GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1805, 3 December 1879, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

«* LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. tifßt Tuesday, Dbcbmbbb 2. of ns There was a discussion of the petition of he Mr H. Jackson, late chief surveyor, but it- nothing was done. a- Among the notices of motion was one by so. Mr Whitaker to introduce a Bill re indecent th theatricals. ry Mr Fbaseb gave notice to move that the o- Government ought to use Westinghouse’s >1- atmospheric breaks on the railways, ;d There was a long discussion re condensing ie “ Hansard,” but after many members had st expressed doubts as to the feasibility of the to proposal, the debate was adjourned, y. An Imprest Bill for £250,000 passed all a stages. r. The District Courts Act Amendment Bill re was read a third time and passed, d A large number of small Bills were add vauced a stage. ie The Council adjourned till 7.30. ia .f EVENING SITTING. r At the evening sitting the Council went J into committee on several small local Bills, e and adjourned at ten minutes to nine. e t HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. r Tuesday, Decembee 2. 7 The House met at 2 30. PETITIONS, EEPOBTB, NOTICES, &C. Several petitions were presented and reports

• read. The report of the Standing Orders Committee recommended that the House should not sit after twelve or half-past twelve on any ’ night. The report was ordered to be taken into consideration next day. Mr Dick gave notice that the House sit i on Saturdays for the remainder of the session. Captain Oolbeok presented petitions from the Rev. Hall and a number of Natives of Otamatera. Mr Sutton moved that the petitions be read. The request was opposed, and a division called for on the point, which resulted as follows :—Ayes, 27 ; noes, 36. On the motion of Mr Spbioht, leave of absence was granted to Mr M'Douald for ten days on account of ill-health. QUESTIONS. Mr J. T. FiShbb asked the Government whether they have considered the advisability of making provision on the supplementary estimates for suitable accommodation for his Excellency when he may be pleased to visit Christchurch and Dunedin. The Pbemieb said it would be a great advantage if the Governor could be induced to

visit these centres of population ; but, he regretted to say, the Government could not see their way this session to mate the necessary provision for accommodation. Mr Finn asked the Government the number of persons arrested and lodged in Queenstown gaol during the past twelve months; also, for the same period, the number arrested and lodged in Arrowtown gaol. Mr Roileston said the number was 84 in the former and 95 in the latter place. Mr Gisbobne asked the Premier whether he will advise his Excellency to lay before Parliament during the present session a copy of despatches which have passed between his Excellency and the Secretary of State for the Colonies since the close of the session of 1878. The Premier said, as a rule, these despatches had been laid before Parliament, but if hon, gentlemen desired it, the despatches should be gone over in order that any of sufficient importance, not already produced, might be laid before the House. Mr George asked the Native Minister it there is still a reward offered for the capture of Hiroki, and if so, presuming that the Armed Constabulary were to capture him, would they be entitled to the reward ; also, if the Government still consider it necessary to keep up the large force of Constabulary now stationed on the West Coast of the North Island. The Native Ministeb did not believe Hiroki had been seen, as alleged by a newspaper quoted by the hon. gentleman, in the neighborhood of Normanby. Ho was not aware that there was any reward available for his apprehension. The Government could not at present dispense with the services of the large force on the West Coast, but hoped to do so at an early date.

Mr Pvkb asked the Minister for Public Works what course the Government intend to pursue on the recommendation of the Public Petitions Committee in the matter of the petition of G. J. Mackay and others of Tuapeka, concerning Beaumont bridge.

Mr Oliver said a sum of £3OOO had bean advanced to the County Council for the bridge, and an agreement entered into accordingly, which was signed by Mr J. 0. Brown, for the county. The agreement provided that the amount should be deducted from subsidies payable to the county, and it was intended to deduct the amount in order that it might be expended as required. Mr Hirst ashed the Minister for Public Works it any further claim has been made on Government by the contractor for the Wes f ern railway. Southland, since the award of the arbitrators was made to whom his claims were referred, and if so what is the amount f Mr Oliver said a claim had been made for £IB,OOO, XIO,OOO of which was included in the award of the arbitrators. Mr Hutchison asked the Minister of Lands by what authority the public are charged Is for each plan examined in the survey offices, and if the Government will direct that in future all mans and plans of surveyed land be open to all authorised or licensed surveyors, free of charge. Mr Eollkbtok said the charge was only made in the case of original maps, and not in the case of public maps, he understood ; but further inquiries would be made into the matter. Mr Gisborne asked the Colonial Treasurer whether he will lay before the House returns of thoso kind which have for several successive years past accompanied the financial statements, and which have not accompanied the three financial statements made during the present financial year, so that the usual complete set may appear in the appendices of this year. Major Atkinson said all the usual returns were on the table, but if the hon. gentleman desired he would have them bound up in the appendices of the present session. Mr Ormond asked the Government if they will have printed and placed before the House specimen pages of the “New Zealand Lexicon” furnished to the Native office.

Mr Bayou said the question was one of expense. The publication had been abandoned he understood, but if they were willing to expend the money in printing, the request could be complied with. Mr Mubbay asked the Government if they will take into consideration the petitions from John Little and others of Fairfax, and Thos. Dalgleish and others of Waihola, with a view to comply with the request of the petitioners for greater powers of local government. The Pbbmibb said the Government had not yet had time to consider the reports of the committee on the subject, but would do so as quickly as possible. NEW BILLS. Leave was given to introduce the South Island Native High Schools Bill (Mr Sheehan), and the Civil List Act 1878 Amendment Bill (Mr Shephard). WEIGHT OP BAILS. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr Macandbbw said he heard a good deal of complaint, especially from his guardian angel the member for Waikouaiti, respecting certain 631 b rails being exchanged for 401 b rails. He explained the reason for the exchange, and contended that it was done in the interest of the district. Mr Mclban said he inquired whether this work was being done out of the maintenance or construction fund, and was told it was the latter, but he afterwards found it was not so charged. He contended that they were living in a fool’s paradise so far as these railway were concerned, and the sooner they came to a sense of their position the better it would be. They must face the matter sooner or later, and he thought they should exercise caution in what they did. Mr Macandbbw said the rails were not worn out as was alleged. The subject then dropped. SUPPLY. Besolutions were reported from the Committee of Supply. BXPKNBKfI OP KB MB BBS. On the subject of re-committal of the item in the estimates, "expenses of members,” which

had been reduced 10 per cent, several members urged that the reduction, haying been fairly discussed when made, the question should not now bo reopened. Mr Pyke supported the recommittal of the item, and deprecated the cheap patriotism sought after by those who opposed the reconsideration of the subject. He considered members were very ill paid. The Premier said the Government had nothing to do with the desire for the recommittal of the item, although he thought the hon. member for Dunstan was quite right in asking that the question should be reconsidered, as he did not think it had been fairly and fully discussed. Mr Spbioht stated that ho was not in the House when the matter was discussed, and approved of the recommittal of the item.

Mr Sbddon wished to be saved from his friends the member of the liberal party, or the Opposition. He was not a twenty peund popularity hunter, and deprecated the action of the Liberal party in throwing out the Payment of Members Bill.

Major Te Wheoro opposed tho reduction of the item. He had no doubt some of those who supported it were as much in need of it as he was, only they did not care to say so. If it was deducted, members would not be able to go out so many evenings seeking amusement.

Mr Andrews said he supported the two hundred guineas honorarium, but he would like to see the item £250 for Bellamy’s done away with.

Mr Habeis supported the reduction. The question of ra-commitlal was then put and carried, and the House went into Committee of Supply on the item payment of the expenses of members of both Houses. The CnAIEMAK explained that the reduction made was £2157, leaving the vote £20,515.

Major Atkinson moved that the amount be restored to the original item on the estimat es. Tho question was put that the sum of £2157 be added to the item. A division was called for, which resulted as follows :—Ayes, 37 j nocs, 26. Ayes. Messrs Andrews Messrs Ireland Atkinson Lundon Ballance Macandrew Barron Montgomery Beetham Moorhonsa Brown Oliver Bonny Pyke DaLautour Reid Finn Seddon Fisher, J. B. Shanks Fisher, J. T. Sheehan George Sutton Gibbs Tamui Gisborno Tawhai Hamlin I Te Wheoro Harris I Thomson Hirst | Tomoana Hielop t Wallis Hutchison | Noes. Messrs Adams Messrs Richardson Bain Kolleston Bowen Saunders Bryce Shepherd Dick Shrircski Hall Speight Hnrsthonse Stevens Johnston Stndholme Kenny Swanson Levin Tele McLean Turnbull Moss Willis Murray Wright IMPREST SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply Bill of £250,000, for salaries and expenses to 301 h June, was then passed through committee, reported to the House, and adopted. LAND BILL. 1 Mr Kolleston moved the recommittal of the Land Bill, in order to add new clauses. 1 The motion was carried. 1 Mr Kolleston, in committee, moved— ! “ That whenever the word ‘ upset ’ occurs in 1 clause 5, it be struck out; in section 11, to 1 add thereto the words, ‘ provided that in 1 case of lands sold on deferred payments since (

the Ist day of January, 1878, the payments aforesaid, one-third, shall cease as soon as, by such payments, together with any payments 1 previously made, the total amount of f one-third of the price of the land has been a paid over as aforesaid in section 27 to add t to the first paragraph—“ Provided that the i conditions of occupation and price to be paid c for land within a settlement by persons placed j thereon by the contractor, shall be submitted s to and approved by the Governor before any t such contract as aforesaid shall be executed.’’ t

A metion by Mr Colbeok to add a clause which was brought up on Thursday relative to giving persons who imported labor at their own expense a rebate of £2O per head, was ruled out of order, on the ground that it was equivalent to a money appropriation. The debate was interrupted by 5,30.

EVENING SITIING. LAND BILL.

The House resumed at 7.30 in Committee on the Land Bill.

Mr ShefhAßD proposed to add a new clause to the special settlement sections, providing greater facilities for setting apart blocks and settlement of same.

Mr Eollbbton and the Pbemibb opposed any new clauses at this stage, and especially such as that proposed, which would endanger the passing of the Bill. Mr Rollebton said he would rather see progress reported than that the new clause should be pressed. Mr Gisbobne said the clause was not novel, as staled by the Premier, because it had long been in force in two or three provincial district land regulations. A division was taken on the point, when the ayes wore 26, and the noos 36. Mr Fyke moved to add the following after section 67 —" Any purchaser of land on deferred payment under the said Act, who by reason of the operation thereof shall have been prevented from obtaining the full complement of 320 acres, shall, subject to the approval of the Waste Lands Board, be entitled to select additional land in the neighborhood thereof, not being more than, when added to his original purchase, will make up 320 acres, and he shall pay therefore at the same price as ho shall have paid for such original purchase.” A division was taken with the following result—Ayes 25, nocs 39. Progress was then reported. Mr Rolleston moved—“ That the amendments in the Bill be agreed to.” Sir G. Gbby moved—“ That the Bill bo recommitted, in order to add a new clause. A division was taken on the amendment, the ayes being 35, and the noes 32. Mr Acton Adams asked leave to propose a new clause, but the permission was negatived on the voices.

Mr Sbddon proposed that clause 28, allowing a rebate in respect of adult persons introduced from the United Kingdom, not exceeding 10s per acre, or £2O per statute adult, in the special settlement clause, be struck out.

The question that the clause stand part of the Bill was then put, and a division taken as follows : —Ayes, 25 ; noes, 39. Mr Kelly {proposed to amend the clause making certain provision re deferred payment lands, applicable to New Plymouth. A division was taken on the proposal. Ayes, 26 ; noes, 37. The Bill was then reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. SECOND HEADINGS. The Confiscated Lands Inquiry and Maori Prisoners Trial Bill, and Electric Telegraph Act, 1875, Amendment Bill, were read a second time. DEBTOHS AND CHEDITOBS BILL.

The Debtors and Creditors Act, 1876, Amendment Bill, was committed. A clause providing for the protection of workmen as preferential creditors, with claims for two months was opposed as fostering the credit system, instead of regular weekly payments. The question was put to the vote, but lost on the voices, the clause as printed being retained.

Mr Wakeeiex/d proposed a now clause to protect creditors, by rendering estates liable to review for six months prior to the date of filing, with a view to alter the date where necessary to facilitate the realisation of the estate. It was suggested that as this was an important clause notice should have been given of it. After some discussion it was stated by the Government that the clause was under consideration by the Attorney--General, and if he did not approve of it, the olaa-c would not stand. The new clause was intended to be read in connection with the Bankruptcy Act of 1876, clause 29. Mr Babbok thought the amendment should be set aside for this session, rather than endanger the passing of clause 4 of the Act, which he considered most valuable, and the best part of the whole Amendment Act. The Peeuieb would like the Bill to go to the Upper House with the clause inserted. The discussion was continued up to the time of closing the Telegraph office.