GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1433, 19 September 1878, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PEB PEEBB AGENCY. J LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednksday, Shptembee 18. miscellaneous. In the Council Lhis afternoon, Mr Wilson brought in the Clyde Atherifcum Bui, and after tho transaction of some minor business, various Bills were committed. No progress was made with the Impounding Bdl, it being almost immediately reported. inteepretation bill. On the fifth clause of tho Interpretation Bill an effort was made by Mr Mantell to get the words which validate past Orders in Council, which may have been irregular, struck out. He was unsuccessful, and the clause passed. The committee got through tho Bill without any very material amendment. LANDS CLAIMS SETTLEMENT. The Lands Claims Settlement Bill was then taken, but progress was immediately r ported, so that the alterations proposed could be printed. MUNICIPAL COUNCIL BILL. The Municipal Council Bdl now before the Council enables corporations to establish gasworks in opposition to existing companies. EVENING SITTING. CIVIL 6BBVICE BILL. On the Council resuming at 7.30, The amendments proposed bj his Excellency in the Civil Service Acts Amendment Bill were agreed to, and clause 8 will now read—" No person who was a provincial officer on the coming into operation of the Abolition of Provinces Act, 1875, and was transferred to the civil service on the coming into operation of the Act last mentioned, shall be entitled to any retiring allowance under the Civil Service Act, 1866, or any Acts repealfid by such Act." The Council then proceeded in committee wifch tho Repeals Bill, and other measures of no great importance. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, September 18. The House met at 2 30. BEWT AND TIIB RAILWAY. Mr Obmond gave notice to ask if Rewi Miniopoto had consented to the construction of a line of railway through his territory, from Waikato to Taranaki, or promised to give land for the construction of such railway, and upon what terms, and if such information will be placed in possession of the House. MAOBI BEPEESENTATIVES. Tawhiti gave notice to ask the Native Minister whether he would introduce a Bill for increasing the number of Maori representatives in the House. westpoet-eeefton railway. Dr. Henry asked if the Government would survey a line of railway between Westport and Reefton, to connect Westport with the East Coast. Mr Macandeew said the survey would be made during the recess. PATTERN EAILWAY CAERIAGES. Mr Bowen asked whether the Government would obtain pattern railway carriages from America and elsewhere, with the view of increasing the comfort of the public without materially adding to the cost of rolling stock. Mr Macandeew thought the Government might do so, provided the cost was not too great; but in a few days they would be able to consult with the commissioners of both islands. A SELF-CREATED JUSTICE. Mr Sutton asked the Minister of Justice —l. Whether he is aware that a person who has not been appointed R.M. or J.P. is now presiding at the R.M. Court, Waiaroa, Hawke's Bay ? 2. Under what Act has the same person committed a prisoner to Napier gaol, eeßtenced by him to imprisonment for four weeke ? Mr Sheehan said he had taken steps to obtain the information asked, but had not yet received it. A short time ago, he might say, they had appointed a Rjsident Magistrate for tho express purpose of attesting Maori deeds, but not to perform judicial functions, and if he had gone beyond his tether, it would be so much the worse for him. He would, however, have the information probably that evening. REDUCTION IN POSTAGE. Dr. Hodgkinson rose to move that the rates of postage for sealed letters should be reduced from twopence to a penny, and postcards from a penny to a half-penny for all places within the colony. The Speakee cautioned him that it was highly inconvenient for a private member to bring in a specific proposition in regard to taxation. Discussion then ensued, Major Atkinson and Messrs Wakefield and Pyke contending for the right of private members to introduce motions and Bills affecting taxation without any necessity for being cautioned. Mr Fishee said the Government could not agree to the proposal, which would lead to a serious diminution in the postal revenue. There were too many new offices being established. Mr Saundebs contended that Post-Offices should not be treated as a source of revenue, but ho maintained that if the reduction was made, it would not materially decrease the revenue. Mr Ballance said the reduction would amount to about £22,000 per year, which allowing for the increased number of letters (about 10 per cent.) would reduce the revenue by about £19,000. After Dr. Hodgkinson had replied, he was about to withdraw the motion, when Mr Wakefield objected. On a division being taken the motion was negatived by 49 against 12. THE WANGANUI DISTILLATION CASES. Mr Fox moved for the production of all papers relating to the late distilling cases at Wanganui, including the proceedings in the R.M. Court against McDonagh, Whitlock, Lough, and Jessop, any petition received in reference to the sentences,and all correspondence with the parties, Resident Magistrate, Justices of the Peace, or other persons. He detailed all the circumstances of the case. He was informed that although the case was one of the most glaring and flagrant breaches of the law he knew, the Government reduced the term of imprisonment of Lough to three months instead of twelve, and abandoned all the property confiscated. Mr Sheehan said the Government found that Lough was not a partner but a hired servant, and as the Magistrate had given the two principals the option of paying a fine, they thought Lough ought to be shown similar clemency. As it was found that a great portion of the property confiscated belonged to innocent persons, to that extent only had there been any remission. The papers would bo produced. GOLD DUTY. Mr Babff moved that this House tomorrow resolve itself rr.to Committee of the whole to consider the following resolution —" That for purposes of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, Amendment Act, 1877, it is desirable that gold duty be considered as rates and subsidised from the consolidated fund accordingly." Mr Ballance opposed the motion, stating that it was not a General Government tax, but a purely county one. Besides the matter of £38,000 was involved. The gold duty was given by tho General Government to the counties in aid of local rates, and now, by the motion, this duty was sought to bo made a rate, which would enable the counties to demand as much more from the Government.

Mr Barff complained of being put in an unfair position by the Government in obstructing the busineas of the House by asking him to go into the whole question then. Had the Government been true to their pledges, the Treasurer would not have had to ask him [Mr Barff] how the revenue lost in that way could be made up. Had they brought down an income, tax, in favor of which ho believed there was a majority of three to one in the House, there would have been abundant funds to balance all reductions, He believed

there was some pecuniary interest at work, which brought about such a state of thingß. A division was taken, and the motion negatived by 45 against 16. PAT OF THE POLICE. Mr Pykb inovtd—" I'hat the House will on 25th September resolve itself into committee of the whole to consider of an addres« to his Excellency, praying that a sum of money may be placed on the supplementary estimates for increasing the rate of pay of the police force of tho Middle Island of New Zealand upon the following scale—Third class constables, 6d per day; second and first olass constables, Is per day; sergeants, Is 6d per day ; sergeant • majors, 2h 6d per day. He held that the police had been unfairly reduced in their pay. He wanted something like an equilibrium to be restored between the rate of pay and that under tho old Provincial Government of Otago. At the present rate the whole police force was demoralised through the mismanagement of the past twelve months, and had become a disgrace to the Government of the country. This was chiefly duo to the reduction in their pay, which was less than that of a common laborer on the streets. Good men would not now stop longer than till they got something better to do, and consequently the efficiency of the force and the protection of life and property were not what they used to be. Mr Shbehan pointed out that the police were paid for Sundays, and wet and dry days, as well as getting quarters and medical attendance, while the laboring man was dependent upon the weather. If an increase in pay were to be made it ought to be general, and made to apply to the North as well as the South Island. He had no objection, however, that the matter should be referred to the gaol committee, before which evidence could be taken, and the whole question examined thoroughly. The question was adjourned, Mr Sheehan undertaking to move to-morrow for a special select committee to inquire into the matter. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 730. CONSTITUTION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Mr Cuetis proceeded to move his series of resolutions with the view of amending the constitution of the Legislative Council. He said if the House approved of these resolutions it would be the duty of the Government to embody their principles in a Bill, which shonld be introduced in the other Chamber. A misapprehension had got abroad, viz. that he introduced these resolutions in consequence of some recent appointments to the Legislative Council. He denied this. He had contemplated this action for a long time. It might be argued that there was no immediate cause for such a change aB proposed. But ho replied that it was not the time to raise and discuss such a question as this when minds were hea'ed by a conflict between the Houses, an occurrence which he ventured to say was inevitable. This was the proper time when the minds of members were in such a state as to enable them to approach the consideration of such a calamity. He thought the system of nomination as at present conducted should now be abandoned, and placed in the hands of representatives of the people. He argued that at the present time the Legislative Council was not in that position of independence which was desirable, on account of the tendency to appoint members as the reward for political services. He quoted the Attorney-General's article in the " Melbourne Review " in which it is said that the Council was a creature of the Ministry of the day, and he therefore claimed the support of that hon. gentleman for his proposals. He quoted the Constitutions of other colonies to show that a property qualification for a seat in the Council was not a general practice, and that it was time this colony abandoned the property qualification in place of intelligence and experience. The hon. gentleman explained at length his proposal regarding the prevention of deadlocks by a majority of two-thirds of both Houses as a united body in deliberation, and also the other provisions. Dr. Hodgkinson, who seconded pro forma, asked why should they have a second House at all, unless it was like the Senate of the United States, which was a model worthy of imitation. He went at great length into tho question. Had the Legislative Council of this colony been worth anything, they would not have been in such debt, and their constitution would not have been swept away, and the sooner tho constitution of the Council was revised and made sounder ,the better. Mr Stout said before such a radical change, there ought to be some dissatisfaction with the Constitution, and the mover admitted there was none. To proceed with such a question now would merely be to invite collision with the other House. So long as they had a bicameral system it ought to be constituted as at present. He entirely opposed an elective Chamber, which would only prove a curse to the colony. Being a private members' night, he would not take up the time of the House, and would move the previous question.

Dr. Wallis, while agreeing that the Legislative Council required reform, considered the resolutions went a very short way towards that. If there had not hitherto been any collisions between the two Houses it was more the result of accident than anything else. He agreed with the necessity for two Houses, but the seats should only be for a limited time. He considered the present mode of appointment was much the same, though rather better, than being appointed by the ballot of the House. There was already too much work before the House, so he hoped the motion would be withdrawn.

Mr Pyke thought nothing could be more detrimental to the interests of the colony than to have a second elected House to deal with Money Bills on an equality with the Lower House. The only issue of this must be a deadlock. He would vote for the previous question.

Mr Saundees concurred in the view that the best time to approach the consideration of such a question was when there was no immediate cause for a change. But while admitting the necessity for a change in the constitution, he disagreed with tho mode proposed. He thought the colony could not follow a better example in regard to the Legislative Council than that of South Australia. By leaving the election of members of the Council to the House of Representatives, they would be bringing too much party spirit into play. Sir R. Douglas pointed out the neglect of Government in not making their appointments according to territory. The consequence of this was that questions occasionally arose concerning localil ies, and respecting which no one in the Council knew anything. The motion was negatived on the voices.