PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4788, 27 July 1876, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, July 26. The Hon. the Speaker toek the chair at the ■usual hour. PAPERS. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN laid on the table certain papers relating to the sale of land north of Auckland. NOTICE OP MOTION. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN gave notice that on next sitting day he would move that a select committee of nine members be elected to consider all Bills affecting the waste lands of the Crown, with power to confer with a similar committee of the House of Representatives. QUESTION. The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE asked the Colonial Secretary,—Whether the attention of the Government has been directed to the great increase which is taking place in the number of cases of persons charged with indecent assaults upon children, and whether it is the intention of the Government to propose a change of the law, with a view to providing that the penalty attached to such cases shall be of a character calculated to be more deterrent of the offence ? The Hon. Dr. POLLEN stated in reply that it was improbable there would be any legislation on the subject this session. The matter, however, had received earnest consideration. ministerial residences. The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE moved,— That there be laid upon the table, a return of the cost of the various ministerial residences, specifying the original cost of each residence, the amount spent in each case in additions and repairs thereto, and the cost of furnishing thereof; such return further to specify the proportion of such total cost which has been paid for out of the proceeds of loans. The motion was supported by the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, who condemned the extravagant expenditure which, he said, was going on all over the country, and agreed to. CANTERBURY EDUCATION RESERVES SALE AND LEASE BILL. The second reading of this Bill was moved by the Hon. Mr. Hall. The hon. member gave a history of the reserves. Canterbury had provided very liberally for primary education, and had endeavored to make suitable provision for superior education. Mr. Hall read resolutions of the Provincial Council bearing on the endowments. He thought Parliament should give effect to the conclusions arrived at by the Provincial Council, as that Council could not now carry them out. The Hon. Mr. ERASER said the Council had been the other day straining at a Wellington gnat, and now they were asked to swallow a Canterbury camel. The Hon. Mr. Hall had lubricated the camel, but he (Mr. Eraser) was unable to swallow it. The Bill sought to give power to sell reserves. He was altogether opposed to such a practice. The value of money was decreasing, while the value of land was increasing. He would move that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. The second reading was supported by tbe Hons. Colonel Brett and Messrs. Acland and Grey (who stated that these reserves had no special value). The Hon. Dr. POLLEN would not oppose the second reading. He thought consideration should be given to the last dying wishes of the Provincial Council of Canterbury, for whose memory he should entertain the greatest respect. The Hon, Mr. ROBINSON criticised the Bill, but he would not oppose the second reading—The Hon. Colonel Kenny would oppose the Bill. He thought it should go before the Waste Lands Committee. There was a principle underlying this measure, and he thought the Council should be careful how it acted. If the Bill passed its second reading he would move that it be referred to the Waste Lands Committee.—The Hon. Dr. M>v7.TP.g and Colonel Whitmore- spoke in favor of the Bill. The Hon. Mr. HALL replied to the objections which had been raised against the measure. He pointed out that to reject it would be to play into the hands of the squatters. It had been said that the land would increase in value. True ; but there was an old proverb which said that while the grass was growing the steed was starving. Their youth were growing up around them, and it was necessary to provide for them. The second reading of the Bill was carried on the voices ; its committal to be an order of the day for Eriday. REGULATION OF LOCAL ELECTIONS BILL. The new clause introduced by the Hon. ■Colonel Whitmore, the text of which was given yesterday, was affirmed as amended to stand part of the Bill, and the schedules having been passed, the Bill was reported' to the Council, when Dr. Pollen moved that it be recommitted, which was done. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved the following addition to clause 2:—“Any returning officer appointed under the provisions of this Act, and also any person who under any Act or Ordinance is or may be empowered to preside at or conduct the election of any local body or any member thereof.”—Agreed to.— The Hon. Dr. Pollen also moved that the words “the day of polling for” should be struck out of the 9th clause, and the following words added after the last lino:—“ The day on which the poll is to be taken shall be the day appointed for holding the election as hereinbefore provided.” The Hon the SPEAKER called the attention of the Council to the irregularity of proposing additions to the Bill without notice having been given. Progress was then reported, the Committee obtained leave to sit again, and the Hon. Dr. Pollen gave notice of his intention to move the alterations above-mentioned. OTHER BILLS. The Otago Presbyterian Church Conveyance Validation Bill was committed, and progress was reported on the third clause. Also the South Dunedin and St. Kilda Municipalities Bills; progress reported on the second clause. The committal of the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Bill was made an order of the day for to-day (Thursday). The Council then (5 p.m.) adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, July 26. The Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. PETITIONS, ETC. Several petitions were presented and notices of motion given. QUESTIONS. Mr. SWANSON asked the Government, — Whether they have settled the claim of Mrs. Meurant ; and, if not, what they intend to de in the matter ? The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON said the claim had not been settled by the Government, and as they were at present advised, they had no intention of taking any steps in the matter. Mr. WIDLIAMSON asked the Native Minister, —If it is the intention of the Government to give effect to the recommendation of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Hori Potaua and others ? 1 The Hon. SirDONALD McLEAN saidit was the intention of the Government to give effect to the recommendation. Mr. EOLLESTON asked the Minister of Justice;—Whether the Government will lay before this House, and cause to be printed, the table of payments on which they propose to insist before registering : societies under the Friendly Societies Act? ■ "■ • 1 •

The Hon. Mr. BOWEN said the Act only contemplated'the'preparation of tables from time to time,', and as such were‘prepared they would be published for the information of the various societies. Mr. Db LATOUR asked the Minister for Public Works,—lf any correspondence has been received from residents at Hyde in reference to the expenditure of a votenf £l5O for a courthouse, sanctioned last session; and if it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the erection of the said courthouse? The Hon. Mr. RICHARDSON said some correspondence had taken place ; the sum voted last year was only £IOO, and it was found that to build the courthouse would cost £2OO. NEW BILL. Mr. PVKE obtained leave to introduce a Bill to alter and amend the law relating to duties on gold. The Bill was. read a first time, and the second reading made an order of the day for Wednesday next. CENTRAL PENAL ESTABLISHMENT. Mr. MURRAY moved, —That in the opinion of this House, the tenders should not be accepted for the central gaol at New Plymouth till. this House has had an opportunity of reconsidering the question of the site of a central penal establishment. After a lengthened discussion, a division was taken on a motion for adjournment by Mr. Sheehan, when there were—Ayes 31, noes 31. In order to give opportunity for further discussion, the Speaker gave his casting-vote with the ayes, and an adjournment until Friday week was agreed to. MR. whitaker’s land resolutions. Mr. WHITAKER gave notice that he would move his land resolutions on Eriday. resolutions. Mr. SHEEHAN moved,—That there be laid before the House, a return showing, as nearly as possible, the amounts respectively expended in the electoral districts of Bay of Islands, Marsden, Rodney, and Waitemata, out of the amount set apart out of loan for roads and works in the north of Auckland. —Carried. Mr. SHEEHAN moved, —That there be laid before this House, a return showing the number of road boards or highway districts within each province, and the area and population, as nearly as may be ; such , return to be accompanied by maps showing position of such road boards or highway districts.— Carried. Mr CURTIS moved, —That a return be furnished to this House, showing ;approximately the estimated liabilities of each province, for which it .is intended to make provision by the proposed loan of £750,000. — Carried. Dr. HODGKINSON moved, —That the name of Mr. Lamach be added to the committee forinquiring into the rabbit nuisance. —Carried. Mr. STEVENS moved, —That it is expedient that a system of. postcards should be forthwith adopted.—Carried. It was explained by a member of the;Government that the cards would be shortly issued. Mr. STEVENS moved,—That it is expedient that Crown grants shall be registered free of registration fees. The Hon. Mr. BOWEN replied that the Government had now the matter under consideration, and Mr. STEVENS obtained leave to withdraw his motion. Dr. HODGKINSON moved,—That the names of Mr. W. Wood and Mr. Mauders be added to the select committee on the rabbit nuisance.—Carried. BILLS. The North Otago Harbors Bill was read a second time. The Warehoused Goods Bill was read a second time. The Auckland Institute Act Amendment Bill was committed, read a third time, and passed. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL. The House went into committee on the above Bill, to consider the clauses not previously passed. Clauses 50 to 53 inclusive, were passed unaltered. Clauses 54 and 55 were postponed. Clauses 66 to 80 were passed with very slight verbal alterations. Clause 81 was agreed to on the understanding that when clause 41 (relating to the election of mayor) and other clauses were recommitted, certain amendments in clause 81 would be considered. Clauses 82 and 83 were passed. Clause 84, relating to auditors’ salary, led to considerable discussion, and was amended to read that the council might, before the election of auditors, fix such remuneration or salary as it thought fit, and pay the same out of the borough funds. Clauses 85 to 95 inclusive were passed. Clause 96 (providing for the manner in which moneys were to be drawn from the bank), after some discussion had taken place and some amendments been proposed, was amended to read that no moneys should be drawn out of .the bank except on the authority of the council, by cheque signed by the treasurer and countersigned by any two or such particular councillors as the council may from time to time authorise to sign cheques. Clause 97 limited the amount of rates to be levied to 2s. in the —Mr. Moorhouse thought the House had no right to impose any limit or restrictions regarding the amount of rates any borough might choose to levy, provided they could give sufficient security, and moved that the clause be left indefinite as to the amount.' If people were to be entrusted with local government powers they should not be restricted as to borrowing, as they were not likely to burden themselves more than was absolutely necessary.—Sir Julius Vogel would rather see special rates raised for special purposes than grant indefinite powers to raise general rates which would afford no check orsafeguard to ratepayers. Mr.[STOUT agreed with the amendments, considering that the municipal councils were quite competent to judge of what was beneficial to the ratepayers.—Mr. Woolcook would also support the amendment. He thought the Government were making a mistake in endeavoring to legislate too much. Their over-anxiety to help local government, he thought, would result in making the efforts of those local governments less effective than they would be if left more to themselves.—Mr. Hunter would rather increase the power of levying special rates than give additional power as to general rates. —After a considerable amount of further discussion, the amendment was put, and a division was taken, which resulted in its being lost by 44 to 12. The clause was then passed as printed. Clauses 98 and 99 were passed unaltered. Clause 100, providing for a separate rate not exceeding Is. in the £, on the petition of not less than one-third of the ratepayers, was amended so as to make it read not less than “a majority.” Clause 102, providing tor the increasing or diminishing of a special rate, elicited considerable discession. —Mr. Stout moved that the latter part of the clause, as follows, jbe struct out:—“ Such reduction shall only continue so long as the Commissioner of Audit approve.”— A division was taken on the motion, which resulted as follows, 24 to 28, The clause was then passed. Clause 103 was passed without-amendment. Progress was then reported, and :tho House adjourned at 12.50,