PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 203, 26 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, Wednesday night. The House met at 2.30. Mr Bowen reported that at a conference of both Houses it waa agreed that election petitions should be tried by two Judges of the Supreme Court, and in the event of a diversity of opinion, the decision should be in favor of the sitting member. Mr Hutchinson gave notice of motion that the ten, per cent reductions should not apply to salaries of £150 a year and under. Replying to questions put, it was stated that if the occasion arose at Okarito, provision would be made for lighting the harbor, and for judicial, telegraphic, postal, and other public requirements of the district.— An examination had been made, and it was found that only a very few railway employees were afflicted with color blindness. In future, notice in that respect would be taken of persons applying for employment on the railways. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :— Native School Sites Bill, and a Bill to amend the Financial Arrangements Act, 1875. The Beer Duties Bill was recommitted, with the view, of reconsidering clauses 38 and 51. In Committee, clause 38 was amended by the addition "and ou each cask shall be similarly marked the number of imperial gallons it is capable of holding ; " and clause 51 was struck out. The Bill was reported with these amendments. On the motion for the third reading, Me.srs Macandrew, Pyke, and Reeves protested against the measure, the former suggesting that as an appropriate title it sbould be called a Bill to Discourage Local Industries, aud to Inflict Pains and Penalties on Brewers. The motion for the third readiug was carried, and the Bill passed. Mr Hall said that after the reductions made in the Beer Tax, the Government could not afford to go on with the exemptions proposed by the Property Assessment Amendment Bill. They would ask that the Bill be further considered in Committee with the view of carrying the amended schedule. He would ask the House to resist any attempt at reductions or exemptions, for as things had transpired they could not possibly afford it. In Committee, Mr Saunders moved that clause 2 be amended so as to make the exemption apply to farm implements, drains, water channels, agricultural implements, dairy cattle, sheep (not exceeding 1000) in possession of one person. After discussion, Mr Hall moved that progress be reported, stating that he would endeavor to simplify the schedule in some other way. Sir G. Grey objected. Tbe debate was interrupted by the 530 adjournment. Thursday. Last evening, after considerable debate in Committee on the Property Assessment Bill, Sir George Grey said this taxation was rendered necessary simply by tbe maladministration by the Government of tbe native lands. The Attorney-General, after beiug rejected by a constituency, sat wroDgfully in the Upper House, and it waa his dealings with the Patetere that had rendered this taxation necessary. Such jobs as the Patetere and Murimotu werj the cause of the poverty of the country. They should now have a land and income and wool tax instead of what was proposed. Sir G. Grey waa once or twice called to order while speaking.

i Mr Moorhouße denounced Sir G. Grey as a mischief maker, setting class against class. He was utterly corrupt, and it waa high time that a stop was put to his humbug, for he was continually talking. After some further discussion the motion for reporting progress was carried by 43 to 29. Mr Hall, in Committee, moved resolutions approving of the employment of three agents for the conversion of stock at tbe remuneration of one-twelfth of one per cent. He described the advantages of inscription, and spoke of the special fitness of Sir P. Juiyan, Mr Sergeant and Sir J. Yogel to perform the work. The latter would in that case resign the Agent Generalship. Mr Stevens moved an amen 'ment that no conversion should take place till the House approved of it and the terms proposed. .He considered the appointment of these agents entirely unnecessary. Mr Ballance thought the whole matter sbould be left over till next year. Very little advantage was likely to result to the colony from conversion except under exceptional circumstances. He could not vote for the motion or amendment. Messrs Moss and Montgomery also urged that the subject should be postponed for a year or so. Mr Reader Wood moved the adjournment of the debate, and tho House rose at 12.30 a.m. The House met at 11 o'clock this morning. Tbe following bills were read the second time and passed through Committee read the third time and passed: — Native School Sites; Canterbury Roads Ordinance Amendment and Extention; aud Lodgers Goods Protection. The Special Powers and contracts Bill was committee. The clause authorising the issue of Volunteer scrip to certain members of the Auckland Naval Brigade was struck out ou a division of 30 to 20. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Wellington Foreshore Bill was read a second time.