GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3577, 10 August 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph,] Wellington, August 8. In the House of Representatives, At 7.30, upon the motion that the House consider the Governor’s Message regarding the Bill to Amend the Public Revenues Act, and the Bill for Raising a Loan for Immigration and Public Works, Mr Wood asked how the Premier intended to give effect to the proposals regarding the Provinces made in the financial Statement, as he had some propositions to make in those matters.—The Premier intimated that next week he would bring down Bills for that purpose, as well as a measure regarding the trade with the Polynesian Islands.-Mr Fiteherbert hoped the Premier could make it convenient to deliver his Ministerial statement regarding imm gratioa prior to askiug them to sanction ' j Rnl for raising a loan for immigration and public works t; ntil the House had the whole of the Ministerial statements they were not in a posit on to review the total aspect of the Colony’s finances.—The Premier said that it might not b« convenient on luesday to make the immigration statement, but he would not ask to go beyond the second reading until the immigration statement was made.—Upon the motion for the commutal of the Forests Bill, Mr Rolleston asked that it be postponed, though in doing so he had no desire to impede business.— ihe Premier said the supplementary order paper was a sufficient guide, as in all respects, with the exception of that for setting apart three per cent, of land, the Bill was entirely unchanged.—Several members objected to doing this with the Bill, as they were not prepared to say how far the proposed amendment affected the measure 1 he Premier said the amendments were so simple that a child might understand them. WM aske - d un «T“ivoeally to pledge itself to the promotion of State forests; If the Bill was passed, it was solely with that object, not to establish departments, and be lelt confidentthe object would be heartily responded to from one end of the country to he other. If land for thst purpose was placed at the disposal of the Government by Supermtendents of Provinces, they would be most grateful for the boon.-The House went into committe upon the Bill. In the course of discussion, the Premier said the sooner they set apart land for State forests, just as they did for Athenaeums and other institutions, the better. Mr Macandrew said he could guarantee that, in respect to planting forests if the Government would give LSOO a-year to the Botanical Garden in Dunedin it would distribute 500,000 plants for all thought, before sending Home for skilled assistance in conservation ?L?^ 1 t nfclng '^ OU§ht to oee wha * was in the Colony Dr Hector had great experience in the matter, and, having experimented iargely m that direction, he thought it would be as well to place this matter under his control.—Mr Sheehan asked if it would not be as well to send to Europe young men f r T A e Ti?- ea “ d tolearn Vestry g there, msfcead of bringing them all from Germany --The Premier intimated that that would be the natural outcome of the department.—Sir Dillon Bell took objection to that portion of clause 7 providing for two assistant congerraters and their salaries. He generally condemned the Bill as totally unlike what it was when first brought down. It was, in M°r ’R k % a hOQS f g ut , teJ —On the motion of Br^K don ’ 4 he c L ause was amended by adding the words, “Salaries of conservators, assistant conservators, and other officers anW| d u Under i the Ministration of the Act Bk ti b » °nt o f State forests account.” -Mr Reid asked if the BUI should not be referred to the Waste Lands Com- “ r fc . te ?’ and that progress he reported in order to have the ruling of Md ?& ea V ker ‘ rhe , Preuaier sai( i it was the old, old story—anything to obtain delay. He was quite willing to abide by the ruling of the bpealier. The Premier pointed out that it was most unusual to move the House out of committee to appeal to the Speaker except upon very rare occasions, or to quell a scene of violent disorder; and therefore he would oppose it «u constitutional grounds The motion was negatived on the voices.—Clause 20, providing that leases of State forests " lay ti ranted ’ not exte “ding beyond the year 1904, was amended, on the motion of Mr Swanson, limiting the period to ten years.—Mr Swanson also suggested that leases should be disposed of by tender —The Premmr considered the matter was one in which discretionary power should be left in the hands of the Government. Desirable as tenl™ encoura ge the system of public tenders, there were oases in which it was perfectly useless to proceed in that wav Mr Wales, speaking with considerable expenencG xa tendering, informed the House that nothing was more difficult of accomplishment than to draw up conditions and specifications so as to secure their fulfilment by tenderers. In fact, it was seriously contend P , ated “ ow do awa y with the practice altogether.—lhe motion was negatived, and the Bill reported with amendments. The Speaker brought up the report of the jomt committee ou the breach of priviWe regarding the Ward-Ohapmau proceedings. The substance of the report was that the committee found that Ward gave information to Mr Luckie who tha?it P w ed th f meetin , g t0 Auckland, and Well Lten f abs f<l ue mly in the Wellington ‘Tribune,’ and the gentlemen SSSSL"** for*the L u° kie s t id ’, as ifc was due to the forms of the House, he begged to offer an ParliSmeut aCt ?f “ violatio “ the usages of meut , De was much indebted to the S?m e ? ail / ron ?i Who,n he obtai ned the information for the way in which he Luna forward and told him to use his name^s Mr •S* *»” , U “ mfonSlo" Mr Luckie then withdrew.- Mr O’Rnnira moved that the House accept the as satisfactory. He hope.? it would nofc unduly strain its power.—Mr Sheehan while regarding the importance of the case to the fullest extent, trusted that their con! stitutional liberty had not been endangered nor the progress of the Colony impeded any great extent. He thought t& whole business very absurd The matter referred to was a breach of privilege. It, was a nuisance to put the House to the trouble of bringing up people for breaches of privilLe hey were only representatives of th« people, and why should not the proceeding of select committees of , nga as those iuTcoSt £ issues involved were often 5 tao those of Jarlismestoy nTt* hethoosht it highly i.iraSrth.l the hc d a°d in th?. mmitt “ S * ould be made pub!i’ V n th s reß P ect the standing Order* amendment, so that Parliament should not some day be called ( pose penalties in other cases of * like°kind

to that before them.—The motion was then agreed to, and Mr Luckie re-entered the chamber. Second readings : Oamaru Barber Board Land Bill, Inspection of Machinery Bill, Christchurch Drainage Debenture Bill. Bills passed : Hawke’s ißay Waste Lan'l Bill, Volunteer Act Amendment Bill, Dun edia Gasworks, and Dunedin Waterworks Bill.