PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2296, 12 August 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

f PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THURSDAY, AUGUST 11. The Council met at 2 30 p.m. The Law Practitioners Bill, Timaru Harbor Board Endowment B ;1 1 (from the Lower House), Law as to Fixtures Bill (Hon. F. Whitaker) were read a first time. The Gaming and Lotteries Bill was received from the Lower House with numerous amendments, to some of which the OounoU assented. Others, however, were not agreed to, end managers were appointed to draw up reasons for the disagreement. The Timaru Mechanics' Institute Act, 1877, Amendment Bill was read a second time, and the Drainage Bid and Taranaki County Oouuoil Loan Bill a third time. The Volunteer Bi 1! passed through committee with znauy amendments. The Council rose at 5 p.m. OUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, August 11, The House met at 2,30 p.m. NOTICE of motion. Mr George gave notice that he would ask upon what principle the ten per cent, reduction was refunded to ex-Judges Harvey and Weston, end if it is the intention of the Government to refund other such reductions on the application of civil servants. DILLS WITHDRAWN, The Ohr-oh of England Trustee Incorporation Bill was withdrawn on the recommendation of the Private Billa committee. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Reeves, The Hon. W. Johnston said he would take into favourable consideration the advisability of reducing the present charge for ordinary and delayed telegrams. They fully recognised the importance of the subject, and agreed with the questioner that it was desirable that the charges should bo reduced if possible. But calculations would have to be made as to the extra expense for additional wires and operators which would have to be provided. By way of initiating the pronosed amendment, and as a preliminary stop to other reductions, if found to answer. Government would probably, at an early date, reduce the cost of delayed telegrams. This could be most conveniently done, as these telegrams were transmitted when the wires were otherwise disengaged. Replying to a question put by Mr Richardeon without notice,

The Hon. J. Hall said that the public works estimates could be brought down on Monday, not before, Eeplying to Mr Tole, The Hon, J, Hall said that the traffic at Ellerslie railway station did not warrant the appointment of a station-master. Eeplying to Mr Sutton, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that the Bill to provide for the issue of Government stock saleable in the colony would be introduced next week. Eeplying to Mr Barron, The Hon, T. Dice said that Government would scarcely be able, this session, to amend the Sharebrokers Act 1871 so as to make brokers liable for share transfers through their agency being duly stamped. These transfers could not, as the law stood, be registered until they were stamped. Eeplying to Mr Hutchison, The Hon. T. Dick said that where the compulsory section of the Education Act was in operation the pob'ce had instructions to take cognizance of children arrived at school age who did not attend school. Replying to Mr Ballance, The Hon. T. Dick said that he was aware that there had not been strict compliance with the law as to having supplementary electoral rolls printed, and instructions had been issued for strict compliance in future. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—To enable trustees of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association to dispose of lands vested in them to the Caledonian Society, and to acquire other lands in lieu thereof (Mr Bain) ; Dog Registration Act 1880 Amendment and Animals Protection Aot 1880 Amendment (Hon. T. Dick). SECOND HEADINGS. The following Bills were read a second time after some debate, Eangiora High School, Akaroa High School, Waimakariri Harbor Board Loan, Waimate Racecourse Reserve, Invercargill Gasworks site, Roxburgh Recreation Ground Management, Curistchnrcb Municipal Council Empowering. DEYEEHED PAYMENT SYSTEM. Mr Bastings moved opinion of this House, it is desirable, in the interest of settlement, that the ballot be reverted to under the deferred payment system, and, contingent upon this resolution being carried, that the Government be requested to give effect to the same by amending the law bearing upon the subject.” He argued that the system of putting up these lands to competition had practically had the effect of defeating the primary object of the deferred payment system, inasmuch as it had played into the bauds of the wealthier classes to the prejudice of persons of smaller means, whose lona fide occupation and cultivation of the land was more completely assured. The Hon. W. Bollbston ventured to say that a great deal was to be said on the other aide. He admitted the importance of securing the land for the occupation of the class indicated by the previous speaker. The ballot system had worked injuriously while it was in force, in proof of which he quoted from the Crown Lands report. Its effect was that a man whose luck, so to to speak, was out, was put to great inconvenience, having had to go about from sale to sale without having had the good fortune to be successful under the ballot system. He instanced the case of one deserving settler residing in the previous speaker’s district, who had been rendered thoroughly disheartened in that way and lost a great deal of time and money in consequence. The motion was carried. The House adjourned at 5,30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House mot at 7.30 p.m. The Taranaki County Council Loan Bill was reported from the Legislative Counoil with amendments, which were agreed to. FENCING BILL. Mr Bbycb moved the second reading of the Fencing Bill, which he explained was in effect a transcript of the Bill of last session. It aimed at the consolidation of the various provincial Acts, which was an argument in support of the necessity which existed for this measure. The Bill was one demanded by all classes of settlement in the colony.

Mr Swanson said that there could be no objection to the principle of the Bill, provided the Auckland Act was not interfered with.

Mr Colbbce and Dr. Wallis disputed the statement made by the previous speaker, the latter alleging that the material progress of the place depended upon the passing of this measure. The Bill was read a second time. DUBATION OF PABLIAMBNTS BILL. Mr Mukeay moved the second reading of the Duration of Parliaments Bill. He said that be did not mean it to become law this session. His object was to bring the matter before the constituencies and elicit their opinions on its provisions. Its provisions were elastic enough to moot the views of those who advocated annual elections, or, as the case might bo, allowed Parliament to run its full term of five years. Its great object was to have the representation as much as possible in accord with the opinions of the people. Dr. Wallis objected to the Bill as an attempt to prolong Parliaments indefinitely. Mr Macandhbw was of a similar opinion, and regretted that the time should be taken up thus frivolously. Mr Pyke condemned the Bill, and challenged the Government to give an expression of opinion as to its contents. Mr Qkokqe also condemned the Bill. He argued that it provided that the Triennial Parliaments Act should be repealed, and then that this Bill should come into operation when the dissolution took place. Under these circumstances a dissolution never could take place. Then in that case the Parliament would last for ever. The House divided—Ayes 3, noes 63. The House went into committee on the PENSIONS BILL. The Hon. W. Eollestok insisted that the Bill ought not to have been brought down by a private member. He admitted that th» granting of pensions ought to bo revised, but he denounced the Bill as opening a door fo r Parliament to go behind contracts already made.

Mr Swanson said that the matter was a pressing one, and yet the Government had failed to bring down any proposals on it. In that case it was their duty to aid in getting that measure passed. Sir G. Grey denied that the Bill proposed going behind past transactions. It simply meant to dealt with the future. They knew that pensions had been given illegally, and what was asked was that Parliament should be enabled to check such practices in the future. If they saw papers laid on the table showing that a pension was about to be given unlawfully, they could prevent it either by resolution or otherwise. They had that power at present and to save the Bill, that was otherwise good, he suggested that the objectionable clause 6 should lie struck out. Mr Pitt contended that the Bill was most complete and well drawn as it stood, and that the proposed alteration would materially destroy the completeness of the Bill The Hon. Major Atkinson asked if the desire of the House was that a pension accruing, say, within a month after Parliament prorogued, was not to be paid until the Parliament had in its next session an opportunity for considering the whole question. If that was so, he asked the House to pass a resolution to that effect, and he would undertake to bring down a Bill providing for such an arrangement being given effect to. Mr Sheehan desired that the Bill would be put in operation, and urged that it should be pressed. If the Government in the meantime brought down a Bill providing for what was wanted, then they would be prepared to accept that measure and drop this one. If a case like that supposed by the previous speaker was about to take place then it was the duty of the Government to bring the papers and submit them to the House before it rose.

Sir G. Grey argued that if once pensions were granted, even illegally, they would have to pass Acts making them lawful. What this Bill aimed at was to prevent that, and to provide that pensions shall be granted only with the sanction of Parliament. All that was wanted was that full information should be laid before the House of what was proposed to be done. Mr Shrimski, who was in charge of the Bill, consented to clause 8 being struck out, which was agreed to. A new clause was added, on the motion of Mr Saundbeb, and the Bill was reported as amended. ADOPTION OP CHILDREN BILL." _ Mr J. B. Fisher moved to report progress, giving it as his reason that a number of material amendments had been tabled by Mr Tole, who was in charge of the Bill, and it was necessary that these should bo embodied in the Bill to understand their exact drift The motion was negatived. Mr Tole’s new clauses and amendments were agreed to after discuesion. Some new clause* proposed by Mr J. B. Fisher were also added, and the Bill was reported with amendments. vagrant act amendment bill. Mr Bowen moved the second reading of the Vagrant Act Amendment Bill. He said that he had been asked to take charge of the Bill by its introduction in the Council, but he only did so on condition of introducing eeveral important alterations in committee. The main one would be that whipping should only be inflicted for a second offence, and by sentence of the Supreme Court. The Hon. T. Dice said that the Bill was a most severe one, and one that was uncalled for. He hoped the House was not prepared to go into a wholesale system of corporeal punishment inch os that proposed. Mr MoLEANlproposed that the Bill should be killed at once. Whipping was all very well, but it ought to be proposed by the Government, and not by private members. He moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr Brown opposed the Bill. Mr Sutton thought it might be improved in committee. Mr Sbddon having announced his intention to speak for an hour against the Bill, the House was counted out at 12 35.