GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3568, 30 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

Wellington, July 29. In the Legislative Council, The secon i reading of the Marriage Law Amendment Bill lapsed. The second reading of the Civil Service Amendment Bill was discharged from the 'rder Paper. It will be made an order ot the day for to-morrow. Upon the House of Representatives meeting,

Ihe Premier announced that he had received fuller information than by cable regarding the million and a half loan, to this effect: tenders had been called far, nominally at 98, but, owing lo certain allowances made, ft was reduced to L96s 9s, and LG73.400 was disposed of that figure. The balance, L 826.000, averaged 195 4s 2,1, a alight concession, equal to about 1 per cent., having been made.

fbe Premier stated that the Government had decided that it would not be advisable co let the Electoral Bill interfere with the imperative business, and would consequently defer its consideration till a late period of the session. They probably mighi not agruii bring it down,—Mr Stafford expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the arrangement

The Speaker called the attention of the Rouse to the fact that he had received a letter from Mr Montgomery, stating that he had entered into a contract with the Go vernment for sleepers in ignorance of the pena ties of the Uisqualification Act, and asking advice. On the motion of Mr Reeves, a select committee was appointed to consider the correspondence and papers on the matter, which were laid before the House bv the Minister of Works.

Mr tox asked the Government to consider the propriety of appointing a Commission to inquire into the terms on which the business of benefit and friendly societies in the Colony was being conducted, and of ascertaining by reference to a reliable actuary what rates of premium might be safely adopted relatively to the amounts payable in various events against which it was the ostensible object of societies to insure. Mr Vogel said the question was of large importanca, and had engaged the attention of the Government. He dii nob think the case required a Uoyal Commission, though it wanted looking into. The Colonial Secretary had already taken steps to obtain the necessary information under the Act, and, if that failed m procuring sufficient information, tvey would appoint a Royal Commission la reply to Mr M'Oillivray, the Premier said thai, though he had promised the erection of a telegraph line to the Urepuki go dfields as soon as the construction of the railway commenced, the demands upon the de partmeut had been so great that they could not be taken advantage of. The construction of the line to convey material would be proceeded with as soon as possible. Mr W. Kelly moved for the production of all correspondence relating to the purchase or lease of native lands on the East Coast between the Native Department and the Land Purchase Commission. He did this because serious charges bad been made in newspapers against several of the officers referred to, and they were anxious for a full statement of the case to be made. Mr M‘Lean said he would gladly furnish the papers asked for.

Mr Ourtisjasked for a return of all moneys P a M Provincial Government dnrin < the past year for rent of offices for the different departments of the Colonial Government -Mr O’Rorke would lay the return on the table.

Mr Stafford moved for a return of all correspondence, reports, <fec., relative to the construction ot the Rakaia bridge ; also, for a statement of all suras paid, or liable to be paid, by the Colonial Treasury on account of the said bridge.—Mr Richardson said that both Governments had concluded that a very searching inquiry into the whole matter should be held. The result of the inquiry would be at once made known.—The motion was withdrawn.

Mr Garrison moved the desirability of placing the sole control of Resident Magistrates of the Colony and their officers in the hands of the General Government, and that their be salaries paid by appropriation of the House The existing system was attended with effects very injurious to public interest. He referred at considerable length to the action of the recently elected Secretary and Ireasurer of the province of Nelson, in abolishing the office of a certain Warden. As the business of Resident Magistrates on tue West Coast had increased very largely since 1872, the office became of considerable importance. He thought it time they were placed in a less anomalous p isition. —The Fr«. mier sai it was not fair to bring questions relaii. g to expenditure down in this manner. 1 o have any force,, they shou d be brought down in committee of the whole House. There could be no two opinions that the salaries of the goldfields officers should be chargeable to goldfield revenue. He hoped the House would oppose the motion —-Mr O’Conor defended the action of the Nelson

Executive in reducing the number of Wardends on the south west goldfields. Ho thought it was unfair that Wardens should perform Resident Magistrates’ duties and not receive compensation from the General Government: still he did not tbiuk the motion an honest one—Mr Curtis-agreed to a great extent with the Premier, but thought it most unfair that the Provinces should pay the whole of the salaries of officers and clerks, while the General Government rec ived all the tines and fees of the Resident Magistrate’s Court. Irie wished to state that the reduction of the goldfiel.ia officers was solely the action of the r xecutive. for which the Superintendent was no more responsible than the Governor was for th i acts of his Ministers. It was one he entirely disapproved of, and would result in a loss of two pounds for every one apparently saved.-Mr Rolleston drew the attention of the House to the anomalous position of the kelson Superintendent, as shown by his own statement that he endorsed acts of which he entirely disapproved. The question was a grave one, and required the intervention of the Government.—Mr Reid opposed the views of Mr Rolleston, which really meant that the Superintendent was autocratic. His excellency might be asked to sign a document he disapproved of, but he ought to do so at the request of his responsible advisers.—Mr Luckie considered, after what had fallen from the representatives of three important Provinces regarding the position of Superintendent, that it indicated the beginning of the end of Provincialism, and petty playing at regal power, and other farcioal pretensions.—Mr Sheehan hoped the motion would pave a way for enabling people who paid the salaries of officers to have their appointment. —Mr White supported the motion. Some of these officers did more duty as Resident Magistrates than as Wardens ; and yet, though the Provinces paid their salaries, they had no control over them.—Mr Tribe supported the motion. It did not ask for direct appropriation of money, but merely asked the House to affirm the resolution, which, he contended, was both fair and honest.—The mover did not press for a division.—The motion was rejected on the voices.

Mr W. Kelly moved for all reports upon the working of the Native Lands Act, 1873 by the Native Land Court Judges, to be laid upon the table, and to be referred to the Committee on Native Affairs.—Mr M‘!ean oould not see any advantage likely to flow from the production of those papers. He might say he intended to bring in this session a Bill to amend the imperfections complained of in the Native Lands Act, 1873. He hoped the hon. member would withdraw the motion.—Mr Buckland was s-'Orry the Native Minister declined to produce the papers asked for, and hoped they would repeal the Native Lands Act altogether, as its principle was essentially vicious, and complaints of Native landholders were loud and deep.—Mr Taiaroa hoped that the Act of last year would be repealed, as it was very bad. The Maoris ought to be brought under the same law as Europeans, and the Native Lands Act abolished.—Mr Gillies trusted the Native Minster would reconsider his decision. How ceuld members be expected to deal intelligently with the question, unless all information was afforded them ? He moved the adjournment of the debate.

Bills introduced and read a first time : New Plymouth Harbor Board Endowment Bill ; Bill Extending Tima for Exercise of Volunteer Scrip in Wellington ; Bill xi mending Volunteers Land Act, 1865, Amendment Act, 1873 ; Bill to enable Municipality of Cromwell to raise L 4.000 for Waterworks.