GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 422, 19 October 1875, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.] {From a correspondent of the Press.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, October 18. The Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. QUESTIONS. (1) Mr Fyke asked whether, during the recess, Government will take into consideration the desirability of amending the law relating to perjury and false swearing in courts of justice, so as to provide some sufficient punishment for such offence ? (2) Mr Steward asked (1) Whether, in accordance with the prayer of the petition from 304 residents in Oamaru and the Waitaki district, including the Mayor and Municipal Oouncil and members of the Harbor Board, presented on the 14th inst, steps will be taken for the immediate formation of the Waimate branch line of railway, so that it may be ready for the laying of rails concurrently with the at present uncompleted portion of the main line ? (2) Whether in view of the great public advantages which will follow from the completion of the said branch lines, the erection of a bridge across the Waiho will be undertaken at the earliest possible moment? (3) Mr Thomson asked (1) Whether the contract regarding the telegraph cable has been signed, and whether Government are in possession of information leading them to believe that the cable will be ppen for use not later the 30th of April next, as stated in the draft (heads of arrangement)? (2) Whether it is necessary that such contract should be ratified by the Legislature, and if so, when they propose asking the Legislature to ratify the contract ? (4) Mr W. Kelly asked in respect of the Stewart settlement atKatiKati (1) Whether it is the case that the boundary lines, at the back of the block, have been moved back from a guarter to half a mile from the position they occupied on the plan signed by the Secretary of the Crown Lands and Mr Stewart 1 (2; Whether Government will see that ten families expected to arrive are not placed on inferior land in consequence of such removal of the boundary? (3) Whether Government, after making up the present block of 9350 acres to 10,000 acres, will consent to reserve a block of about 25,000 acres between the back of the boundary and the confiscated boundary to meet cases of immigrants who had received certificates from Mr Farnell for the Kati Kati settl tjment or other desirable settlers connected with the present body ? (4) Whether Government intend to complete a road to the settlement during the coming summer. (5) Whether Government will take into consideration the propriety of stationing some of the Armed Constabulary at the settlement during its establishment. (6) Would it not be advisable, in order to promote the founding of a village in that settlement, to allot to the heads of families an allotment [ in the proposed Government township ? Ministers replied—

(1) The matter of whether pereoas giving

false evidence on matters immaterial to the issue before the court, should be subject to be punished for perjury, would receive very careful consideration, and the Minister of Justice would take the opinion of the judges on the subject during the recess. (2) The contract is let for the formation of the main line, to be finished in February next, and the formation of the brarich line is to be completed about the time of the layiug of the permanent way on the main line. With regard to the second part of the question, this bridge formation was part of the contract for the main line, and he did not think it wise of the Government to interfere with it. (3) The contract was signed on June 24th last. The cable would be laid not later than April 30th next. It was not necessary that the contract should be ratified. (4) It was not the case. There was no reason for any such action as the second part of the question indicated. The arrangement with Mr Stewart was very favourable to the latter, and Government saw no reason for altering in it. Government were not prepared to make such road ; the settlers having got their land for nothing, might fairly be asked to contribute towards the cost of the construction of roads. There was no objection to considering the matter of stationing constabulary there, but so far as Government could at present see, there was no necessity for so doing. These settlers were a respectable body, and the Government could not believe they would so soon want police protection. It was possible a township would be laid out there, but Government proposed to sell it. Sir G. Grey asked, without notice, whether Government intended to give up to the King natives for the purpose of their settling upon them in the midst of the European population, the confiscated lands in the Wanganui district which had been repurchased by Government. Sir D. McLean replied the land in question was purchased at an avera s e price of £1 7s 6d per acre all round, for the purposa of being set apart for such of the King natives, including Tawhiao himself, as choose to settle quietly upon it. Up to the present time, however, the natives had not accepted the offer of the Government. HONORARIUM. On the House going into committee of the whole to consider the question of giving leave to introduce a Bill to regulate the payment of the expenses of members, Mr Macandrew asked for some reasons for introducing the Bill. He thought it unwise to put such a measure on the statute book. He should be disposed to move that the Speaker should leave the chair. He did not understand the object of introducing the Bill—[Several Voices—" The Bill was ordered"]. Hon Major Atkinson replied that Govern ment were merely obeying the House, which last session directed that the honorarium should be fixed by Act. Government had no desire to press the Bill; if the House would absolve them, they would withdraw it. Mr Macandrew would absolve Government. No harm would result from allowing the Bill to drop. Mr O'Conor hoped the discussion on the subject would not be shirked. Hon Major Atkinson said the Bill proposed to make no alteration in the present honorarium, but to put the present amount in an Act. He would take the opinion of the committee on the question. Mr Reid enquired would Government, as Government, vote for the retention of the present honorarium, if an increase was proposed * There was no wisdom in the course which was being taken. Payment should not be by a lump sum, but according to the length of time the Assembly sat. Sir G. Grey was totally opposed to the payment of members. Mr Fitzherbert considered the amount wholly insufficient, and objected to the Legislative Councillors being paid the same amount as the Lower House. Sir J. Cracroft Wilson thought ii unmannerly to blame the Government for the introduction of the Bill when ordered to do so. He never was in favor of the honorarium, but was in favor of justice being done. Mr PYKE counselled the withdrawal of the Bill. The amount was quite insufficient when they considered the length of time the Assembly was likely to sit in future. He was astonished at the member for Heathcote, who always told the House he was not in favor of payment, yet very carefully took his cheque and walked home with the money. [Roars of laughter.] Sir J. C. Wilson said he would like to know how the hon member was to dictate to him what he was to do with money he was legally entitled to. He hoped to get the honorarium, and so long as it lasted would draw it. [ Renewed laughter. J Mr Bunny urged that it was too late in the session to consider the matter. The Bill was thrown out on the voices. THE LIBRARY. The Speaker reported that the joint committee on the library had decided that a new library should be built detached from the present buildings. FIRST READING. The Commissioner of the Supreme Court Rill was read a first time. FINANCIAL DEBATE. In answer to Mr Fitzherbert, who expressed great anxiety to say a few words on the financial condition of the colony, The Hon Major Atkinson said the supplementary estimates would be brought down to-night and the Appropriation Act be introduced to-morrow, aud the second reading would be moved in the evening. IN committee on representation bill, On Hon C. 0. Bowen moving clause 2, that the number of members should be fixed at eighty-three, Mr O'Conor suggested that all districts in the same position as Wanganui should get an additional member. Mr Bunny moved that the chairman should leave the chair. If the discussion was to be continued, it was useless to expect that the House would be prorogued for a month. Sir G. Grey contended that in its present state the Bill did great injustice to the North Island. If the Bill was to be carried this session, the whole matter must be discussed de novo. Mr Fitzherbert said the only effect of the Bill was to give a member additional to places named on the schedule, because they were pretty certain to return members pledged to support the abolition of the provinces. There could be no doubt of the political significance of the Bill. He could detect no other reason. He protested against the representation of the country being made a matter of scramble in the House, and against an additional member for the provincial district of Wellington. There was no reason

whatever for an additional member to Wanganui. That was manifestly an unfair proposal. \ Mr Montgomery blamed the Government for having lost their hold of the Bill; but because wrong had been done in that instance, he would not be party to further wrong doing. Hon C. C Bowen replied that the Government had done their best to prevent additional member to Wanganui. It was certaiuly not the wish of the Government to add a member there. On Mr Bunny's motion, the voting was Noes, 43; ayes, 19. The ayes were—Messrs Bunny, Sheehan, Macandrew, Reid, Sir G. Grey, Messrs Pearce, Hunter, Reeves, Basstian, Murray, |Bwanson, J. E. Brown, O. Parker, Dignan, Brandon, Fitzherbert, Von der Heyde, J. C. Brown, Thomson. Sir G. Grey then moved that 83 should be reduced to 82, which was negatived on the voices. Here considerable confusion arose. Mr Pyke called for a division, in which he was confirmed by several around him. Mr O'Rorke said he never heard the call for a division, and having received another amendment, refused to go back. Messrs Pyke, Rolleston, Webb, Macandrew, and others, explained the difficulty they were placed in. They would vote for the Bill as brought down, but for none other. On the division that 83 should stand, which meant the retention of an additional member for Wanganui, there voted—Ayes, 25; noes, 34. Then, to solve the difficulty before mentioned, Mr Rolleston moved to the effect that the number should be the same as during the last Parliament, with eight added. As put, the question was that the number be 74. On this the committee divided as follows:—Ayes, 42; noes, 17. This vote was taken upon the previous understanding that all new clauses on the order paper should be then taken, the Bill then be reported with amendments, and be recommitted to consider clause 2, in order to insert 82. Mr Rolleston asked if such a course could be taken, and was replied to in the affirmative. Major Jackson then proposed an additional member for Waikato. There was a mistake in the division lists, whereupon Mr J. E. Brown refused to sign as teller, which necessitated a fresh division. On the House resuming at 7.30, the motion was put that Major Jackson's new clause, giving another member to the Waikato, be added to the Bill, a division was called, and the clause was carried by 23 to 20. Mr Tairoa is now moving for a Native member to be given to Waipara in the Waikato. The Disqualification Act clearly defines that in future any member of either branch of the Legislature concerned, directly or indirectly, in any contract under Government, whether the House is sitting or not during the subsidence of the contract, shall be disqualified. Indemnity is extended to the present members of both Houses. It is declared that the fifth section of the Act of 1870 shall not apply to Superintendents and Provincial Executives. On the House meeting to-day, Sir D. McLean announced that it was intended to prorogue at I p.m. on Wednesday. The Hawea and Taupo have been detained till Wednesday for the convenience of members. Mr Rolleston leaves by the Taranaki tomorrow. The Legislative Council hao paused the Employment of Females Amendment Bill, practically with all the amendments Mr Bradshaw has unsuccessfully moved in the Lower Chamber.