Parliamentary.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1013, 16 September 1881, Page 3

Parliamentary.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Public petitions Committee have reported on the petition of the Vincent County Council, to the effect that although the general policy of the Legislature has disturbed the financialjarrangements of the Vincent County Council, as of other similar bodies, the Committee do not recommend that special aid be given in this case. Failing the [passing of the Local Government Bills now before the House, the Committee recommend that power be given to the Council to borrow.

There are symptoms that the session is now drawingjto a close. S Appearances indicate that the impending massacre of innocents will be exceptionally w sweeping and rapid.

There was'some’ (excitement "owing to a rumor that the legislative Council were going to throw out the Representation Bill. The Nelson men have been very active in endeavors by telling them if the bill passes it will lead to separation and the removal of [the seat of Government, and the opponents of the bill have spread all sorts of canards on the subject. When the bill came on for second reading in the Council, the ( gallery allotted to members of the House of Representatives was crowded, a most unusual occurrence. Mr Waterhouse, the most influential man in the Council, spoke against the bill, but said he should vote for it on constitutional grounds. Mr Chamberlain, perhaps the least competent or responsible councillor, moved that the bill should be read a second time next session—a manifestly ridiculous motion. Evently the debate was adjourned. There is really no danger of the Council committing such an outrage as throwing out a great measure of policy which has been carried after a protracted discussion by overwhelming majorities of the House of Representatives, whose constitution alone is affected by it. The composition of the Council however, is so defective, owing to the wholesale appointments made by the Grey Government, that they cannot be depended on to do what is constitutional and proper as they formerly could. More than one-fourth of them are Wellington men, and more than one-half are North Island men. There are 12 members absent, three being out of the Colony. Out of 31 now present in Wellington, 12 are Wellington men and IS North Island men. It will be seen, there f ore, that if the efforts of the opponents on the bill to work cu the fears and prejudices of the North Island councillors should prove successful, there would he some risk of the [bill being thrown out. If the Government see any probability of that they will no doubt ask for a call of the Council and get every member present before taking any further steps. The councillors themselves disclaim any intention of throwing out the bill, attribute the rumors current on that subject mainly to the opponents of the bill outside of the Council, particularly the Nelson members. Should the Council, unhappily, throw out the bill, there would be a collision between the two Houses, which would probably lead to a serious constitutional struggle. A return was presented to Parliament on Thursday showing the number of persons drowned in New Zealand rivers since last return of such casualties laid before the House ; also a summary of previous returns. The total number drowned (from Ist July, 1877, to 30th Juno, 1881 (four years), has been 2-10. The previous returns were as follows; Ist July, 1875, to 30th June, 1877, 179 ; Ist July, 1870, to 30th June, 1875, 375; from 1840 to 1870, 1115- The total number of persons drowned in New Zealand during 40 years is therefore 1909.

Considerable comment has been excited by the action of the Governor in leaving the Colony during the Parliamentary {session, instead of waiting a fortnight or so, when the prorogation is expected to take place.

A rumour has been set afloat that Sir Arthur Gordon will not return to New Zealand, but will resign the Governorship. The Opposition now talk of forcing the Government to dissolve immediately after the session, ami to hold a short special session of Parliament directly after election "oting only three months’ supplies, on che plea that effect ought to {be given, as soon as possible to the new Representation Bill, and the verdict of the people obtained on the Ministry. This plea is evidently based on the idea that Mr Ormond will take the lead of tho party, and will place a policy before the country with a view to forming a new Ministry, probably however, many members think Mr Ormond would be reckoning without his host, and that Ministers will come back with a substantial majority. In any case the elections cannot take place for about three months, as the new rolls have not been compiled, and other rearrangements made, consequent on the passing of the Representation Rill. These will take at least six weeks or two months. Besides, that sufficient time has to be allowed for writs to be returnable, so that the election cannot come off much before Christmas, if even then ; and we shall not be at all surprised if they are as late as January or February. At the same time it is thought well that Ministers should go to the country as soon as possible fresh from the good work they have done, so that their policy should be the same as that attributed to the opposition. 1 know, however, that some prominent Opposition members mean to do their utmost to limit the vote to three months’ supplies, thus compelling a speedy election and a special session of Parliament during the sum, mer ; but we question whether this would prove a generally palatable experiment. Nevertheless it is likely to be tried. On Friday afternoon in the House of Representatives Mr Gisborne raised tho subject of the Governor’s departure, and undertook to show by precedents and constitutional law that tho departure of the Go vernor from Wellington during tho session

actually amounted to a prorogation of Parliament, and further, that when the Governor goes away of hia own accord like this, it is not lawful for the Chief Justice to act as his locum lenens. He made a long and very learned speech, and bored the House to death. Mr Pyke wont a step further, and raised the whole question of the combination of offices of Governor of Governor of New Zealand and Commissioner of the Pacific, urging that if the Governor can be away for months at a time without any evil results or inconvenience ensuing, then L 7.500 was to much for the Colony to pay for his services, and ho strongly recommended the Government to bring in a bill to reduce it to L 5,000. Ho said that while they took 10 per cent, off the wages of every washerwoman in the Government service, they ought not to hesitate to reduce the Governor’s salary. Mr Hall, in reply, showed that there was nothing in Mr Gisborne’s constitutional mares’ nests, and as to the Governor’s salary, stated that Sir Arthur Gordon had voluntarily proposed that 10 per cent, should be deducted from his salary and allowances, so as to put him in the same position as Ministers and Civil servants. This announcement was loudly cheered.