GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2535, 24 May 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[FRESS ASSOCIATION TELBGBAM.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, May 23 . JUVENILE AOTOB3. In reply to the Hon. Mr P. Buckley, The Hon. Mr Whitaker »aid he would inquire what legislation there is in other countries regarding the employment of children in theatres, and if necessary wonld then introduce a BUI on the subject. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. Captain Baillie was re-appointed Chairman of Committees. LAW REFORM. In reply to the Hon. Mr P. Bnokley, The Hon. Mr Whitaker said the Bills recommended by the Judicature Commission to simplify the procedure in the Law Courts, were now being printed, and would be introduced as early as possible. COMMITTEES. The following committees wore appointed : —Standing Orders, Statute Law Revision (joint), Goldfields (joint), Native Affairs Bills (joint), Library, Petitions, Waste Lands (joint), Reporting, Printing, House Selection, and Standing Orders on Private Bills. TB WHIT! AND TOHU. The Hon. Mr P. Buckley asked by what authority Ta Whiti and Tohu had been allowed to go sightseeing; also, by what authority they were now detained ? The Hon. Mr Whitaker said there was no law either allowing or prohibiting them from being allowed to go sightseeing, and that they were now imprisoned under the authority of the warrant of the Bench who committed them. The Hon. Mr Buckley said he would reour to and speak on the question at the first opportunity. AFFIRMATIONS. The Hon. Mr Whitaker save notice to introduce a BUI to allow affirmations and declarations in lieu of oaths. reply to the address. The Address in Reply was brought up by the committee appointed, and Mr Lahman gave notice to move it on Thursday. THE vagrant act. The Hon. Colonel Brett gave notice of a BUI to amend the Vagrant Act. THE DUBLIN MURDERS. The Hon, Colonel Brett also gave notice to move the sending of an address to the Secretary for the Colonies re the Phoenix park murders. THE HON. MB OLIVER. The Hon. Colonel Whitmobb drew attention to the fact that the Hon. Mr Oliver had been sworn in before the Governor instead of in the Council, which was a departure freyn the custom. The Hon. Mr Whitaker replied that section 47 of the Constitution Act gave the power so to do. THE PROSECUTION OF THE HON. MB PHARAZYN. The Hon. Mr Pharazyn moved for a return of the cost of prosecuting himself for personation at the late election, bnt The Hon. Mr Whitaker saying the motion would in some degree interfere with the privileges of the House, it was withdrawn. The Hon. Mr Whitaker also said he would supply the information to Mr Pharazyn. The Hon. Mr Pharazyn said he had petitioned the Minister of Justice for a free pardon from the disabilities he had incurred, but it could not be granted, and therefore he intended to move with the same object in Parliament. The Council at 3.10 p.m. adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, May 24. The House met at 2.30. new members, A number of new members were sworn in. BILLS. The following Bills were given notice of:— Mr Levestam —For the further protection of life and property from accident by fire. Mr Holmes —To amend the Debtors and Creditors Act; to amend the Resident MagiS' trates Act. NOTICES OP MOTION. The following notices were given : Mr Maoandrew—That the Speaker leave the chair without question put at 12 30 a.m. during the session, so that the House may adjourn not later than that hoar. Major Atkinson gave notice that on Thursday he would move—“ That MrW. J, Hurst be elected Chairman of Committees of the whole House,” QUESTIONS. The following questions were given notice of:— Mr Tawhai— If the Government will cause a certain pamphlet on the culture of tobacco to be printed in Maori and circulated amongst the Native race. Mr Bracken—To ask if the attention of the Government bad been directed to the report of an inquest on the body of Joseph Russell at Dunedin, and to the remarks made by the Coroner at said inquest, and if they considered the core aership ia in proper hands there. Mr Hutchison—To ask if the Government will be prepared to amend the Seamens Act of 1877, as recommended by the House in August last. Mr Hutchison—To ask if the attention of Government has been called to an article published in the Auckland “ Evening Star ” of February 4th last, entitled “ Taranaki land jobbery.” THE CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT. Major Atkinson moved without notice that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into and report whether or not the penalties provided for by sections 17 and 18 of the Corrupt Practices Act were unreasonably severe, and whether or not it was advisable that the law should be altered and amended, and in that respect to report on Friday. The said committee to consist of Messrs Montgomery, Turnbull, Williams, Rutherford, Connolly, Trimble, and the mover. He intended to defer moving for the new Stanmore writ till the committee reported. The motion was put and carried. REMOVAL OP PRISONERS. In reply to Mr Bracken, The Hon. Mr Dick stated that four prisoners had been removed to Wellington to assist at the erection of a prison there ; but it was incorrect to call it a central prison, as it was simply intended for the detention of long-sentenced prisoners. LIGHTHOUSE AT KAIPABA. In reply to Mr George, Major Atkinson stated that the Government recognised the importance of a lighthouse being erected at Kaipara Heads. It would be an expensive undertaking, but the necessary provision would be made for it out of loan. RAILWAY EMPLOYES WAGES. In reply to Mr Holmes, The Hon, Mr Johnston said the wages of mechanics and laborers employed in the Railway Department at Christchurch had not been reduced in accordance with the 10 per cent, reduction, but in pursuance of an uniform scale adopted all over the colony, and that wes the reason that their wages had not since been increased, while that of clerks and accountants in the same department, who had been subject to the 10 per cent, reduction were increased or reinstated according to their former amounts. DR. BULLBB’S BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND In reply to Mr Hutchison, The Hon. Mr Dick eaid Dr. Boiler’s “ Manual of the Birds of New Zealand ” had bean published by the Museum and Geological Institute. It was the second edition of a book published years ago under the same auspices. If other authors provided books of a similar class, no doubt the Geological Department would be prepared to assist in the publication thereof. WEST COAST SETTLEMENT ACT, In reply to Mr Hutchison, The Hon. Mr Rolleston said that no cases under the West Ooast Settlement Act had been validated. The West Ooast Commission had a number of these cases under consideration, and a progress report thereon would be produced in a few days. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—To Define and Regulate the Hours of Labor in New Zealand (Mr WGreen); Indemnity Bill (Mr Bryce) ; To Extend and Regulate the Liability of Employers to Make Compensation for Personal Injuries Suffered by Workmen in their Ser vice (Mr W. Green); West Ooast Peace Preseivation Bill Mr Bryce) ; To Amend the Law Relating to Distress (Mr Holmes) ; to Regulate the Admission of Persons to Prao<

fine in the Courts of Law • To Further Suable Affirmations to be taken in Lieu of Oaths; To Enable the People of New Zealand peaceably to make Changes in their Constitution whenever they may think it necessary so to do ; To Afford Belief under certain circumstances to Deferred Payment Settlers (Sir George Grey). To Regulate the Liability of Consumers of Gas in New Zealand ; To Amend the Law of Evidence (Mr Hutchinson). The Auckland Harbor Board Empowering Bill (Mr Swanson). COMMITTEES The usual sessional committees were appointed. BEPUY TO THB ADDBES3. Mr Peacock moved—“ That a respectful address be presented to the Governor in reply to the speech that his Excellency was pleased to make to both Houses.” While feeling | honored by the position he occupied, he reserved to himself the full right to deal with the measures alluded to in the speech as he might deem fit. He was sure the House would share in the feeling of thankfulness at the preservation of Her Majesty. The experience of last year’s legislation in the way of electoral reform had, he believed, been fairly satisfactory; but he had hoped they would yet see fit to restore the leaseholders’ franchise. The improved state of the public revenues was matter for congratulation. Speaking of Auckland he said that a great impetus had been given to all descriptions of trade and commerce. He alluded to the Auckland Savings Bank returns, and pointed out that the excess of deposits over withdrawals was an important evidence of prosperity. The extension of buildings in their suburbs owned by working classes was also referred to as satisfactory evidence of increased prosperity. It was gratifying to hear that settlement had been extending on the waste lands throughout all parts of the colony. He trusted that the new local Government proposals would be of a nature to add dignity and Importance to the local bodies as constituted, rather than increase to the number of these bodies, but he hoped it would not be carried in the direction of giving other than administrative functions to any body outside Parliament. In giving facilities for an influx of population into the mining districts, he hoped they would keep in view the necessity of affording facilities for settling the population already located on their goldfields. The proposal to lease Crown lands did not strike him favorably. He was more in favor of facilities being afforded for acquiring homes of a more permanent character. He next referred to the Native lands question, and expressed a hope that legislation in that direction would be of such a nature as to preserve the interests of the Native population. He hoped that they would be prepared to give full credit to the Native Minister for the admirable part he had played in settling the Native question. He approved of the proposal made re Te Whiti, and he was surprised that no notice was taken of the improved prospects in their relations with the King Natives. The increase in the goldfields’ revenue was highly satisfactory, and, speaking from his own knowledge of the Te Aroha, he expressed an opinion that during the ensuing year very important developments would bs made. Ho viewed with alarm any addition to the already too large colonial debt, but admitted that the railway system required that something should be done for the completion of arterial lines. He hoped the House would do ample justice to all parts of the colony in the event of a new loan being raised, and that the omissions and deficiencies of the past would be remedied in providing for the future. The simplifying and consolidation of the law was next referred to as a most important undertaking, and he spoke in satisfactory terms of the efforts made last year to repeal many of the old provincial laws and bring them all under one code. It was not necessary to refer to the other portions of the speech, except to heartily join in the hope that their deliberations might be attended with happy ! results.

Mr Buthxbtobd seconded. He referred to the attempt made on the life of the Queen. It had elicited an expression of fervent loyalty all over the world. The revival of the colony from commercial depression had been slow, but sure. He looked upon that as a sure indication of its abiding character. The opening out of the country by railways and roads was moat important, and the late returns showed that it was a most encouraging work. The agricultural leasehold proposals with fair and moderate rents, fixity of tenure, and a purchasing clause, would, he thought, be the means of introducing a most desirable class of colonists. He deprecated, as being far from an unmixed good, the deferred payment system, and looked upon the leasehold proposals as cal. oulated to cure many of its defects. He apprehended an easy passage for the measure proposed re Te Whiti. The railway returns fully justified the loan proposals indicated by the Address. He acknowledged the compliment paid him in being selected to second the motion, and accepted it as an earnest that the district from which he hailed, in common with every other part of the colony, would receive a fair consideration at the hands of the Government.

Mr Montgomery fully concurred in the congratulation on the Queen's eicape. Ho admitted that prosperous times had again come round to the colony in common with its Australian sisters, but the improvement was due to larger causes than any mere act or policy on the part of the Government. He referred to the experiences of the other colonies in proof of that fact. Had prosperity not now come to our shores the position of New Zealand must be very dark indeed. He predicted that in the natural course the time would again come when a depressing reaction would come round, and when that time came he hoped the Government would not be the first to adopt the gloomy view which had been taken in the past. With regard to the leasing of the public lands a great question was raised. He quoted from the late Premier’s speech at Leeaton a few months ago to show that ho was then opposed to such a proposal. It would be interesting to know if the other members of his Government were with him in his opposition.and if so what had tended to bring about this change in their ideas. The proposal re Te Whiti was in his opinion a departure from the spirit of British law and British justice. These men were to be exiled without trial, After being committed for trial, an overwhelming necessity would have to be shown to justify such a course. If a Loan Bill was to be brought in, he hoped the Government would let them know where the money was to be spent, and that the amount in each work, or part of a work, would also be distinctly specified. He should have thought that members having come fresh from their constituents were able to discuss the question of local government, and that they were best qualified to deal with the question. The Government, however, did not seem disposed to take advantage ot their experience, but passed over them and sent circulars to the Itcal bodies themselves on the subject, thereby ignoring them at members of Parliament. Altogether that was in effect reducing them to the positions! mere delegates, and not representatives at all. Ho objected to the circular as holding out bribes while asking advice. The address was remarkable for its omissions. Nothing was said about reforming the other branch of the Legislature. The Hon. Mr Hall, in his speech at Leeston, indicated something of the kind, and he was curious to learn why it was that nothing was projected in that direction. The debate was interrupted by the 5 30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Montgomery continued —Ho urged the necessity of getting the financial statement, public works statement, &r,, brought down together at an early date. By that means members would be enabled to ascertain what really was the policy of the Government. He would promise that, while criticising their measures fairly and fully, he would guarantee that there should be no factious opposition, These statements, together with the Local Government Bills and Land Bill, he hoped would be brought down not later than next week. Major Atkinson congratulated the mover and seconder on the creditable exhibition they had made. He also congratulated the House on the existence of an Opposition with a recognised loader. The late Government was also to be congratulated in view of the attack made by the last speaker as recognised leader of the Opposition. He had signally failed in sheeting home anything like a tenable charge against their administration. There were members of the Government who had thought it advisable for many years to lease the lands of the colony. Beyond that he did not feel called upon to give any further explanation on the point. No doubt when Mr Hall was present he would de-

fend hie own opinion. He denied that the Government had gone over the heads of the representative* in inning it* circular to the local bodies. He contended that valuable hints might be got from these bodies, and it was quite reasonable they should ask for advice from these bodies. Ha deprecated the idea of any member feeling jealous because they had gone direct to the local bodies for advice,_ It had been a vexed subject for a long time, and they were quite justified in making every possible endeavor to set that vexed question at rest. It would require the whole wisdom of the whole colony to devise even a reasonably satisfactory scheme of local government. The Government would bring down its measures with sufficient speed to satisfy the House, and be only hoped that when brought down the House would address itself to these measures with earnestness. It was never heard of before to ask Government to bring down the whole of its policy the first week of the session. Moreover, if the hon. gentleman had a majority, than not the Government but ho (Mr Montgomery) would have the policy to bring down eo long as they remained in office. However, he would undertake to keep them well supplied with work for their deliberations, and he was quits prepared to try conclusions with the hon. gentleman as to which of them possessed the confidence of the House.

Mr Da Lautotte did not intend to speak upon those points upon which the Government was open to impeachment, and npon which they would be impeached in due time. The reference in the Governor's speech to. the goldfiells was mere mockery, in so far as it was congratulatory. Despite all the protestations and perambulations of Ministers, the goldfields had had nothing. He did not ask them to unduly foster the goldfields industry. What he asked was that they should not place impediments in the way of goldfields development. The Minister of Mines had done hie best to shut up the lands around the Otago goldfields, and yet they were met by this mock congratulation put into the month of the Governor. Alluding to Native affairs, he told the Government that they had read the Riot Act while they themselves were the rioters. The right time to discuss that question, however, would comoon at a later period of the session. A« regarded the loan proposal, he referred to the vagaries of the Government. One day they, by their ill-advised alarm, depreciated the credit of the colony, and then they came down and congratulated them on the revival of affairs, thereby claiming for themselves the character of saviours of the colony. It was simply nonsense to talk about allocating a new loan. It could not be done. As long as they bad the power to raise money,so long would they have demoralisation in the House. They could not provide for honest administration by any legislation. In all their proposals he could see nothing but extravagance and abuse, and the farther accumulation of burdens. The matter of this loan, it possible, should he decided apart from party spirit. They had been deluded year after year with the figures of the Treasurer, but he would like to know if this proposal was not a device to tide over an existing exigency. If they were to have borrowing he urged them to open up their own public estates, to settle men upon the land where settlement was possible, irrespective of locality. That was the proper way for them to allocate their money, and not divide it in the same sort of way like that spoken by Mr Peacock. He would not lock up the agricultural lands only. What he would do was to pass a law making all the lands inalienable. By that means they would be going in the way of the most advanced thinkers of the day. They did not think that they should be satisfied with the concessions proposed. Ho hoped the Government would bring forward the Judicature Commission measures at an early date.

Mr Burrow thought the speech too guarded and constrained. He ventured to say that the colony generally was unanimous in implieating the Native Minister in the action taken at Faribaka. In that respect he tbonght the epeech too constrained. The Governor seemed to throw all responsibility eff his own shoulders on to Ministers. He viewed with alarm the proposal for a new loan, bat if such was necessary they should be especially careful as to how the money was disposed of. He was disappointed that no reference was made to the question of taxation. He did. not think that the commercial prospects of the colony were anything like what they were represented to be. The Customs duties had of late years been largely increased on articles of daily consumption to meet the exigencies of the loan policy in which they had indulged. He would like to sea more taxation raised in a direct way on the|prorperty which had benefited by loan expend! tore. By that means the population would be brought the belter lo understand what borrowing so many millions really meant. The remission of certain direct taxes lerat year was in his opinion a retrograde movement. He had made the subject of direct taxation a question between him and his constituents, and it was in consequence of that he was then in Parliament. Local government he contended lay more in a nutshell than many persons supposed. A very little alteration in the system as it stood was all that was required as things existed. They bad one body fighting the other the Boad Boards against the County Council. In many instances these Boards were simply kept in existence to evade taxation. That should be looked to, and the Counoils empowered alone to impose taxation. They should also strike the valuation. He advised Government to reconsider the Licensing Act of last session. The Bill as introduced was no doubt a good one, but it was tampered with by the House in a most unfair way. Everything was done to make it lean heavily on the publicans. He also took exception to the Gaming and Lotteries Act, contending that the totalisator had done more to encourage gambling than all the pernicious influences which existed antecedently. The Act should be repealed. If local government was to work satisfactorily then there would have to be a more complete severance between the General Government and the local bodies. It was out of the question to think that the valuations of the lormer would suit the purposes of the latter. Ho believed that at present there were largo sums in the colony for investment. By that means they would induce capital to come into the colony. He advised the Government to have their policy Bills prepared and circulat’d among members a few weeks before they came on for discussion.

Mr Holmes criticised the speech. That which was new in it was not true, and what was true was not new. He contended that the speech proved that Ministers were at variance with the Governor. That was a most anomalous position. A* his Ercellency’s responsible advisers it was their duty under such circumstances to resign. Alluding to the congratulation about the extension of the franchise and its workings, ho charged the Government with having stolen the policy and brain power of its predecessors, the Grey Ministry. On their own le islation, as shown by the Gaming and Licensing Acts, they could not be congratulated. The prosperity upon which they were congratulated was nothing more than the result of a favoring gale. At all events they had not the Government to thsnk for it. He congratulated the Minister of Lands on his proposals to lease the agricultural lands, but regretted that he had not gone the whole length, and said no person shall be tl'owed lo hold more than a certain area. If they wanted to establish the colony on a firm basis they must prevent the establishment of a larded aristocracy—the greatest curse any country could suffer from. If the restrictions of area was not sufficient for that purpose, then he would propose a progressive land tax. Beferring to the Native question he said the Government had acted without proper legal advice, and having done so they had incurred merited odium. In Wellington they could have had a doxen of attorneys’ clerks who could have directed them how to do what they had done without incurring more blame. Ha blamed the Government for depriving itself of the services of an Attorney General in that House, and indicated a number of members who would have been quite prepared if proper inducements were offered to accept of that office. It was an insult to the House to find that a Minister of so much importance should be shut up in the Legislative Council. Ho blamed the Government for resorting to an unworthy ruse in the transfer of Ta Whiti to Christchurch for trial, and then proposing a Bill to dispense with trial altogether. This act alone deserved th® severest censure the House could pass thereupf* They were congratulated upon tho improved revenues, but nothing was said about reducing the taxation. It was an affront to that House to have the Premier the Council, and ho dwelt at great lengthjo l the other subjects of the speech. Te Wheobo could see no reason why Government should have sent its soldiers to Paribaka nrd har? down the heme*.

When the Natives were perfectly %'aiet. If To Whiti was acting illegally, Whjr was bo not arrested at once.

Sir Q-kobgb Q-bky thought Ministers should the moment Parliament met have proposed an address to the Queen on her escape, More than that, they ehould have hastened the meeting of Parliament for that purpose. This Parliament should have met so soon as it was elected. The late Parliament voted two months’ supplies beyond the period of its expiry. If they could do that then, they might have voted supplies for a period of ten years, in which case Government might have diopeased with meeting Parliament altogether. Returning to the proposed address to the Queen, bs loyal gentlemen, fee asked them to adopt such an address, late as it might be. Eaterring to other subjects, ho said ha felt the Q-ovorn ment was overmatched in the House, and that they could not possibly stand if they could not wipe out the sine of which they had been guilty. Ho asked them to da what they could to atone therefore, even et the last moment of their existence. They had burst open the telegraph office and stolen tne telegrams of their predecessors when they took office, and to prevent a repetition of that in their own ease, they now carried on their telegraphic communications in cypher. He ■would move in the House to have a Doomsday Book compiled, in order that they might aee the largo properties held in the colony and tbo means by which they were acquired. Ho blamed Government for not affording him certain information regarding the pre-emptive rights, and charged the Minister of Lanus with subterfuge in his endeavors to deprive the colony of that information. They had been told that the extension of the Iranohiso ■was practically the Bill of his Government. He denied that. In the material parts the Act now in force differed from the Bill of his Government. It had been said that his Government had loft an empty Treasury, How, he said a large balance had been left in the Treasury. During the first nine mouths after they left office the country was told by the present Treasurer that £1,750,000 had been expended on public works. Now, how could that have been done if the chest was empty. The fact was, it was a balance found in the cheat when the present Government •came into office. It was the late Government that provided that money, despite what had been said to the contrary. Beferring to the leasehold proposals, he asked why that was not prepared before the best lands of the colony had been alienated. It was a matter of no importance now whether the small portion left was leased or disposed of otherwise. W hat they wanted was a land tax, so that the man who had got the land might return some equivalent, and a land tax they would have. He would ask to be allowed to introduce a Bill to restrict the quantity of agricultural land that each man may hold. The Government should have introduced the Bill he wae going to, for relief of the deferred _ land purchasers who had, by unfair competition, been induced to give ruinous rents, by ascertaining the real value of the land, and letting them have it at that price. Alluding to the West Coast, he said it was remarkable that this blow was struck just at the time of the elections. It might have been loft until after the elections, so that Parliament might have been consulted. Ho would give it, however, as his conviction that the whole thing was designed to gain popularity in view of the late elections. In reference to the goldfields, ho concurred in the opinion of Mr DaLatour that there bad been a great deal of perambulating these districts to no practical purpose. The statement of the Treasurer regarding the local bodies was not fair. It woe the multitude, and not property, that required protection. Now the voting power of the counties was of such a nature that one manjmight exercise a number of votes, whereas others could only exercise one vote. He would ask them to sanction nothing that detracts from their powers. Let the local bodies have their franchise and allow members of Parliament to exercise theirs. Do not let the Treasurer, as he proposes, pass over them them, and go direct to the local bodies. The Treasurer was wrong in using the arguments be did on that scare, and he asked him to acknowledge that fact and retrace his steps. He pointed out the injustice of members of the Upper House when they found that they could get a seat in the Bepresentative Chamber, and then when they lost that seat, go back again to the other Chamber. He denounced such as disloyal conduct, altogether unworthy of loyal and true gentlemen. If the electors rejected a man as their representative was it fair that he should be forced upon them as a Premier. He asked now members tc join with him in putting an end to snob a state of things. He explained the purpose of his Bill for the peaceable adoption of constitutional reform. If one Chamber refused to adopt snob a reform, when agreed to by the ether, bis object was to provide the means of referring it to the electors for a plebiscite, and if they said that it was to be carried, then it should piss into law, despite the action of the refractory Chamber. He referred to the opposition met with by his Law Practitioners Act of last session as a case requiring some anoh remedy as that proposed. He asked them to consider the points raised and which were not allndod to in the Govornoi’a speech.

Mr Joyce said that if the Governor had been allowed to speak his own private sentiments, it would have been other than it was. Instead of congratulating the colony on the improvement in commercial matters, he would have said that his advisers caused the depression, and when it suited them they lifted the cloud in a word. He contended that there was no real depression but that caused by the Treasurer’s figures. He admitted there was a stagnation, but that arose from the stoppage of immigration and the curtailment of public works. That the colony had revived there was no thanks due to Government. Bogarding the leasehold proposals, be said that they now adopted what they had at one time denounced. Ho charged them with having taken advantage of the Governor’s absence to work a little manoeuvre on the West Coast, and which wo* done in reality to secure the return of certain members at the late election. Fearing to bring To Whiti to trial, they now propose to make a law to retract from the illegal position they had taken up. He then referred to the fact that the late Minister for Public Works, when he had rendered himself obnoxious to bis constituents ns well as the colony at large, was called to the Upper House. That was done when it was found that the ex-Minister’s return was impossible. Referring to the Premier, he saw that he, too, was rejected by the constituency, whereupon be was called to the Legislative Council. He did not think that was fair dealing, and it was unjust to the House that the Premier should be in the other branch of the Legislative. It was not“oompatible with the dignity of this House that the Premier should be in the other Chamber, and that he should be in a position to control Ministers in the Lower Uhamber. They ought not to tolerate that a moment longer than was absolutely necessary. He would move, as an amendment, that there be added to the motion— •* That the Governor be informed that in the opinion of this House itis desirable that the Premier should be a member of the representative branch of the Legislature.” Mr Feldwiok seconded without remarks. Sir Gbobgb Gbhy said that on Thursday he would table an address to the Queen, congratulating her on her happy escape. The Hon. Dick said that it had been argued that as the Government had spent a considerable sum a few months after coming into office, therefore they must have received the money from their predecessors. The fact was that when they took ofiloe the colony was on the verge of bankruptcy, and they bad to negotiate a loan under most adverse circumstances. The Government had to make concessions and accept hard;terzns in consequence of the conduct of their predecessors. He took it that they bad a land tax in the shape of a property lax. It would be unjust that a laud tax should be imposed on the agriculturists, while the town settlers escaped. They had to regard the interests of the agriculturist just as well as that of the commercial man. It was absolutely necessary that they should have a Minister in the Upper House, and why not the AttorneyGeneral as well as any other member of the Government. That he contended was an answer to one of the powerful arguments put forward by Mr Holmes. Nothing was more common in England than for the Premier to bo in the Upper House. The amendment was simply an attempt to raise a side issue, or else a new leader of a new party had arisen. He believed, however, that the desire of the House was that the address should be passed without division. Instead of indulging in mutual recriminations on old subjects they should let the dead past bury its dead, and devote themselves to providing for the future.

Mr Tphnbuli contended that the land was

tie most legitimate subject for taxation, inasmuch as it was the common property of the people. He hoped that this would be one of the main issues put forward by the Opposition, viz., a return to the land tax. The amendment was lost on the voices, and the original motion was carried. On the question for the appointment of a committee to prepare the Address, the debate was, on the motion of Mr J. O. Bbowk, adjourned to Thursday. Mr Hontoombrt said several members still wished to speak on the question. ADDBBSB TO THE QUEBN. Sir QeOBOB Gbey gave notioo of amotion that an address be adopted to her Majesty congratulating her on her escape fromassassi. nation. At 12 10 the House rose till 2 30 on Thursday.