PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 2894, 29 May 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Yesterday. The Speaker took the chair at 2 p.m. POLICE SALARIES. On Mr Daniel’s motion, for an increase of the pay of the police, The Provincial Secretary said he could not consent to the motion, unless the Council were prepared to retrace their steps in respect to all the other departments. He afoul d admit that the amounts now paid to to the force was perhaps less than they deerved. But the amounts had been fixed after he himself had explained to the Council that reductions had previously been made ; but the Council insisted upon the reduction, and it would now be unfair to make a special case of this particular department.

Mr M‘Clash an moved as an amendment that the amount stand at L 450, which was negatived. Mr Macassey spoke strongly in favor of the original motion, and pointed out the differences existing between the pay of the police force and. the wardens in the Gaol. Mr 6. F. C. Browne moved as an amend-" inent—“That all the words after the word ‘ Estimates ’ be ; truck out, with the view of inserting the words ‘ a sufficient sum to cover the travelling expenses of the police.’ ” Mr Mcrvyn spoke in favor of the amendment. Dr Webster, Mr Cutten, and Mr Bhand spoke against motion and amendment. - . ■ Upon the question being put, the words proposed to be struck out were ordered to be struck out. Upon the question for inserting the words proposed to bo inserted, a division was demanded ; but when the question was negatived ou the voices, the Speaker then put, “What remains of the motion,” which was also negatived. private petitions. The Private Petitions Committee reported that they recommended that the Government should enter into arrangements for reducing Mr Muir’s property to the permanent level of Bell Hill, and in making such reduction every consideration should bo given to Mr Muir’s claims for compensation; and, failing an agreement being come to between Mr Muir and the Government, the provisions of the Harbors Improvement Qrdiaance, 1862, should he put in operation to determine the extent of the differences. THE EDUCATION BILL. At 19 p.ra. the House went into committee, and the fight commenced on the third clause of the Bill, which provides for the levying of a school rate of 3d in the £, being read. Mr Macassey immediately moved that the Bill be discharged, which was lost on a division, the voting being— Ayes, 14.—Messrs Armstrong, Basstian, Bastings, Brown, J. 0.; Browne, G. F. C.; Clark (teller), Daniel, Green, Holmes, Macassey, M'Dermid, M'Lean, Tolmie (teller), Webster. Noes, IG. ~Messrs Allan, Barr, Bathgate (teller), Bradshaw, Cutten, Henderson, Hutcheson, Menzios, M‘Arthur, M ‘Glashan, . M'Kenzie, Reid, Reynolds (teller), Shand,

Smith, Thomson. Two hours were next spent in alternating “ that tbs chairman do leave the chair,” and “that progress be reported,” with always the same result—the division list time after time showing the ayes to be 14, and the noea 17. The Hon. Mr Holmes was the first to express his determination to continue this ‘line of proceedure for several hours longer, and until the next day, if necessary ; but he was outdone by the Hon. Mr M‘Lean, who spoke as if he meant it, declaring that he was ready to continue the sitting for a week, sooner than allow the Bill to pass. This brought Messrs Reynolds, Bathgate, and Menzies to their feet, and each characterised the other side as a factious opposition, an insinuation which was defiantly repudiated by the Hon, Mr M‘Lean, and disclaimed by Mr Macassey, who declined to allow any person but himself to judge his actions. Mr Reynolds, determined not to be outdone,

pointed to the Hundreds Regulation debate of 1870 as an instance of what ho was able tc endure; and Mr Barr, following in the same strain, reminded hon. members of the Council having, on one memorable occasion, sat “till daylight did appear,” when an hon. member got up and moved that the gas be turned off, and said he was prepared to see the thing out, and act a similar part, if necessary. Mr Reid, who had been enjoying himself' before the fire, then attempted to throw oil on the troubled waters by remarking that useful legislation was always done “in the small hours.' y And thus the warfare, went on ; a, supporter of the Bill would have his say, and would he followed by one of the “factious opposition j” until , Mr Green moved an amendment, which brought up Mr Outten, who taunted tho mover with neglecting to supply reasons for tabling a motion; and with talking against time. Now,’ Blueskin’a member is not given to talking, so it was not to be wondered at that he should have felt offended at being brought to task for doing what he did not and is not in the habit of doing. But Mr Green can talk when he likes, and he must have convinced Mr Cutteu of that fact before he sat down. At one o’clock in the morning Mr Thomson granted a’ ton minutes adjournment, which was regarded by the five occupants of the strangers gallery (happy beings) as a fitting opportunity for them to betake themselves to their bed?, while members and reporters sought Bellamy's to obtain much needed refreshment. That done, the bells ware rung and the fight renewed. A mendment after amendment was given and debated, until the hour of eight o’clock was reached, when a two hours adjournment for breakfast was granted. On the House re assembling at ten, the opponents of the Bill made a last effort, which was as fruitless as those which had preceded. Seeing that the struggle was hopeless, Mr Macassey and his followers left the haU & a body, and at eleven o’clock the clause was,

after discussion, agreed to. The folldwing the various amendments proposed By Mr Macassey—Provided also that no school rate shall be payable by, or recoverable Ifrom any person who shall, by a statutory declaration made before a Justice of the Peace, solemnly declare that he unopposed to, or cannot conscientiously avail: himself of, or send his children to the school or schools, in aid of the funds of which such rate shall be levied. ... Provided also that such rateable property shall comprise only houses, messuages, and buildings, actually occupied for domestic purposes. By the Hon. Mr M‘Lean—And every householder with’n such district shall be rated in any sum not exceeding 20s. By Mr Macassey—Provided also that from after the passing of this Ordinance, no aid shall be given out of any public grant for' educational purposes to any district School, to any greater extent than the amount which shall be locally raised. By Mr Green: The assessment : of such property to be made not sooner than twenty*' eight days after the prorogation of thAnext session of the Council. By Mr G. F. C. Browne: Not being the property of Catholics —an addition to the last words of the clause. On clause 5, the Provincial Solicitor, to meet objections that had been urged during the debate that Dunedin would be exempted from the operation of the Bill by the clause as it stood, moved the following addition which was carried“ Provided further that where in any city or town there shall be a valuation made under the Otago Municipal Corporations Ordinance, 1565, or any Act or Ordinance amending the same, such valuation shall be taken and held to be the rateable value for the pur* poses of this Ordinance.” A new olanse was afterwards moved as follows “It shall be lawful for the school committee to determine whether the Bill shall be read in school or not; and if a school, committee resolve that it shall be read, then it shall be so read before or after, ordinary school hours, and without note or comment, anything in the 40th section of the Education Ordinance, 1864, to the contrary notwithstanding.” On the motion of Mr Meryyn, the words V before or” were struck out, and the clause as amended was carried. - At five minutes to twelve the JSilLwas reported with amendments ancl the third reading fixed for Friday. While the Bill was in committee theie were twenty divisions, eight being on the motion to “ report progress six “ that the chairman leave the chair and six on amendments to clause 3.