PARLIAMENTARY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2323, 14 September 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PBHBB ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.J LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, September 13. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The amendments made by the Lower House in the Publio Domains Bill were agreed to. The_ Representation Bill was passed through committee without amendments. Tho notion of the Hons. Wood and Campbell ia selling their honorarium was discussed at some length by the Council. The Hon. W. Wood stated that, acting on the advice of his friends, he had paid Mr Reeves the money, though ho still denied ever having entered into tho bargain. The Hon. Colonel Brett moved that Mr Wood Bhould be called upon to apologise to the Council. The Hon. N. Wilson moved as an amendment, that Mr Wood's action deserved the grave censure of the Council. Colonel Brett's motion was negatived, and to Mr Wilson's amendment the Hon. H. Milleh moved the previous question This was intercepted, however, by the adjournment of the debate till next day, at the instance of the Hon. F. Whitaker. The Council adjourned from 5 till 7.30. EVENING~BITTING. The Council resumed at 7.30. The Representation Bill was read a third time and passed. The Hons. Whitaker, Waterhouae, Wilson, and Miller, were appointed for the Council for the Conference on the Licensing Bill. The Fencing Bill and the Sheep Act, 1878. Amendment Bill were read a second time. The Masterton and Greytown Lands Management Act, 1871, Amendment Bill, Rabbit Nuisance Bill, and Timaru Water Race Bill, were read a third time. 'I ho Council rose at 9.1 5. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, September 13. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICE OP MOTION. Mr Whyte gave notice that he wonld ask whether the Government does not intend to recognise in some substantial manner the very great services rendered to the colony by Major Mair in bringing about the much more cordial relations now existing between the King Natives and the Europeans. questions. Replying to Sir W. Fox, The Hon. T. Dick said that inquiries would be made as to why the license was not cancelled in the case of George Wallace, licensee of the Railway Hotel, Ngapara, near Oamaru, tried before Mr Watt, R.M., and two other Justices of the Peace, in which the police instituted proceedings for the cancellation of the license on the ground of fraudulent practices attempted in a licensed honse by a son of the licensee in his presence, his son inducing an intoxicated farmer to sell him a valuable farm and homestead for a sum much less than its value, and with regard to which the Bench having expressed its opinion that the " evidence showed that Balfonr went to the hotel, where he became drunk, and while drunk was induced to make a bargain in favor of the licensee's son, and that the conduct of the licensee called for severe reprobation," the said Bench then dismissed the case without any judgment and without allowing prosecutor's costs. Replying to Mr Hutchison, The Hon. W. Johnston said that the system of a small parcel poßt at moderate charges had been in existence for a considerable time past. Replying to Mr Bain, The Hon. J. Hall, said that a Commission would be appointed of independent persons to report upon the best route for carrying the Seaward Bush —Toi Tois line, and in the meantime the line would be included in the Railways Authorization Bill. Replying to Mr McDonald,

The Hon. W. Kolleston said that the block of land containing 12,800 acres, known as Waihau block in the Hongaroa survey, near Wairoa, was being surveyed, and the land would be reported upon, after which Government wonld consider what was best to be done in the circumstances.

Replying to Sir G. Grey, The Hon. T. Dick said that Government would consider the propriety of offering a bounty of so much a head on each of the first fifty ostriches with the view of encouraging ostrich farming in this colony. Replying to Mr Murray, The Hon. J. Hall said that Government proposed to put in hand at once the work'of fubstituting trestle work for the railway embankment below Balclutha, which the settlers alleged caused damage to life and property. Replying to Sir G. Grey, The Hon. T. Dick said that if Government could provide for the Auckland University College it would be as much as they could undertake this year, without attempting to make similar provision for Wellington. Replying to Mr Tole, The Hon. J. Hall taid that the old railway station building at Newmarket would be utilised for other purposes, and could not be given for the use of the Literary Institute. Replying to Mr J. B. Fisher, The Hon. T. Dick Baid that McGahey, lying in Hokitika gaol for murder, would bo tried on the 26th inst.

Replying to Mr Brown, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that unless serious objection was shown to the contrary, Government would enable such stamps to be procured at the Deeds Registry Offices as are required for the purpose of registering deeds. Replying to Mr Weston, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that if after enquiries had been made it was deemed advisable to multiply tho number of stamp offices, the claims made by Greymouth would not be forgotten. Replying to Mr Andrews, The Hon. T. Dick sa:d that Government was not aware that certain gaol officials in Lyttelton gaol had been excluded from promotion, but he had found that a young man had been promoted over their heads for a Bpecial object. Tho young man referred to had entered tho service in 1880, and tho other officials in 1879, but Government was not aware of this fact until their attention had been drawn to the subject by the question. Replying to Mr Barron, The Hon. T. Dick said that there was a hardship inflicted on the matrons of tho Dunedin and Hokitika gaols in the matter of salary. The reductions had been mado for tho sake of uniformity of such salaries throughout the colony. Ho woald leave tho responsibility of disturbing tho present arrangement with tho House. Replying to Mr Harris, The Hon. J. Hall said that a communication had been received from Sir J. Vogel during the present month, but they had not had time either to consider or reply to it. Replying to Mr Murray, The Hon. Major Atkinson said it would be quite impossible during tho present session to bring down tho Bill to permit local bodies to nse for rating purposes the valuation under the Property Assessment Act with tho übuol corrections. Replying to Mr Tole, Tho Hon. Major Atkinson said that asEoon as Government had secured tho necessary information ho would at an early date divido the balance of tho Eden county fund amongst the connty Rtad Boards. Replying to Mr Russell, The Hon. Major Atkinson said thai his interpretation of the Armed Constabulary Act wis that no member of tho police could vote in an election, and ho considered the law so laid down was not repealed by any other Act. THE SPEAKER'S RECENT ACTION. The Premier said that he wished to call attention to some unfounded statements affecting tho conduct of tho Speaker and the Government which had appeared in a paper having a large circulation, the " Auckland Herald," of the sth September. In that paper there appeared a criticism of the manner in which the Speaker had discharged his duties on a recent occasion._ The article referring to tho Speaker and Chairman of Committees Bays, " Besides being autocrats hese servants of the House—for they are

nothing else—are pliant, yield*-. sure brought to bear on them to w vernment in carrying the Keprcses>. for Otago and Canterbury. Then it 3N. he (the Speaker) and the Chairman <JI mittees were to become the pliant tool? S>J . Government and their majority, they wsofi*. both be unfit for their positions. (Farther en i£ was stated ■' the tyranny had boea pre-arraßflpscF j after an understanding with the Government, with whose desire to pass the Bill the tws> I Parliamentary officials had nothing to do, they being the servants of the Honse and' not of the of the day," and lastly there was the observation " a chairman can role anything he likes at the dictation of a Government;" So far as regarded himself he (the Premier) cared little for what was said. His rule was to treat these misrepresentations with the contempt they deserved. He knew that those who knew him would not believe them, and'thoso who did not know him would learn not to believe them. Therefore he, with the consent of his colleagues, would have been disposed to pass them over with Bilent contempt But no imputation cast on the Speaker of that House should be dealt with in that way. The Speaker and Chairman were distinguished for a highminded and impartial discharge of their duties, and statements published in a paper having a large circulation calculated to mislead the people of the colony ought not to be passed over in silence. The imputation was that the Speaker had submitted to the instigation of the Government in his ruling. Well, it was really almost humiliating and derogatory to have to deny such a statement. There was not a particle of truth in it. The House knew that there was not the slightest foundation for such an assertion ; that it was absolutely false from beginning to end. The Government had never in any way attempted to influence the Speaker, and had they made any such attempt, he was sure it wouldhave been treated with contempt. No doubt action could be taken in this matter if the House thought it worth while, as it was decidedly a breach of privilege, but he did not, with the concurrence of the Speaker, propose to take any steps in the matter, but would content himself with making the contradiction and expressing an opinion that] the "article in such, he was bound to say, a usually well conducted' paper, was most unworthy and reprehensible. The Speaker said that neither directly nor indirectly did the Government or others make any suggestion towards bringing the late obstruction to a close. Had they done so he should have considered it an unwarrantable interference with his privileges, and should have felt it his duty to report the circumstance to the House, especially had such a suggestion come from the Government. As to the aspersions contained in the article, ho was indifferent. The session would soon close, and he would be able to live those aspersions down

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Mr Seymoue (Chairman of Committees) endorsed the remarks made by the Speaker, that the matter shonld be allowed to drop. He had already had an opportunity of stating to the House that in his conduct he was instigated by no one, nor had he held any communication with any other member than the Speaker. He believed that every member of the House believed in his heart he spoke the truth when he said that no person knew what was to be done except the Speaker. Sir G. Gbsy thought the subject worthy the consideration of the House. It was a qnestion which ought to be considered in some form and at the same time, and if the Government would fix some period when the matter might be brought forward he would then give notice of some motion.

The Premise said that it was desirable that the matter should be allowed to drop. After mature consideration, he thought the subject had been satisfactorily dealt with. Sir G. Geet said ha would give notice of a motion upon going into Committee of Supply. If the Premier thought the matter had been satisfactorily arranged, ho (Sir George) did not think so. A matter concerning the privileges of Parliament should be disposed of, and he would give notice on a future occasion. THE STEAM SERVICE. On the motion for consideration of the committee's report on a direct steam service with Greeit Britain, Mr Macandeiw said the advantages were admitted, the only question being one of expense. On the basis proposed he computed th it the cost to the colony would not exceed .£6O OCO, and if they deducted the postal receipts, it would not exceed half that sum. He read a letter penned bv himself to a Clyde shipbuilding firm in 1878, in which the prospects of the trade were fully dealt with. He went on to say that the meat freezing process bad opened new and improved prospects for the traffic. He looked upon the direct steam question as one with which the interests at the colony, and the development of its trade, were most intimately associated. In his opinion there was no time to be lost. It would take at least two years to establish the lino proposed. Ho knew he would be met with an objection arising out of the San Francisco service, but that he thought could be effectually answered. He moved that they go into committee to consider the report.

The Hon. W. Johnston said the proposal, to his mind, was premature. Tho San FranCisco service did not expire till the end nearly of 1883, and it would be time enough to consider the matter when the service was about to expire. The Government had already made considerable enquiries on the subject, and beyond that he thought they could not be expected to go at present. The result of the inquiries made by Mr Macandrew himself some time ago had been that .£BO,OOO was the lowest figure asked for a much smaller service than that proposed by the report. Inquiries would still be prosecuted by the Agent-General, who had been instructed to communicate with all parties likely to undt rtake such a service, and by the time Parliament again met they would be in possession of every possible information on the subject. He hoped that the House would be content with that assurance.

Dr. Wallis Btrongly opposed the motion. Tho House divided en the motion for going into committee—Ayes 49, noes 11. In committee, Mr Macandrew moved as the first of a series of resolutions—" That this committee is of opinion that the establishment of a direct monthly service with Europe would very materially promote the interests and develope the resources of this colony." Mr Wood moved as an amendment —" That they had not sufficient information before them to deal with the subject, but that the Government should prosecute farther inquiries as to the terms on which direct communication could be established, and report the result to the next Parliament." He contended thai if the trade of the colony were ripe for such a service private enterprise would be found to undertake it without having recourse to the inducements proposed in the report. The Honse divided on the motion—Ayes, 27 ; noes, 32. The motion was lost, and the amendment carried.