PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4253, 13 October 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

* [By Telegraph.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

October 12.

The amendments proposed by the Governor in.the building Societies BUI, appointing districts under the Act and making registrars of joint stock companies, also giving power to appoint revising barrister, were agreed to. It was stated by Cql. Brett, in answer to a question, that, although Haughton's name had not been formally struck off. the list of those having the entree at Bellamy's, if he presented himself he would be ordered oft

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In reply to questions Ministers stated—(l) That in a few days the Government

would inform the House of their decirion as to whether provision should "be made for representing the Colony at. the Paris Exhibition of 1878. (2) The Government were considering the advisability <)f. eßtablidiing Insurance Offices at the various railway stations in the Colony. (3) The new Cook s Strait's cable would be laid. irrespective of the old one, and on as good a line as it was possible to get. ' THE INSPECTORSHIP OP PRISONS, On the motion of Mr Burns, that a cablegram should be sent at once to Great Britain cancelling the appointment of «ny;p«rßpn to the office of Inspector of Prisons, The Minister of Justice pointed out that although the House this session decided, not to proceed with the Prijon, it was all the more reason they should have the present prisons re-arranged,' and the prisoners classified. The best wayioSo that would be to place the work uriderMe supervision of a skilled Inspector, wtipse.duty it would be to see the regulations carried out. Very great improvement in the-cla&fication of prisoners and management ef gaols in England had been made of late yefcrs, and it must be remembered that there wire not yet in New Zealand persons thoroughly acquainted with those rmproveiriehft/ So far as he was aware there was not uf »ew Zealand one person in the control of who» to his mind, possessed the .necessary qualification for the office. Forjtwo years pressure had been put upon him in regard to this matter in favor of a particular officer in Dunedin ; bu* this was a question that should be dealt with apart from all local or party feeling. ' .'^, Mr Crams hoped the House would not interfere with the action of the Government in the matter. He believed the gentleman referred to was an excellent jailor: but he once had occasion to send some prisoners to Dunedin, and not long after he received an account for the support of prisoners. He replied that he was given, to;understand that Dunedin Gaol was self-supporting, and that consequently he expected theritt would be a small sum coming to him. . Qf course he received a reply not at all satisfactory, except in so far as it convinced him that, notwithstanding what they heard as to the Gaol being self-supporting, • there were certain expenses attending the charge of prisoners.

The Hon. Mr Rkykolds said that now that the whole Press of Dunedin/ took up this man's case,.arid as pressure ,qf. other kinds was brought to bear, he thought it would establish a bad precedent foriihe Government to allow itself to be influenced in any particular direction. -~ .? *>'■ Messrs Murray and Hislop deprecated going outside of the Colony for officers who could be obtained in the Colony, aiidwarmly supported the claims of Mr Calo*wlll to be appointed Inspector. In refewmcgttp the remarks of Mr Curtis, Mr Hratop, isaid he knew the case of those Nelson prisoners, and could say that one of them waa-a \sery dangerous criminal, who could not $$ sent out with the other prisoners, and partf of the time hadtwo Burgeons attending' him. No doubt this somewhat increased the bill. _ Mr Dk Latjtour said Kelson watftrying a little sharp practice in endeavoring) to get her worst prisoners kept free~ef cost." Sir G. Grey said hie knew several personß in the Colony who. would establish great reputations in such a position. He did not know where thiß practice of sending Home for men was to end. Why did*xhey not send Home for a Speaker ? «< r Qtfr Sheehan deprecated sending Home for an officer when they could get'him in the Colony. He regretted that Mr, Caldwell's name had been dragged into the debate, though an excellent man and well;-adapted for the office. He thought the present system of visiting Justices Bufficumt 'for the wants of the Colony at present. ':. * Mr Harper took an opposite vw<folding that serious loss and mischief must result to the Colony from the mistaken economy of saving L6OO a-year, the salary of 4he proposed Inspector. '/ if Mr Hunter considered ; that &e whole thing ought to be left in the hands' of the Government, now that the ' prißtfhs came under their control. It would £64bsolutely necessary some such officer should; be appointed. .. ." Mr Lumsden expressed his Mr Caldwell would give every satisfaction in the way of classification if he denied that the office was wanted atfall. Mr SwANSoy suggested that whoever got most work out of his prisoners should be appointed. Indeed he would prefer prisoners to be sentenced to so much work,'instead of so many years. Tell the prisoner there is your pile of stones and work your'way out as soon as you like. He opposed going to this expense. , ' Mr Fisher supported the resolution. He objected to the colonists being shoved on one side in favor of importations that experience had shown them had been-injurious to them.

Mr Burns gave further facts in relation to Nelson prisoners to show that their control entailed considerable extra cost. A division was then taken, and the motion was lost by 25 to 24. At the evening sitting, In Committee on the proposed appropriation ofL3OO to Mr Coleman Phillips, the Premier opposed granting the money, and said it was carried in Committee by "dne vote. He was quite prepared to grant Ll5O, and believed the Committee were unanimously of opinion that Ll5O was reasonable compensation. Mr Sheehan strongly supported the L3OO, which Mr Lusk oonfidered a pitiable compensation when the Vhole circumstances of the case were considered. Mr Brandon and Mr Mtoray-Aynsley considered Mr Philips had no claim beyond his expenses from Auckland to Wellington and during his stay in the latter placed After a protracted discussion, the speakers for and against being pretty eaually balanced, an amendment was put that Ll5O be inserted instead of L3OO, when Mr Andrew move 4 that sixpence be inserted, which was lost on the voices. The sum of Ll5O was then put, and carried by 30 against 27, the xesolntioa being then agreed to. The Protection of Animnlg Bill passed; and the Auckland Provincial Council Library, the Cattle Importation Restriction, and the Auckland Public Buildings Bills were read a second time.

The remainder of the aitting was occupied in passing the Harbor Board Bills, all being committed together. All of them passed through committee, for which purpose the House sat till three o'clock.