HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Evening Star, Issue 4223, 8 September 1876, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In reply to a question, Ministers stated that it would not be fair to state what was the amount of the lowest tender that had been received for the erection of the central prison, but it was such that the Government would have been prepared to have accepted it The Government intended to bring forward the question again next session. There was a short but very lively debate on Captain Morris's motion that L4OO should be pnt on the supplementary estimates to repair a bridge at Opitiki, and in respect to which the Minister job Public Works had replied that the Government intended to ask the House to sanction the necessary expenditure. Objection havingbeen made by Messrs Stow, Lr/MSDKN, and Reynolds to any one part of the Colony receiving exceptional expenditure while there were so many that would be benefited by the construction of a bridge or dam with Colonial funds, The Premier pointed out that the whole of the Opotiki district was confiscated land, and the property of the whereas the proceeds of the other lands referred to were expended locally. All that the Government proposed to do was to ask the House to sanction the proposed expenditure,' and then ofcarge the cost on the land revenue of the district. The motion itself they fished to be withdrawn.

Sir G. Grey considered the explanation was only throwing dust in the eyes of the House. Last session it was promised that the confiscated lands were to be given to the Province of Auckland, but they did not fulfil iheir promise. The Preoter : The Bin Vaif thrown out in the Upper House. Sir G. Grey : The Council was a nominated one. The Government put in who they liked, and could have had the Bill passed had they chosen. He denounced the Sractice of private members going to the royernment and treating for benefits for their own districts; bringing forward motions cut and dried beforehand with the Government without consulting the tendents of their Provinces.

Sir R, Douglas did not recognise Sir G. Grey in that House as any more (than the member for the Thames, and repudiated all authority on his part over him. He (Sir Robert) found hiß district suffering under a wrong, and he did his best to redress that wrong. If the member for the Thames minded his own business, it would become him better.

Mr Rees agreed with Sir G. Grey in denouncing what he said were privajbe arrangements between individual members and Ministers, saying that the next thing that would be done would be that private members would make bargains with the Government far their own individual benefit.

. The Minister for Justice replied to the charges that they did not want to get rid of the confiscated lands, and that the member for the East Coast had put the motion on the Order Paper at the instigation of the Government emphatically denying both allegations, and saying he was acoustomed to have his words believed. It was an insult to the Upper House to Bay that they were tools in the hands of the Government. The Government in truth were very anxious to get rid of the confiscated lands. Mr Moorhou&b referred to the remarks of Sir George Grey and Mr Rees as purely obstructive, and dictated by political enmity arising from Provincialism. He characterised the remarks of Sir George Grey as extravagantly foolish, «A referred to Mr Rees as rushing open-mouthed at the Honse, at the' instance, of 2 his phuat. If it was Parliamentary, he would latter hon. member was a-politioal nnissAce,

Mr Lxrss strongly dtprecated the practise c 4 constantly imputing improper motives to members. Capt. Morris, before he withdrew the motion, repelled in the most indignant terms the imputations and insinuation*) thrown ont against him, and explained that the notices were put upon the Paper before he had spoken to the Government at all The motion of Sir R. Douglas for a select committee to inquire into the allegations made against Mr Farnall by the late AgentGeneral, was withdrawn on the suggestion of the Premier, who saidDrFeatherston would not inflict an injustice deliberately upon any one. Mr Farnall had been a subordinate of the Agent-General, but as he was found to be inefficient, he Was dismissed. There was no other charge against him, and no imputation upon his character. Mr Rees, in moving for a select com*, mittee to inquire whether certain members of the Executive bad infringed the provisions of the Disqualification Act by being interested in transactions with the Government, remarked that it appeared t« him that all the members of the Government were not, according to the strict interpretation of the Disqualification Act, legally able to sit in the House.

The Premier, in suggesting the withdrawal of the motion, pointed ont that a committee was not competent to discuss the position of Ministers. If it was wished that that question should be debated it should be brought down in the usual way*, when the Government would be happy to discuss the whole tiling. It was not the duty of the House to interfere in the ordinary functions of the law. The House had divested itself of all functions in these matters, and relegated them to the impartial tribunal of the country, where all party feelings Were out of the question. If the House chose to constitute itself the guardian of its own purity they would have to alter the law on the question. It was only a waste of time to go on with the discussion. Mr Stout pointed out that the resolution, as worded, did not meet the wants of the case, and moved that the resolution be amended so as to make it read that the Committee enquire as to whether any of the provisions of the Disqualification Act of 1870, or of the Attorney-General's Act, have been infringed by the Ministry. The amendment being accepted by the Government, was then agreed to. At the evening, sitting, In Committee on the Debtors and Creditors Bill, which was taken up at clause 29, that and the following clauses, up to 52 inclusive, were passed without material alteration. An alteration in clause 53 (trustees not liable for costs) was moved by Mr Stout,, who proposed that it be struck out. He objected to trustees being placed in a different position to anybody else, and pointed that this would be leaving the door open for malicious proceedings. Mr Button took the same view, and the clause was struck out. Clauses 54 to 58 passed. Clause 59 (what property shall be divisible amongst creditors) was postponed. Clauses 60 and 61 passed;' and clause 62 (settlements by the debtor) was postponed after considerable discussion. On clause 63 (fraudulent preferences) an animated discussion took place. The clause fixed six months as the time within which an action could be taken for fraudulent preference against a bankrupt. It was sought to be amended by inserting three instead of Bix. A division was called for by Mr Sharp, and the amendment carried by 34 against 11. Clauses 64 to 200 inclusive, passed without material amendment. Clause 201 (if the plaintiff fail the r defendant to have lull costs) was struck ont. Ths remaining clauses passed unamended, and progress was reported.

The following Bills Were passed ■.•—Fraudulent Debtors, Waiuku Native Grants, Dunedin Reserves Exchange, Dunedin Waterworks Act Extension.

The following were read a second time : Otago Harbor Board Amendment Bill and the Queenstown Commonage Bill. The Otago Educational Reserves Management Bill was advanced a stage. The House adjourned at midnight. ABOUT THE LOBBIES.

The Government have undertaken to consider during the recess the advisability of taking steps to close burial places where improperly situated in populous places, and to provide more suitable ,si£es. The Constitution of the Ministry is of doubtful validity. Mr Travers's and the Solicitor-General's opinion is that all are disqualified, and their seats in the House are forfeited under the Disqualification Act. The Hon. John Hall was served with a writ for L2OO, for holding office for two days. '

Sir George Grey brings down a Permissive Abolition Bill.