THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3311, 30 September 1873, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

Wellington, September 29. In the Legislative -Council to day, in reply to an observation made by MrPharazyn, during the discussion of the Immigration and Public Works Loin Bill in Committee, Dr Pollen said he had never heard from Mr Vogel any hint of it being his intention to go (dome during the recess. In the Bouse of Representatives, Mr O’Rorke introduced a Bill to prevent the introduction of imbeciles into the Colony.— Mr Reid objected to the introduction of so many important Bills at so late a period of the session.— Mr T. B. Gillies said recent occur* rences had rendered the Bill necessary,— Mr Pitzherbart.said the Bill was a very desirable one —The Bill was read a first time. Mr Vogel introduced a Bill to deal with the extradition of criminals. He said the Bill would enable the Governor to delegate powers which he had recently been obliged to exercise, to Judges and Magistrates.— Mr Stafford said he supposed the Premier was acting under legal opinion, but it appeared as though the Bill sought to amend au Imperial Act. —Mr Vogel said he would explain on the second reading. —The Bill was read a first time. Mr Vogel made an explanation regarding the throwing out of the Loan Bills. He said the question arose—What was to be done? fie had formerly expressed his determination to exert all constitutional means to carry out the objects of the House. He had then expressed the opinion that the Government would be prepared to go the length of proroguing Parliament aud holding anew session, with the view of introducing a measure to enable the Colony to borrow on the security of its lands, aud lend the money borrowed to the Provinces. He found, however, that the House was averse to holding a new session, aud that there was no chance of the Upper House accepting the measures m any shape. The proposal for the Colony to make provision far Provincial wants fqr the present year would also he rejected by the Council, The Government were not to pro* pose sueh a course, and ho doubted if the House would accept it. No question of victory lay with the Upper House, hut the Government did not desire to retaliate. He thought that provision might be made for placing the Constitutional relations of the Houses on a more satisfactory footing. He hoped members, during the recess, would obtain an expression of opinion from their constituents on the question as to whether the Government of the Colony was virtually to remain in the hands of a nominee House. He denied the truth of the rumor that the Government hid been lukewarm in the matter of the Loan Bills. Mr Harrison moved, on going into Committee of Supply—“ That the action of the Council with respect to financial measures demands the attention of the Government, and that the Government should next session bring down a measure providing for such a reconstruction of the constitution of tbe Council as will place tbe relations of the two Houses on a more satisfactory footing.” He said it was desirable the House should express an opinion on the question.—Mr Vogel deprecated such an expression of opinion, and the motion was lost. The House went into Committee on the Supplementary Estimates. The items for the {various departments, L 24,430, and Legislative, L 6,519, were passed. In the discussion on tbe latter, it transpired that the item “Furniture, hangings, &c., Li,250,” included L4oGfor red blanket hangings round the chamber. Suadiy smaller votes were passed. Mr Fitzherbert is now speaking on the business mode of putting down a lump sum of L 5,000 for a trigonometrical survey. September 3Q. Last night, on the motion bt Mr Ifitzaerbert, L5,u00 for trigonometrical surveys wa| struck but of the Supplementary ja order Bi]| ipjght 'he session detailing the mode to define tqe valqe of the work. Over the item L 126 6s, remission of fine, the Speaker explained the fine was incurred through his ignorance of the value of stamps required for a certain deed. The line was not paidjyet. The L 5,000 vote for a mail service with Queensland was, after much discussion, carried accidentally by 14 to 13, two members walking into the wrong lobby and being unable to alter their vo.te. Over fhe vote L25 ( U,0Q0 for the iqtrodqctpq and locating of immigrants a long dispuß|ioq ensued, wherein all former remarks, on thf question were reitgrafecj, Thevq|ts ‘iff! carried lyithoqt 'disQqssicm. The remainder of the Supplementary Estimates, in all L417,0Q0, passed without disQussiou. Onauthorised expenditure, L 47,563, also passed without discussion. The Extradition of Criminals Bill was read a second time, committed, and read a third time. The .Native Land Claims Rehearing Bill was committed; the Native Grantees Bill committed and read a third time.

The Additional Supplementary Estimates for Public Buildings, amounting to L 53 ,415, passed, after strong pretests by Messrs Fitz* Herbert and Gillies against passing-r-at two in the moruing, t iu a idoiwe of twenty

sticli large stuns, the particulars of which had only been circulated an hour or two previously. t . ~ ~ In the Legislative Council last night the Railway Bill was carried by 14 to 8. The additional Supplementary Estimates for Public Buildings include under the bead of “Judicial”—Dunedin, L 10.00 0; Lawrence, in addition to sale of lands, Id, 200 j jj a seby,|L3oo. Postal— Tokomairiro,iLl. o2s; Clinton, 1230 ; Roxburgh, L 30 0; Alexandra, L3OO ; Port Chalmers, L 50 0; WaiKouaiti, L3OO. Offices for public departments— Invercargill. L 5.0 0. In tbe House to day Mr Wakefield tabled a motion to be moved when going into Committee of Ways and Means—to the effect that the House regrets the Government did not adopt a Constitutional course on the Provincial Government Empowering Bill feeing thrown out by the Upper House, by resigning, with a view to enabling the Governor to send for the member?, who moved the amendment.

(FROK OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) September 30,

The Independent says there never was any session closed with a sadder fiasco than the present. It is useless to throw the blame on Mr Vogel, who understood the position better than either Mr Stafford, Mr Fitzherbert, Mr Bunny, Mr Tobnston, or Mr T. B. Gillies—representative men of foresight and capacity. The House were all equally mistaken, and had forgotten that it was impossible to split up the State into sub-States for one purpose while maintaining unity for others. It is no proof of the superior capacity of the Upper House in its detecting this fallacy, as it had all the enquiry of the re* ?resentatives to go upon and form an opinion, 'he Premier’s error consisted not alone in introducing the Provincial Loan Bills, but in asking members to pass as valid securities of which they were ignorant, and considered them objectionable, and in trying to pass them through Parliament in a bundle. The article concludes—“ Mo Legislative body, the morality of which had not undergone considerable depreciation, would for a moment have entertained these proposals, much less try to carry them into effect. This is the general feeling among most members, and sorrow and dissatisfaction are also generally felt.”

Khe Parliament will prorogue about Thursday. Mr Fitzhcrbert to-day reviews the results of the session. The Government supporters speak of the Ministry’s “ degraded” and “humiliating” position with great bitterness. Mr Vogel is pitied for having yielded to Provincial pressure and for being obliged to do nearlyall the Ministerial work.- Mr Holleston last night told Mr O’Korke the Immigration Minister required to possess tact and ability, and it was to be presumed Mr O’JRorke possessed neither.—Mr Pvke vows when he gets to Dunedin to call a mass meeting and enlighten the Otago people on the Wellington node of conducting political business. The Post says Ministers are the only seats left.