GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 958, 21 July 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[By Telegraph. Per Peess Agency.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, July 20. The House met at 2.30 p.m. A number of petitions were presented, and notices of motion given. TITLES AND DECORATIONS. Sh* G-eorge Grey gave notice to move for copies of all correspondence between the Secretary of State and the Governor relating to titles and decorations between 1870 and 1877. SOUTH ISLAND NATIVE CLAIMS. Mr Burns asked whether any action had been taken to settle the claims of natives in the South Island ? The Hon. Mr Whitaker said the matter had been considered during the recess, and a proposal would be laid before the House for adjusting the matter. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—New Plymouth Harbor Board Amending Bill (Kelly), Native Land Court Bill (Whitaker). Consolidating and Amending Goldliclds Bill (Reid). Charitable Institutions Amending Bill (Reid). MANUFACTURE OF ROLLING STOCK. Mr Burns moved for a return showing the number of contracts accepted for the manufacture of rolling stock in the colony, so as 1o show the rate of cost of articles in the colony, as contrasted with cost of articles imported. It was only fair to colonial tenderers that they should be placed in a position to know exactlv what were the prices of home manufactories. Agreed to. THE SALE OF THE LUNA. Hon. Mr Gtshorne moved for copies of correspondence relating to the sale of the Luna. He argued that Government property should be cither sold by public auction or that tenders should be called for its purchase. This was due to the public. In connection with this matter, lie might say it was understood that the Hinemoa was going to be disposed of, and he wished to enter his protest a"ainst sales bv private negotiation. °Hon. Mr McLean said Government had no objection to lay all correspondence on the table, but he Mould point out that, while the principle of selling by public auction was undoubtedly sound, there were instances in which it" was more advantageous to sell by private contract than by auction. He thought full value had been got for the Luna. As for the Hinemoa, it was for the House to order how she should be disposed of. THE COMFORT OF MEMBERS. Upon a motion for appoiuting a committee

to provide for the convenience and comfort of members of both Houses, Mr Murray moved an amendment, that work should bo so arranged as that the expense should not fall upon the revenue of the countrv.

Sir G-. Grey suggested, now that the Civil servants have been removed into new buildings, the building they were in should be reserved for members only ; that Bellamy's should also be exclusively for members ; and that the lobbies, as much as possible, should be kept clear of persons not members of the Legislature. Mr MANDEHS and Mr Fitzroy opposed the amendment as unnecessary and against general usage. Mr Swanson objected on behalf of his constituents to pay for luxuries they did not partake of. If members wanted the accommodation of Bellamy's (which he, for one, did not), they should be prepared to pay for it, because the allowance given them by the colony was ample enough. The Premier pointed out that what was proposed in the resolution was only reasonable. It was only to enable them to pay for the servants, whose attendance was required by all alike, whether tea drinkers or frequenters of Bellamy. Were it not so, hon. members would find that a cup of tea would cost at least 2s or Is 6d, and that would be scarcely fair to gentlemen who had to sit there till two or three in the morning. A division was called for, and the amendment was lost by 31 against 26. Mr Murray proceeded to state that when Bellamy's vote came on he intended to move that it be struck out, but was ruled out of order. Mr Burns said, however much Bellamy's was required some years ago, it was not so now, as the city afforded ample accommodation. The expenses connected with Bellamy's were not creditable to the House. The motion was then agreed to. Sir G. Grey then gave notice to move on Wednesday that no persons other than those connected with the Legislature be admitted to the rooms set apart for the convenience of members. PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE. On the motion for appointing a Public Petitions Committee, Mr Reynolds suggested that it would be better to appoint two committees, one for the North and one for the South Island. It had long been notorious that members of that committee were overburdened with work and could not properly perform their duties. Mr Kelly moved —" That an alteration bo made in the direction of referring Gold fields and other petitions direct to the proper committees to deal with them, instead of first referring them to the Public Petitions Committee." The Speaker said this would contravene the standing orders, and could not be put. The motion was agreed to. ADDRESS IN REPLY TO THE GOVERiNOR's SPEECH. Mr Beetham moved the address in reply, by referring briefly to the different paragraphs in the Governor's speech. He regretted noreference was made to the manufactories of New Zealand, without which it would never become the Britain of the South, and he hoped this omission be remedied in future viceregal speeches. Touching the visit of his Excellency to the South, he thought there were other parts of the colony where the inhabitants were anxious for a visit from the Governor, so as to show their loyalty. He concurred in the regret as to the death of Sir D. McLean, whose valuable services could ill be spared by the colony. He hoped the Government would recognise in substantial manner the service of those who administered the affairs of the provinces, though temporarily, and in some instances doing violence to their political feelings. He thought the House must agree with the need for the promised legislation referred to in the speech, which, if carried out successfully, would be a boon to the colony and the Government might be congratulated upon it. Mr Sutton seconded the address briefly. He was surprised there was no reference to the commercial interests of the colony. They ought to be informed how the commerce of the colony stood. He regretted to say it was not in a good position as compared with the pastoral interest. He bore testimony to the long and faithful services of Sir Donald McLean, and said that if lie were permitted to do as well for his country he should be satisfied. Referring to the constitutional changes recently oome into existence, he thought the respective positions of counties and Road Boards should bo clearly defined, especially in respect to finance. He hoped the Land Bill promised would be more than a consolidating Act. The Lands Bill, drawn up by the Government, he felt bound to say was a measure that could be understood by all. One suggestion he would like to throw out was that when it was necessary to amend an Act they should only put upon the statute book the Act in its amended form. Mr Delatour took exception to the paragraph referring to the loss sustained by Government in the death of Sir Donald McLean. [" Hear, hear," from Sir George Grey.] He objected that reference should be made to the late Sir Donald in his private capacity, his public capacity, and also as a politician. If this had been through mere inadvertence (which he hoped it was) the House probably would have no objection to took upon the reply as merely formal, and in no way pledging them as approving the whole native policy of the Government. Dr Wallis condemned the Governor's speech as one of the baldest ever submitted to any legislature. He would ask were oar mining, agricultural and pastoral interests in the prosperous condition they were represented to be. Indeed, the speech was as_ remarkable for its sins of commission as of omission. The hon. gentleman then proceeded to refer to the Counties Act, which he said ought to be wiped off the statute book at once, instead of patching it up. As to education, he hoped the Government would contrive to give them some improvement upon what lie called the present sectarian system of education. He was aware there were those who called it "secular," but that was really the most sectarian of all. The Bible should never be excluded from schools. The Land Bill was a mistake, inasmuch as it conferred absolute and despotic power upon the judge, a power he should not have. As to what the speech did not contain—first, there was temperance. Why was that not referred to, or why was not representation mentioned ? It had been promised by the Premier in his Taranaki speech. Why should so important a question as the land fund (which ought to be colonial property) not be referred to, or separation, which there was no allusion to ? It appeared to him, looking at this country, that what nature separated should not be joined by man. Mr Thompson took exception to the paragraph referring to Captain Campbell Walker's

report, which should not have been introduced into the Governor's speech. It was like getting them by a side wind to endorse wind they did not approve of. He also objected to the paragraph referring to the services of those who contented to hold temporarily responsible positions as Executive Officers. It was like saying that the Superintendents of Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Nelson, &c, were good boys, while Sir Gr. Grey and Mr Mncandrew were very naughty boys indeed. The introduction of Sir D. McLean's name into the speech he considered unconstitutional, and such practice was not usual at Home. It did look as if the Gi-overnor was identifying himself with a party. If they approved so much of Sir D. McLean's policy, they should have said so by resolution. He hoped this would not, be established as a precedent. The address in reply was agreed to, and the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday next, when his Excellency's speech will be taken into consideration. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The Premier, before adjourning, said he would most probably ask for an imprest supply on Tuesday next, and make his financial statement on Friday next while in committee of supply, though it was not usual to do so. If not, then lie woidd most, probably do so on Tuesday week in committee of ways and means.