PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 264, 29 July 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LEGIST,ATI V E COUNCIL. Wellington, Thursday, July 2S. The Council met at 2.30. Mr Whitaker informed Mr Buckley that Messrs Seed and Batkin’s report on the South Island would be received in a few days. The Imprest Supply Bill was read a second and third time. The Adoption of Children Bill was read a third time by 22 to 6 votes ; and the Married Women’s Property Protection Bill was read a third time by 15 to 11. The Vagrant Act Amendment Bill, and the Hawke's Bay and Marlborough Rivers Act Amendment Bills were read a third time.

The Taranaki County Council Loan Bill was read a second time, and on the motion for a second reading on the Waitara Harbor Board Loan Bill, Mr Waterhouse moved that it should be thrown out, as there would be no security for the bondholders. The debate was adjourned at 5 p.m., when the Council. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, July 2S. The House met at 2.30. Mr Weston presented a petition from the le"al practitioners at Christchurch against the Legal Practitioners Act introduced by Sir Geo. Grey. Replying to a question put, it was stated that Government would take steps to prevent Chinese working on gold fields without miner’s rights, as provided for by the Mines Act, 1877. Government was not aware that Charles Reynold Tylden, of Auckland Provincial District had been bound over to keep the peace for 12 months, when they appointed him a Commissioner of the Peace. They had every reason for believing he was a very suitable person for the office. Mr Reeves gave notice that he would repeat the above question with the addition “That if Government found he had been bound over to keep the peace, what action would they take under the circumstances.” Messrs Seed and Batkin’s report had only recently been received, and Government had not yet considered it, but in all probability it would be of a nature which

would render it advisable to place it on the table of the House. With a view of the better protecting sealfish Government had under consideration a proposal to lease sealing rights at the Snares and other island where the3e fisheries were exposed to abuse. Government had no interest in the question of the Hon. Captain Baillie’s alleged disqualification. It was a matter for action on the part of the Legislative Council itself, and the law could be put into operation by that body if it thought fit.

Government would not consent to remove further restrictions provided for by section 5 of the Arms Act as to the sale and purchase of firearms, gunpowder, caps, and in so far as it applied to the Middle Island. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time Westport Coal Fields and Harbor Administration, (J. B. Fisher); to amend the Gold Duty Act; to amend the Mines Act, (Reeves) ; to amend the Contractors Debts Act, 1871, (Finn); Waimatc Race Course Reserves, (Studholme) ; Fencing, (Bryce). The No-Confidence debate was resumed by Mr. Wallis. He complained that by the action of the whips on both sides in fixing the division for that night they had placed members who still desired to speak at a disadvantage. He denied the statement set up that Maori land had not been benefited by the public works expenditure, and should not therefore pay rates. The fact was that these lands before the advent of Euronean enterprise were not worth a farthing per acre, whereas they had now acquired a good round market value ; that of itself was an answer to the objection referred to. He had no desire to see the »

Government out this session, or to pjpcipitate a dissolution ; still he had no cmlfidence in the Government as constituted. He would therefore vote against the amendment, and at the same time lie would continue in opposition to Government.

Tomoana complained that justice had not been done to the Maoris, and intimated his intention of opposing the Government. Mr Jones said the local bodies throughout the whole Colony were discontented with the proposals now before them, and with the present state of affairs. The local public works board would operate most inconveniently for the local bodies, and its proposed constitution was of such a nature that it was formed to demoralise the House at present. Both ho and his colleagues knew from experience that it was only the supporters of Government who could get the reasonable requirements of their districts attended to, and under the provisions of the Bill that evil would lie perpetuated and increased.

The debate was interrupted by 5.30 adjournment, Friday, July 20. Jn the House last night, Mr Jones tinned the debate, blaming Government its action re, telegraphists, clubs, favorities in police reductions, and about Patetere, regarding which lie said an inquiry would elicit facts to make a “Boss Tweed'* blush. Mr Pykc insisted that the country demanded a large measure of reform in local government, and was utterly disappointed in the Government proposals, which ho most strongly condemned. If the Opposition were not strong enough to eject Ministers they were strong enough to prevent them doing mischief, and the country would not submit to be governed solely from Wellington. Mr Seddon thought there should only bo one form of local body, to be called the Local Council, to be elected by large districts divided into ridings, and with power to administer everything except police, education, surveys, railways, machinery, prison, mining, and justice. There should be an elective Land Board. He would vote for the amendment in order to send the House back to the country as soon as possible, but ho did not disapprove of the Rating Bill. Mr J. B. Fisher strongly urged the necessity of decentralisation of administration and condemned the Government measures, especially the Roads Construction Bill,g<f 3( essentially vicious in principle. * The House then divided on the question that the Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill be now read a second time.

The following is the division list which took place last night : Ayes, 41.—Messrs. Allwright, Atkinson, Bain, Beetham, Bowen, Brandon, Boyce, Bunny, Colbeck, Dick, Fox, Fulton, Gibbs, Hall, >B. Hirst, W. J. Hurst, Hursthouse, Johnston, Kelly, Kenny, Levin, Mason, McCaughan, Murray, Pitt, Richardson, Rolleston, Russell, Saunders, Seymour, Shanks Stevens, Studholme, Sutton, Swan* son, Trimble, Wakefield, Weston, Whitaker, Whyte, Wright. Noes, 37.- —Andrews, Ballance, Barron, Brown, Delautour, Finn, J. B. Fisher, J. T. Fisher, George, Gisborne,Grey, Hamlin, Harris, Hutcheson, Jones, Lovestam, London, Macau drew, McDonald, Montgomery, Moss, Ormond, Pykc, Reeves, Reid, Seddon, Sheehan, Shrimski, Speight, Taiaroa, Tawhai, Tewhooro, Thomson, Tolc, Turnbull, Wallis, Wood. Pairs Ayes, McLean, Oliver, Moorhouse, Collins. Noes, Steward, Bastings, Tomoana, Shephard. Mr. London stated that having voted with his party against the Bill, lufcHfrcM now, for the benefit of his consffitcK n 7, vote for the Bill. ’ 'The Bill was then read a second time. Major Atkinson moved that it be committed to-morrow fortnight. Air. DcLautourasked if this was an indication that the Bill was to be withdrawn. If so they should say so at once, and not waste further time, Messrs. Moss and Speight spoke to the same effect.

Mr. Seddon moved that it be committed to-morrow week. Ho should now support the Bill. After some further discussion Major Atkinson said of course the Opposition always know better how to conduct tho Government business than the Government did. As long as they were on those benches however, they intended to conduct their business their own way. The Bill was ordered to be committed to morrow fortnight. The House rose at 12.30.