PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 172, 21 July 1881, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, July 20. Tha Legislative Council met at 2 80 p.m. The Vagrant Act Amendment Bill (Colonel Brett) and the Licensing Bill were read a first time. Tbe Regulation of Elections Bill was read a second timß, on a division by 14 votes to 10. The Public Reserves Bill and the Employment of Femslea and Otherß Bill was read a third time. Tbe Public Companies Bill wsb paßsed through Committee with numerous amendments. All other buaineas was postponed, and the Council rose Bt 5 p.m. Th? House met at 2.30. M<- M-icao irew pave notice that be ■would move for tbß &ppoir>tmeut of & Committee to consider tbs b39t insane for establishing direct steaa com-monic-tiou wish EoglaD.l. R?p!yiD2 to qu!.'- lions, it was state) that the cower of iofiieting & penalty eqnal to 100 per cens on the rent due in tbe evert of a teDaot of Crown Land? in Nelson District tot "paying bis reni when it was da?, was conferred upo^ the Government by law. Tbe Government would, however, look into the iratt^r, wilh a view of providing soau; relif-f under Ih* circumstances. The law as it stood was sufficient to prevent the public health being endangered by impure milk supplies to cosiomers. The Boards of Health had power to inspect and to cleanse dairies; also, to takrt what action might other wise seem necessary to protest the public. The Government bad undertaken to subscribe £200 cowajd the ere -lion ot a flour mi 1 tor the Ngatipukiko Tribe at Whßkatene, an«J tr»e money would be paid on tbe work goin^ on. It was not proposed to brine in a Bill this seMion to legalize marriage with a decta3-d husband's brother. Tbe Government would make inqahies as to the necessity for introducing a Bill for the extension and operation of the law relating to goldfielot over tbe various water race reserves Tbe Government would ascertain •what could be done in the way of instruction the manner of tbe Waime* Water Race, that for tbe future i»l European and American miners who were residents of the Waimea and Stafford Mining Districts prior to the con abaction of the aaid water race, shall fcave a first right to the water from the race. At present their impression wae that one had as much right as tbe other to the water so long as they were ready JO p,ay, for it. It Would depend on circumstances wben the despatch from the Governor on Native affairs could b6 safely made public. "The debate on the No-Confidence motion was resumed. Mr Levestaco Bpoke Bgainst the Government proposes. They were of a nature which could not possibly recommend them to tbe country. To his mind they suggested tbe worst form of legislation- that could possibly be conceive!. They appeared to have been forced on the Government in pretty much the same way as retrenchment had been forced on them last session . Like their system of retrenchment, tbe Government's scheme of Local Government appeared to have beeu moat clumsily devised. The secret of good Local Government was to eet aside a fond for the use of tbe varioue localities; tbe same to be distributed in -accordance with some well designed scheme, and leaving tbe local bodies to expend the mon^y to tbe beat advantage. He objected to the cocstitut:o • of the proposed Board. He concorre; to a great extent in the a turn "sketched by Mr Saunderß, believing that Provincialism might be bo modified as to suit all their requirements. .He also objected to the proposed redaction of the Property Tax. For tfeese end other reasons, be snnouoopd bis intention of voting againei the .Government. Mr Collins spoke in favor of tbe Government. . The Colony bad under iie administration regained its social and political strength, and if the noConßdence motion was successful, it would mean a return to many of thf evils from which they had just escaped It would be onadvbabl" to disturb thf precant position of aflaiis He wae free, so fai as his constituency wa^ concerned, to set as he pleased, no -hiving been pledged in any way; and when he announced that he web going to vote f;r the Government, he did so in the exercise of his own judgment, on ibe point that their proposals were not . revolutionary, but were simply B t> endeavor to irake the instiiutiona they had more efficient To ask them to return to Provincialism was simply t( ask them to disinter e fossilised anima and feast on its carcase. After reviewing Mr S-underfc's proposals, be said the Roads Construction Bill would prove a great dood, inasmuch as it would enable outlying districts to lecpre a fair and equitable share of the expenditure. Mr Murray spoke in favor of the Government, stating that any objection which might exist against the Bill was of a nature which could easily be remedied is Committee. Mr Tarnboi! spoke in opposition to tbe Government, contending that the improved state of the Colony was not doe to the Ministry, but to the Colony's own elastic resources. He expressed the opinion that Mr SsunderV scheme was one excellently adapted to meet the requirement! of the colony. The House adjourned at 5*30 and resumed at 7 30. Mi Te "Wbeoro strongly condemned ihe propoeed rating of Native Lands. He said the Bill should be called the Mortgaging and Confiscating of Native Lands Bill. What the .Natives wanted was the power to manage their own affaire. ; Mr Tawhai objected strongly to Native Lands being taxed. The conduct of Major Atkinson reminded him of that of Ahab in coveting Naboth's vineyard. The Bill should hare a mill-stone tied to it, and be thrown into the sea 1000 milea from land so as to be no more heard of. He would vete for Mr Ormond's amendment. Mr Wakefield thought it was to be yegretted that the Native members had b^en go mißled as to the nature of tbe

Bill, when there were so many members about to have given them correct information. He and others on that side of the House, who had endeavoured to raise the question of local goYernment; during the early part of the session, entirely repudiated the action novr taken by Mr Ormond, who had associated himself with members who cared nothing for local government, but simply wished to oust or damage the Government, and who advocated the restoration of Provincialism. The proposals of the Government were the most reasonable and statesmanlike in the direction of local government yet made, and therefore he supported them, and opposed the proposals of Sir George Grey, and Mr Ormond's amendment. Mr Oimond's chief objection to the Government's proposals was that they would stereotype the County system he had bimselt established in IS7G. Mr Ormond's admission that he then made a mistake was creditable to his candor, but not like'y to inspire confidence in bis statesmanship, or to make the people regard him as a Bafe guide in politics. Next year he might find his present action a mistake. He accused Mr Ormond of acting unfairly in bringing the amendment forward without informing Ministers, although he believed he had informed the Opposition, and entered into an intrigue to defeat the Government. Mr Ormond positively denied the statement. Ho had not informed any member of the Opposition of his inten'ions. Mr Wakefield received the assurance with pleasure, but appearances had led him to the contrary conclusion. Mr Ormond's object seemed to have been to bully the Government into doing what he wanted under the penalty of being turned out. For himself he could have preferred to see the Government propose a bolder scheme to establish local bodies on a permanent basin, with greatly enlarged p jwere, but the proposals made tended in that direction, and therefore he accepted them He had not originally liked the county system, but he admitted it had in many respecta worked excellently. Had the Govern ment proposals been allowed to proceed without beiug intercepted by Mr Ormond's amendment they might have been moulded into excellent form or else withdrawn after full discussion, which would have afforded material for preparing a better scheme during the recess. If the amendment was carried a dissolution would have to take place without even the redistribution of seats. Mr Ormond must have well known this would be the effect. He ridiculed the idea of Mr Ormond being able to form a Minis'ry out of the Opposition ranks under the present circumstances. After tracing the successful administration of the present Government, especially in Native Affairs, he declared hiß belief that it would be a great disaster to the country if they were turned out on such an issue as the present, one which they would be justified in placing before the country as au issue between restoring Provincialism and placing local bodies on a better footing, with large and well defined powers. On this issue, and with their successful administration to refer to, the Government could safely and with all confidence go to the country, but he would advise them not to go to the country, but to resign, and throw on Mr Ormond the responsibility of trying to govern the country better than they had done. Mr Ormond said Mr Wakefield and Mr M'Lesn had accused him of having been in confidential relations with the Government this session ; he absolutely denied this. Before the session, when addressing his constituents, he had clearly defined his position towards them ; he had never given them any reason to believe he was a supporter. Major Atkinson said he entirely disagreed with this statement. Mr Wakefield said he made the assertion on what he believed was entirely reliable information. Mr M Lean said he had understood Mr Ormond to be a Government supporter. Mr Eolleston said he had been on intimate terms with Mr Ormond, and certainly the nature of their communications caused him much surprise when he found Mr Ormond in the position he had now taken up.