PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4227, 13 September 1876, Page 2

PA RLIAMENT.

[Br Telegraph.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington-, September 13. ■ The Hon. Mr Waterhouse moved tb adoption of the report of the Committe appointed to report whether the members t the Executive Council, not coming withL the exemptions comprised in the 7th clrubt of the “ Civil List Amendment Aot, 1863 Amendment Act, 1873,” are entitled to sr and vote in proceedings of Parliament, am as a question of privilege called attention tf there being a stranger in the Council in th person of Dr. Pollen. There were doubt* whether Dr. Pollen had not been sitting ille gaily for the last two years. His motion fo the appointment of a committee to inquirr whether the seat of Dr. Pollen had not bee' rendered vacant was agreed to. The Public Health Bill was re-committed’ Provision was made that the medical ma: should report infectious diseasts to th householder, who should then inform th proper authorities. The Public Works and Bating Bills advanced a stage. In the latter, on the motion of the Hon. Mr Waterhouse, a provisio* was inserted limiting the amount of rate t be levied within any one year to Is, excep, a special rate.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

At yesterday afternoon’s sitting Sir Georoe Grey gave notice to introduce a Bill to make Abolition permissive in eac Province.

The Attorney-General introduced tiy Civil List Amendment Bill, and in moving the second reading of the Bill, went into ; lengthy explanation to show that in tb House of Commons a similar mistake hai been made in the case of the Marquis-u Hartington. The practice of the Lnglis! Parliament was to remedy in the speeches way possible any mistake made by Minuit# in regard to the composition of the Ministry In any case, he felt bound to say that he ha given the matter a good deal ©f consider? I tiou, and although opinion was ag linst bin he could not but say that Ife thought ti. Disqualification Act was not infringed-; thf the Ministry were not disqualified in an way; that anything opposed to the Act wr only inferential! whereas, in snch a case & objections ought to be specific. Mr Stout argned at considerable lengt to show that the position of the Ministf was bad.

At the evening sitting the debate on th Civil List Acts Amendment Bill was coj turned for a couple of honra without ani result being arrived at until • 1 3 p *

Mr Ballance pointed out that under the I circa instances the best course would be for | Ministers to meet and settle which two of them, would resign, which would bring the number of members of the Executive within the limit of the Act, and then to ask the House to pass an Indemnity Act condoning the past. In order to give Ministers an opportunity of considering this he moved the adjournment of the debate. The suggestion was accepted by the Government and the debate adjourned till 7.30 p.m. next day.

Sir G. Grey then moved the adjournment of the House, and no objection being taken by the Government it was adjourned till 2.30 next day. Upon the House meeting this afternoon the Premier announced that eight Ministers other than himself had resigned, and be asked the House to adjourn till 7 30 p.m. to enable him to form a Ministry. The House adjourned accordingly.

ABOUT THE LOBBIES. The writs served on Ministers by Sir George Grey, through Mr Bees, do not include Sir D. M ‘Lean and Dr. Pollen. Against the former a writ will be served fer about L 12,000, and one against the latter for L 17,000. The plaintiff (Sir George Grey) sues under section 12 of the Disqualification Act for LIOO per day—in all, L6OO. Eight days are allowed for pleading. The declaration. against Mr "Whitaker has four counts. First, that he, has sat in the House while interested in the Piako Swamp contract; second that he has been concerned in the contract while sitting; third, that he has set while Attorney-General; and fourth, that he has sat while holding office with eight others, and L 5,000 is claimed. A writ has also been issued against Sir Julius Yogel for L 4,000, because he was interested in the contract with the Executive to go Home for certain purposes, from which he would derive emolument, although at the time he held a seat in the Legislature.