GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2610, 18 August 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[fbb pebss association] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Thursday, August 17. THE THOSNDON EBOLAMATION BILL, This Bill came from the Lower House, and was read a first time. THS WHITE CUBES MUBDBB. In a discussion on a motion by the Hon, Mr Mantell, The Hon. Mr Whitakbb said Weteri Te Benga had left Wellington suddenly, in consequence of an intimation by Mr Bryce that the nephew of the Rev. Mr Whitley, who was murdered at the White Cliffs, intended to take out a warrant against him. bailway construction and land act BILL. Amendments made by the House in the Railway Construction and Land Act Amendment Bill were agreed to. LAW CONSOLIDATION BILLS. The following Bills were read a second time Savings Bank Act, 1858, Amendment Bill 5 Supreme Court Bill; Court of Appeal Act Amendment Bill; Law Amendment Bill; and original Law Bill. AUCKLAND COLLEGE, On the motion for the committal of the Auckland College Bill. The Hon. Mr Kbynolds moved that it be thrown out, but, after a long debate, only four voted for the amendment against 27 who supported the Bill. The Council adjourned from 6 till 7 30. EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m, AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OOLLBGB BILL. This Bill was, after considerable discussion, passed through Committee with amendments. The third reading of the Bill was fixed for to-morrow. The Council rose at 10 minutes to 10 p.m, HOUSE OF RBPBB3BNTATIVB3. Thubsday, August 17. The House met at 2 SO. QUESTIONS. Beplying to Mr Holmes, The Hon. Mr Johnston said the rate for goods and timber and the fares for passengers jetween Christchurch and Lyttelton were reasonable, and the Government oonld see no necessity for reduction. If they were higher than they were at Fort Chalmers, the reason was that at the latter place railway carriage had to compete with carriage by sea. Beplying to Mr Holmes, The Hon. Mr Bbyob said the Government understood crimes of violence at Christchurch were not quite as common as they had been. They were, however, too common, so much so as to lead him to believe either that Christchurch criminals were particularly bold and audacious, or else the police were particularly inefficient. He proposed taking steps for satisfying himself on the point at an early date.

Replying to Mr J. Buchanan, The Hon. Mr Johnston said the railway tariff would be revised, and if it was found necessary the timber carriage from Makatoko to Napier would be reduced. The carriage of . timber had risen from 6000 ft last year to 16,000 ft this year, and that did not seem os if the rate was prohibitory, Beplying to Mr Barron, The Hon. Mr Dick said that the Governme it was aware that the Industrial School, Oaversham, was dangerously overcrowded. Under the Bill whioh had passed this House the overcrowding would be relieved by the boarding out system. Still the buildings and grounds were most inconvenient, and steps would be taken to erect new buildings at Sea View. NATIVE CLAIMS. On the motion of Mr Macdonald, a Bill for the Settlement of Native Claims in the Mohaka and Woikaia Districts was read a first time. HOKITIKA HIGH SCHOOL. In committee on the Hokitika High School Bill, Mr Pbtrib moved a variety of amendments, with the view of getting the situation of the school left an open question, and also with the view of reducing the sum available for its establishment. These were all negatived on divisions. Debate interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment, EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. BILLS DISOHABGBD. On the motion of Mr Bbddon, the following Bills were discharged from the Order Paper :—Mining on Harbor Reserves; Mining on Education Reserves; and Mining on Water Race Reserves Bills. CHAIRMAN OP COMMITTEES. _ On the motion by the Hon. Mr Dick that 001. Trimble should, in the unavoidable absence of Mr Hamlin, take the chair, Mr Sheimski objected, complaining of the discourtesy he had already received at that member's hands while in the chair, and the irregularity of ruling. Mr Turnbull also complained of the irregularities on the part of 001. Trimble while in the chair. He proposed as an amendment “That Mr J. W. Thompson do take the chair.”

The Hon. Major Atkinson »ngge»ted that the remarks made by Mr Bhrimski ibonld be withdrawn. The fact that a ruling of the chairman had not been supported by the Speaker was no reason why that particular person should be disqualified from the chair. Mr Shbimski said he felt rather keenly the action of Colonel Trimble while in the chair j however, he would withdraw his remarks. Mr Sheehan said this was a matter with which the Opposition had nothing to do, and he did not think they concurred in the action taken. Also, he thought the motion should be withdrawn.

Sir Georgs Grey thought it should not be withdrawn. He felt very strongly on the ruling given by Colonel Trimble on the previous evening. Its tendency was to deprive them of their rights. Ha blamed the Government for not having interfered to protect the House in its privileges. Colonel Trimble had said ho would allow no one to contest his ruling, but if that ground was tenable then they might say farewell to those privileges. It was no doubt duo to the want of knowledge, still that only showed that they should be more careful of whom they put into the chair.

Mr Tounbttix said that as Mr Thomson wa» not in the House, he had, therefore, no alternative but to withdraw the motion on the question of the withdrawal. Sir G. Obey objected, and the Speaker ruled it could not be withdrawn. Sir J. Hail said that it wa» lowering to the dignity of the House, when a member could not got w hat he wanted that he should immediately call out that the privileges of the House were in danger. The case in which the ruling complained of was given was not by any means a clear one, and he was not at all surprised that the ruling on the spur of the moment should have been given as it was. There was no danger to the privileges of the House, as menus were provided for appealing against any ruling of the chairman to the Speaker. Mr Seddon said that last year the previous speaker had moved that the late member for Totara should be fined £2O when he was in the act of taking steps to have the chairman’s ruling referred to the Speaker. He was about the last man in Parliament who should have spoken as ho did. Ho also complained of the arbitrary rulings on the part of Colonel Trimble. Mr Fish, in the absence 'of Mr Thomson, moved that Mr Feld wick take the chair. The liberties of the country ought not, as they were last year, be dependent on the cool refections consequent on the Upper House, They could have no faith in the inspirations of suoh moments.

I Mr Lbykstam seconded the amendment, and spoke in eopport of it. Ur Wbston, although belonging to the Opposition, could not endoree the blame thrown on 001. Trimble. 001. Teimblb combated the charges of discourtesy preferred against him. When he gave the ruling complained of, he was careful to explain how that ruling might be reviewed by the Speaker. Moreover, he lost no time in ascertaining as to whether or not the ruling was in accordance with the opinion of the Speaker, and on finding that it was not, he lost no time, even at the loss of a little personal dignity, in putting the question right.

Mr J. Buohajtan said that be thought that Colonel Trimble was out of harmony with the spirit of their institutions. They were there to hare freedom of speech and discussion, and he did not think that Colonel Trimble understood what that freedom meant. The Hon. Mr Bbtoe defended Colonel Trimble, asserting the fact that he took the earliest opportunity to put his ruling right, and said that he was wholly in harmony with their institutions.

Sir Geobgb Grey passed a high enlogium on Mr Fish, stating that he had no doubt that he would before long occupy a leading position in Parliament. He said that became

he had heard reflections cast on that member for the action he had taken on this occasion. He had little doubt that these reflections were to a great extent actuated by jealousy that so young a member should occupy such a commanding position. He denounced the action of Colonel Trimble as an attempt to tamper with the privileges of the House, and was referring to the taxing proposals of the Government, when The Speaker interfered, and ruled him out of order. In continuation Sir Geobgb Gbby said he was denied an opportunity of defending his position. He could only say that he bad been ruled against wrongly, and with that remark he would sit down. The Hon. Mr Johnston said that the previous speaker professed himself to be the working man’s friend. He had, however, to remind them of that gentleman’s proposal to bring out 9000 paupers a few years ago. He was about to refer to other acts of maladministration on the part of Sir George Grey when he was ruled out of order.

Mr Fish withdrew hie amendment, and on the original motion being put, Mr Hubsthottsb said that the difficulty was due to the faulty nature of their Standing Orders. He adviaed 001. Trimble not to take the chair after what had transpired. The Standing Orders should so be altered that the ruling of the Chairman when challenged should stand referred to the Speaker. The motion that Col. Trimble now take the chair was then put and carried on the voices. ooeonehs’ aor ambkdkknt bill. In Committee, the Hon. Mr Dick moved as an amendment that the number of jury to be summoned upon a Coroner’s Inquest be six persons, of wham four shall be agreed, rather than of twelve, as at present. The clause was passed, subject to the provision of five out of the six agreeing upon a verdict. The BUI was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed, LAW PBAOTITIONBE3 Bill, On the motion for the third reading of Sir George Grey’s Law Practitioners Bill, The Hon. Major Atkinson said that the Bill should be postponed, as a Bill in the same direction, proposed by the Government, had come down from the Upper House. The only difference was that general knowledge, as well as a knowledge of law, was required. Mr Holmbs denounced the Bill as calculated to degrade the profession. Clause 8, authorising the appointment of a legal advocate, he denounced most emphatically. It was calculated to foster a mass of tonters. With respect to the rest of the Bill, ho was prepared to accept it. He moved the recommittal of the Bill, with the view of getting clause 3 expunged. The debate was interrupted by the halfhour adjournment. On the House resuming, Mr Hutchison advised Sir George Grey not to accept the suggestion to postpone his Bill. There was great fear that the Government Bill wonld not pass this session. After considerable further discussion on the Bill, progress was reported, and the House rose at 2.2 a.m.