PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 280, 18 July 1874, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

QOLDMININGMnLIi. Mr. O'Neill asked why thekGovernment did not cause'a Goldmining Bill\to be prepared and circulated throughout the Colony .three months before the commencement of this Session, in terms of a resolution of the House ?

Mr. Vogel rpplied that the Government, in considering the. matter, found themselves placed in an awkward position, becnuse of the difficulty to know what members representing Goldfields interests really desired. (Mr T.L. Shepherd: Hear.)' It was very difficult to propose any uniform legislation that ..-would please all, and the course the Government adopted under the circumstances was to take the Bill, which was the subject of so ■ much discussion, and with which so little progress was made laßt session, and send it down to jthe different Superintendents, inviting their opinions upon the subject, and the only replies yet received were not *„ i" ne Hi-gene necessity for fresh legislation. They therefore came to the conclusion that it would not be desirable on the part of the Government to propose any legislation on the subject this session. .'. Me saw by the ' Order Paper' that an hon. member had taken charge of the Goldfields Bill, which was before the House last session. While the Government had no intention of taking charge of the Bill, he hoped the session would be long enough.to enable the hon. gentleman to take the opinion of-the House upon the measure. BILLS Leave was given to Mr. T. L. to. 'introduce the Goldmining Bill, and to Major, Atkinson to introduce a Bill to- amend the Waste Land Regulations of Taranaki pro 'vince. IMPRISONMENT FOB DEBT ABOLITION. Mr. Vogel, in moving the second reading of the above .Bill, said it went as far in the direction of abolishing imprisonment for as at present it was supposed t->.be safe I and practicable to do. There were circumstances in respect of the existing law which could not be overlooked. The exceptions named in clause 3 were absolutely desirable. He would have much preferred that the Bill . had simply said imprisonment for debt should be abolished, but it.waß necessary there should be soine punishment upon persons who offended against a number of the laws of the colony. So also with acts of default by a trustee, and this he was advised, was the only way by which defaulting trustees could be dealt with. Defaulting solicitors came under ■ the same category, as did any default in payment for the benefit of creditors of any portion of salary. The measure was urgently asked for, though it was a large innovation, it was perfectly safe as it stood. Mr. T. B. Gillies had great pleasure - in supporting the Bill, andwas glad to find. the Government bringing it down' at such an early stage of the session. While agreeing with the object of the Bill, th<.:re were grave objections to its form. ; Instead of a Bill for the abolition of imprisonment it was a Biil to provide for imprisonment for default in making payment of sums of money. Then the Bill simply said " Imprisonment for debt is hereby abolished," the exceptions would have been unnecessary. Theßill rn^htbe' much simplified. He would give the Government every assistance in committee •to do so, but hoped a reasonable time would be allowed to lapse before it was committed.

Mr. Sheehan complained that no distinction was drawn between debts contracted honestly and those with which the element of fraud was mixed.

Sir J. C. Wilson inquired if the Govern', ment intended to bring down an Insolvency. Bill this session.

After some.observations by Mr. Wakefield, and by Major Atkinson. . Mr. Vogel sail that ho had not the slightest idea of taking another stage of the Bi'l that day, nor was there any desire to hurry it through the House. He would be very happy to give Mr. Gillies's suggested-alterations the greatest consideration. In a matter of suoh large moment the House would desire that the responsibility for the Bill should be borne by the Government, and it ought not to be a private member's Bill. It would therefre be for the Government to be properly nctvised concerning anynmendments suggested" It was for the House lo determine whether or not the session should be a long one. Go-

vernment had nearly all their Bills prepared, and-was ready to go on: with business rightthrough the session. The session need not be a long one ; but a few hon. members could. take a different view. The committal of the Bill might be taken on Friday, and if the hon. member for Auckland City was not then prepared with his amendments it might be arljouivied until Tuesday With regard to Mie question put by the hon. member for Heatheote, the Government did not intend to introduce an Insolvency Bill this session. Such a Bill was required by the country, but in view of the adversity of opinion on the subject in the different branches of the Legislature, it -would only be a waste of time to bring such a measure forward. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday.

MAEREWHSNUA POLLUTION CASE. , Mr. Steward asked whether the attention of the Government had been directed to a difficulty which had arisen on the Maerewhenua Goldfields, and the case pending as between Messrs. Borton and M'Masler and Howe and party, on the subject of the pollution of streams by mining operations ; and ■whether it was the intention* of the Government to bring forward a Bill during the pre-, sent session dea'ing wi'h .the question of riparian rights.—Mr. Vogel answered that it was not the intention of the Government to bring in such a measure during the present session. 4