GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2559, 21 June 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PBS PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

Tuesday, June 20. NOTICE OP MOTION.

The Hon. Mr Chambkblin gave notice to move—“ That all vessels should be compelled to carry a supply of oil to be used at sea when necessary to prevent the waves from breaking.”

WEST COAST PEACE PRESERVATION BILL. In moving the second reading of the West Ooakt Peace Preservation Bill, The Hon. Mr Whitaker said the whole subject divided itself into two parts, one having reference to what was already done, which was oorered.by the Indemnity Bill, the second part being what was to be done in the future, which the Peace Preservation Bill, dealt with. It would be admitted on all hands that great delay had taken place in settling the difficulties on the West Coast. It was unnecessary for him to go into the origin of what had taken place, because he thought he could give a sufficient reason for passing these Bills without doing so. He then referred to the removal of the surveyors and the arrest of the Natives. The circumstances that existed at that time might have been overdrawn, but it appeared to him that in August, 1879, the full position was recognised, and the responsibility of what had taken place since that time rested with the Assembly. For carrying out the mere details the Government were responsible, but for the policy which had been pursued the Assembly was responsible. When the Act passed a state of things existed which was dangerous to the peace of the country, and a state of things which the ordinary course of the law was unable to deal with. It was essential that something should be done by the Government. While carrying out the law the policy of the Government had been conciliatory to the Natives. Last year the Government felt it necessary to put an end to to the state of things then existing. Te Whiti and Tohu were arrested and removed from Taranaki. If they had been allowed to return to Taranaki be for one should not have borne the consequences, and he should have left others to carry out what might have been the will of the Assembly. At present there was every prospect of matters settling down quietly. The Government did sot wish to punish Te Whiti and Tohu, but to prevent them going back to Farihaka and doing mischief. If they were allowed at present to retnrn, the same difficulties, he thought, would again occur. Sir G. Whitmore then spoke at some length, and reviewed the history of the difficulties on the West Coast. He desired that the preamble should be struck out of the Bill. The Hon. Nqatata supported the action of the Government. As to the detention of Te Whiti and Tohu, the Government had done the best thing under the circumstances. The Hon. Q. McLean would support the Bill. The Hon, Captain Feabeb moved the adjournment of the debate till next day. The Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, June 20, The House met at 2 30, PETITIONS. Mr Smith presented a petition from the deferred payment settlers, praying that they might be enabled to take up additional land on the deferred payment principle. Mr Hutchison presented a petition 25 ft long, with four columns of signatures on each sheet, praying that the teaching of skilled labor in prisons might be put an end to. Mr Sbddon presented a petition 30ft long, calling the attention of Parliament to the unjustifiable manner in which the Westland Education Board administered the Act. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Mr Fulton gave notice that he would move that the Education Aot be amended, so as to enable the Bible to be read in schools, under certain restrictions as to time. QUESTIONS, Replying to Mr Steward, The Hon. Mr Bolleston said reserve No. 143, Waimate survey district, containing 75 aores, to be sold, was not, so far as Government was advised, suitable for small settlers on lota of from five to .lon aores each, and consequently they did not think it right to have the land offered at Waimate instead of Christchurch. But farther enquiries would bo made as to the nature and position of the land.

Replying to Mr Steward, The Hon. Mr Johnston said the Government would consider the propriety of introducing into the railway system a method for orwarding passengers’ luggage similar to that in operation in the United States, and known as the “ check system.” Replying to Mr Bracken, The Hon. Mr Rollkston said that forest planting in New Zealand had been already largely resorted to, and encouragement would be held out to local bodies desirous of going in for it more largely. Replying to Mr O. Johnston, The Hon. Mr Dick said the Government had announced that it would be ready to apply on .behalf of proposed exhibitors for space at the Amsterdam Exhibition, but no response had been made thereto. They would still be prepared to apply for space, but could not undertake to defray the cost of the carriage of the exhibits.

Replying to Mr W. White, The Hon. Mr Johnston said a goods shed at Addington would be situated within one mile of the station at Christchurch, and the Government did not think such an erection was requisite. Enquiries would be made, and if delay bad taken place in the despatch of goods from the Christchurch station, steps would be taken to remedy the delay in future.

, Replying to Mr Tole, ! The Hon. Mr Dick said a fee of 20s under i the Patents Act, 1871 and 1831, protected the invention for a period of six months. At fhe expiry of that time 40j more secured all rights and protection under the Act. The Government deemed these liberal enough terms, and did not consider any farther amendment necessary. ! Replying to Mr Pulton, S 'l’he Hon. Mr Dick said the Government had under consideration the recommendation of the petitions committee that all persons entering the Government service under permanent engagement should insure their lives for an amount equal to two years’ pay at least, but they had not seen their way to give effect to the recommendation. The question was not yet finally disposed of. Replying to Mr Feldwick, The Hon. Mr Bryce said the Government hoped as soon as possible to make a statement in respect of their intentions regarding the suggestions in the volunteer committee report. Replying to Mr Oadman, The Hon. Mr Johnston said a sum of £250,000 had been expanded on the WaikatoThames railway, for which £69,000 had been voted. Replying to Mr Tole, The Hon, Major Atkinson said that he would be prepared to render the present method for collecting the beer tax less oppressive if suoh a method could be pointed out to him. - Mr Tons said he would submit a plan. SECOND HEADING. On the motion of Mr Hamlin the Private Bills Costs Bill was read a second time, TRADE MARKS. The Hon. T. Dick moved that the report on the Trade Maiks Act Amendment Bill be adopted. Mr Fish moved the recommittal of the Bill, with the view of preventing it from being made retrospective. A case was just now pending before the Dunedin Court, and the Bill was evidently intended to meet certain difficulties connected with a conviction under that prosecution. A debate ensued, and in its course it was pointed out that the measure did not aim at creating a new office, bnt simply provided reasonable facilities for detection and conviction. The House divided on the original motion. Ayes, 42 —Messrs Alin right, Atkinson, Barron, Beetham, Bryce, W. E. Buchanan (Wairarapa), Oadman, Connolly, Dick, Fitzgerald, Fulton, J. Green, (Waikouaiti), Hamlin, Hobbs, Holmes, Hursthouse, Hurst, W. W. Johnston (Manawatu), F. W. Mokensie (Mataura), Mason, McMillan, Morris, O’Oallaghan, Peacock, Pearson, Petrie, Postlethwaite, Rolleston, Rutherford, Shepherd, Smith, Stevens, Sutter, button, Swanson, Thomson (Christchurch North), Tole, Trimble, Watt, W. White (Sydenham), J. B. White (Waikato), J. Wilson (Kaiapoi). Noes, 27—Messrs. Bathgate, Bracken, J. O, Brown (Tuapeka), Dargaville, DeLiutour, Dodson, Duncan, Fergus, Fish, George, M. W. Green (Dunedin), Grey, Hutchison, Kelly, Levestam, Macandrew, Macdonald, J. McKenzie (Moeraki), Montgomery, Moss, Pyke, Seaton, Seddon, Sheehan, Steward, Tawhai, Turnbull. The amendment was lost, Mr Fish protested against tbe Bill as retrospective legislation. He reminded the Government that they had voted against the Pension Bill last session on the ground that it was retrospective, and now they approved of a notoriously retrospective measure. Mr Sheehan concurred in the opinion expressed, and while admitting that the offence was defined in law, stated that but for this Bill the prosecution in the case referred to could not have produced certain evidence, and in that way the accused person would have gone free. Mr Connelly said that the defect in the law as it stood could have been supplied by an adjournment, in order to bring out certain papers from England. In that case the accused persons would have been detained for trial longer than they would otherwise be. Mr Bathgate insisted that it was retrospective legislation, and as such it was opposed to public policy. The Bill was read a third time and passed. [committee or supply. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Montgomery hoped that no debate would take place on the Financial Statement until the Public Works Statement and Policy Bills of the Government were before them. Mr Macandrew concurred, and asked the Government to indicate when the Statement and Bills would be brought down. The Hon. Major Atkinson said it would bo impossible in one speech to cover the whole field of their policy and finance. They would bs much wiser to discuss the whole question in sections. If deloyed until the whole policy was before them he apprehended that the discussion would be very defective, whereas the Government invited the fullest discussion. It was quite impossible for the Government to bring down the whole scheme of their finance and policy at onoe. He, therefore, hoped they would be prepared to go on with the debate with the various sections as they were brought down. He had hoped that they would, at an early date, at all events, have had a very instructive discussion on taxation the taxation of land at all events. The motion was carried, and the House went into Committee of Supply. Legislative Council, £1735. In reply to question as to how the vote for the previous year had bean increased from £1446, The Treasurer said that these increases were in accordance with the list sent down by tbe Speaker of that House. Item—Chairman of Committees (£300), £IBO, Mr Swanson moved that the increase be struck out. The motion was carried on the voices, and the item was struck out. Olerk to Council (£400), £l5O ; reduced by £SO. Olerk, assistant (£400) ; reduced to £337. Second clerk, assistant (£225), reduced by £25. The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The Home resumed at 7.30. in committee op supply. Legislative Departments—ltem, interpreter Council, £225 : reduced by £3O. The vote as amended then passed. House of Representatives, £39lo—ltem chairman of public petitions, £IOO, Mr J. C, Brown proposed that the item be struck out, Mr Macandrew saw no reason why the chairman of two committees should be paid and the others not. There was a principle involved which, he contended, should be maintained. Mr EShbimsei supported the item, and Mr Fish opposed. Mr Moss objected to these committees, contending that their duties should be discharged by the Government. Item, chairman of Native affairs committee, £IOO. Mr J. O. Brown moved it bo struck out. He insisted that the appointment was one of a purely party character. Passed on tha voices. The total class as reduced to £39,483 was then put and passed. Class 2. Colonial Secretary’s Department —Premier’s office, £450. Passed. Colonial Secretary’s office, £1895. Mr Hoimes moved —“ That it be reduced to £1775, the amount voted last year.” Tha Committee divided on the amendment. Ayes, 25 ; noes, 41. Mr Shbimbki moved the vote be reduced £2OO. Amendment negatived. The vote, as printed, was then passed. Messenger and office keeper, £3469. Item, 13 messengers at 6j per day. Mr Fish moved that it be struck out, with the view of getting it increased to 7s per dey. After discussion the amendment was withdrawn, and the vote passed as printed. Electoral Department—£29Bs. Mr Connolly pointed out tbe disparity of amounts proposed to be paid to the different offices. Mr Sheehan pointed out that in Franklyn North a lawyer who had appetrsd against the sitting member, Major Harris, when the first election was upset, was afterwards appointed returning officer for the second election. The Hon, Mr Dick explained that under the Eepresentation Act of lost year the electorates were divided, and the amounts in such oases had to be divided amongst the additional registrars required, and they were content with tbe amount so paid. He had now been told for the first time that the person who appeared in the late election petition case in Franklyn was the same as the returning officer who acted at the late election.

Mr Sheehan said he was not speakingfrom any party prompting. At the tame time, he considered it was very far wrong to appoint a registrar who had been hand and glove with a counsel for one of the candidates. Had the election come to a party rote they could not for a moment imagine •' that the Returning Officer so situated would give a fair and impartial vote. Ee hoped tho thing would not occur again. The Hon. Mr Dick said that had he known the facts of the case he wonld not have appointed the officer referred to. He had previously been a trusted officer of the Government, and the Government wag not aware that he had undertaken private practice as a solicitor.

Mr Holmes moved that the vote bo reduced by £1435. In Australia registration officers were paid by a fee of Is on each claim to vote paid by tho elector on securing the certificate of his right. He wished to see a similar system introduced hero. It had the double advantage of getting the electors placed on the roll free of cost to the State, and when the elector tendered his vole he had to produce the certificate, and by that means impersonation would be prevented. The Hon. Mr Dice objected, contending that the payment of a registration fee would ba opposed to the spirit of their franchise. The amendment was negatived, and the vote as printed passed. Audit office, £8732.

Mr Fbldwick proposed that the item audit of railway account (£1260) be struck out. Tho recent disclosures in connection with the Invercargill office showed that this department was utterly useless. He asked for an explanation of these defalcations. The Hon. Major Atkinson explained that customers of the railway were rendered their accounts iu tho usual way, and a clerk calling and getting payment, who chose to misappropriate tne money, it was quite impossible to discover the defalcations right off. In this case the defalcations came to light through one of these accounts being returned to the department. The Audit department could not be expected to go round to every customer and ascertain whether he had or had net paid. Mr Shbimski objected to the Railway department opening accounts at all. They ought to ba paid for on delivery. Sir Thomson- and Mr Smith entirely objected to such a course.

The amendment was withdrawn, and the vote as printed pasted, Reeistrar-Gereral and Government Statist, £81,561. Item —Registrar-General, £575. Mr J. 0. Beown proposed that the £25 increase be struck out. complaining that the department was badly conducted, and the information delayed until it was utterly melees.

Mr Htjbst supported the same view, describing it as by far the worst conducted of the Government departments. Mr Fish supported the reduction on the ground that £550 was the amount paid last year, and he considered that quite enough for the work done. The salary as it stood was & very handsome one indeed.

The Hon. Mr Dick, Hon. Major Atkinson, and Mr Sheehan supported the increase. On a division, the amendment was carried by 30 to 28, and the vote passed as reduced.

Mr Fish moved that the item £l4O Registrar of Births, &c., Wellington, be struck out. As Commissioner of Crown Lands he received £460, and he apprehended that was enough for the services rendered, Mr Peabbon moved that the item “ Registrar of Auckland," £325, be redneed £125.

Mr Holmes signed that to equalise the salary of this man with that paid to the Registrar at Christchurch, £2OO should ba struck off. He moved a motion to that effect.

The Hon. Mr Dick suggested that it wonld be better to raise the salaries of the registrars at Dunedin and Christchurch rather than reduce the salary of the Auckland officer. MV Sutton took execution to the sum of £SO paid the registrar at Napier as being E<s£V small,

The Hon. Mr Dick promised to be in a position to give fuller information respecting the other salaries and foes paid these officers to-morrow. He also promised that £SO would be pieced on the supplementary estimates for the Registrar of Christchurch, who he admitted appeared to be but poorly remunerated.

Mr O’Oallaghan contended that £SO added to Christchurch would not equalise the salaries. He thought that the Registrar at Auckland should be reduced. If the other motions were not carried he would move—- “ That the salary of that officer be reduced to £200."

Mr Seddon thought after what had transpired that progress should be reported. Negatived on the voices.

Mr Holmes withdrew his amendment. He did so with the view of giving the Secretary an opportunity of bringing down an uniform rate for the whole of these registrars. Mr Fbldwick pointed out that the Invercargill officer got only £25, whereas Oaznam and Timaru got £SO. Mr Connolly thought the best way was to report progress. The vote was not acceptable to the House. The Government might have an opportunity of re-considccing these items. He moved reporting progress. Negatived on the voices.

C»ptain McKenzie thought that the proposed items were most irregular. They were told that one officer received a largo salary, because he was an old servant, and for that reason others, who were not old servants, wore to receive equally high salaries. Mr Dodson thought the vote, as a whole, was most unsatisfactory, and would therefore move reporting progress.

The amendment for the reduction of the Auckland registrar’s salary by £125 was then put. The Ccmmittce divided on the amendment.

Ayes, 18 ; noes, 40. Mr W. White moved the vole be reduced by £75, making the salary £250, The Committee divided on the amendment. Ayes, 15 ; noes, 37.

The vote wne then put and passed. Progress was then reported, and the House rose at 12 40.