PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4812, 24 August 1876, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

legislative council. Wednesday, August 23. The Hon. the Acting-Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. NEW LUNATIC ASYLUM FOB OTAGO. The Hon. Captain PHASER asked,— Whether it is the intention of the Government to make the necessary provision, during the recess, of a new lunatic asylum in Otago ! The Hen. Dr. POLLEN was unable at present to answer the question in the affirmative. The whole question would require to be taken into consideration, and before tlie session closed. The Government desired to have the oplnionof the newlnspectorof Lunatic Asylums before proceeding in the matter. CHRISTCHURCH CHURCH OF ENGLAND LANDS BILL. The second reading of this Bill was postponed till Tuesday next. PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. This Bill was further considered in committee. , Clauses 5,6, and 7 passed without amendment. On clause, 8 the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse moved an amendment making a member of the Ministry for the time being President of the Board. —The clause was postponed for further consideration. Clauses 9 to 25 were agreed to. On clause 26 some discussion ensued. Ultimately the words “with his consent” were struck out. The amendment has the effect of giving the local board power to perform necessary sanitary work -without the consent of the occupier of premises thereto. . Glauses 27 to 32 were agreed to, and clause 33 was postponed. Clauses 34 to 39 inclusive were agreed to. Progress was then reported, and the committee obtained leave to sit again next day. ■ MARRIAGE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The second reading of this Bill was made an order of the day for Wednesday next. CANTERBURY SHEEP ORDINANCES AMENDMENT BILL. The second reading was briefly moved by the Hon. Mr. Hall. He proposed after the second reading that the Bill should be referred to a select committee. The hon. gentleman explained its provisions.—The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse did not see the use of abolishing the provinces if they were still to have provincial legislation. All provincial legislation on the scab question in New Zealand was defective. He trusted that if there was legislation this session it should be of a general character, which could he applied where necessary by the proclamation of the Governor. The Bill before the Council was defective. Legislation should he of a decided character which should stamp out the disease. But this could only be done by being of a general kind. —The Hon. Captain Fraser pointed out what he considered defeats in the measure. —The debate was adjourned till the following day. The Council then (5.30 p.m.) adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, August 23. The Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. PETITIONS, ETC. Several petitions were presented and notices of motion given. QUESTIONS. Mr. MURRAY asked the Colonial Treasurer, if he will state—l. The nominal amount of authorised loans yet unraised. 2. The amount of cash in hand, proceeds of loans raised. 3. The amount of liabilities which have to he met presently. 4. The amount of liabilities which have to be met before the Ist January, 1877. 5. The amount of liabilities which have to be met before the Ist July, 1877. 6. The amount of liabilities which have to be met before the Ist January, 1878. 7. If he will shortly lay before this House a return showing the contemplated expenditure of £750,000 out of proposed loan, on provincial account ? The Hon. Sir JULIUS VOGEL said in respect to all questions of this kind, if the hon. member wanted returns of this description, the proper way would be to move for them. Sir Julius Vogel gave information so far as possible concerning portions of the questions. Mr. STOUT asked the Secretary for Crown Lands, —When the Waste Lands Administration Bill, read a first time on the 30th June last, will be circulated amongst members ? The Hon. Major ATKINSON regretted that the Bill had not been distributed before. It would be distributed at once. Mr. HAMLIN asked the Secretary for Crown Lands, Whether the Government will, during the present session, bring down any amendments to the Auckland Waste Lands Act, 1874; and, if so, when the amendments will be laid before this House 1 The Hon. Major ATKINSON said that the whole clauses in the Auckland Act would be found to be covered by the Government Act. HARBOR BILLS. There were two notices on the paper for the Introduction of Harbor Bills. The Speaker informed the House that he had obtained high legal opinion on the subject, and found that Harbor Bills should be introduced in committee of the whole. RESOLUTIONS. Mr. MACFARLANE moved,—That, in the opinion of this House, all persons entitled to pensions from the colony should, after the 30th day of March, 1877, be paid the same on personal applications only, at such public office or offices as the Government may appoint within the colony for that purpose.— The motion, after discussion, was negatived on the voices. Dr. HENRY moved,—That a return of all expenditure upon the Karamea special settlement, together with copies of all correspondence connected therewith, be laid before the House.—Carried. Mr. SHEEHAN moved,—That this House regrets the delay which has taken place in the construction of the railway from Riverhead to Auckland, and does not consider that the reasons set forth in the Public Works Statement are sufficient to justify such delay ; and further, it is of opinion that the work should be undertaken at once.—After discussion the motion was withdrawn. Mr. SHEEHAN moved, —That this House considers that the provision proposed to be made for roads and works in the districts north of Auckland is entirely inadequate to meet the requirements and necessities of those districts, and very much smaller than the share to which those districts arc fairly entitled, regard being had to area, population, and contributions to revenue.—The discussion on this motion was interrupted by the afternoon adjournment, and had consequently to be postponed. UNOPPOSED ORDERS OF THE DAY, Amendments inserted by the Legislative Council in the Hawke’s Bay River Bill, Wellington Reserves Bill, and Canterbury Education Reserves Bill were agreed to.—The Napier Athenmurn and Mechanics’ Institute Incorporation Bill was read a second time.—The Stewart Island Grants Act Amendment Bill was passed through all stages. CENTRAL PRISON QUESTION. The adjourned debate on this question was resumed by Mr. Whitaker, who thought

under the circumstances the colony could not afford the expense of erecting a central prison just yet. He moved an amendment, to the effect that the subject be left over till next session. . ' Hr. ANDREW seconded and supported the amendment. The Hon. Mr. BOWEN said the Government could not accept the amendment, for they felt the matter could not with safety be postponed further. Judge Johnston, who was on the commission in 1871, had expressed his opinion within the last fortnight that the gaols of the colony were a scandal to the community, there being no system of classification. He (Mr. Bowen) did not desire to repeat arguments previously used, but he must urge the House not to interfere as asked by the hon. member for Waikato. If it were postponed this year, some reason for postponing it again next would be found. The decision had been come to last year) and if the Government had chosen to commit the colony to the expenditure it could have done so ; but it had stayed its hand irf details in full confidence that the House would abide by the decision of last year. Mr. CARRINGTON appealed to the House not to delay the work longer, but at the same time denied that anything had occurred between himself and the Government in respect to pressing on this matter. Mr. STOHT said it was absurd to make so much about want of classification of prisoners, and to think that this great social problem could be settled by erecting a prison at Taranaki. There were now very serious inquiries prosecuted to find out the best system in England, aud why could we not wait till we got the benefit of these inquiries before building a prison? What evil could result from a year’s delay? He suggested that a committee should be appointed to consider the matter during the 16 ACr." PEARCE said all the hon. member had said was quite wide of the mark. The fact was more accommodation was wanted, and this might be seen any day by visiting any of the gaols, particularly Wellington Gaol, In some of the gaols there was absolutely no room for tbe men to sit to meals. They squatted on the floor of the apartment, aud then there was not room. Let the House do what it could to reme-’y this state of things. The Hon. Major ATKINSON said it might be true that no perfect system of prison discipline had been arrived at, but there were certain elementary principles which had been arrived at; one principle was that there must be sufficient cell accommodation, and at present the cell accommodation had not been obtained. When the Judges continued recommending action to be taken, and when the Government came down with carefully thought out provisions for establishing a basis upon which the work of prison reform could be proceeded upon, the House would take upon itself a great responsibility in delaying the work. The House was bound to the community to provide better accommodation for criminals.

Mr. DE LAUTgUR regretted that there was such a mawkish feeling abroad respecting criminals. It was absurd to be so philanthropic in pampering up criminals, when honest men in the colony had to “rough” it. He advocated that money should be spent even to the extent of £IOO,OOO a year in giving the young a technical education rather than in fancy schemes of prison discipline. Sir GEORGE GREY expressed himself as distressed at the scenes which had been pictured, and bad no doubt more prison accommodation was required. Such buildings as that on the reclaimed land at Wellington should not have been built ; there should have been a smaller civil service; less salaries should be given to heads of departments ; and the money thus sa\ed could be spent in repressing crime and training up the people to virtue.

Mr. KOLLESTON thought it would be better to improve present gaols than to go to the expense of a central gaol, seeing that the Minister of Justice had, on a previous occasion, admitted that if the proposed gaol were built, still there could not yet be classification.

After a few remarks from Mr. Wood, Sir JULIUS VOGEL said the condition of gaols throughout the country and want of more accommodation had been the subject of comment by every Judge in the colony, and it was a reproach to the colony that nothing had been done previously. The Minister of Justice had done a great deal to endeavor to sweep away the reproach. The system which had prevailed had been one which had not had a deterrent effect, and the wonder was that the result of it had not been more serious to the colony. He defended the site, and said all the Government had done had been done with the desire of fulfilling their duty, and he had been disgusted with the insinuations that votes of Taranaki members had been secured by the Government selecting Taranaki as the site of the prison. The question had been before the country for years, and it would be improper to delay it longer. He suggested that the House should say when the Estimates came on whether the money should or should not be granted, and he would undertake that tenders should not be accepted in the meantime. Mr. REES said there was plenty of gaol accommodation in Canterbury, Otago, and Auckland ; and if accommodation were required in some localities, why had the Government not spent a few thousands out of the enormous sums spent in public works in providing necessary accommodation? He supported the amendment. Mr. SHEEHAN took up the same line of argument. Messrs. Montgomery, Earff, Bums, Maofarlane, and Murray having addressed the House, a division ensued, which resulted as follows: —

Ayes, 38. Andrew Hodgkinson Seaton Baigent Lumsden Sheehan Bartf Busk Stout Brown, J. C. Macfarlane Swanson Burns Montgomery Takamoana Cox Murray (teller) Thomson De Lautour Morris Tole Dignan Nahe Tonks Fisher O’Eorke Whitaker (teller) Grey Rees Williams Hamlin Reid Wood, W, Henry Rowe Woolcock Hiaiop Russell Noes, 25. Atkinson Hunter Richardson Ballanco Kelly (teller) Richmond Bowen Manders Rolleston Brown, J. E. McLean, G. Seymour Bryce Ormond Stevens Button Pearce Tesoheraaker Carrington Pyke (teller) Tribe Douglas Reynolds Vogel Fitzroy GOLD DUTY. The motion of Mr. Woolcock, affirming the desirableness of relieving the gold-mining industry of the colony from the present exceptional burdens, was carried. WELLINGTON CORPORATE LANDS BILL. Mr. PEARCE moved the second reading of this Bill. The Bill is to enable the Corporation to demise certain land, forming part of Te Aro. reserve, for forty-two years. The Bill was read a second time, and Mr. Pearce: moved that it be committed next day. This was opposed by Mr. Whitaker, and ultimately it was agreed that the committal should be taken that day week. WELLINGTON LOANS CONSOLIDATION BILL. Mr. PEARCE moved the second reading of this Bill, which was carried, and the committal made an order of the day for that day week. MASTERTON AND ORETTOWN LANDS MANAGEMENT BILL. On the motion of Mr. George Hunter, the second reading of this Bill was made an order of the day for that day week. WELLINGTON HARBOR BOARD BILL. Mr. HUNTER, in view of the Speaker’s recent decision with regard to Harbor Bills, moved that this Bill be discharged, which was carried. WAREHOUSED GOODS BILL. The House went into committee on this Bill, which was considered, reported, read a third time, and passed. OTHER BILLS. The Napier Municipal Endowment, Napier Hospital Bill, Wellington College Reserves Bill, Dunedin Municipal Bill, Cromwell Racecourse Reserve Management Bill, and Lawrence AtheuKum Reserves Management Bill were read a third time. The House adjourned at 1.43 a.na.