PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 857, 20 September 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

(From our Exchanges.) September 10. Tho general impression is that tho Government will endeavour to pass tho estimates as soon as possible, then push through their principal Bills, and prorogue. The session may last six weeks to two months. The • Government must sacrifice some of their Bills which they cannot carry cii bloc. A lobby rumor points to tho Companies and Income-tax Bill as one of the victims. THE LAND TAX BILL. [For Mr Fyke’s remarks on this Bill son Supplement.] Mr Wason thought the time had come when tho Government should accept some compromise, and allow all subsidies to go to the local bodies of a district, otherwise if the Government insisted on pressing the will of one man upon the House, and would not accept any compromise, it would be the duty of the opposition to resist cvery measnre of tho Government, and to compel them to go to the country. Mr Curtis would oppose the second reading, because the Government proposals did not do justice to Nelson. Mr Manders opposed the second reading. Dr Hodgkinsou moved—“ That this House considers' it desirable that- the Government should, during this session, bring in a Rill for the readjustment of the representation in this House ; or, if such Bill cannot be got ready during tho present session, that the Government he requested to prepare one during the recess.” He said the Houre at present did not represent the country. The Premier said the Government concurred in the resolution, and would offer no opposition to it. Mr Pyke. hoped .the Government would not bring in such a Bill. 'I here was no danger of a dissolution this session. If there was a dissolution it could only come from the Government themselves. No party in the Holive was strong enough to make them dissolve —(Cries of assent and dissent.) The House bad now 'been sitting -enveri weeks, hnt np to tho present if ’had not batched anything, and he did not know

I whether all the eggs were addled. They | should proceed with the business on the paper before other Bills were introduced. Thu Government would not be able to keep tho House together more ■’than another six weeks unless they showed more energy in pushing on their measures. . The Native Minister thought the reply of tho Premier was sufficiently clear.—(Cries of “ No, no.”) He had heard the expression “ our side" Of the House from the Opposition, and would’ be glad to see sides more clearly defined. ■ Lot'the Opposition range themselves. The House would be satisfied with a small if compact Opposition. So long as the Goverhme'nt were.' in ahnajority they would be in a position to say what Bills they would proceed with. The present Government; succeeded'a continuous Ministry!of seven years, and had to dleah out the A ligean stable. They would accept tho advice of the member for Dunatan, and press their measures. They would not postponb measures while hon. gentlemen were making up speeches.. There was nothing to prevent the session closing in four Weeks.—(Cries of “ Hear ! hear !’’and “No! no!”). It was perfectly monstrous that the House should rise at midnight when the' real work was always done later, Mr Wason thought the time was not tar off when the Government would be compelled to take themselves and their measures before the country. Many of tho measures before the House were of a revolutionary character. Mr Manders opposed the motion. After further discussion the adjournment of the debate for a fortnight was carried, September 13. Last night Mr De Lantonr made fh eloquent, temperate, logical, and really exhaustive speech in moving thh second reading of his Supreme Court Commission Bill, which arises out of Mr Barton’s committal for contempt. Mr De Lautour had a difficult subject to handle, but be did it with consummate skill, and when be sat down the applause was hearty and general from all sides of the House. / ’ Mr Sheehan complimented him highly, but asked for an adjournment of tho debate till tho Attorney-General returned. It is believed tho Government will support the Bill, and that it will pars. The Public Works Estimates have been circulated. The total amount they appropriate is L 2,222,067, divided as follows : Immigration, L 162,073 ; Public Works Department, L 17.611 ; railways, L 1,176,500; surveys of new lines of railways, L 20.500; roads, H06.612; land purchase. North Island, L 150,918; waterworks ou goldfields, L 52,850 ; telegraph extension, 1.29,700; public buildings, L 241.305 ; lighthouses, LIOO,OOO ; miscellaneous public works, L 214.397 ; charges and expenses of raising loans, L 30,000. Tho vote for the introduction and location of immigrants is L 157.000. The railway votes for construction and land are as follows ; 1 Kawakawa, L 9500 ; Ivaipara-Pumu, L 139.504; Napier-Mana-watu, L 70.793 ; Wellingtpn-Woodville, L 147.757 ; Waitara-Patea, L53,5i.3 ; PateaManawatu, L1'27,933 ; ■ Nelson-Foxhill, L 24.350 ; Picton-Blonhcim, L 20,000 ; Brim-ner-Greymouth, 1.36,939 ; Westport-Kga-kawau, 1.22,465 ; Am be dey, Waifaki, and northwards, with bridge and branch linos, 1.212,771 ; Waitaki, Bluff, and branches, L 216.760 ; Wintou Kingston, L9G69 ; Western Bailway, L 63,353 ; surveys of newlines and miscellaneous expenses. North Island, L6OOO ; Middle Island, 1.14,500. j The vote to open up lands before sale is : thus divided: Auckland, LIO.OOO ; TaraI naki, L 5270 ; Hawke Bay, LS2GO ; Wellington, L 13.500 ; Marlborough, 1.1000 ; | Nelson, 16700. Canterbury : Read to I Upper Ashley to open 30.000 acres, LSOOO. Otago ; Otara to Waikawa and bridge over j the Tokanui Creek, 12 miles, to open 4000 acres, T.IOOO ; North Taierl to Run No. 75 (Boyd’s), and bridge across Taieri river, 6 miles, to open 28.000 acres, 1,3000 ; Denser district, from Minzlou burn Bridge np graded road lino to land under survey by Mr Murray, 2 miles, to open 5000’ acres, 1.500 ; Arrowtown to Crown Terrace and on through surveyed Crown lands, 4 miles, to open 6000 acres, LISOO ; Southland, onening up-country between Seaward Forest and coast line, 7 miles, to open 10,000 acres, L2OOO. Construction and supervision of waterraces, North Island, L2SOB ; Middle Island, 1.50.000. A large number of lapsed or only partially expended votes for telegraphs, court-houses, and Provincial liabilities, in the shape of roads, Ac., are renewed. L 15.000 is voted for the Blueskin reserve for a lunatic asylum. L3OOO for temporary buildings, and LIO.OOO for the Sunnyside Asylum. The total vote for school buildings is 1.100.000. ' ' " • - The votes for lighthouses at Akaroa and Capo Saunders afe renewed. There is a vote of L 30,000 for charges and expenses of raising loans under the Acts of ISO 7 and 1566. September 14. There was a long discussion in committee last night on the item “Secretary to the Premier,” many members objecting to his holding the additional post of Hansard reporter, and insinuating that he might be biassed in reporting speeches affecting his superior. Mr Gisborne defended tho civil servants, pointing out that they are the -servants of the Colony, not of the Ministry of the day. Mr Swanson pointed out that 51 r E. Fox had been secretary to three successive Premiers. Major Atkinson moved that the item bo struck out, but on a division, it was retained by thirty-six to fourteen, four members of the late Government voting against it. Ou the electoral item thorn was a long discussion n ith reference to the recent revision scandal at the Bay of Islands. Sir Robert Douglas, in the course of the, debate, said in bis own election that dead men had voted. Ultimately the whole electoral item was postponed. The following items, passed—Ll.OOO for exploration survey and inspection of local mines ; Regis-trar-General's department, 1.5000 ; meteorological, 1.31,462; printing and stationery, L 1.254 ; stamp department. L 5,616. Thoie was a long discussion on the item 1.59.000 for charitable aid The Treasurer said the Government intended to subsidise charitable institutions in the proportion of £ for. £, leaving them to organise themselves. There were now twenty-two hospitals in, the Colony not supported, and eleven,liospitds in centres of population maintained (out of the consolidated fund and managed by the General Government in counties and municipalities. The Government would deduct the amount of the subsidies from the consolidated fund. The Government believed local bodies were far more competent to deal with these than paid officers. Sir Robert Douglas thought the vote, should be replaced by a general poor rate.' The item was passed, and the House adjourned at 2 a.m. The House is now suffering from a new fit of industry. Though there is a thin attendance there appears a determination to sit until early morning for weeks to or me. The House sat.nntil two o’clock in-the morning of the 17th, discussing clause 15 of the. Electoral Bill. All kinds of amendments wqro proposed, Dr Wallis beginning by moving lo strike out the second word -

“ male,” which would havo'.tke effect of enfranchising females generally. On this there was a long dissuasion, but .on a division the amendment was lost by 30 to 20. ' Dr Hodgkinsou was very anxious to have the term of residence in the Colony for acquiring the residental qualification made three years. A large number wore in favor of one year. Mr Stout votedwith the latter, .but the two years was carried. An attempt by Mr Saunders to have the three years conditions extended to all the ! qualifications -failed, and so did Mr Whitaker’s attempt to strike out all the qualifiestiona'but the residential one. The household qualification was reduced from LlO ito LSI Sir R D°ugl,as wished to see the franchise refused tojnaturalised subjects. , . Mr Woplcoek complained of the six, months residence in the district qualification, and said ho had not resided lately for six naonths in any district, and he had no house and no property. He asked, plaintively how he was to get on the. electoral roll. V;g . . - No one replied to him, and his amendment to make the term three months was rejected. _ To-day tho^ratepayers’ qualification occupied the Committee the greater part of the afternoon. , ; „ . Mr Sharp wanted to prevent female ratepayers having the franchise, but was baaten by 31 to 23. He however succeeded in inserting the word “-.male.” In the qualification for election as members of the House, M r Fox wanted to fix the age of 25 years as the. lowest at which a mah could lie elected, but tins was negatived on the voices. The Native franchise clauses have be en postponed till after the Native Minuter makes his statement to-night. The following are the increases proposed by Mr Pyke in the Middle Island police pay :—Third class constables, 61 per day; second and first class constables, Is per day ; sergeants, la Cd; sergeant-majors, 2s Cd. - The House was crowded in every. part to hear Mr Sheehan’s Native Statement. He ■spoke for abnut an hour and a quarter, and at the conclusion was loudly cheered on all sides. Major Atkinson was conspicuous in his 'applause, and only Mr Fox looked glum and kept quiet. The Statement was a very able one. The Native Land Bill is not yet ready, and its second reading will not he moved for a day or two. The Native policy generally will be discussed when the Bill is brought down.