GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1393, 2 August 1878, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

<&. [PBB PRESS AGENCY.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Thursday, August 1. Tbo Eradication of Scab Act was brought forward, and after some discussion referred to a select committee, after being read a second time. Tho Brands Registration Bill and the Savings Bank Profit* Bill were read a second time. The Council will present its address in reply to-morrow afternoon. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, August 1. Tho House met at 2.30. OCEAN BEACH RAILWAY. The Government promised, on the motion of Mr Seaton, to lay before the House all correspondence that had passed with the Dunedin Ocean Beach and Peninsula Railway Company relative to the construction of that railway. HOSPITALS AND CIIAEITABLH AID. In reply to Mr Stevens, Tho Premier said that after the financial statement was made, Q-overnment would intimate tho course they intended to pursue regarding the management of hospitals and other charitable institutions. CHARGES FOR INSPECTION OF MAPS. Mr Stevens asked whether fees for tho inspection of public maps are charged in the land offices at Christchurch or elsewhere, and, u so, by what authority sueh charges are made, and whether Government will lake steps to put an end to the practice. Mr Stout said it was customary to charge a small fee to those who inspected the record map in quest of information. They found that if this were not done tho mips wouldsoon bo destroyed. Any charge made was under the authority of the Minister of Lands. NELSON-MOTUEKA RAILWAY. Mr Huksthousk asked whether the flying survey promised List session of the railway from Nelson to Motueka has been made, if so will the Q-overnment lay the surveyor’s report before tho House P Mr Macandrew hoped to bo able in a few days to place upon the table the result of what had been done in the matter. LAND DRAINAGE AND COAL MINES. Replying to questions, the Government said they had no intention of introducing this session a Land Drainage Bill or Bill for the Regulation of Coal Mines, MR. BARTON AND THE POLICE. Mr Barton gave notice to move that the large powers with which the police are entrusted should be watched ; that serious charges having been made against the police of Wellington by a member addressing hia constituents, and that such charges having been strongly commented on by tho Press of the colony, and that these charges not having been properly investigated, Government should take steps without delay to have them investigated. ADDRESS IN REPLY. The address to his Excellency was presented to him at 3 30. CHANGES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. Mr Sutton moved for a return of all officers whose services have been dispensed with since Ist December, 1877, with the salaries attached to their offices, and compensation paid; also, the names of any officers appointed since that date, and tho nature of tho appointments and amount of salary. The motion was agreed to. NEW BILLS. A number of Bills were introduced and read a first time, including the Licensing Bill, Electoral Bill and Bills for tho prevention of corrupt practices at elections and punishment of fraudulent debtors. THE TARANAKI TRIUMPHAL ARCH. Mr Hubsthouse moved—" That a copy of the police report referring to tho attempt to destroy the triumphal arch erected at New Plymouth on tho occasion of the Premier’s visit there during the month of February, together with all correspondence relative to the said report, bo laid before the House.” He wished to emphatically deny that he was in any way concerned in the attempt to tear down the arch. Indeed, ho absented himself intentionally, and ho complained that his name had been unfairly connected with the arch business, and he had, therefore, been braided in all the papers in the colony. He applied to the police, when he found that his name was said to be down in their books, but they gave him no satisfaction, although it was well known that access had been afforded to the book to a journalist who travelled about with tho Ministerial party at the expense of tho country, Mr Sheehan gave his version of affairs. He denied that he bad ever furnished tho police report to any journalist, or even allowed him to copy it. But after the offence he bad been waited upon by several people who asked him could he not do something to stop the prosecution on account of the respectability of those concerned, and ho made inquiry into the matter to sec if lie could possibly do so. He admitted that a hardship had been inflicted upon Mr Hursthouso, because he believed ho was not one of tho participators. But such incidents were of frequent occurrence, and ho thought it was a mistake for people to feel too thin-skinned over such things. Ho would, however, lay on the table what was asked for. Mr Bowen thought it to be regretted the Native Minister had not reprimanded tho policeman for such gross carelessness as to enter the name of a gentleman well-known, but not present at tho time. Mr Barton called attention to a suspicious phrase of Mr Hursthouso’s in stating that ho “ took care” to bo absent from this. It would appear that the lion, gentleman had neglected to aci. as a good citizen by going and informing the police of what was contemplated. He opposed the policeman being reprimanded. Sir R Douglas and Mr Sutton thought tho police had exceeded their duty, and had been evidently animated by a desire to curry favor with tho powers that bo, and that led them to act as political spies. Mr Stout said it would be a monstrous stretch of authority to reprimand the police

when they had no evidence to show that they had acted wrongly. The hon. member said on behalf of the Government, if it were promised that a civil action would not be raised, enquiry would yet he made. Major Atkinson said it appeared to him t hat t he whole ac ion of the Government and police looked like a political move. It was well known and could not be denied that the journalist who travelled in the Hinemoa with the Premier had been shown the report by the police, and, of course, was justified in making u-e of it. This was what compromised the police, and gave them the appearance of acting from political motives, and identified them as partisans. The bad feature of the case was that, when several of those whose names were put in the report applied to the police to see the report, ns someone else had been shown it, they were refused, and then they asked the police to publicly prosecute them. This was not done, either. The same request was made to the Minister of Justice, but the answer was that reports of that kind could not be open to the inspection of the public. The motion was agreed to. GAOL OFFICERS. Mr Barton moved for a return showing the number of officers and warders employed respectively in all gaols of the colony, with their respective terms of service, salaries, hours of duty, average number of prisoners, annually received into each prison ; also for a return of promotion within two years of officers and warders from inferior to superior positions in the service. Agreed to. STATE OF THE GAOLS. Mr Bowen moved for a select committee to inquire into the present state of the gaols in the colony, and improvements necessary to enforce proper classification and discipline. The Premier thought the importance of the question opened up justified a Royal Commission as likely to he more efficient than a select committee. The Government, however had no objection t o what was asked for. The motion was agreed to. JOSHUA GOODFELLOW’S CLAIMS Mr Murray moved for a committee to report on the claims of Joshua Goodfellow upon a Government contract on the Tokomariro and Lawrence railway. Messrs Kelly and Richardson opposed the appointment of the committee as unnecessary. It would besides establish a dangerous precedent. Mr Macandebw said he and his colleagues had inquired into the matter, and came to the conclusion that Goodfellow was entitled to something, hut how much that should bo, he would prefer being settled by a committee. A. division was called for by Mr Kelly, the result being in favor of the motion by 23 against 21, miscellaneous. The House went into Committee upon the Mercantile Law Further Amendment Act, which was rend a third time and passed. The Trade Union Bill went through Committee without material alteration. A resolution authorising the granting of supply wns then passed, and its consideration postponed till to-morrow. The House adjourned at 5.30.