PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4234, 21 September 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[Bt Teleokaml] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. _ September 20. ■ in committee on the Rating Bill, the Hon. Or Grack moved the re-insertion of subsection 49, clause 38, which provides for the exemption from rating of churches, athenasoms, &c, and after discussion an amend* ment by the Hon. Mr Hall, exempting churches and chapels only, was carried.

HOUSE OF BEPRESENTA.TIVES.

In answer to questions, Ministers stated * —(M That the affidavits of Mr Russell, Mr Haggitt, and Mr Macassey, in connection with Mr Smythieg's case, would be circulated before the committal of the Law Practitioners Amendment Bill.(2.) That the Government knew nothing of the plate on board the Hinemona costing LI, 600. INCREASE OP HONORARIUM.

There was considerable debate on Mr Larnach's motion to go into Committee of Supply te consider his proposition to pay L3OO to members for the present session, which the Government intimated they would oppose in Committee. The principal speeches were made by Mr Stafford, who thought 15s a day enough to defray any ordinary expenditure. The Government should have opposed the motion at once. There were many men in the House whom L 5 per day would not pay for leaving their private business; but they should consider that when th«y went before their constituents.

Mr Fyke said the proposal not to pay members reminded him of tie story of the Seotch laddie, who, when asked what wages he wanted, said he did not want wages ; he would pick up one thing and another about the house that would pay him. So it would be with members who would not be paid. They would pick up enough about the House to pay them without any honorarium. Mr Rjod was afraid of the effect the resolution would have in the future. It would bring forward a class of representatives to whom LSOQa-year Waß an inducement, sometimes so great as to forego their convictions end take up any popular cry. At any rate*

tkii mi no time to bring forward web a proposal. To bis mind th* old system was tbebett.

The Minister job Justice said the practice of members in Victoria and the United States had not led to such results as to encourage them to copy their example, because from all that could be learned the tone and character of the Assemblies in Victoria and the United States had been lowered ever since the introduction of payment. Mr Stout did not object to the payment of members or professional politicians. It was better to have professional politicians than to have men ooming up to Parliament who knew nothing of politics, and never read a work on political economy. If they oaly allowed members ordinary expenses, why not apply the same principle to Ministers ? If they were opposed to the principle of payment, why did they raise the honorarium to Ll5O ! It was said that to pay members would demoralise them, but the reverse rather would be the case. If they paid members it would render them more independent of the Government than they would otherwise be, and they would not require to pass so many Disqualification Acts. Bunhofders were the first to protest against payment of members, and the first to rush away from Parliament the moment the shearing season came on, regardless of what the public business might be, thus making Parliament a convenience. Mr R. Wood thought this was a question that should have been put to the constituents before they came to the House. Mr Howe said if the principle of payment of members had been introduced before, New Zealand would be better off, and have a much better Parliament. He knew the Victorian Parliament before there was payment of members, and there was no comparison between it now and then, and it would be a good thing for the New Zealand Parliament to take a few lessons from the Parliament of Victoria.

Mr Woolcock said this was not a question of pounds, shillings, and pence, but of principle. If they did not pay members the task of legislation must inevitably drift into the hands of the wealthy class * while the bone and sinew of the country would be shut out from the House. If there were more of the working class in the House the wealthy class would probably have to contribute more out of the increased value given to their lands. Mr Rolleston was in favor of the old system of honorarium. The present time was Bingularly opportune to bring forward such a motion, when the intention was to cut down the Estimates, right and left, and dismiss many worthy officers, who bad served the country for years. Mr Tribe said the action of the Government in this matter was milk and water, and not worthy of any Government. He thoroughly agreed in the principle of payment _of members, and only regretted the question had not been dealt with last session. If the country wanted work done well they mußt pay for it. The division on the motion to go into committee was,

Ayes, 80: Messrs Barff, Bastings, J. C. Brown, Button, Carrington, Curtis, De Lautour, Henry, Hislop, Joyce, Kelly, Kennedy, Larnach, Lumsdeu, Wanders, Morris, Nahe, Pyke, Beynolds, Bowe, Beaton. Sharp, Shrimski, Stout, Taiaroa, Thomson, Tonks, Tribe, W. Wood, Woolcock. Noes, 25: Messrs Atkinson, Boweu, Bryoe, Burns, Fisher, Gibbs, Harper, Hunter, Johnston, Maofarlane, D. M'Lean, Q. M'Lean, Montgomery, Murray, iturray-Aynsley, Beid, Biohardson, Bolleston, Seymour, Stafford, Bwansoa, Wakefield, Whitaker, Wason, Header Wood.

At the evening sitting, A very long discussion took place upon T-aiaroa'a Maori Representation Acts Amendment Bill, which a number of members warmly supported. It proposes to give Beven members instead of four as at present. Others strongly objected to the double power of voting now enjoyed by the Maoris. The Government wanted the Bill withdrawn until they could consider the whole matter of the representation—Maori and European —during the recess. At length all clauses of the Bill were struck out, except the eighth, which was amended so as to secure the seats of the present Maori members during this Parliament (supposing no intermediate legislation takes place) as according to the present Act their term ends in October, 1877.

The only other business of interest was Mr Pyke'H Gold Duties Act, 1872, Amendment Bill, the object of which was to reduce the gold duty from 2a to Jb. After a great deal of debate a compromise was come to, and the amount made Is 6d, after which the Bill was read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 1 a.m.

ABOUT THE LOBBIES. (From our own Curreapondent ) Messrs Macandrew and Stout leave here on Saturday.