PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2311, 31 August 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PBBSS ASSOCIATION TBLBGBAM.J LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, August 30. The Council met at 2 30 p.m. The Hon. G. Bucklby gave notice to move thefc the Council should adjourn from Thursday, September Ist, till Tuesday, September 13th. The report and evidenoe ro tho removal of the Hillsborough railway station, were ordered to be printed. The report of the committee recommending that the passing of the Alienation of Land Bill, and the Beal Property Limitation Bill, should be deferred until the country has had an opportunity of considering the proposals, was agreed to. The Hon. Capt. Frasor was given leave till tho end of the session. The Harbors Act, 1878, Amendment Bill (Hon. W. H. Rsynolds) was read a first time, the Thermal Springs District Bill a second time, and the Otago University Reserves Vesting Bill a third time. The Pensions Bill was considered in committee, progress on it being reported. Tho Oounoil rose at 5 p.m. Capt. Baillio aoted as Speaker during the sitting in the absenoe of Sir W. Fitzhorbort. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, August 30. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICE OP MOTION. Mr Hutohison gave notice that he would ask the Minister for Justioe if his attention had been called to the case of Edgar and Montrose, tried before Mr Northeroft, R.M., Cambridge, in June laßt, as reported in tho " Waikato Times" of date 21st June, and if bo, whether he will cause enquiry to be made into the facts of the case. EF.POBTS. A report on direct steam communication was brought up by Mr Macandrew, and ordered to be considered on tho 13th prox. Mr J. B. Fiaiißß gave notioe that he would a?k the Government if they had received the letter sigr.ed by Sir J. Vogel which had appeared in the " Lyttelton Times " of the 29th inst., and, if so, if they would point out the passages to which they took exoeption, and which had caused them to return the letter. The Hon. Major Atkinson laid on the table the English actuaries' report on the Life Assurance Department, together with the Commissioners' report, and said that he would give notice of a motion to-morrow embodying the scheme for the division of profits proposed by the Government. A long report, the deoision of certain Justices of the Peace on a shooting case at Mongonui, was tabled and read. A lengthy discussion ensued on Mr Lundon's motion for having the papers printed. Mr Shbbha.N' supported the motion, adding that it was plain enough that the petitioner had fallen in tho hands of bush justices, and hod his case handled roughly. Sir W. Fox said that a wider question was opened up than that appearing on the face of the papers. It showed that there were two classes of J.P.'s in this oolony ; one olaas efficient for tho discharge of the duties, and the other utterly inefficient. In that case, he thought it would be wise to have two separate classes of J.P.'s provided for, one an honorary class, and the other an effective or working class. The motion for printing was put and carried. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Tomoana, The Hon. W. Rollbston said that thirtyfive acres of land had been set apart on the petition of Hans Tapsell, reported upon by the nativo affairs committee. Replying to Mr Fulton, The Hon. J. Hall said, re the condition of Faikorai road bridge, that it would cost £I3OO to erect a new bridge, but Government looked upon the work as one of a purely local character. Replying to Mr Taiaroa, The Hon. T. Dice: said that the cost of building Native echools and providing masters for such schools was defrayed chiefly out of the vote of the House. A small sum was provided out of lands in Stewart's Island, leased for the purpose. Replying to Mr Allwright, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that there were other works of greater neoessity for lighting the coast than the erection of a lighthouse at Faipara head, and in the meantimo no provision would be made for the purpose. Replying to Mr J. B. Fisher, The Hon. T. DIOK said that Government could hold out no expectation of the " colleot" system being extended to delayed telegrams. Any alteration they might make will be in the direction of a reduotion of the cost. Replying to Mr Murray, The Hon. J. Hall said that £16,000 was the cost of the railway bridge at Ngaruawahia over the Waikato, but it would not be right to state the estimated cost of the railway bridge at Hamilton, as a contract for the work was about being called for. The material for that bridge had cost £6500. Replying to Mr Tomoana, The Hon. W. Rollbbton said that a Bill would be introduced to give effect to the deoision of the Native Affairs Committee in the oaee of tho Waipawa Natives respecting land on Mr Harding's rim. Replying to Mr George, The Hon. T. Dick said that before relaxing tho quarantine regulations in regard to the Arawata, from Sydney, at Auckland last week, the doctor had oommunicated tho facts of the case to tho Government, reporting the passengers in a healthy state and the vaccination regulations duly complied with. Mr Reeves asked if it was the intention of the Government to have a light erected at Frenoh Pass. He declared the work now in course of erection there to be a monument of Government folly. The Hon. Major Atkinson objected to the introduction of dobateable matter, and the Speaker ruled Mr Reeves out of order, whereupon Mr Reeves abandoned tho question, and professing to regret having to waste time said that as the forms of tho House were usod to prevent his speaking freely he must reluctantly use them also to enable him to say what he desired. He then moved the adjsurnment of the House, and spoke up to the 5.30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 STONBWALLING.

Mr Rekve3 continued the debate, speaking till nine o'clock. Sir G. Gbbt said thoy stood at a very great crisis in tho affairs of the colony. He wished to say a word on the form of Government they would have to meet in the future. The plea that if a wrong was done they oould easily put it right in the future was a delu. fion. He referred at some length to the Legislative Council and its action in various matters. Ho argued that in refusing his Abolition of Oaths Bill the Upper Chamber had committed a further outrage on humanity. No tyrant in old times had ever acted in a more outrageous manner. He also blamed them for having rejected his Practitioners Bill. He oontendod that those opposing the Bill were making a noble stand against the predisposing oauso to the wrong he had alludod to, and posterity would bless them for their endeavors. Let the squatter and the largo landowner say what they liked the masses would bless them, and sing of thsir praises. If the power was handed over to a few families as was proposed in the Middle Island, then God help the population as a wholo. If this plan was persisted in, woe betide the people of the North Island. Ho asked thoso that had always stood with him to rally once more, and say that this injustice should not be done. He believed the news of the struggles being made by this sturdy band would spread throughout New Zealand, and although their efforts were now being coldly received a tide of sympathy and support would yet set in in their favor. He counselled that trusty band not to be discouraged because they addressed empty benches, not to be discouraged because representatives preferred the fascinations of the concert hall and dance room to the Parliament as it now stood. Their noble endeavors would reaoh beyond these men. They would reaoh the ears of the thousands who were thus threatened with wrong, and they would yet be roused to aid them in their self-denying efforts. It was a thin house to speak to, and the numbers were but small to ask to come and assist him, still ho thought tho thing might be done. Let them then rise as one man and demand their rights, demond their liberties. Let them not lay the flattering unction to their bouls that if they gained a personal advantage they would bo able hereafter to redress wrongs

done. He invited the noble band who had fought so hard, to continue the good fight. tjßt. there be now a solid determination to walk firmly along the path of duty. Great wrongs had been done in the past. It was a pleasant thing to have p.iwer to people the land with sheep and drive off human souls, but the responsibility was dreadful to oonLempliite. It was misery whore there might bo abundance, poverty where there might be riohes. ljat them rise. The causa was worthy of the effort. It was the causa of justice and truth. Sir G. Grey spjko till 1030.

The Hod. J. Hall protested against the arrogance of the previous speaker. Ho was i.o more than any other member, and nothing moro was due to him. In reply to tho remarks made about the Legislative Council, he reminded them thrt Sir G. Grey himßelf had appointed more members to that Chamber than any other person or Government ever attempted to. They had next the old old Btory about the governing families in the Middle Island. Who they were he was at a loss to know. If there was one man in Naw Zealand who helped' them to get those properties at low prices it was Sir G. Grey, and yet he came there in the guise of the working man's friend. The present Government had done more than any other Government evei did to open land on easy terms and place it within the grasp of the working man There web an evil to which Sir G. Grey had not alluded. It wag the man who let cut small sums at large interest, and screwed th; last farthing out of the poor man. It was an insult to the understanding of the body of the population to talk about political power being, taken out of their hands and pl-iced in the hands of a small minority. Such a contention was perfectly ridiculous. He a*ked who was proposing to distribute political power on a population basis but the Government, and who was resisting it but Sir G. Grey ? He was very glad that Sir G. Grey had thrown off the mask. The colony would now see who was resisting the proposals for a fair distribution of representation. The real question before them was whether when a serious difficulty occurred the opinion of the minority was to prevail over that of the majority. The question was, were they to give way to headstrong, unscrupulous men in that House ? That was tho question which they had to decide. The forms of the House were being used for purposes for whioh they were never intended. Was this to be submitted to P He ventured to say thero could be but one answer. Government would be untrue to their trust if they abandoned their position; they would be sapping the very roots of their constitution. They had now a form of obstruction to which the House had hitherto been a stranger. By moving the adjournment all business waa brought to a standstill. That form of obstruction was initiated by Mr Speight, who had nothing really to do with tho question at issue. This was the third day wasted, and they were told it was to be continued. Such a state of things no deliberative body could possibly tolerate. Every day they increased the anger of the country, and rendered it more and more impossible for any concessions to be made. Government would now assent to no compromise. They would go on with no other business until this Bill was carried. He fully appreciated the support the Nelson members had given the Government, and had any concession been possibly consistent with duty it would would have been given them. He had no doubt that the House would concede all that was fair to tho minority; at the same time the House would not allow itself to bo set at defiance, but would assert its powers and determination that the majority should rule. Mr Speight defended the position ho had taken up in connection with this proceeding, contending that ho was bound to see justice done to tho North Island, which was refused by the Government in not including the Maoris in the population basis. Mr Lbvbbtam also spoke in defence of the position taken up by the Nelson members. Mr Sbddoh spoke for half an hour, and at 11.30 members began to drop out, when a count-out took place, and his remarks were cut short. The House rose at 12 35.