PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 174, 23 July 1881, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wbilwgton, July 22. , The legislative Council met at 2 30. i Mr Whitaker promised Mr. Nurse ] tbat enquiry should be made into the , l accident which occurred on the layerCBreill railway on Shturd&y last, The Back find Banker*' Bill and The Regulation o f Elections Bill were read a third tjmp and passed. T ! 8 Adoption o< C\ ildren's Bill, and th." Licensing Bill were both read o second lime. The Inspection of Machinery Bill, passed tbrough.Cooaaiiuee,and progress was reported on the Drainage Bill. The Council rose at 5 p.m. The House met at 2 30. M' 1 Reeves gave no: ice tbst he would move that an iajpost of 29 6 1 per ton be imposed upon all coal imported into the colony. Mr Murray pave notice (hat be wouWl ask leave to introduce a Bill to regulate the duration of Parliament ; the Bime to come into operation at the termination of the present Parliament. In reply to questions it was stated that the Still-water to Nelson Creek section of the Grey mouth Railway would cost £6000? and ti at the Government had net that amount to the credit of the Public Woiks Loan ; consequently they coold not .undertake the work at preEent. Information bad been received that theDitached Squadron would leave Sydney on the 23rd. They would not be allowed to land in Auckland until the expiry of the usual time, which would be the week after next. Arrangements had been made for convey ins the Roya! party to the Hot Springs via Taurange, -and, if desired, arrangements would he made for their accommodation at Government House, Auckland. Mr Gihbs resumed the debate on the No Confidence motion. He considers 1 that Road Boards bad done good service, and that the Counties system should be placed en a good footing. H» intimated bis intention of supporting the Government. Mr Reid admitted the present system was fairly pood, end be concurred generally with the proposals of the ~{2-6veTnm°nt 'o improve it, but he con tended that >h Government, as constituted, bad not the confluence of the, country. He complained against th> tr (?pvernment for having opgheted tb> ,Gx>ld^lda interest, -(specially on the 'Wqat'Coaßt of the * iddle Island. : *ySnat itey wanted' waa assistance in * making fresh discoveries, in constructing water races, reducing fees fomipet's rights from £l to 10s and thai "the Gove'Dmmf si ould in vsiioo> other ways promote their interests and industrial pureusite. He complaine: ihat th*y had been charged too high >. fee : for trip nee "f the GoverrmeoDiamond Drill. He also comphire that recorcnjenriaMODs of the Industries Commission had not been given tifact to. He vtouM vote agaicfit the Government, for he had no coiGdence i tbeir carrying out their proposal?. Mr Sfcrirneki spoke on the same side .He .charged the Government wiih having negl"-ct'd bis dibtact. He wbb opposed to the propos'-ts brou. ht dowc . and he charged the Government with dangling the Public Works' portfolio for the purpose cf securing support. The constitution of the proposed Local Works Board, was vicious, and wee framed with ihe view of Bfcuring increased support to the Government. Even although tha no-cofcfldenc'-Ijiotion wee not carried, the redistribution of seats, as proposed, would not br 'Carried. Ii was planned with the view of suiting the purposes of the Government party, as lor example a die affected portion of the Waikouaiti Biectorate, which was represented by a friend of the Government, had been cot eff and (Bcked on to his own con stitoency. He also complained o their partiality in carrying out re.tjreccbmerjt. Mr Hurstbouse criticised the reroaikc Kale by the previous- speaker talking -it out iill the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7 30. Mr Hursthouse continued the debate, jmd refening to Mr Wocd admitted iiio brilliant talents, but eaid that by unstable conduct he h&i dragged constitutional government through the mire. 'Instead of the fall which bad .tfken pKce in wages being an indicarifoaot stagnation, he thought they wopfd have to' fall lower before msnv industries could be properly carried or and real prosperity was established He stroDgly support* d the GdvemmeDi proposals as supplying a concrete foro of Loral Government. At the farce time there was, perbapp, too ranch government, for he did not think both County Councils and Road Board* were required, snrl, of the two, be pre ferred tbe Boad Boards. If any simple icbeme for opening up the country were proposed be would support it, bu in tbe meantime be wculd be with tin Government. What was really wamer was tbe maximum of funds with & jsßltfim.om 'of pfpeiprespj-nduure. H Hdvocfcted ''- Veffcfeliog tbe Trie&nisi Parlismen a Bill. . . Mr Guborne reviewed the hietory oi local government Jp New Zealand sine its settlement, and taid the proviccas ahoold have been improved, sot abolished. With tie proposal to rate Crowr Lands he agreed, and to some extern! also that of rstitg Native Lands, but . hjßjotally disagreed with tbe propose' method Jbf-^isfriboiing tbe funds by! means of a paid Bo*rd exempt from tin DUqualificstidn Act. Such a propose! was denjcralieing to the House He defended Mr Ormonde action in moving the amendment. It wf.B do satiifaction to diitricis like the West Cosit. "languishing lor local eeif-governojen Jfebe told tLot the general administration ofrtbe Government bad been satisfactory. Were lhe amendment to b< refecie'dj they would B.e tbe humiliating ipeclaele :of -another session passing Without anything being done, for even jfi^"eof.lßoie jwbo would vote againg; would vote against ths* rne&eure. Tbe Government inigrt, lon| sgo, have introduced tbe Retiigfribation Bijl without wailing for ih census return to secure mathematical precision ; they could, even last session, save remedied . tbe gross inequalities «d*tieg. He regretted that the late !&6>|frfffeent hed net left its Local tyibUW&tMw&w pigeon h^lee

when they went out, so thai the present Gov> rnrnent mi-ht have approprinted it as tbey bad a*i the other measures tbey bad passed. Ha would like fo see districts larger than the counties, but fmaller than the old pro- | viccee, v?iih power given to tbe inhabitants of each to elect a governing body having fu!) cud exclusive powers to d»al wi?h all lecal matters by legislation cr otherwise, huch bodice should also havo dtfiued revenues to appropriate, and eucb district should settle for iceeU tba nature of tbe subordinate bodies, whether Road Boards or otherwise. Mr Whytß agreed thst the Government proposals were cot perfect, but he objecsod to turning the Ministry out ■md having a dissolution and then another seßeioc, although be would not at all object to a second honorarium. At the B*o3B time, he did not ccc much chance of any improvement on the present occupants of the Government Benches, and he should therefore vote against the amendment.