PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 185, 5 August 1881, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wfliington, August 4. To ikp T ecip\-.i\v<- Council to-skv, T> A 2 ti -vi if- -r 8 coci re dii t of :i e Education Act Amendment Bin, *?t>ich allowa of Bible reading. Sir Whit&kir moved the previous qarsuon. ■After a short debate, Jba second racing of the Bill was carried by 18 to 12. . .... The Wairai a Harbor Board Loan Bill was read a second time by 15 to 13. The Medical Practitioners Society Bill was' read a second time on a division of 20 to 6. The Council rose a» 5 p.m. The House met at 2 30 p.m. Mr S'eveos movt-d that the report o/ the ComrT idee on the Church of Eog* lard in N^w Zealand Trustees Incorporation Bii! be adopted. Mr Sbeehan obj-eteJ, stating that be desired to see the whole of these Church endowments looked into, with the vis- w of ascertaining how they *ere being dealt with. Mr Stewart supported the motion, statiop th*fc «he provisions of the Bil: were meant to apply exclusively to Otet'o. Sir George Grey suggested that tbrBill should Bland ' over until the next meeting of the General Synod. Although classed as a private Bill, it was one which affected the whole colony in a greater or lesser degree. Mr Taomscn moved that it be remitted back to the Committee, to take fresh evidence. Mr Srevens explained the object of the Bill to be th<j incorporation oi trusts with respect to the diocese. -Mr Pitt said that the objects of the BUI were objected to by the dioceses of boib Nelson and Wellington. The Ho'jss iiividtd oa the original motion— Ay?? 25, N^-* 33. Og the q -s '\iitt i»r reeoenmittel of the Bill, Kb, Hta^e divided — Ayes 31, Noes 27. Ordered to be lent baok to Committee, . The Hororaia Water Raca Bill was read a second time. Tea notices were given of intention to introduce Harbor Board Endowment Bills. * Mr Finn gave notice that he would ask whether the Resident Magistrate and Warden at Kumara did not on a recent occasion open the Court for the transaction of business between, 10 jj ra. acd 4 a 4 ra,, and whether he did not daring snch "hours take the evidence of certain girls of the age of 10 and 15 years, and also at 3 a.m. issue e warrant for the arrest of an accused person ; acd if eo, what action the Governmect intend taking under the circumstances ? Replying to questions, U wbs stated that it waß intended to bring down th; Public Works statement cext week. Tie Police and ArniaS Constabulary anifcrtoß were casoufaotured out oi Cbioniul-triade cloth. They wore tendered for, and the "present price paid was £3' 12a 63. Tbe GoverEmect would attend to the suggestion thai J.P.s should be appointed* at Cfcarleeton and Lyel!. J A Bill web in preparation for dealing with Netive Reserves generally, TtMer '-which provision would be made recardsng tbe macagement of theaf reserve sat Greymoath. 'The Tiraaru Mechanics' Institute Act, 1877, Amendment Bill passed through all its remainicg stsges; and tha.Honee aojoorced tt 5.30 end resumed at 7.30. Mr Shiioitki moved the second readlDg of the-Pecsions Bill. He had no wiBD to deprive anyone of what wae justly due, but recent revelations showed the necessity for exercising control to prevent abuse in the matter of, pecsiocg. The Bill was not prcpbßed to be retrospective, but (o prevent in future each scandals as had occurred in the past. Mr Halt ebjeotcd to the details of tbe Bill, and he interfericg with rights which existed. It would be a breach of faith to paes this Bill. - Mr Ballance agreed in cocdemning ebythiDg in the nßture of repqdiaiicn, but contended that the Bill did sot .contemplate anything of the kind. All. that wBBBBked-wea that before a peclion was grattei, Parliament should be informed of the basis on which the pjeaeion was computed. This could not prejudice the just or legal rights of anyone. Mr M'Leatj thought that a much mere comprehensive measure would probably be found necessary when the P6bHe--Acoqun!e Committee reported on tbe eu? jecti The present Bill was defective is na^y repecie. rMr CcUies did tvn agree with Mr Bsliance's ioferpretodon of tbe Bill's meaning. Ha thcaght tbe Bill amounted to repudiation of all pensions i» progress of accruing. "Sir George Grey insisted on the jußtice of all papers relating to ft pension being plsca before P*rli»ment before soy pension it granted. Udlrwfßl.pfiUiioßß bad already been granted; iq parsua'nee of illegal arrangements. ; I'i&T HursthOGße supported the Bill na9er the belief that it would cot prejadioe aay legal rights. -3lr Bowen said that after tbe expt»&atioDS given as to what tbe Bill tj&jly, Biooe4 at, he saw no aerfoui objeftion to it. It could be made better in Gommittee. - Mr Sbeeban supported the Bill, as it w«5 right Perliament ehoald know the r%Bßon of a pension being granted before it wob granted.. He oondemned t^epenaion system altogether. : ■" Both Mr Kelly and Mr Sbephsrd aapported the principle of the Bill. Mr Ss^ndere thoghi the law abould be bo distinct on the subject that any persons entitled to a pension should be able to jet it as a raaUer of rij?ht without eeking favor of eUher House or Govcromeni. He wsa, however, altogether eppoaed to p?nsim-3. -. Mr Brown .regr<-uod ih^t wbfn pension rights were v?.luf:J ia J872, tbe claims bad cot all been fought out. It would beve been the cheapest method of procedure. Mr Fulton euppcrlei tbe Bill. Mr Shrirofcki replied, and the Bill was read a second time. -Mr Seddon moved the seccnJ reading of the pQld^Duty Abolition B:il, urgiog that the jiime M *wif ed ,-f«>

giving some relief to the miniag popelation, acd relieving them from a special tax which pressed heavily npon »h-m A< some lenpth he urged the justice o «r ip claim, and declared he wng thoroughly in earnest in bringing thf- proposal forward. Mr B own supported the Bill, and spoke slroogly in favor of the abolition of the gold duty. Mr Reeves also urged the total abo'mon of She du'y. The apathy of G>vernoiecl in regard to encouraging piospec»ir.g was, however, more prejudicial thin the duty was. A few rock boriDg machines judiciously used would largely benefit the goldflelde. Mr Gieboroe considered the gold doty indefensible on any grounds of principle or policy. Mr Shephard also urged the abplitioo of the tax aa being a special one, and unjust in principle. Mr Hirst supported the total abolition of the duty. Mr Hursthousa was willing to see (he duty abolished, although he did not agree with many of the arguments used against it. It was no more a tux ou local induauy (ban the beer tax wus. Mr Shet-ban thought it aboold be left to the local governing body of each ■ietrict. to reiuit tba duty if it thought fit. Mr J. B, Fisher d»d not think bis district would approve of abolishing ihe duty. Mr Weston supported the abolition of the duty. Mr Kolleeton said be would not oppose the second reaJing of the Bill, but be was cot at all sure that remoeiDg the duty would really benefit the miaere. He was, however, willing (o allow the various qold-produeipg districts to settle for themselves whether they would impose tfee duty or abandon U. He regretted that siooe be became Minister of Mines he had not been able to devot3 aa much time or attention ae he would have liked (o the departm n ; , After the eession the Government would maka arrangements for the,department being placed under the charge of a Minister not *o fully occupied with other matters as he wes. Mr Bsid supported ths Bill, tnd ao did Mr Speight, Mr SeddoD, in reply, hoped the Govornment would take up the Bill* He had no objection to its being made optional. Tbe Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Goldfields Committed*