday, May 6. Mr. Shepherd asked the Government, " If they would place a sufficient sum on the Estimates for the purpose of erecting an additional ward to the Tuapeka Gold--fields Hospital ?" The Provincial Secretary said that three letters had evidently been received by the Goldfields members on the subject. Two of those members had very properly communicated with the Government, and had been informed that a vote would probably be granted. He thought that the honorable member might have done the same, and he now recommended him to speak to his colleagues, from whom he would get all information. Mr. Mitchell moved, "That the House resolve itself into Committee, to aonsider the following resolutions- "Ist. That it is desirable to readjust the representation of the Province.—2nd. That in such a readjustment, it is not desirable that the number of members should be increased. That the Goldfields Electoral District

-should be abolished, and an Act introduced in the General Assembly to enable holders of Miner's Rights to vote within the district in which they may be located. 4th. That it isjttdt desirable to make any changes as regards the City of Duuedin and the Towns of Port Chalmers and Oamaru. sth. Thatthe districts be sore-adjusted as to be able to return one member for not less than every 175"electors and 1000 of a population each, as nearly as may be found practicable.—oth. That the present members shall retain their seats until the termination of the present Council, by effluxion of time or otherwise, and no elections that may take place during the existence of the present Council shall be affected by the proposed resolutions." In doing so, he expressed regret that the Government had not brought down such a measure. Nothing had been done since 1802, except the addition of three Goldfielcls"'members ; and no action had been taken on the motion of last session. A few days ago he had presented a petition from electors, praying for re-adjustmen, of representation, and the necessity of it would be felt by'all. A most anomalous state of things existed. Mr. Mouat seconded the motion. There was a strong desire and necessity for a change in the representation of the Goldfields, The present mode was unsatisfactory, as no Goldfields member could spare the time to make himself thoroughly acquainted with every locality in his district. Mr. Haughton supported the motion. The Provincial Secretary said the discussion would intimate whether it was the desire of the House that the matter should be dealt with this session. He did not believe the House was desirous of dealing with the matter this session, as no effect could be given to an Ordinance until a newelect on. Mr. Shepherd would never permit the miner's franchise to be taken away. He was in favor of dividing the Goldfields, knowing that there was a difficulty in representing vast districts. Mr. Thomson thought that it would be a waste of time to go into Committee. The Government should bring down a Bill. Mr. Reid could not support the proposal to go into Committee. It would only lead to a repetition of speeches and a protracted debate. It could be as well discussed by the House. Messrs Fraser and Hay also opposed the motion. Mr. Mitchell replied, and the motion was negatived, there voting—Ayes, 4; Noes, 18. Mr. llebertson brought up and read the Report of the Retrenchment Committee. The purport of the report was that the Government be requested, without delay, to give notice to all the officers in their employment that their services will not be required after the 30th of April, 1809, informing them at the same time that they will receive their salaries up to that date as voted this session, with a view ol dispensing with unnecessary officers. Mr. Fraser moved " That the Petition of certain inhabitants of Alexandra be favorably recommended to the Government." The prayer of the petition was against the recommendation of. the Goldfields Commission that the Officer in Charge at Alexandra should be removed, and the station abolished. The petitioners stated that it would be a great hardship if they wire compelled to attend Courts at Clyde, and that the importance of the district did not justify the proposed change. Mr. Fraser said the petition was signed by 2,'iO persons; and, although he did not intend to go into the question of the importance of Clyde and Alexandra, all ho wished to do was to urge the favourable consideration of the petition upon the Government. The Secretary for Land and Works did not understand what favourable recommendation meant. It would completely tie up the hands of the Government, for petitions would come in from every part of the Province. He thought that iuch matters had better be left in the hands of the Government. Mr. Turnbull moved as an amendment, " That the petition be referred to the Government. Mr. Fraser said the object of the petitioners had been gained in the matter having been discussed, and he willingly accepted the amendment. The amendment was carried. THE HONORARIUM. The House went into Committe to consider the following motion moved by Mr. Fraser:—', That it is the opinion of this House that the" honorarium " of £1 per day, at present paid to country membe's should be discontinued after this session, and a fixed sum of £2O, together with travelling expenses, be su stituted in lieu thereof. Mr. Fraser said that , as a principle he did not believe inthe payment of members at all ; but, in a country like this, the valuable services of many numbers would not be obtained, as the time could not be spared and travelling expenses afforded. He brought forward the motion because the country members were twitted by the town members that the £1 a day was the cause of the session being lengthened. He was prepared to accept any amendment as to amount, but if an amount was fixed, there could be no insinuation that the business of the House was protracted from ininterested motives. Mr. Rcid opposed the motion. The busi. ncss of the session had been protracted, but not by the country members. Mr. Shepherd opposed the motion. Mr. M'Dermid said it was useless to prolong the discussion; and he moved thatthe Chairman do now leave the chair. Mr. Reynolds thought that it was not advisable to do away with the "honorarium; " but he thought there was an injus: tice in the resolution under which the "honorarium" wns paid. .By it members were

paid from the first to the last day of the session , whether they were present or not. Mr. Eraser replied; and both amendment and motion were negatived.