THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3872, 22 July 1875, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Bt Telegraph.)

Wellington, July 2L In the Legislative Council to-day, on the motion of Dr Pollen, Mr Richmond, 0.8., was appointed Chairman of Committees. Leave was given to the Premier to Introduce a Bill relating to the Registration of Births and Deaths; also a Bill to amend tha New Zealand University Act. The usual sessional Committees were appointed.

In the House of Representatives, the Pollution of Rivers Bill was introduced by Mr T. L. Shepherd, and read a first time. The Protection to Animals Bill was read a second time.

The Native Minister moved, in highly eulogistic terms, that Mr O’Rorke be made Chairman of Committees during the session. Sir George Grey seconded the motion, which was earned unanimously.—Mr O’Rorke replied and briefly thanked the House for the compliment paid him in placing him in a position which he had not made the slightest effort to secure since he learnt it was vacant He referred to the remarkable aptitude and capacity for the duties of the office shown by his predecessor. Upon a motion for appointing a Public Works Committee, Mr White asked how it was the names of the West Coast members usually found on such Committees had been left out f —Mr Rolleston thought when the Minister of Public Works was responsible such a Committee was of little use. —The Minister of Public Works disclaimed any invidious intention in selecting the Committee. The resolution was agreed to. On the motion for appointing a Goldfields Committee Mr O’Conor called attention to the unwise practice of the Government in making the Committees up out of to few members. The result had been, and must necessarily continue to be, that very little business was done.— Mr T. L. Shepherd denied the truth of the remarks of the last speaker. He would be happy to vacate his position in favor of the last speaker if he wished it, because his experience of that Committee convinced him it wan of no use to the country. On moving the appointment of a Select Com* mittce to consider Bills and Petitions, Mr White suggested the propriety of placing some West Coast representatives upon it.—Mr Stafford suggested the withdrawal of his name, with the view of the substitution of some other person.—Sir Cracroft Wilson said he was anxious to be relieved from Committee work, as he felt himself physically unequal to the duties. (From our own Correspondent.) In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr Rolleston, in asking whether the Government intended this session to introduce a Bill to amend the Friendly Societies Act, said that in seme respects the Act required immediate amendment. He referred to the labors of the English Commission, and asked if the Government proposed to rcrise the Act with a view of introducing the amendment proposed by that commission. The principal points requiring amendment were —that under the 16th clause the appointment of Registrar was provided for, who should revise and register the rules of any society, unless tables of the contributors aud the general funds shall have been certified by an actuary appointed by the the Registrar. This action was necessary, seeing the Government was engaged in insurance business. If those rules and regulations at* not wholly dependent on any individual, the rules and regulations should be embodied In an Act. So far as the Registrar furnishing certain returns to the Government the Act would practically be a dead letter, because the returns were never forthcoming. They should adopt the recommendation of the English Commie■ien for periodical reports of the property, and the estimated financial operations of the societies, so that members would have security that they were financially sound. There was a strong feeling among societies in the Colony that the immediate attention of the Government should be directed to these matters. Referring to the case of James, the defaulting secretary of the Christchurch Lodge of Oddfellows, the speaker asked if the remarks of Judge Williams as to the defective state u . aw had been brought under the notice of the (Jevernment. Mr Bowen replied that the Government had under consideration the whole question. J&Q)GfI s case was under especial consideration because it was just possible that, although it was not immediately advisable to legislate upon the whole subject, provision might be made for meeting such cases, in view of the judicial decision that treasurers of friendly societies 00 j V ot field to be servants ot the societies and, therefore, could not be guilty of embezzlement. It was was under consideration whether or not it was advisable to introduce a B fi° r l ; -A-pt for making such officers servants of the societies? However, the whole subject would be carefully considered. The Speaker intimated yesterday that he had issued a writ for Wallace. Mr Inglis, in moving the reply to the Address, commenced by observing that New Zealand might be proud of the spectacle that day presented, it being the first instance of the kind in the history of the Empire of an ex-Governor assisting Parliament with his advice as one of its members. Referring to the abolition question, he said the invitation in the Address to consider the extension proposition to the whole island was gratifying to himself, as one of a large majority who voted for the resolutions of last session, and doubly gratifying to a greater Eortion of the minority on that occasion. Hia nowledge of what went on in the lobbies led him to say that a good many of the minority last session wanted abolition—whole or none. Last year he would have voted for the resolutions with a much warmer spirit if it had been forced •n the whole Colony-(Mr Stafford ; “ Hear”)— but half a loaf was better than no bread, and the half loaf he accepted, feeling sure that in a few days he would revel in the whole loaf. This session he did not believe the Government would bnng in a Bill dealing with Provincial institutions in the whole Colony. They showed a very great deal of courage in what they have done, and he approved of the proposal. Though, with the exception of the resolution ot last year, he had not in a single instance voted with vj ’ *°gel’s Government during the time he had held a seat, he was now prepared distinctly to give in his adhesion to the Government in the matter.—(Ministerial cheers.)— Owing to Mr Ballanoe’s absence, Mr May seconded the reply. He said he was in the minority last session only because the resolutions did not go far enough. With his constituents he believed that abolition should be entire. He recommended the Government to continue subsidising road boards, but to insist on an expenditure on feeder lines in the out districts He was in favor of doing away with miners’ representstion, and advocated increased representation of the Maories in the North Island. Mr Swanson urged the circulation of the Government measures, and reference of the matter to the people before the House dealt with it and concluded by moving as an amendment the postponement of the debate.-Mr Murray seconded, and Sir D. M’Lean opposed the adjournment—the latter on the ground that it was not the proper time and place. The House was not pledged by adopting the Address, and it would have ample time to go into the matter when the measures were brought down, which would be without delay. There was no intention to take the House by surprise.—Mr Wakeheld supported the adjournment, and Mr its reasonableness, bat admitted that doing so would net advance the mat*

tar on* jot. The only effect would be to dela7the Introduction of the Government measure. Go* vernment could not withdraw them without the loss of self respect, and it would be in defiance of all precedent to bring down measures while the Address was not replied to and was undisposed of. Alluding to Mr Wakefields direct invitation to him to speak, he said; ‘ I have no hesitation, nor do I see any good m delaying stating exactly the attitude I desire to hold towards the Government during the session. I consider there are times in the history of countries when what is for the good or the country has to be considered without reference to its men. In New Zealand that time had now come, not only with regard to this large question, bub also to other questions in which the people are deeply interested. When we have to consider by whom and in what way the interests of the country with reference to those questions can be subserved, I have come to the conclusion, in reference to carrying out the views I entertain with regard to these large questions, that there is no hope, as the House Is now constituted, of getting the Government constituted in a way more likely to give effect to my views than at present. lam prepared to give my cordial support to the Government on all questions on which Ministers’ existence is staked during the present session, believing in doing so—whether I may compromise my opinions or not in reference to same of those questions—that on the whole lam likely to achieve what I conscientiously believe to be the greatest good for the country. I shall feel bound on all occasions to give cordial and loyal support to the Government.”—(Loud cheers from the Ministerial side.) Sir George Grey, who spoke earnestly and well, said the real object in asking for delay was to allow Messrs Reid and Macandrew to arrive, in ordar to arrange a plan of action, and probably to propose an amendment to the address on the constitutional question. The Address was in the usual formal language, and the only clause to which exception could really be taken was that which expressed pleasure at the successful negotiation of the loan. The Government, with its immense following, could really do what it pleased.—Sir Cracroft Wilson opposed the adjournment, as there was nothing to be gained by doing so. —Mr Fitzherbert supported the postponement. He considered the Government would be wise in treating even the small minority of the House to a little courteousconsideration, and it was unwise to create a feeling of irritation the first day of the session by refusing such a small request.—Mr Eolleston said the Address contained a number of question* which, in justice to Ministers, to members, and to the country, ought to be debated at once, and thus save the time of the House by preventing the constant cropping up in debate of whether abolition should be applied to one or both islands. The debate was resumed at 7.30, when Mr Pyke objected to soing on with the debate, as they had no time to consider the Speech or Address in Reply. He would move that the debate be adjourned till to-morrow. — Mr Buckland hoped the Government would accede to the request for postponement, and Mr Richardson had no objection to postponement, provided it was not too long. The debate was adjourned till Friday.