PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2272, 14 July 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PBEB3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, July 13. The Council mot at 2 30 p.m. Replying to the Hou. Colonel Brett, The Hon. F. Whitakbb said that Government, in filling up vacancies in the Civil Service, gave preference to those suffering from the reductions. Replying to the Hon. Dr. Menzias, The Hon. F. Whitakbb said it was unlikely that the telegraph would be extended to Fortrose, the necessity not justifying the large cost. The Licensing Jof Sharebrokers Act Repeal Bill and the Settlement of Land Claims Acts Repeal Bill (Hon. F. Whitaker), were read a first time. The Imprest Bill was passed through the remaining stages, and the Banks and Bankers Act 1880 Amendment Bill was reported from committee, notice being given for recommittal on the third reading. At 3 20 p.m. the Council rose. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, July 13. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICE OP MOTION. Mr Pitt gave notice that he would move that, under the property assessment tax, building societies should only be taxed on their profits. PETITION. Mr Bunny presented a petition from Alfred B. Jackson, praying for compensation for injuries sustained in consequence of the Rimatuka railway accident last year. He said that he hoped Government would refer it to the committee about being formed, as this was one of many similar petitions that would be sent for compensation for similar mishaps. LEAVE OP ABSENCE. On the motion of Mr Bain, leave of absence for a week was granted to H. Hirst. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Finn, The Hon. T. Dick stated that Government had not power to prevent juvenile theatrical performances, and they knew of no good reason why such a power should be sought. Replying to Mr Barren, The Hon. J. Hall said that Government had under consideration the report of the committee on Mrs Mansford’s petition, recommending that they should insist upon civil servants in future insuring their lives for an amount equal to one year’s pay. The point required a good deal of deliberation, all the facts requiring to be carefully considered. Replying to Mr Tawhai, The Hon. W. Rollebton said that the question of authorising the sale of the Hokianga school reserves, situate in that township, was a point for the Education Commissioners to consider in the first instance. Replying to Mr Boin, The Hon. W. Rollebton said that it was the intention of Government to make provision for resuming nominated emigration, subject to certain restrictions and conditions. Replying to Mr Reeves, The Hon. T. Dick said that it was a mistake to say that in spite ot frequent applications to obtain the necessary forms of claims to vote in the electoral district of Grey Valley, they could not be obtained. All such applications received in Wellington had been promptly attended to, snd Government was at all times glad to give such applications attention. Replying to Major Harris, The Hon. J. Hall said that maps showing the proposed new electoral districts were in course of preparation, and would be produced shortly. Replying to Mr Allwright, The Hon. W. Rollebton said that, pending the receipt of Colonel Soratchley's plans, Government could not say what would be done with the largo guns on the reclaimed land at Wellington. Replying to Mr Pyke, The Hon. W. Johnston said that Government was preparing a scheme under which the services of postmasters would be utilised for the issue of minors’ rights. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: —To Amend the Law of Evidence (Mr Hutchison) ; Marihaku Native Reserves Grant (Mr Taiaroa) ; Roxburgh Racecourse Reserves (Mr Bastings) ; for the Establishment and Management of a Grammar School at Onehunga (Mr Hamlin). THE BAILWAYS. Mr Olives moved that a Select Committee be appointed to enquire into the management and working of the New Zeeland railways, and to report their opinion on the changes which may appear to them desirable to introduce, the committee to consist ot Messrs Wood, Ormond, Kelly, Shephard, Saunders, Bunny, Richardson, Wright, Macandrsw, and the mover.

The Hon. J. Hall spoke in support of the motion, stating that Government felt sura that valuable information could be obtained through that channel which could not be had from the ordinary official sources. Mr Maoandbew thought tho question a large one, and one which would take up the attention of a committee for months. The whole subject was one which would have to be gone into elaborately to do any good. He would not, however, oppose the motion. Mr Richabdson said that the subject was one which should be dealt with exhaustively, and that the opportunity for doing so would bo far too short. Committees of this sort were calculated to disorganise a service.

Major Habbis moved an addition to the motion, empowering the committee to deal with the grievance of railway employes in tho North Island in not being paid tho full salaries promised to them. Mr J. B. Fishes suggested that it bo an instruction to tha committee to deal with the question of tho completion of railways. That was recognised to be a most important feature in the payable properties of railway lines. By completion, he meant all tho different descriptions of work required to make the lines pay. In his district, harbor works wore required, and until these harbor works were undertaken it appeared absurd to him to expect that the line could bo made to pay. Of course there were other defects that would have to bo looked to. In tho district represented by the Premier he was aware that road traffic competed with the railway on more favorable terms. The same thing applied to traffic on other portions of the Canterbury lines.

Mr BuNKr supported the motion, and complained o£ the want of attention to the public convenience in the timing of trains to and from Wairarapa. There seemed to be no effort on the part of the railway to draw all the trsfllc they could on the line. The fact was, they ran with empty trucks rather than adjust their tariff so as to compete with the road traffic. He hoped the committee would go into the whole thing exhaustively. Mr Wood did not see that any good would come out of the committee. The motion as worded 'was a very wide one, and the time was very limited. An enquiry, to do any good, would have to be on the spot. Sitting in Wellington they could come to no definite conclusion. A complaint had been made that tho public convenience wan not consulted, ar.d that all the servants on the lines cared about was to shut up at an early hour and draw their salaries punctually at the end of the month. In Auckland a similar complaint had existed and a committee of inquiry took place. That committee recommended that tho servants should be paid a small salary, tho balance to bo made up by a commission upon tho paying capabilities of the lines. By that means it was thought that tho servants would have a personal interest in making the linos pay. That report was never acted upon ; in fact, it was never heard of any more. He would not oppose the motion, but at tho same time, as the proposal stood, he did not expect much good would result from it. Mr Q-isboenk adopted a similar view, giving it as his opinion that to do any good the committee would have to prosecute its inquiries all through the recess.

Mr Saunders agreed in the opinion that the committee could not possibly do the work efficiently in the short time placed at its disposal. Mr Mtjbbay thonght the whole question was one of administration, and ought to be dealt with by the Government itself. To do the work efficiently the railways should be dealt with by a Board apart altogether from politics. Mr Oliveb said that, after the opinions expressed during the debate, he thought it would bo judicious to withdraw the motion. Mr Bastings agreed in the opinion that if the lines were to be made a success they would have to be placed under the control of a Board. It was a notorious fact that a lot of men had been put into the railways who were thoroughly inefficient and otherwise unfitted for the work. Any private concern conducted as they were would have landed itself in the bankruptcy Court. Ho hoped the mover of the motion would, before the session closed, lake action with the view ot getting the lines placed under the management of a Board. Mr J-hebhahd said that so far as they could judge, the present was an early period of the session, and ho believed the committee would have power to effect some good. In the matter of railways, as things stood, they were not advantageous to the public, and certainly they did not realise the amount which ought to be realised. He agreed in the proposal for the establishment of a Board. The motion and amendment were, with the leave of the House, withdrawn. the police force. Mr Stewabt moved—“ That a committee be appointed to enquire into the reductions and removals iu the police force of the colony during the last twelve months, to consist of Messrs Oolbeck, Harris, Pitt, Hirst, Shrimski, snd the mover.” The Hon. W. Rollebton hoped that the motion would be rejected, as if the House intruded on such matters, that interference would tend to disorganise the force. It was a disagreeable duty thrust on the Government, but it bad to be done. In the civil police £IO,OOO had been saved, and in the Armed Constabulary JE4O 000. Such being the case, he hoped the House would strengthen the hands of the Government in a matter of this kind. Mr Collinb said he believed that throughout the whole country these reductions had been heartily approved of. Mr Bbycb said he was responsible for these reductions, and he could assert they were done in a perfectly fair spirit. He had reduced twenty-one inspectors, and a commotion immediately was created. Something like 3000 persons immediately took up their cause, and lie felt that this was simply a prolongation of that agitation. Mr Reeves said that a great deal of partiality had been shown in making these reductions, and if a committee was appointed he would be able to make good that statement. Mr Maoandebw spoke in favor of tie motion. There could be no doubt but that favoritism had been shown, and if the committee was not granted it would have a very bad effect. The Hon. J. Hall said that tha charge of favoritism having been made without a tittle of evidence, if a committee were appointed it would be tantamount to a vote of censure on the Government. Mr Stbwabt said that he did not complain of retrenchment. What he complained of was that the so-called retrenchment bad not been properly gone about. He instanced the case of Inspector Mallard, who was willing to remain in the force at a much reduced pay, provided he was allowed to retain the rank of a commissioned officer. The Government said “ No ; if you remain you must go back to the ranks.” The result was that he left, and got £4OO compensation. That sum might have been saved had they agreed to allow him to remain on the terms mentioned. The House divided—Ayes, 30; roe* 38. The following is the division list: — Ayes 30 Messrs Andrews, Ballance, Barron, Brown (teller), Bunny, DeLautour, Fisher, J. B. (Butler), Elsher, J. T. (Heathcote), George, Gisborne, Sir G. Grey, Messrs Hamlin, Harris, Hutchinson, Jones, Levestam, Macandrew, Montgomery, Moss, Pyke, Reed, Shephard, Shrimski, Speight, Stewart, Taiaroa, Thomson, Tole, Turnbull, Wallis. Noes, 38—Messrs Allwright, Atkinson, Bain, Beetham, Brandon, Bryce, Colling (teller), Dick, Sir W. Fox, Messrs Fulton, Gibbs, Hall, Hursthouee, Johnston, Kelly, Kenny, Levin, McLean, Murray, Oliver, Ormond, Pitt, Biohardson, Rolleston, Russell, Saunders, Seymour, Stevens, Studholme, Sutton, Swanson, Te Wheoro, Trimble, Wakefield, Whitaker, Whyte, Wood, Wright. ADJOURNMENT. The Premier intimated that he would move the adjournment of the House at 8.30p.m., as he understood that in doing so he would be consulting the convenience of bon. members, Mr Pyke said be would oppose the adjournment, as he thought they had come there to do the work of the country, not to attend the Government balls. Mr J. 0. Shown also opposed wasting time, and to enable him to speak on the matter moved the adjournment of the House. This, after some discussion, was negatived by 39 to 22. The House rose at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. SECOND HEADINGS. Sir G. Obey asked leave to postpone the second reading of his Local Government Bill to that day week. Sir G. Geey moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners Bill. It was an effort to establish the rule observed in the United States, where there were fifty millions of people speaking the same language as ourselves, and where it had been found to work well. The Bill loft it to the Judges to test the learning of the applicant for admission. It was in cno sense a charter of freedom to New Zealand, as it would enable men from any calling to study the law—devoting their evenings to the study. In that way many eminent lawyers bad arisen in America, and even although many of those who studied did not succeed in passing, the study would nevertheless be beneficial to them and to the community. By educating men as the Bill proposed, the traditional trammels connected with conveyancing would be broken through, and a more reasonable system adopted. The Hon. J. Hall sympathised with the object of the Bill, and would bo glad to see the motion carried, but it, seemed to him that the Bill as framed left too wide a latitude to a single Judge. If a man had a good knowledge of law, there was no reason why he should not bo allowed to practice it. Examination was much more important than serving a certain number of years in an office, but too much latitude should not bo given to a single Judge aa to examination. Mr Rbbveb pointed out that the Judges, not a single Judge, wore to prescribe the examination ; a single Judge might only conduct it. Sir G. Geey thanked the Premier for bis remarks, but, while concurring with the view expressed by Mr Reeves, he did not think any amendment was needed. The Bill was read a second time, and on the motion for committal this day fortnight, Mr Sheehan pointed out that fully half of those who at 5 30 had voted against an adjournment had not come back to the House, and half ot those who had were going away immediately. It was a mere sham going on with business under the circumstances. The motion for tho committal of the Bill that day two weeks was carried. EDUCATION RESERVES, The House went .nto committee on the Education Reserves Act, 1877, Amendment Bill. Mr Sheehan objected to the principle of tbo Bill, and moved that progress be reported. Mr Shbimbei complained that anything brought up by Otago members was sure to be opposed. Ho complained against the party with whom he was allied for withholding support in such mattoro, and intimated his intention -1 standing aloof from that party in the futu-o. Mr Bastings, who was in charge of the Bill, agreed to reporting progress. Messrs DeLautoub and Pvek supported and Messrs Si eight, Whitaker, and others opposed tho Bill. Tho motion was carried and progress reported. adjournment. The Hon. J. Hall moved the adjournment. Ho explained that tho Governor had made a-rangemsnts for tbo first time to entertain members and the public of the city generally. Under theso circumstances, he hoped there would be no objection. Mr Pyke objected, complaining that it was another attempt to rob members of their private business day. Tho House divided on the mo'don for adjournment—Ayes, 30 ; nocs, IS.