PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4871, 1 November 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, October 31. The Council met at half-past 11 o'clock.. At this hour no business was done, it being announced that the deliberations of the conference of managers of the Council and the House of Representatives would probably conclude in a quarter of an hour, and the Council adjourned in consequence. On resuming, the Hon. Mr. Hall stated that the conference had decided upon certain action with reference to. the Waste Lands Administration BilL They had agreed ta restore the provincial‘land laws on the subject of deferred payments and special settlements, striking out of the Bill the clause relating to deterred payments generally, and also the clause relating to forests conservation; the only other point with regard to which any difficulty existed being a proviso in clause,26, and it was decided that commissioners on Waste Lands Boards should not be disqualified from sitting in the General Assembly. He suggested that the Council should adjourn until a quarter to 1 o'clock, when members would probably be informed of what the-pro-posals were. The Hon. Captain FRASER objected to the action of the managers of the Council in regard to the commissioners, saying that the Waste Lands Boards would be simply political bodies, the Governor being in a position to appoint as members whomsoever he pleased. After further discussion, during which the Hon. Mr. !Hall replied to the last speaker, and showed that the action of the conference was necessary in order to meet the necessities arising out of the present position of the country, the Council adjourned until 4 o'clock, when, as the Hon. Mr. Hall stated, the amendments made by the conference in the Bill would probably be printed. At 4 o’clock the Council met again. The Hon. the SPEAKER stated that messages had been received from the House of Representatives agreeing in the amendments made by the free conference in the Waste Lands Administration Bill, and agreeing also in theamendments made by the Governor in the Municipal Corporations Bill. The Council then adjourned until 5.15, as there had not yet been sufficient time to print the amended Waste Land BilL On resuming again at 6.15, The Hon. the SPEAKER stated that he had received a message from his Excellency the Governor, enclosing a list of Bills which had received his assent. The Clerk of the Council read the list of Bills. A short interval then occurred, after which' The Commissioners entered, consisting of the Hon. the Speaker of the Legislative Council, Sir John Richardson, the Hon. Dr. Pollen, the Hon. Major Richmond, and the Hon. John Hall. Having taken their seats, The Clerk read the proclamation proroguing Parliament.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, October 31. The House met at noon. questions. Mr. ANDREW asked the Premier,— Whether it is the intention of the Government to secure, for the purposes for which it was raised, the balance of the Sheep Fund Account of the province of Wellington, in accordance with the Sheep Ordinance of. that province? He said the sum amounted to £1144 ss. Tod., and should not be merged in general assets. The Hon. Major ATKINSON said it would be a matter for inquiry. If the. fund had been kept separate, it would still be so kept; but of course if it was a mere matter of account, it would be treated just as other assets taken over. Mr. SHEEHAN, by leave, without notica asked the Premier whether the Government were disposed to give effect to the recommendation made upon a native petition, as to the issue of regulations enabling Maoris to sit on juries in cases where the interests involved were partly European and partly native ; also as to the allowance of the issue of gunpowder in larger quantities to loyal tribes ? The Hon. Major ATKINSON said the Government would inquire into the question as to native jurymen, and would probably issue regulations; but the other point was involved in not a little difficulty. It was feared if the concession were granted to certain tribes, it must be granted to all. REPORT OP MANAGERS. The managers appointed to confer with managers appointed on behalf of the Legislative Council on the disagreements respecting the Waste Lands Administration Bill brought up their report, having practically agreed to the continuance of the old provincial land laws in respect to deferred payments. Mr PYKE expressed great dissatisfaction at the decision come to, and said the effect of the action of the Council in refusing to accept the Bill passed by the Lower House would be to still further unsettle matters in Otago. The pastoral leases were falling in in that province, and the Act as passed by the Lower House would have met the case. He hoped that in another session a more sensible, more conciliatory, spirit would be shown by the other branch of the Legislature. Mr. ROWE complained bitterly of the course adopted by the other branch of the Legislature, and grieved over the anomaly that while the Government were empowered to grant large tracts of land to persons arriving from places outside the colony, no consideration was shown to the colonial born. He predicted that in a short time there would be an agitation for the reform of the other branch of the Legislature such as had not yet been witnessed. Mr. W. WOOD said the action of the Council was the culmination of a line of conduct pursued for the past five or six years, which seemed to him as the crushing out of an industrious yeomanry to raise up a mushroom aristocracy, and the creation of two classes—-bond-servants and 1 petty aristocrats. After a few remarks from Sir George Grey, the report was adopted. SARTOKIB DOWNES BILL. The Hon. Major ATKINSON said the objection to this Bill seemed to be an apprehension that a member of the House was to receive some commission on the amount of the award the Bill authorised the Government to make. He understood the hon. gentleman was ready to make a distinct statement to the effect that he was to get no fee or reward for what he had done in the House. A further objection was taken that any per centage the claimant was ready to give should go to the Treasury. Therefore he proposed to bring in a new clause, by message from the Governor, directing a repayment of £1240 to the Treasury, and that course would be taken if the House agreed to concur with the amendments made by the Legislative Council. A debate ensued, in which it was urged that the action of the Government amounted to an admission that the hon. member for Grey and' Bell (Mr. Carrington), was to have received payment, and further that if the claimant was ready to give up P er his claim, more investigation was necessary to discover if he had any claim at all. That investigation, could not be had this session, and therefore the whole matter should remain over till next session. The adjournment of the debate sine die was moved, but negatived by 14 to 13. The Government then consented to allow thematter to stand over till 4 o’clock, by which time some understanding might be come to. The House then adjourned till 4 p.m. On reassembling at 4 p.m., the Hon. Major Atkinson ; moved the adjournment of the debate for a week. The House then adjourned till half-past five, and then till half-past six, when the hon. members attended in the Council Chamber, and Parliament was proroguod by proclamation.