PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 22, 2 June 1860, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, MAY 20. The Council met at the usual time 3 the Speaker in the chair. Present: The Speaker, the Superintendent, Messrs. Dodson, Eyes, Sinclair, Baillie, Ward, and Seymour. The minutes of two rreccding days were read and confirmed. The Superintendent moved- that the Council adjourn to Mr. Sinclair’s building. Mr. Seymour seconded the motion. The Council divided. Ayes—Messrs. Ward, Seymour, Baillie, Sinclair, and the Superintendent (5). Noes —Messrs. Dodson and Eyes (2). The Speaker called the attention of the Council to the t proceedings of certain members on Thursday last, who had taken it upon themselves to adjourn the Council when the rest of the members were a short time behind. He would inform them that in future be should declare all such proceedings to be null and void, as he considered that his time was the time by which the sittings of the Council should commence. The Council then adjourned to Mr. Sinclair’s building. REMOVAL OF COUNCIL FURNITURE. Mr. Dodson asked the Superintendent by what authority the Council furniture was removed from the Court House to the building in which they were then sitting. The Superintendent replied that the removal had been made for the convenience of members. Last Thursday, during the temporary absence of half the members, the Council was adjourned until to-day 3 he had, therefore, taken upon himself the responsibility of causing the furniture to be removed 3 and the Council had that morning shown their approval of what he had done by adjourning to the building they were in. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS. Mr. Sinclair moved that the StandingOrders be suspended/to take into consideration the remarks of the Speaker relative to the last day’s meeting of the Council. Mr. Eyes seconded the motion. The Speaker said, before the motion was put, he would explain that lie only intended his remarks to apply to future meetings of the Council. Council divided. Ayes—Messrs. Dodson, Eyes, Sinclair, Ward, Seymour. Noes —Mr. Baillie and the Superintendent. TIME OF COUNCIL MEETING. The Superintendent said that there were no two watches alike, and, as some one must keep the time for the proceedings to commence, the Speaker was the most proper person. The Superintendent moved, “ That until we have a public clock the Speaker decide as to the time for the proceedings to commence.” Mr. Sinclair seconded the motion, which was agreed to. CLOCK FOR COUNCIL CIIAMEER. Mr. Baillie proposed that I lie Superin-

tendent he authorised to purchase a clock for the use of the Council. Mr. Ward seconded the motion. Agreed to. PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. Mr. Seymour moved “ That the members of this Council receive no pay or emolument for their services as members. He believed that this motion would receive their cordial support, for it would ho in accordance with tbc economical plan which thry had laid down 3 'and ho was sure it would not detract from their efficiency, nor yet shut out good men, as nearly every settler was able to afford the little time that would bo required to attend the Council. Their meetings were more to be compared with parish vestry meetings in England than meetings in Parliament. If this motion were agreed to, they would not have a wise calculator telling- them that the time occupied by their sittings cost tbc province Is. per minute. It would be a bad precedent to pay members, and not becoming men who bad a proper care for their constituencies. Mr. Ward seconded the motion. He thought they ought themselves to set a good example as regarded economy. For himself, he would receive no pay, and would endeavour to prevent others from receiving any. Mr. Sinclair would support the motion on the ground that none of the present members of the Council should receive payment because they had, *beforo their elections, declared they would not accept payment 3 hut, on abstract principle, he doubted whether it would he best, as its operation, in many instances, might prevent constituencies obtaining the best men, who were as likely to he found in the ranks of those who could not afford to give their time gratis, or attend at a distance from their homes without their expenses being paid, as amongst others. Mr. Dodson said he thought it was a matter that concerned the constituencies. If they choose to send men who could not afford to spend the necessary time, they onglit to pay them. Agreed to. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BILL. Mr. Ward moved “ the third reading of the Executive Council Bill.” Mr. Seymour seconded the motion. A division ensued: Ayes—Messrs. Dodson, -Baillie, Ward, Seymour, and the Superintendent. Noes—Messrs Eyes and Sinclair. Carried. The bill was then read a third time, and passed. CATTLE BRANDING BILL. Mr. Seymour moved the second reading* of the Cattle Branding Bill. 3L*. Baillie seconded tbc motion. Mr. Sinclair said the bill was one that affected nearly every individual in the province. He thought that it ought to he printed, so that the views of the people likely to he affected by it might be obtained before it was passed, and not hurried through the Council. It might not be advisable to print all the bills 3 but lie thought that this, at least, ought to he made an exception. He, therefore, moved, as an amendment, that the bill he printed in the Marlborough Press, or otherwise and circulated, so that they might learn the opinion entertained on it out of doors. Mr. Ward said that if the amendment were carried before the bill had passed its second reading, it would retard rather than forward tbc business of tbc Council. Mr. Eyes thought that it would he better to order'the bill to be published after it had gone through the committee, for there might be amendments and alterations made, and it would be better to print it as amended. Mr. Sinclair then withdrew bis motion. On the motion of Mr. Seymour the Council went into committee on the Cattle Branding Bill 3 Mr. Ward in the chair. The bill having passed through committee, and several alterations and amendments been made, the Council resumed, and the chairman reported the bill, irith amendments. Agreed to. Mr. Sinclair moved that the Cattle Branding Bill, as amended, he printed in the next number of the Marlborough Press newspaper. Agreed to. AUCTIONEERS’ LICENSING BILL. The Superintendent moved the first reading of the Auctioneers’ Licensing Bill. Mr. Seymour seconded the motion. Agreed to. The hill was then read a first time accordingly. Council then adjourned until 11 o’clock on Wednesday. WEDNESDAY, MAY ,".0. The Council met at 11 o’clock 3 the Speaker in the chair. Present:—The Speaker, the Superintendent, Messrs. Baillie, Eyes, and Sinclair. Minutes of preceding meeting read and confirmed. BILL TO ABOLISH DOG NIJTSANCE. Mi*. Baillie, in the absence of Mr. God-

frcy, moved the second reading of the “ Dog Nuisance Abatement Bill.” Mr. Seymour seconded the motion. The motion was agreed to, and the Council then went into committee on the bill; the Speaker in the chair. WANT OF QUORUM. The Speaker resumed the chair at halfpast one, when it was reported that there were not sufficient members present to form a quorum. The Speaker then adjourned the Council until 11 o’clock next day. THURSDAY, MAY 81. The Council met at the usual hour; the Speaker in the chair. Present: The Speaker, the Superintendent, Messrs. Ward, Baillie, Eyes, Sinclair, Dodson, Seymour, and Godfrey. Minutes of preceding meeting read and confirmed. DOG NUISANCE ABATEMENT BILL. Mr. AVard moved the suspension of Standing Orders on lapsed questions, that the Council might go into committee on the Dog Nuisance Abatement Bill. Agreed to. Mr. Baillie moved that the Council go into committee on the Dog Nuisance Abatement Bill; the Speaker in the chair. Agreed to. The Council then went into committee accordingly. Council resumed, and the chairman reported the Dog Nuisance Abatement Bill, with amendments. Mr. Sinclair proceeded to move that the Council should not adopt any report from the committee on the Dog Nuisance Abatement Bill. The Speaker ruled that Mr. Sinclair was out of order. EDUCATION REPEAL BILL. Sir. Baillie moved the second reading of the Education llepeal Bill. Council divided. Ayes—Messrs. AVard, Baillie, Seymour, the Superintendent, and Mr. Crodfrey. Noes —Messrs. Eyes, Sinclair, and Dodson. Carried. Mr. AVard seconded the motion. The Superintendent said he had drawn up the Education llepeal Bill, and placed it before the house, because it had been found that the Nelson Education Acts-were not at all in accordance with the requirement of this province. The bill w r as not intended to retard the education of the youth of this province, for he should always do all in his power to promote so desirable an object. But in the Nelson acts there were several clauses which ho considered unjust, particularly the compulsory imposition of a rate of 20s. per year on every householder ; therefore, lie considered that it would be better to repeal them, and thus enable the. Council to pass another, or to make such provisions as would be more beneficial. Jilr. Eyes said he should oppose the bill unless more reasons were given for the repeal of the Nelson acts. The bills at present in force were better than no bills, though he did not entirely approve of them, and thought that many alterations might be made with advantage, but it was incumbent on every community to make some provision for the education of its youth. In other cases the Superintendent had substituted bills for those repealed; and unless he would promise to introduce an Education Act in the place of those proposed to be repealed, he should, as ho said before, oppose the hill. Mr. Dodson said lie entirely eoincidcd with the remarks of the last speaker. There was a school here, which ought to he supported. The Nelson act was not in force here until lately, and only then on a memorial being sent to the Central Education Board in Nelson from a public meeting convened for that purpose. Therefore it was not a compulsory act, and was brought into operation at the request of the inhabitants. Mr. AVard said that in the Estimates a sum had been put down by the Superintendent for educational purposes. Those Estimates had boon on the table of that house several days, and if honourable members had so wished they might have examined them, instead of adjourning the Council so often, and delaying its business. AVhat was called a public meeting was merely a meeting of a few individuals at the Beaver, for at that time it was almost impossible to call together settlers from other districts. The Superintendent, in reply, said he had no intention to bring in an Education Bill at present. AA'liat he proposed was, that the sum on the Estimates under the head “ Education,” should bo used for the purpose of repairing the present school, supplying books, slates, Ac., and giving a bonus to the schoolmaster; which assistance would he extended to other districtswhen required. If it were the wish of honourable members, he should have great pleasure in putting on the Estimates a larger amount. It was not for the purpose of retarding education that lie proposed to repeal the Nelson acts, but to enable them to take better measures. Mr. Sinclair said the Education Repeal Bill might do very well as a preamble for

another bill; for the Nelson Education Act was not in accordance with the requirements of this province ; but bad as it was, it was better than no hill. All the other provinces had passed Education Bills, and he thought they ought not to bo an exception. It would not be satisfactory for them to keep a school house only. They must pass some bill which would give them control over the schoolmaster, and determine what kind of instruction should be? given in the school —whether secular or religious. The Nelson hill did |not allow the teaching of any religious doctrine. Under the system proposed here anything might be taught —even mormonism, if the schoolmaster pleased. And further, if the schoolmaster were disapproved of, who had the power to turn him out? The process of ejection was a very difficult and expensive one; and neither the Superintendent nor his Executive would have power to eject him. He should like to see a better act substituted for the Nelson one, but preferred it to none at all. Mr. Godfrey said he should support the Education llepeal Bill. The subject of education had been a most vexed one in every Provincial Council where it had been introduced. If honourable members wished to pass an Education Bill, could they not draw up one themselves after this was passed, and so assist in getting through the business of the Council ? Mr. Seymour thought it better to have no act than one that did not suit them, The Nelson acts had caused dissatisfaction throughout the country. The school-master would not bo called a tenant, but was a G-overnment servant, and might be discharged at any time. Mr. Baillie said that in North America schools were established out of the public funds, and he had never heard that there was any difficulty in getting rid of schoolmasters if they did not give satisfaction. He thought if they were not paid they would leave quickly enough. In the part of North America he alluded to, lie believed a certain number of persons formed themselves into a committee, subscribed a sum of money, and then communicated with the Government, making themselves responsible for the good conduct of the schoolmaster they wished to appoint, stating the number of scholars they were likely to have, and the amount subscribed, to which the state added sufficient to remunerate a schoolmaster. On the question being put, the house divided. Ayes The ' Superintendent, Messrs. Grodfrey, AVard, Baillie, and Seymour. Noes—Messrs.Sinclair, Eyes, and Dodson. Motion carried. The Council then went -into committee on the hill; the Speaker in the chair. On the Council resuming, tho chairman reported the bill. STOCK REGULATION BILL. Mr. Seymour moved the second reading of the Stock Regulation Bill. The Superintendent seconded the motion. . Mr. Sinclair proposed as an amendment, that the second reading be postponed until Thursday, June 15, ancl that, in the meantime, it he printed in the Marlborough Press. Some discussion ensued, and the amendment was ultimately withdrawn, on all the members agreeing that the bill, with amendments, should ho printed when it had gone through committee. The motion was then agreed to. A motion that the Stock Regulation Bill should take precedence of other business for the next meeting of Council was also withdrawn, after some discussion. The Council then adjourned.

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