PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 166, 14 July 1881, Page 2

P AR L I AMEN T A RY.

WELtiNeTON, Wednesday night, tn the Legislative Council to-dajr, Mr Wbitaker, replying to Colonel Brett, said that in filling up the Citil Service vacancies the Government gave prefarenca to those who had suffered by reduction. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2 30. Mr Pitt gave notice to move tbat Bailding Societies, under the P»operty Assessment Tax, should only be (aJced on net profits. Mr Bunny presented a petition prayirg for compensation for injuries suslained by Mr A. B. Jackson in consequence of the Rimutaka railway accident. Replying to questions, it was stated tbat the Government had no power under any Act to prevent Juvenile Theatrical Performances, and they knew of no reason why such a power sbould be sought.— The Go vernment had under consideration the report of the Committee bu Mr 3 Mansford's petition, whicb report recommended tbat they should insist upon Civil Servants in future insuring their lives to au amount equal to one year s pay.— The Government intended to make provision for resuming nominated immigration, subject to certain restrictions and conditions. — All applications received for forms of claim to vote had been attended to, and it was a mistake to say that an application from the Grey Valley had been neglected. — A map showing the proposed new electoral districts was in course of preparation, tnd would be ready shortly. — The Government waa preparing a plan to utilise postmasters for the issue of miners' right?. The foll.wing Bill was introduced and read a first time:— To amend the Law of Evidence. Mr Oliver moved that a Committee ba appointed to enquire into the management and working of the New Zealand railways, and to report their opinion on any changes which may seem to them desirable to introduce ; the Committee to consist of Messrs Wood, Ormond, Kelly, Shephard, Saunders, Bunny, Richardson, Wright, Macandrew, and the movef. Mr Hall supported the motion, stating that the Governmtnt felt mare valuable information would be elicited which could not be got through tbe ordinary official channels. lir Macandrew characterised the question as too comprehensive to ba dealt witu officially in tbe short time that would be at the disposal of the Committee. Mr J. B. Fisher supported the motion, suggesting that it be an instruction to the Committee to enquire into aad report as to the completion of railway lines and railway works. Mr Richardson thought the Committee would be useless if not dangerous. Mr Wood agreed that the Committee would be able to do no real good in the time which would be at its disposal. Mr Bastings argued that if these lines were to he made a success they would hare to be placed under the control of a Board separate altogether from the Government, and he hoped action would be taken ia that direction before the session closed. The .motion was withdrawn. Mr Stewart moved that a Committee be appointed to enquire into and report on the reductions and removals in the Po!icß force of the colony during the last twelve months, with power to call for persons and papers and. report within one month; the Oommittee to consist of Messrs Colbeck, Harris, Pitt, Hirst, Sbrimski, and the mover. Mr Rolleston opposed the motion. If the House interfered in these matters it would tend to disorganise the whole force. {A sum of £50,000 bad beeu saved by these reductions, and he thought thac the Housa might well leare the whole matter iv the hands of the Gorernment. Mr Reeves, in supporting the motion, charged the Government with favoritism in making reductions, and promised, if afforded an opportunity, to make good his imputation . Mr Hall said that after the imputation made of favoritism, were the House to agree to the motion, it would be equivalent to a censure upon the Government. Mr Stewart said that what ha complained of was that the Government by its action had defeated the real purposes of retrenchment. The House divided :— Ayes, 30 j Noes, 31. Motion lost. Mr Hall intimated that at &30 p.m. he would move the adjournment of the House, as he understood that would ba consulting the convenience of the members. Mr Pyke aaid he would oppose it, as they came there to work, not to attend Governor's balls. The House adjourned at 5.30. and resumed at 7.30. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners' Bill. He explained that its object was to adroit to the Bar all persons of good character who could pass the examination in law. This had long been in practice in America, and it worked most admirably, opening the study of the law to a class of persons now debarred, and would, he believed, prove most beneficial in its effects in this Colony. The Hon Mr Hall said he sympathised with the object of the Bill. He thought admission to the Bar should depend rather on results of examination than on having served a certain number of years in an office j at the same time the Bill was rather crude, as it left the examination to one man. ! If a man had a good knowledge of law he certainly saw no reason why he should not be allowed to practise it. He would support the second reading, and amendments could be made in Committee. Mr Reeves said the judges were to prescribe the standard, not one judge ; the single judge was only to see that the prescribed examination was passed. Sir George Grey, in replying, concurred in this view. The Education Reserves Act, 1877, Amendment Bill was considered in Committee. Messrs Bastings, Pyke, De Lautour, and others supported, and Messrs Sheehan, Speight, Whitaker, and others opposed the Bill. Progress was reported. " The Hon Mr Hall moved the adjournment, and Messrs Pyke, Wallis, and Reeves opposed it. The House divided : Ayes, 30 ; Noeß, 13. J ' The House adjourned at 8.55.