GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 52, 30 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Per Anglo-Australian Press Telegraph Agency.') Wellington, July 29.

In the Legislative Council to-day, Colonel Brett, by leave of the House moved—“ That leave be given to Messrs Eolleston, Cracroft Wilson, Reeves, and Montgomery to bo absent, in order that they may be examined before a Select Committee of the Legislative Council upon the Canterbury Public Domain Act Amendment Act, 1874. Granted,

The second reading of the Marriage Law Amendment Bill lapsed. The second reading of the Civil Service Amendment Bill was discharged from the Order Paper, to be made an order of the day to-morrow.

In the House of Representatives to-day, On the House meeting, Mr VOGEL announced the result of the million and a half loan tenders which had been called for at 98 per cent, but certain allowances had been made which reduced; it equal to £96 9s. £673 400 were disposed of at that figure, and the balance of £826,600 at an average of £95 4s 2d..

Mr Vogel further stated that the Qualification of Electors Bill was not of such a pressing nature as to warrant lengthening the session, and it was probable it would not be proceeded with this session. Mr Stafford expressed himself perfectly satisfied.

The Speaker read to the House a letter from Mr Montgomery, setting forth that he had entered into a contract for sleepers with the Government, and now prayed that the House might inquire iuto and determine whether his seat was vacated. Mr Richardson placed all the papers relating to the matter on the table. Mr Montgomery’s letter states—“ My firm entered into an arrangement on the 9th of January last with the Minister of Public Works, to supply certain railway sleepers, and the firm made such supply, and obtained payment subsequent to the date of ray election. I beg to assure you I had no conception of this till yesterday, I regret very much my ignorance of the Statute caused such a mistake.”.

A committee has been appointed to enquire whether Mr Montgomery has vacated his scat. It consists of Messrs Curtis, Fox, T. B. Gillies, O’Rorke, Stafford, Rolleston, Studholrao, and Reeves. Mr Fox asked the Government to consider the propriety of appointing a Commission to enquire into the terms on which the business of benefit and friendly societies in colony was being conducted, and of ascertaining by reference toareliable actuary what rate of premiums may be safely adopted, relatively to the amounts payable in the various events against which it is the ostensible object of the societies to insure. Mr Vogel said the question was of large importance. It had engaged the attention of the Government. He did not think the case required a Royal commission, though it wanted looking into. The Colonial Secretary had already taken steps to obtain the necessary information under an Act, and, if that failed in procuring sufficient information, they would appoint a royal commission. In reply to Mr McGillivray, The Premier said, though he he had promised the erection of a telegraph line to the Oreaki goldfields as soon as the construction of the railway commenc ’d, the demands upon the department had been so great that they could not, but would take advantage of the construction of the line to convey the material as soon as possible.

Mr W. Kelly moved for all correspondence relating to the purchase or lease of native lands on the East Coast, between the Native Department and the Land Purchase Commissioners. He did ( this because most serious charges had \been made in the newspapers against severa'l of officers referred to, and they were anxious that a full statement of the case should be made.

Mr Maclean said he would gladly furnish the papers asked for. Mr Curtis moved for a return of all monies paid to each Provincial Government during the past year for rent of offices for the different departments of the Colonial Government.

Mr O’Rorke'would lay the return on the table.

Mr Stafford moved for a return of all correspondence, reports, &c., relative to the construction of the Rakaia bridge ; also a statement of all sums paid or liable to be paid by the Colonial Treasury on account of the said bridge. Mr Richardson said that both Governments had concluded that a very searching inquiry should be made into the whole matter, and the result of the inquiry would bo at once made known. The motion was then withdrawn. Mr HARRISON moved “ the desirableness of placing the sole control of the Resident Magistrates of the colony and their officers in the hands of the General Government, and that their salaries be paid by appropriation of the House.” The existing system was attended with effects very injurious to the public interest. He referred at considerable length to the action of the recently elected secretary and treasurer of the province of Nelson in abolishing the office of a certain warden. As the business of the Resident Magistrates on the West Coast had increased very largely since 1872, the office became of considerable importance. He thought it was time they were placed in a less anomalous position.

The I’UEMIETI said it was not fair to bring questions relating to expenditure down in this manner. To liave any force they should be brought down in committee of the whole House. There could be no two opinions

that the salaries of goldfields officers should be chargeable to the goldfields revenue. He hoped the House would oppose the motion, Mr O’Conor defended the action of the Nelson executive in reducing the number of wardens on the south-west goldfields. He thought it was unfair that the wardens should perform the duties of Resident Magistrates and not receive compensation from the General Government. Still he did think the motion an honest one.

Mr Curtis agreed to great extent with the Premier, but thought it most unfairthat the provinces should pay the whole of salaries of officers and clerks, while the General Government received all the fines and fees of the Resident Magistrate’s Court. He wished to state that the reduction of the goldfield officers was solely the action of the Executive, for which the Superintendent was no more responsible than the Governor was for the acts of his Ministers, It was one ho entirely disapproved of, and it would result in the loss of £2 for every one apparently saved.

Mr Eolleston drew attention to the anomalous position of the Nelson Superintendent, as shown by his own statement that he endorsed acts of which he entirely disapproved. The question was a grave one, and required the intervention of the Government.

Mr Reid opposed the views of Mr Eolleston, which really meant that the Superintendent should be an autocrat. His Excellency might be asked to sign a document he disapproved, but he ought to do so at request of his responsible advisers, Mr Luckie considered, after what had fallen from the representatives of three important provinces regarding the position of Superintendent, that it indicated the beginiug of the end of provincialism, and the petty playing at regal power and other farcical pretensions, Mr Sheehan hoped the motion would leave way for enabling the people who paid the salaries of their officers to have their appointment. Mr White supported the motion. Some of these officers did more duty as Resident Magistrates than as Wardens ; and yet, though the provinces paid their salaries, they had no control over them.

Mr Tribe supported the motion. It did not ask for a direct appropriation of money, but merely asked the House to affirm the resolution, which he contended was both fair and honest.

The mover did not press for a division. The motion was rejected on the voices. Mr W. Kelly moved that all reports upon the working of the Native Lands Act, 1873, by the Native Land Court Judges be laid upon the table, to be referred to committee on native affairs.

Mr McLean could not see any advantage likely to flow from the production of these papers. He might say he intended to bring in this session a Bill to amend the imperfections complained of in the Native Lands Act, 1873. He hoped the hon member would withdraw his motion.

Mr Buckland was sorry the Native Minister declined to produce the papers asked for. He hoped he would repeal the Native Lands Act altogether, as its principle was essentially vicious, and complaints of native landlords were loud and deep. Mr Tairoa hoped that the Act of last year would be repealed, as it was very bad. The Maories ought to be brought under the same law as Europeans, and the Native Land Act abolished.

Mr Gillies trusted the Native Minister would reconsider his decision. How could members be expected to deal intelligently with the question unless all information was afforded them. He moved the adjournment of the debate.

The following Bills were introduced, and read a first time :—New Plymouth Harbor Board Endowment Bill ; Bill extending the time for the exercise of Volunteer scrip in Wellington; Bill amending the Volunteers Land Act, 1865, Amendment Act 1873 ; Bill to enable the municipality of Cromwell to raise £IOOO for waterworks. The new Bill amending ; the Constitution Act provides that any Bill which has been introduced into the Lower House, and subsequently disallowed by the Council or by the Lower House because of amendment in the Council, after being introduced to the Assembly, and then cleared without amendment being substituted by the Governor, may be brought before a combined Chamber, consisting of not fewer than thirty-five members of either House, and there carried, or the contrary. The Governor shall have power of declaring what Bill is or is not “ rejected ” in the meaning of the Act, and he will publish in the “ Gazette ” a proclamation to this effect convening a combined Chamber. The Speaker of the Legislative Council will preside, and he will have a casting vote on the question that the Bill under the constitution (consideration ?) should pass. The Governor may under the first meeting of the Chamber make rules for its guidance, and he may at any subsequent period propose an amendment in any Bill, which shall receive due consideration. No Bill can pass the Chamber until fifty-five Members have voted in its favour. The Chamber cannot sit during the period of dissolution, and Bills assented to by it will be in the same position as those passed in the ordinary manner.

Wellington, July 30. In the House of Representatives last night, The New Plymouth Exchanges Validation Bill was read a second time. The Nelson Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, and referred to the waste lands committee.

On the adjourned debate on the question of unfulfilled promises to the natives in the Middle Island, The Premier thought if the natives had any grievance, why did they not move the House by petition. He must discountenance the motion.

Mr Macandrew observed that the matter was getting too much of a joke. This claim was for two million acres. He knew that, besides complying with the deed of cession, the Provincial Government had paid £SOOO as liquidation in full for all claims, so as to prevent any litigation, but not as a matter of right. Mr W. Kelly suggested that as (he session would probably close in a week or two, the matter had hotter be referred to the public petitions committee. Mr J. L. Gillies recommended the same course, though he had good reason to believe that the Middle Island natives had too good a claim for the House to treat the matter cavalierly. These claims might be exaggerated. but they were undoubtedly substantial.

Air Sheehan said it was useless asserting that the natives had no claims; for that they

had had been put upon the records of the House. He hoped the commission would inquire into the whole matter. Mr Tairoa said that the arrangements made with Colonel Wakefield, namely, that the natives should have one acre out of ten, were not carried out. He could also refer the House to the Constitution Act to show that the purchase was not properly made, but as it was the wish of the House he would refer the matter to the public petitions committee.

The original motion was then withdrawn

The Hawke’s Bay Waste Lands Bill, and the Wellington Waterworks Loan Bill were read a second time.

On the motion for the second reading of the Wellington Reclamation Bill, The Premier pointed out that the Bill was not specific enough as to the details of the operation for which it was proposed to borrow the large sum of £150,000 ; the House could not be too cautious with such Bills. The Bill was referred to a select committee.

On a motion, for the second reading of the Bill to provide for the election of the Mayor of Wellington by the burgesses. Mr Sheehan moved, “ That the Bill be so altered as to make it a general measure applying to the whole of the colony. In Auckland, on the West Coast and in other places the ratepayers were anxious to have the power of electing the Mayor without the intervention of the councillors.

Mr Richardson thought such a important altertion in the present law should not be made so summarily, some municipalities might prefer the existing arrangements.

Sir J, C, Wilson and Mr Wakefield took a similar view of the case.

Mr Macandrbw hoped the Bill would be dealt with in its original form, as it was intended only for Wellington. Mr Fitzherbert opposed the alteration in the Bill. The Bill was read a second time as introduced. The Southland Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill was read a second time and referred to the Waste Lands Committee.

Upon the motion of the Premier the committal of the Nelson Waterworks Loan Bill for £25,000 was postponed for a week, in order to learn more as to the disposal of the money to be raised.

The third reading of the Fencing Law Bill was fixed for Friday next, after a good deal of opposition by Mr Swanson to some additions proposed by Mr Brandon. The Plans of Towns Regulations Bill excited some discussion, but was finally shelved, on the motion that the chairman do leave the chair, by 20 votes to 12. The Wellington Reserves Act Amendment Bill was read a second time.

Mr M ACANDREW moved the second reading of the Juries Act, 1866, Amendment Bill, for the purpose of relieving firemen from the duties of acting as jurors. After some opposition, the Bill was read a second time. The Marlborough Waste Lands Bill was passed. Mr Reynolds moved the second reading of the Merchants’ Shipping Acts Adoption Bill. Some opposition was displayed by Mr Reeves, on the ground that the people would require either a lawyer or the English Acts alongside them when they wanted to consult the Act. The Bill was read a second time. The Resolutions in Supply were read a second time.

The Presbyterian Church of Otago Land Bill was passed. The House rose at 12 o’clock.