GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1409, 21 August 1878, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[FEB FBEBB AGENCY.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TUFSDAY, AUGUST 20. MISCONDUCT OF CIVIL BKBVANTS. To-day in the Council Mr Phauazyn asked the Colonial Secretary whether it was an established rule when a complaint is made against the misconduct of a civil servant.that the complaint should be referred to courts of law for redress. Colonel Wiiitmobe answered yes, and that a special remedy was provided in Mr Pharazyn's case by the law. BETUKN OF EESEBVES. Sir D. Bell's motion for a return of a all reserves made under part 7 ot the Land Act, 1877, in each provincial district, was agreed to. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES ACT. Colonel Whitmore received permission to introduce next Friday a Bill to amend the Friendly Sociotios Act, 1877. PEACE CONGHATULATIONS. On the motion of Captain Praser, a select committee was appointed to prepare a congratulatory address to the Queen on the successful result of the Berlin Conference. POSTPONEMENT. The consideration of the Executive Councillors Bill was postponed. BILLS ADVANCED. The Tradej Union Bill and Literary Institution Bill were considered in committee, and progress reported. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, August 20. The House met at 2 30. OPBNINO 01' 30UTIIEKN LINE.

Mr Bastings gavo notice to move that the House adjourn on the sth proximo for eight

days, to enable members to witness the opening of Christchurch-Dunedin Railway. NATIVE LANDS ACT. Mr Sheehan gave notice to ask leave to introduce the Native Linda Act, 1878. WATCH ING BEWI. Mr Fox asked, without notice, whether it was a fact that w»s at present under the constant surveillance of a man, and could not be seen without the presence of this policem^n. Mr Shbkhan siid that ho had been unaware that such was the case, and if he found on inquiry that it. was so, ho would prevent such a thing being continued. He believed there was a gentleman named Thomas, formerly in her Majesty's service in India, who was endeavoring to negotiate with Rewi in regard to some block of land, and he had been communicated with to desist from interfering between the Government and Rewi at such a critical period. CABINET APPOINTMENTS. Mr Whitakeb called attention to the appointments of members of the Cabinet, to show that there were doubts as to the validity of appointments of certain members of the Ministry. It appeared to him, if he was correct in his facts, that the Premier and four of his colleagues came within tho provisions of the Disqualification Act. The hon. gentleman went at length into the circumstances of the different appointments, and quoted very minutely the 1-tw bearing upon the subj' ct. Mr Stout intimated that he would take time to consider the aigumcnta used by Mr Whitaker. RAILWAY SEBVANTB' IIOTJEB. In reply to Mr Feldwick, Mr Macandbew laid upon the table a statement showing the hours of labour of guards, engine drivers, stokers, &0., on the Government railways, with particulars respecting each section. RAILWAY PASBEB TO VOLT/NTEKBB. In reply to Mr Hobbe, Mr Macandbew said a sum of money would be placed on (he estimates to enable volunteers on duty to have free passages by train, provided they have certificates from their commanding officers. INDIGENOUS GKASBEB. The PREMISE,in reply to a question by Mr Hobbs, said tho Government could not give all libraries in the colony c< p'e-i of the book j on the indigenous grasses of the colony, but copies would be given to the principal libraries of the colony. CROWN PROSECUTIONS. In reply to Mr Gisborne, Mr Stout said the Government did not this session intend I dealing with the present system of Crown prosecution, with a view to its improvement by assimilating the system to the Scotch system, or otherwise. PREE RAILWAY PASSES. The Government promised to furnish a return of how many free railway pissag«s have been issued, though it would take some time to prepare. LAND PBOMISED TO NATIVES. Mr Shbkhan, in reply to Taiiroa, said it was correct that the late Sir Donald McLean promised five thousand acres in Marlborough and Nelson to the Ngatimu tribe, and the present Government intended to make good that promise. THE AGENT GENERAL. In reply to Mr McLean, Mr Ballancb said the only correspondence betweon themselves and Sir Julius Vogel rt litive to his proposed retirement from the AgentGeneralship was of a semi-private nature, and tho Government did not feel justified iu making it public. SECOND READINGS. Bills for the Triennial Election of the House of Representatives and Mr Curtis' Bill to Amend the Education Act 1877, also the Government liiil imposing a duty upon joint, stock and other companies, and the Bill to impose a tax on land, and the Martin Annuity Bill, were read a second time.

CIVIL SBBVICE BILL. In Committee on the Civil Service Act Amendment Bill.

Mr Kelly moved a new clause, to the effect that no person who was a provincial officer on coming into the operation of the Abolition Act, and had been transferred to the civil service on the s-.il Act coming into operation, should be entitled to any retiring allowance.

The House divided on the question, and the clause was read a second time by 37 against 24. It was then moved that the first word " no" be left out, and the word "every" substituted ; but it was ruled on a point of order that the amendment could not be put, inasmuch as it involved a question of public expenditure. A good deal of discussion ensued over this point. It was maintained by Mr Rolleston that Sir J. Vogel when Premier gave what, was equivalent to a promise that provincial officers would be dealt with in a liberal spirit. Mr McLean replied that what Sir J. Vog<d did promise was that any cases of special hardship would be taken into favourable consideration.

It was then moved that progress bo reported, in order to test, the question raised in regard to provincial officers. The House divided, the result being— Noes 48, ayes 22. The proceedings were interrupted by 5.30.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7 30. BILLS ADVANCED. The Civil Service Act Amendment Bill went through committee. The Sale of Food and Drugs Act Amendment Bill and Cruelty to Animals Bill passed. ADJOUBNED DEBATE ON ELECTORAL BILL. Mr R"KVEB would support the the. Government measure, as, with a few alterations, it would meet all the requirements of the colonv for some time to come. He wanted the House to have the qualification altered from an annual value of £lO to £5, and the residence clause- altered. Mr Thompson said there was no general demand on the part of the country for manhood suffrage. In considering this question it should be remembered that Parliament was only a large Board of Works, which for tho past year had been living on the Canterbury land fund, and if that had not realised more than had b n en anticipated, iustead of a surplus of £IOO,OOO, there would have been a large deficiency. Now they proposed to tux property and land to a largo extent, while, side by side, they proposed to introduce manhood suffrage—two propositions that did not run on all fours. He considered manhood suffrage was on its trial in America and Victoria, and the wisdom of it was still a moot question. It was claimed for manhood suffrage that it would educate the public in public matters, yet the Attorney-General in his article on tho " Melbourne Review" deplored that the wealthy and cultured classes in Victoria did not take that interest in public affairs that they ought. Could they expect that the same state of affairs wouid not ensuo hore ? He considered women's suffrage a mere matter of sentiment, and he would vote against this part of the Bill, whatever he did as regards the rest. Mr Russell would support the Bill, as he claimed to be animated by as liberal sentiments as any gentleman on the other side of the House. He disapproved of the Bill of the member for Waikato as not calculated to produce the results claimed for it. In the Government Bill he thought the educational test ought to be made more stringent. He alse disapproved of the special franchise extended to Maoris. No man in the country should have two distinct votes. The system was at once monstrous and anomalous. No man who could not read or write should be allowed a vote, A man so ignorant could only be a pliant tool in the hands of designing politicians. He confessed he was pleasantly surprised to find the Government bringing in such a Bill, as from his past knowledge of the Premier he expected him to assume a Napoleonic attitude towards the House and country. He was glad that the colleagues of the hon. gentleman had some effect in modifying his ultra-democratic views.

Mr Cutten could not see that the Bill would make much difference one way or the other. Still ho wa? not prepared to vote for famale suffrage. That clause should not be carried without mature consideration. It either went too far or not far enough. It

appeared to him that the sex of women should bo a sufficient bar to women entering that Home. In fact he could not treat the subject as serious. Imagine such a possibility as a woman contesting a seat against her husband. He wou'd vote against the second reading unless Government abandoned that clause.

Mr Tubnbull would support the Bill, as he thought nothing could be more conducive towards the laying the foundation of a new and great nation. Ho agreed with the suggestion of the member for Grey Valley regarding the household qualification, but the residential clame he hoped would not be altered. Strangers coming into the country ought not to be allowed to vote at once. As to plural voting, he thought that in view of the land tax to bo imposr d, the holder of property in two districts should be allowed two votes. Any woman holding property in her own name was in fairness entitled to a vote, but she ought to be debarred from becoming a member of the House. One reason why they should have the widest possible suffrage was because the landed proprietors of the colony were not animated by the same sentiments as the wealthy classes at home, and therefore they had no other resource but to throw open the highest offices in the State to every man.

Mr Shkkhan said, regarding the women's franchise, Government treated it as an open question. He for one did not approve of it. He believed the women themselves did not want the franchise. He referred to the admission made by the member for Napier, reg irding the Premier in introducing better measures than he expected. The hon. gentleman at the head of the Government always had the good of the country at heart. He wanted that men should have a voice in the country, not sleep. It was high time the owners of broad acres were shorn of some of the power they had long wielded, and made to contribute in fairer proportion to the burdens of the country, and if they would not do it willingly they would be compelled to do so. On th« ques'ion of Maori representation, he believed tho Maori members of the House gave their votes as conscientiously as other members. No doubt the country was anxious to see the double Maori vote done away with, but the time hi d not yet arrived when they could do that. It was wise to retain the qualification based upon rating, inasmuch as it taught the Maoris and encouraged them to pay rates. This system had been in exis ence for fifteen years, and he prayed the House not to abolish it hurriedly. Even if it was only to give the Maoris no cause for complaint, they should not take away the privileges they had been in enjoyment of for so many years. He believed that in five years' time the House would be able to ask the Maoris to give up the double vote, and that they would be quite willing to do so. He hop-d the House would approve this part of the Bill by a large majority. He differed entirely from the principles of the Bill introd iced by the member tor Waikato, though he doubted as to its being the real Simon Pure, or was brought in with the object claimed for it by the mover. As to the remarks made by the member for Napier regarding the Premier, it appeared to him that no higher tribute could be paid to the Premier than to say that, after addressing thousands in the colony, he did not do all he said he intended to do. No; he showed his wisdom and zeal for tho colony by allowing his opinion to be modified by the advice and experience of his colleagues. He hoped the importance, of tho measure would secure its consideration upon its merits, and not as a party measure. The debate is continuing.