PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4863, 23 October 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Saturday, October 21. _ , Before proceeding with the business it was moved and agreed to that at its rising the House should adjourn to 2.30 on Monday, for Government businest only. • THE BAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. The Hon. Mr,; WHITAKER, in laying the San Francisco correspondence on ; the table, pointed out that the question was getting urgent. The service was likely to break down, as the contractors i would;, were no change at once made, abandon the service. They would not continue the coastal service on any terms. After explaining the view New South Wales took of the matter, Mr. Whitaker concluded by moving that the House authorise the Government to agree to the proposal of the New South Wales Government, contained in a telegram of October 17, substituting Auckland for the Bay of Islands. The service would be conducted at the joint expense of New South Wales and New Zealand. In reply to a question, it was stated, with reference to the coastal service, that the Government would take a further opportunity of consulting the House in the matter. After a short discussion, the motion was agreed to. PRIVILEGE. , Sir GEORGE GREY moved, referring to the Public .Works Bill, to the effect that the Council be asked to expunge all record of the Bill from the journals of the Council. The Hon.. Major ATKINSON-thought it undesirable to provoke a conflict between . the two Houses. If the Government were to blame, they had acted with the concurrence of the House. He trusted the motion would be withdrawn. Remarks were made by some hon. - members, and Sir George Grey called for a division. The result was—Ayes, 20 ; hoes, 34. WELLINGTON COLLEGE AND_HOSPITAL'rESERYES BILL. ' The Wellington College and Hospital Reserves Bill was committed^—Sir George Grey proposed a clause to prevent the sale of the Hospital reserves, or leases for any period longer than 45 years; but not to interfere with existing contracts.—Mr. Shrimski proposed 21 years.—Mr. Bunny said if the House refused to allow these reserves, then, as there was no other way to carry out existing contracts, the colony would have to take up the liability under these contracts,' or else compensate the contractors. Mr. Lumsden moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.—After some remarks from Sir G. Grey, in which he spoke with warmth of his desire to preserve the endowments he had made some thirty years ago, and which were intended for the benefit of all races for all time, the Bill was passed through all stages with slight amendments. , qualification of electors act amendment BILL. I This Bill was withdrawn on the understanding that the subject should be given consideration by the Government during the recess. NATIVE GRANTEES BILL. The second reading was agreed to, the discussion to take place on going into committee. MANHOOD SUFFRAGE BILK Sir GEORGE GREY moved the second reading of this Bill in a short speech. Mr. WHITAKER opposed and Mr. Barff spoke in favor of the Bilk The Hon. Major ATKINSON said it was a question which must be dealt with by the Government, and not by a private member, and there was no time this session to consider it fairly. Mr. SHEEHAN said the lateness of the session was no excuse, as there were loan Bills and other measures to be discussed, and asked whether the ballot and many other reforms had not emanated from private members, and sometimes in opposition to the Government. Mr. EISHE B supported the amendment, and said he did not agree with the principle of the Bill. Mr. DONALD REID strongly 1 objected to the Bill; and said its principle was even more important than that of the loan Bill. , It was a large subject, and he' should not attempt to discuss it, but he might inquire why persons under should not vote just as those .who were twenty-one. If the object of the Bill were to give a vote to every person taxed, it would not compass the object, for persons of T 9, 18, or 17 years paid taxes, but were not given a vote. Mr. TOLE supported the Bill, and argued that as many other colonies—Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland —had adopted the principle in a more or less modified form it should also he recognised in New Zealand. Sir GEORGE GREY- urged that the measure was necessary .as ' being in consonance with the advance of public opinion. A division resulted as follows :—ln favor of the previous question being put, 28 ; against, 21. The Bill was therefore thrown out. PUBLIC WORKS BILL. On the motion of the Hon. Major Atkinson. the Speaker left the chair, and leave was given in committee; to introduce the Public Works Bill.' On the -Speaker resuming the chair, the Bill was read a first time. The Hon. Major ATKINSON hoped that, considering the late period of the the House would allow the Bill to be read a second time, and made a motion to that effect. Mr. REES objected to the motion as there was such a thin House, and made a characteristic speech. When he had proceeded for some twenty minutes, ■ The Hon. Major ATKINSON intimated that if the hon. gentleman really wished for further time to consider the Bill be would postpone the second reading until Monday, and amended his motion accordingly. Mr. REES said that he would accept the suggestion. Mr. ROLLESTON complained of Mr. Rees raising technicalities for the purpose of obstructing business.

Sir GEORGE GREY said that the freedom of debate,was being interfered with. Mr. DONALD REID complained of the personal attacks of Mr. Rees. During the session he had endeavored to act loyally by his party, and had been humiliated and disgraced by the conduct of that party and its leaders. They had been told that the Opposition had come down that night to promote public business, but, their sole object appeared to be to worry the Government. H e was quite content to leave his public career to other hands than those of the hon. member for City East. (Loud applause.) Sir ROBERT DOUGLAS complained of being forced to sit on Saturday., He would sooner see the. Government out of office than that this Bill should be hurried through. He was prepared to sit until nest year, and. felt very bitterly the course which the Government had adopted.; Mr. SWANSON hoped there would be an end to personal recriminations, and that the. House would proceed to business. Mr. DE LATJTOUR complained of the action taken by the. loaders of the Opposition, and said, that he felt bound to desert his party. Mr. W. WOOD hoped that the Opposition would wash their dirty linen at home.

Mr. SHEEHAN thought that Mr. Reid took an erroneous view of the matter. |He complained that directly a member got on his legs the immediate result was cries of “question” from those lying down on the benches. After a personal explanation from Sir George Grey, the second reading was'made an order of the day for Monday, . ■ ; provincial abolition financial arrangements BILL. This Bill was further considered in committee. Clause 34 passed without amendment. Considerable discussion took place on clause 35, Sir George Grey moving an amendment to the effect that members of the Assembly should not be entitled to accept appointments without disqualification!—The amendment was rejected on a division by 23 against 21. The clause was then agreed to.—Sir George Grey called for a division on clause 36, which was, however, carried by 33 against 16.—Clause 37 was struck, out.—The remaining clauses were agreed to with formal amendments.—Certain new clauses, that on the merger of road districts or boroughs in the counties the subsidies payable thereto should be paid to such counties, and that moneys to be borrowed under the Lyttelton Harbor Board Loan Act should form part of the permanent debt of the provinoe of Canterbury, were proposed.—The Hon. Major Atkinson withdrew the latter clause, and the first clause was read a second time.—A new clause apportioning the debt of Marlborough and Nelson, amounting to £45,000, as £IO,OOO to Marlborough and £35,000 to Nelson, was agreed to.—The Bill, with amendments, was then reported upon, it being agreed that' the amendments should be considered Oh Monday. The House adjourned at ll o’clockl