GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2019, 13 August 1880, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PEB PBBBB ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WIEB.J LEGISLATIVE COUNOIL. Thuisday, August 12. In the Legislative Council, A Select Committee was appointed to enquire how the work by the staff the Council can te beat and most economically done. The Counfes Act Amendment Bill, Joint Stock Companies Act Amendment Bill, and the Auckland College and Grammar School Bill, from the Lower House, were read a first time. In moving for a report for the New Plymouth Harbour Board illegal expenditure, the Hon. Or. M. Watebhouse stated that it was high time that Parliament should provide a better aadit, and that local bodies acting in direct contravention of the law as to spending money should bo punished. The Otago Boad Bates Validity Bill, Inchclutha Act, 1878, Amendment Bill, and the Execution Against Beal Estate Bill were read a second time. The Diseased Cattle Proclamation Validation Bill, and the Sydenham Borough Council Empowering Bill were read a_ third time. The greater part of the sitting was occupied in Committee on a number of small Bills, and in a. long discussion whether the Ashburton Waterworks and Malvern Water Baoe Bills were private or public Bills. CChe Council rose at 5 p.m. j HOUSE OF BEPBESENTATIVEB. , Thuebday, August IS. The House met at 2 30 p.m. j EEPOET. | The Hon. W. Bolleston laid on the table Hue report of the Boyal Commission appointed linquire into the circumstances attending tlhe death of a prisoner named John Wilson ijn the Invercargill Gaol, and, on the motion cf»£ Mr Bain, it was ordered to be printed. QUESTIONS. i Replying to Mr Eisher, j The Hon. B. Olxyee said that if possible they would during the recess cause a survey ‘to be made, and an estimate prepared, of the I oost of a pack track from Lyell, by New ■ Creek and Seatonville, to Mokihinui, so as to enable the country to the eastward of Mount (' Kaohfort to be prospected, Beplying to Mr Sutton, The Hon. T. Dick said that a work on Polynesian mythology was being printed in the Government printing office. It was written by a missionary named Wyatt Gill. The cost 1 for printing was £126 8s 61; 500 copies were / printed, and copies would be sent to each member and 200 copies would be sold. The work was done by order of the late Govern- * ment. | Beplying to the Hon. W. Gisborne, I The Hon. B. Olives said that a survey had ( been begun, and carried on for forty miles, of f a line of railway across the South Island ' from Canterbury into Westland, with a view of discovering a more practical route. Another survey would be made by way of Whitcombe, . but the nature of the country in that direc-

tion prevented it being carried on daring the winter season.

Replying to Mr Whyte, The Hon. J. Butch said that Government would make enquiries about a sum (£200) which was promised by the late Government to George Haroonrt and another, of Grahams town, for prospecting part of the Thames goldfield, and which has been expended by them. It was thought that they had not complied with the regulations. Replying to Mr Pitt, „ The Hon. J. TTat.t. said that the Government had taken the opinion of the Crown Law Officers on the Deceased Wife’s Sister Marriage Bill, and when the Bill was before the House Government would be to take action in accordance with the opinion given. Replying to Mr Adams, The Hon. B. Olitbb said that £SBOO was the estimated amount of the future outlay to complete the Nelson and Bollgrove railway, the formation and station work having been already dons. Replying to Mr Seddon, The Hon. J. Ham, said that the salary of the Governor could not be interfered with daring the incumbency of the gentleman lately appointed to the Governorship, and in that case it was not desirable that the time of the House should bo taken up this session with the consideration of a Bill to reduce the salaries of future Governors. Replying to Mr Tole, The Hon. T. Dick said the Government would make provision for the reinstatement of the vote to the New Zealand Institute under clause 14 of the New Zealand Institute Act, 1877, as they considered that the vote had been inconsiderately disposed of by the House on the occasion when it was struck out.

Replying to Mr George, The Hon. B. Oliver said that Government would not undertake to place the sum of £4BO on the supplementary estimates for opening the Pakiriri block of 7800 acres in the county of Rodney. Replying to Mr McDonald, The Hon. W. Rollbston said that he was not aware that on July 22nd last, certain land was advertised by the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Auckland for selection at Wairoa, and that two applications being made npon the same day a preference was given to one applicant over the other, and that without assigning any reason. He pointed out, however, that anyone who might feel himself aggrieved by the decision of the Board had the right of appeal. Replying to Mr Eallanoe, The Hon. W. Rombston said that he could not give a definite answe * as to whether or not Government would give effect to the report of the Waste Lands Committee last session in the matter of Henry James Reid, of Wanganui. Replying to Mr Hutchison, The Hon. J. Ham said that, in accordance with the resolution passed by the House, Government had given notice of an alhround reduction of 10 per cent, upon all salaries alike.

Replying to Sir G. Grey, The Hon. J. Butoh said that, despite the fact that certain liabilities for uniforms had been incurred by Volunteer officers on the faith of the full capitation allowance being continued, it is not their intention to make provision in the estimates for meeting such liabilities which a half capitation allowance will not cover. If the Government made any exception, _ they might just as well return to full capitation in all cases, as each district would be sure to make out an exceptional case. Replying to Air Bowen as to whether or not the property tax is to be levied in the Chatham Islands, where the inhabitants are not represented in the Legislature, and have received no benefit from the public works expenditure, The Hon. J. Habb said_ that if they admitted an exception in this instance they might just as well exempt a great many other parts of the colony which had not benefited by this expenditure. He admitted, however, that the Chatham Islands were entitled to some consideration on the part of the Government, and as they were not at present included in any electoral district, they proposed joining them to the electoral district of the member for Akaroa.

8188 PASSED. The Auckland College and Grammar School Bill was read a second time, committed, read a third time, and passed. SECOND BEADING. The Port Chalmers Drill Shed Site Bill was read a second time. In reply to a question put by Mr Brown, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that the Local Finance Bills would bo brought down when the estimates were passed. WEBBINQTON BACING CBXTB 8188. On the motion of Mr Levin, that the House go into committee on the Wellington Racing Club Bill, Sir Wm. Fox moved that the House go into committee on the Bill that day six months. He said that the member in charge of the Bill had, in replying to him on the motion for the second reading, made out a rather strong case of inconsistency on his part in denouncing racecourse practices in general. He was charged with having thirty years ago been a steward in a Wellington race meeting. _ Now that was the case, but then horse racing in those days was a very different thing from what it had now become. In those days it was in every respect a good old English sport, which excited an emulation similar to that excited at a game of cricket or football. They had no betting, nor any of the other evils attending modern turf pursuits. The motion to go into Committee was carried by 28 to 17. In Committee, on clause 2 being put, Mr Mann moved that progress be reported. , The House divided, and the motion wao Mr Manw moved an amendment on the clause, repeated calls of “No quorum,* 9 being made. Further consideration of the Bui was interrupted bj the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING- SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. DECEASED wife’s SIBTBB Bill. Mr Moobhoijsb moved the third reading of the Deceased Wife’s Sister Marriage Bill. . , _ __ Mr Hutchison spoke against the Bill. He denounced the passing of the Bill as a blunder, one of those blunders that would be worse than a crime. Mr Bitt had hoped that the Bill would have been re-committed, in order to remove certain defects which appeared on the face of it. He reminded the House that the Premier had promised to state what was the opinion of the law officers in the third reading, and he was not present to fulfil that promise. In its present form he believed it would not receive the royal assent. The Hon. Major Atkinson said that the opinion of the law officers was that the Bill was not exactly what it would have been had it been introduced by the Government; still those objections were not of such a character as would warrant the Government in opposing its passage. . . The Hon. W. Gisbobne in agreeing with the tenor of the Bill, thought nevertheless that it might be re-committed, so as to obviate any objectionable features which might exist. Mr Stbwaet dealt with the legal rights of parties likely to be influenced by the Bill. The wording was not altogether satisfactory. Mr Speight spoke against the passing of the Bill. He was more satisfied than ever that if this had not been an instance of the power behind the Throne it never would have gone this length. It had been forced through to suit the peculiar circumstances of a few favored persons. They were asked by the Bill to legislate for persons who had broken the law. He would now allow the Bill to pass, and he called on those who thought with him on the subject to make such a representation to the Governor, or if necessary, the Queen, as would insure the rejection of the Bill. The House divided. Ayes—32. Noes—l 3. The following is the division list: —

Ayes, 32 Messrs Allwright, Atkinson, Bain, Ballance, Barron, Beetnam, Brown, Bryce, DeLautour,Dick, Fisher (J. X.), Fulton, Hamlin, Hirst (Wallace), Hursthouse, Kelly, Mason, Masters, M'Donald, M'Lean, Montgomery, Moorhouse, Oliver, Beeves, Eolleston, Saunders, Shepherd, Shrimski, Button, Swanson, Trimble, Wood. Noes, 13 —Messrs Bowen, Gisborne, Hutchison, Harris, Jones, Lundon, Pitt, Beid, Seddon, Tawhai, Thomson, Turnbull, Wallis. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. MINING COMPANIES ACT. The House went into Committee on the Mining Company’s Act, 1872, Amendment Bill. The Bill was reported with amendments, danse 13 being struck out.

i 1 The amendments were agreed to, and the Bill read a third time and passed. LOO AX, INDtrSTEIES. _ . : The report of the Royal Commission on i Local Industries was laid on the table. ; PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. The amendments by the Legislative Council i to the Public Health Act Amendments Bill were agreed to. PAYMENT TO MBMBEBB. The Members of the General Assembly Expenses Bill was considered in Committee. The Hon. Major Atkinson hoped that the member in charge of the Bill would see hie way to agree to progress being reported. There was no chance of the Bill passing, and there were other measures before the House which members were anxious to see gone on with. Mr Moss hoped that the course proposed would not be followed, but that an opportunity would be given to record their votes on the subject. He was most anxious to see this much vexed question finally settled. Mr Tuenbcll supported the proposal that the Bill should be gone on with. It would save a great deal of annoyance in future. Mr Seddon said that he was in the hands of the House. The Government bad refused to bring in a measure of this kind, and it was in view of that fact that ho had brought the measure down. The motion for reporting progress was then put and lost on a division by 26 to 20. In Committee, Mr Shephbbd moved—- “ That £2lO per annum be struck out and the amount be fixed at £105.” Mr Bunny said that this was well-spent money. The honorarium was spent among the people. The Triennial Parliament meant that a man had to spend £4OO on his election, and unless they had a fair honorarium it would throw representation into the bands of the rich, and poor men like himself could not afford to go into Parliament. He hoped that the Bill would be withdrawn, and a measure fixing the amount definitely at not less than £2lO would be brought next session by the Government. Colonel Tbimblb thought the honorarium at £2lO was not too much. At the same time ho thought it was a matter to be dealt with by the Government, Dr, Wallis said that their work was quite as onerous as that performed by Ministers. If these Ministers were paid £IOOO, that amount should be divided into four, which would make the honorarium £250. He would vote that the amount be not less than £2lO. Mr Seddon said that the member for Waimea might be able to do with £lO5, as he was newspaper editor, who was doing his work all the time he was here. ,

Mr Shephbbd protested that the remark was a gross insult to him. Mr Seddon said that he would put his remark in a general way, then. He would, however, insist upon the Bill going on. Mr Shephbbd said that the remarks of the previous speaker could not be resented in the way such remarks would be in the case of a man of more refined sensibilities. That, however, was impossible in the case of Mr Seddon. He denied that his ordinary avocation was that of an editor. It was that of a a sheep farmer. Beferring to the member for Wairarapa, he said he was not aware that the honorarium was intended to meet election expenses. The member for Auckland City West had given them a lecture on morals that became him. Dr. Wabbis —Do you refer to my profession ? . Mr Shepherd said he did not. He would press his motion to a division, if it did not succeed he would take other divisions that would possibly occupy the whole night. If it did no other good it would show the Government the necessity for bringing down next session a measure to settle the matter finally.

Mr Moaa said that they wore not contesting the question as to the propriety of payment of members. They had fixed that question. All that it was wanted to fix was to say whether they would get a few pounds more or less.

Mr Swanson said that there were as good men in that House when the honorarium was £lO5 as now that it was £2lO. If the expense of successful candidates was a fair charge, as had been argued by the_ member far Wairarapa, against the honorarium, then what provision was to be made for the expenses of unsuccessful candidates ? It was very unfair that members living in Wellington, some of whom, by the way, were present, should be paid anything at all. These men could attend their own business, or as he supposed they had done to-night, go quietly home to their beds. It was most unfair that these men should be paid at all. A motion that the chairman leave the chair was put and carried on a division by 25 to 20. MITNICIPAB OOBPOKATIONB BIEL. ' TVTr Hutchison moved that the amendments made in committee on the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill be agreed to. The Hon. T. Dick hoped that the Bill as reported would not be accepted. Some of the amendments were inconsistent and others were incorrect. The Bill was so bungled that if passed as it stood it would be a disgrace to their Legislature. He moved that the Bill be re-committed. The proposal for re-oommittal was carried. MISCELLANEOUS. The Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill was discharged. The Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. The House then went into Committee on the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill, which was passed through committee, reported with amendments, and read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 2 30.