NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 855, 6 September 1878, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

(Condensed from the Dunedin Papers.) Wellington, August 20. THE CIVIL SERVICE BILL. On the question of adopting the report of the committee on tho Civil Service Act Amendment Bill Mr De Lautour moved that the Bill be re-committed to add the following new clause “ All Resident Magistrates and Clerks of District anti Resident Magistrates’ Courts appointed prior to ISCG, who are now in the Government service, who were and have been continuously eiru ployed therein, shall be deemed to have all the rights and privileges conferred by Part 5 of the Civil Service Act, ISGC, notwithstanding that the salaries of such officers may not have been continuously appropriated by the Colonial Legislature. ’ On this new clause a division took place, which resulted as follows :-Ayes, 22 ; nocs, 44, On the question for a third reading there was another division with—ayes, 43 • nocs 17.

During the discussion on the Civil Service Bill, Ivlr Bastings created considerable amusement by stating that, when in the Provincial Government, he caused the travelling expenses of m»mWs to be raised from 12s a-day, because no man could travel like a Christian on such a snm. Mr Pyke said the Government did an act of injustice which no individual or corporate bo ly could do with impunity. The Government proposed by this Act to deprive officers of them rights and privileges. Mr Pyke raised shouts of laughter when he spoke of the Superintendent of “ providence” instead" of “province,” and endeavoured to extricate himself by remarking that there was some providence about it. He said he had himself only received 12s 6d for travelling expenses, when it cost him an extra LISP. The resident magistrates were worse than Mahomet’s coffin. They wore not only suspended between heaven and heir, but coni'" at any time, be sent to cither place at td e whim of the Provincial Government Win n Mr Pyke was referring in eloquent terms 10 the noble and patriotic services of the goldfields magistrates, the House apparently ir. ferred that he intended a round-about - pliment to himself, and laughed heartily. He then remarked that the member fir Waikouaiti might laugh, but he was too green to understand anything about it. During the discussion in committee on ; he Administration B 11, Mr Mar.ders strongly condemned the existing system of administration of small intestate estates, whhh were swallowed up in legal expenses, leaving nothing to surviving families.. Ihe debate on the Bducafion Amendment Bill being re opened, the Native Minist.r, Mr Sheeuan, said that he was well entitl, d to speak on Bill, as ho was an Irishman by birth and a Catholic by education, lie had been told on good anth inty that he was a very bid Catholic.—(Hear, hear.) Tie intended to oppose the Bn], because by voting for it he would be denying his political lif.-T In 1871 and 15,2 ho introduced I'gi !a + iou in the Auckland Provincial Council to render education secular. He had been tol l that if he supported the secular system he would not again be sent to this House ; hut if a man could not com? into the House except at the will of the Catholic vote ho was not worthy of a scat. He (Mr Sheehan) came hero as a colonist and declined to bo bound by the bid of any Catholic priest ninny other person.—(bond cheers j Tf he could not keep his sent ju the House without that support he would resign it, to-morrow. (Renewed cheers ) The , CPholifa were wrongly advised by people who ought to lead them into a proper nath. In 1872 ho found in the Province of Auckland that wherever the denominational school scheme was in operation it would vest into some other denomination, while in some other towns Catholics were strong enough to support schools for themselves. People knew that he was a bad Catholic, and he was prepared to bo so rather than support a denominational system. He would not Join those who were prepared to place Catholics in a had position. The tendency of Ihe Rid was to keep onen national and religious differ* nocs, which he hoped would never find a permanent footing in this country. Wo had Orangeisra and Hiherm mism, mid all the elements of what might become a bitter struggle in the Colony.' It appeared to him to be the duty of tlio House to support the Government in providing an educational system for the whole Colony. Catholics had a good case in objecting to the class of books, rnd he would aid in securing bonks tin tampered bv prejudice against one side or the other. It would he an injury to the Catholic people to pass this Bill. IE the Bible and religion wore worth talking about, surely they ought to be able to stand against the secular svgtem. Children should he taught religion in the morning or evening of Saturday or Sunday. It was nonsense to talk about conscientious scruples. He knew many would jump on him for saying this, but dctlominationahsm was against the Catholics themselves. It was beyond their power to alter the present condition of education ; they might make a fight, but they would leave behind sores which would rankle for years. The member for Nelson was going dead against the people he desired to serve. By establishing this system he would build np a barrier between two classes in the Colony not only in religion but in nationalism. Why talk in the Colony of Irishmen, Englishmen, er Scotchmen? Le.tth*m forget such distinctions, and endeavor to build up something belt r. He would denounce denominational education. He hoped he would he in the House till the, time would come when he should hear no more cries about Cath -lies. Protestants, or Presbyterians, but that tbo people would come as representatives of the Colony, and teat Catholics would seo that their true interests were in a strictly secular system of education. He intended to oppose the second reading of the Bill, Mr Seymour, Mr Murray, and Sir Robert Douglas supported the Bill on the ground of fairness.

Mr Rarff, in supporting th» Bill, said that more Protestant girls attended flic Convent School in Wellington than Catholics, be. cause of the excellent system of education provided there. Dr Henry moved the ad journment of the debate, which was negatived on a division, the ayes lieing 27 and the nocs 33.

Mr Pyko thereupon moved that the House adjourn. Mr Rarff pointed out that this would shelve the Bill.

Mr Pyke : My only object in moving the adjournment is that members do not appear to he in a lit state of mini! to discuss the question. (Loud cries of “ Oh, oh.") After the doors were looked, Mr Pyke, who now saw’the error of his ways, appealed to the Speaker whether he reed vote with the ayes, as he had moved the adjournment under the impression that tho discussion would he revived at a future day.—Tho Speaker abruptly drowned the hopes of tho member for the Dunstan by calling for another toller for the ayes. The result of this division was-Ayes, 31 ; nocs, 30. The Bill was therefore shelved. The vote for the second lending of the Deceased Wife’s Sisters Marriage Bill was received with a great demonstration, many members clapping their hands. (A curious story is going the round of tho lobbies. It is that after the House adjourned last night Mr Slieolnjn met Dr Grace in the lobbies, when the latter said—“You’ve killed that Bill—referring to Mr Cuitia’s

Education Amendment Bill—“and I’ll make | you sufler for it,” ■ Mr Sheehan walked away, and on Hr Grace following him, Mr Sheehan said—■“ 1 refuse to have anythin.' to say to you •; you must not dictate to me as to my action in the House.” Friends of the parties hero intervened.. . August 29. Mr Fyke moved, without notice, that the second reading of this Bill he made in order oltho day for next Wednesday week. Tlie Native Minister, on behalf of the Government, offered nn objection, and the Bill was ordered to be restored to the order paper. Mr Barff moved that the Government be requested to take immediate steps to cause special inquiry to be held into the working of the Jackson Bay special settlement, and. t.iat any aggrieved' persons obtain ample opportunities of giving evidence on oath. He lead a petition, which alleged in general terms instances of mismanagement— such as settlers being compelled to accept orders for goods on Mr Mark’s store, and compelled to purchase them--at 30 per cent, higher than t.iey could obtain the goods for cash elsewhere.

Mr Gisborne, who seconded the motion, end he had received written complaints in in the same direction.

The Attorney-General said it was the intention of the Government to appoint a Competent person on the spot to make full inquiry into the matter, ‘1 hey preferred doing that to appointing a Commission, in consequence of the great cost. Mr Tyke said if the Jackson Bay settlemeat was a failure it,tons#.die the result of gross mismanagement,"' If the Government, wished to throw the settlement over, ho hoped they would baud it over to Vincent Co. nfc /.

Mr Woolcnok said •an angel from heaven could not make the settlement a success. Wm-iN-nroN, September 2. Mr Tyke has given notice of an arm dment on the Joint Stock .Companies Tax Bill iiv Committee, to the'effect that all goldmining companies, be exemoted. The debate on the.Lapd Tax Bill was.resnnied by Mr Wakefield, who made a very brilliant speech, one of the chief objects <4 which seemed to berto keep riebt with both parties ; hut the usuajrcsnlt followed—that ho pleased neither. As.au elocutionary .l!s----play, his speech was a decided success. He moied an amenament, which was received m solemn silence. No attempt was made to debate it, anil it therefore dropped, stilloorn. .

After Mr Wakefield came Mr (George M‘Lean, and a greater contrast cou'.d not wed he imagined.

The IsMw Zealannetf to-day says “ The land are using every possible influence to dete.vi the Hand tax, because it answers the lequireipcnts in favor of iraposing a tax all. round, contending that the assumption that in the readjustment of the taxation all classes start equal is erroneous, the fact is, at the present moment the land is hearing burdens to-'the State, while the contributions of the people of the Colony as a whole to the consolidated fund are, year by year, being -appropriated for local distribution to add to the value ot landed property.’ 1 The article concludes hv stating that the majority of the House are favorable to the proposals of the Government, hot even if they were not an apnea! to the people would prove beyond doubt that the electors adhere to the first Ministry which for many years has endeavoured h-meatly cc|ii«i!isc the taxation at present necessary for good government. Tha 'Now Zealander see no - why the Governmud,, if they find themselves defeated in their intentions, should decline to make that appeal. S. . ■