PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1244, 25 July 1872, Page 2

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, July 24. I The proceedings last night were unim-j portent. , ; The Sharebrokers Bill was passed; The 1 Drawbacks Bill was read a second time] The debate on the second reading of the 1 Life Assurance Bill was postponed. . To-day Mr Gillies obtained leave t( introduce a Bill to abolish imprisonmem for debt. The Government stated than they had a Bill to the same effect pre| pared. j Mr Creighton introduced a Permissive Bill. • i Mr Gillies moved that the Government be requested to bring down, at as early a date as possible, the measure promised last session for the purpose of dealing comprehensively with the whole sui>je ! ct of Provincial institutions^ and to define the functiona of Provincial Councils. In doing so he referred to the events of lasl session, which> culminated in a promise to bring down such a measure this session! He was surprised that there sere no indif cations of fulfilling that promise in the opening speech. Such a measure was absolutely necessary, and it was also necesr sary that the powers of the General Government should be defined, since it was found that four new Ministers, some with fresh titles, were appointed without the House being consulted, when a member of the Ministry also retained the office of Superintendent, arid when new bfficers,such as theUnder-Secretary for Gold Fields were appointed withbutthe consent of the House. No one familiar with finance could fail to see i hat before next session some i of the Provinces would be obliged to seek assistance from the General Government to discharge their functions. General .Government action and legislation had so crippled the Provinces that it was a sub* ject of grave anxiety as to how .they could exist. Some in the North Island were at the last gasp, and only the existence of the Land Fund enabled those in the South Island to discharge their functions. Unless prompt steps were taken, some of the Provinces would be strangled by want of means. If a Bill were brought in to render existing institutions more efficient, he would warmly support it, but if it pro*

posed further to cripple .thym/oir evaded conferring powers of local administration ; on all parts of the Colony, he would

oppose it. ■■.■•.•"•■■;••■ ""' ■ -^W ■^S. '■ Mi? Yogel, after a t>rief reference to itfe^ Minisfeial appointments, which he denied to be of an unusual character, but which could be better 'discussed on-adistihclr issue, said he fully admitted having pro? mised such a Bill as Mr Gillies asked for, nor had the Government overlooked the promise, but, after' most mature consideration, they had arrived at the conclusion that under present circumstances it was not necessary or desirable to introduce such a Bill. After reviewing the circumstances which liad led to the promise being' made, he said the Superintendents and their Executives had, during the past year, worked much more harmoniously -with the Government' in .carrying out' their policy. The Provinces had also shown a desire on their own part to reduce their scale of expenses, and one at least, Canterbury,, had "proposed' extensive changes in the system of provincial administration. There was, therefore, now no pressing necessity for the Government to force a change, and they deemed it better to allow proposals for any change to emanate from the Provinces themselves. Furthermore, the' outlying districts were now contented, and no longer clamoring for interference from without. To define the powers of. the Proviuces, and to transfer the balk of legislative powers to the Assembly would necessitate the Parliament: sitting nearly all the: year. Individually, he did not think that the termination of the legislative powers of Provinces was' approaching, but that perhaps the time would come for the division; of the Colony into two provinces, with larger legislative powers. This was only his individual opinion. After a careful consideration of the whole subject, the Government intended to introduce a bill to enable the Provinces to legislate freely on certain 3ubjects. Regarding their powers to deal fully with these at present, doubts had been raised. Amongst these subjects were the, scale of Road Boards, appeals from rating, . impounding and fgffcifig," trespass; &o: The -Bill' would remove any difficulty regarding the. establishment of courts of judicature and the necessary legislation on such subjects. The Government were also preparing, but it was doubtful if it would be ready this session, a Bill to consolidate, the law relating to Road Boards on a similar principle to the Municipal Act, and; like it, it would be divided into parts, the adoption of which would be optional in each case. He denied that the Provinces had been really financially crippled by the action of the Colonial Go-' verament, although their revenue had been apparently diminished by the Colony paving the interest and sinking fund direct. ■ On Mr Sheehan's. motion, the debate' was adjourned to Wednesday.