PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 175, 6 August 1874, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, August 5. . Iv the debate on the Forests Bill .*- last night, Mr Reid opposed it. He admitted that tbe measure had a good . object in view, and was much required, . and that the Premier deserved the thanks of the country for bringing it forward, but he thought that tbe machinery should be left to the provinces to carry out tbe work. The Premier, in reply, made a forcible speech in defence of the Bill, ' and was particularly severe upon I Messrs Fitzherbert and Bunny, who, he said, practised ways that were dark and trickß tbat were vain, Mr Fitz- ! herbert being like tbat ravenous and ferocious tree, the blue gum, which would not allow any other tree or shrub to live alongside it. He was tbe blue gum of New Zealand. Mr _:'. Yogel pointed out tbat the colony during the last few years had spent nearly three and a half millions of colonial money in the North Island, while the money raised by the provinces in that Island only amounted to something less than half a million, and in consequence, tbat tbey were obliged to expend hundreds of thousands from the Middle Island on works which should be defrayed out of the provincial funds. The only remedy for thiß wan to sweep the North Island provinces away altogether. He agreed io take out the clauses regarding tbe forest land and insert one inviting the provinces voluntarily to hand over to the colony portions of their lands for forest reserves. The Bill was read a second time, and will be committed on Friday. The Naval Training Schools Bill was read the second time. In both Houses to-day Select Committees were appointed to inquire into ft breach of privilege oa the part of the Tribune newspaper iv publishing an Auckland telegram purporting to be evidence given by Judge Ward before the Ward-Chapman Committee. The business this afternoon was generally of a formal nature, sod possessing little or no public interest. The recommendations of the Speaker on the Manawatu-Rangitikei claims are to be considered by the House on Tuesday.