PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 232, 21 September 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

llOUSfi" OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wellington Wednesday. The House met at 2.30. to-day.

In reply to Mr Reynolds, Mr Bowen said that the Government would obtain the affidavits of Messrs Russell, Haggitt, and Macassey, in connection with Mr Suiythies' case before the committal of a Practitionerss' Act Amendment Bill, and lay it upon the table.

A return asked for by Mr Woolcock, viz , of all members of the Assembly who were apointed to offices of emolument during the last ten years, was promised by the Government.

A Bill to repeal the New Zealand Forests Act, was introduced and read a first time.

The principal portion of the afternoon was occupied discussing the following motions by Mr Larnach:— (l.) That this House will tomorrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider of an address to his Excellency the Governor, praying that an additional sum of money may he placed on the Estimates fur tlie purpose of defrayiug the expenses of members of this House in connection with their Parliamentary duties during the session. (•2.) That such an additional sum be estimated at the rate of £:H)0 for each memb'er,

The Premier said the Government would oppose the motion when it came on in committee.

Mr B urns gave notice o moye that members be allowed _os. per diem from the day the Parliament opened till it is prorogued. The Speaker put the first resolution singly. The discussion on both sides was animated. Mr Stafford said the motion was inopportune, and in any case really meant paying members al, the rate of .£9OO per year. A good deal ot objection was made to the Government not taking a more decided stand, and if 1 hey were going to oppose it still they ought to do so at this stage, and not wait till in committee; they would then at least save one discussion.

Messrs Pyke Stout, Tribe, Rowe, and Woolcock, spoke strongly in favor of the payment of members, as more likely to maintain the purity, independence and efficiency of Parliament than allowing the work of legislation tn fall into the hands of those who could aii'ord to go to Parliament without being paid.

Messrs Stafford, Swanson, Murray, Harper, Bowen, R. Wood, T. Kelly, Macfarlane, and Rolleston, all spoke against the motion.'

Mr Harper moved the previous question. A division was taken which was in favor of the resolution by 30 against 25. Several having voted for the resolution who said they would not vote for the second, the second was then withdravra,

On the motion of MrMacfarlane, a Bill to repeal the Woods and Forests Act was read the first time. ;

Mr Rolleston asked the Government if they could give the the House any information regarding, the cablegram in that morning's paper relating to the steam yacht Hinemoa, Mr G. M'Lean said the paper knew more than the Government about the matter.

The Speaker left the chair at 5.30. Thursday. Last night a very long discussion took place upon the Maori Representation Acts Amendment Bill. A number of members warmly supported giving the Maoris seven members instead of four as at present; others strongly objected to the double power of voting now enjoyed by Maoris. The Government wanted the Bill withdrawn until they could consider the whole matter of representation, Maori and European, during the recess at length. All the clauses of the Act were struck out except the eighth which was amended so as to secure the seats of the present Maori members during this Parliament (supposing no intermediate legislation takes place) as according to the present Act their term ends in October, 1877. . The only other business of interest was Mr Pyke's Gold Duties Act, 1872, Amendment Bill, the object of which was to reduce the gold duty from 2s to Is. After a great deal of debate a compromise wss come to, and the amount made is 6d, after which the Bill was read the third time and passed. The House adjourned at one a.m.