PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5106, 4 August 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, Accost 2. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. PAPERS, &C. Petitions were presented by the Hon. Major Richmond and the Hon. Captain Baillie. The latter gentleman also brought up the interim report of the select committee of the Legislative Council on public petitions. NOTICES OF MOTION, ETC. Several notices of motion and motions without notice were brought forward by the Hon. Mr. Nurse and the Hon. Captain Baili.ie. NEW Blits. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN gave notice of his intention to ask on Tuesday next for leave to introduce a Bill entitled the Destitute Persons Act. QUESTIONS. The Hon. Mr. HALL asked the Colonial Secretary,—Whether it is the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill during the present session for consolidating the law relating to road Boards ? . , , The Hon. Dr. POLLBN replied that it would not be possible for the Government to introduce such a Bill this session. MOTIONS The Hon. Mr. HALL moved,—That there be laid upon the table a copy of the resolutions forwarded to the Government by the Selwyn County Council, and by a conference of delegates of County Councils in the provincial district of Canterbury, on the subject of proposed alterations in the Counties Act, The Hon. Colonel Wiuthore suggested an amendment, by inserting certain words after the word “ Council but the Hons. Dr. Pollen, Messrs. Hall, and Kobinson having addressed the Council, both the amendment and the motion were withdrawn, on the promise of the Hon. Dr. Pollen that the correspondence between the Government and all the County Councils should be laid upon the table of the Council, though not to remain as records. . The Hon. Mr. HALL moved, —That it is desirable steps should be taken, during the present session, for vesting the control and management of recreation reserves in local bodies.—The Hon. Colonel Whitmore moved an amendment, by inserting certain words after the word “ reserves.” Considerable discussion followed by the Hons. Major Richmond, Sir F. D. Bell, Dr. Menzies, and Mr. Hall ; subsequently the Hon. Messrs. Buckley and Kobinson, Captain Baillie, Dr. Grace, Dr. Pollen, Dr. Menzies, and Sir P. BelT having spoken, the Hon. Colonel Whitmore withdrew his amendment, saying that if he found that the Waste Lands Bill did not embody the views of his amendment, he should move it as a separate , resolution.—The Hon. Mr. Hall

then asked for and obtained leave to amend " his"motion by inserting the words- “ trustees or other,” after the word “in,” —the motion, as amended, being put and carried. CENSUS BILL. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved the second reading of this Bill, which—the Hons. Colonel Whitmore and Mr. Buckley having spoken—was agreed to. The Bill was also ordered to be committed. AUCKLAND HIGHWAY DISTRICTS VALIDATION BILL. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN, in a very happy speech (during which he remarked that this was the second, and he trusted would be the last, occasion on which the Council had had to legislate for Auckland owing to mismanagement in the district), moved the second reading of the Bill, which was agreed to.—ihe BUI was ordered to be committeed. CROSSED CHEQUES BILL. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved,—That the second reading of this Bill be discharged from the Order Paper, and made an order of the day for Tuesday next.—Carried. The Council then went into committee on the Census Bill, and shortly afterwards adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, August 3. The House met at half-past 2 o’clock. The Speaker took the chair. petitions. Several petitions, were presented, amongst them being one from the residents of Palmerston North, presented by Mr. Johnston. NOTICES OP MOTION. Among the notices of motion given was one by Mr, Sharp, for rescinding the resolution passed last session for giving members of Parliament free passes on the railways. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT., The Hon. Mr. WHITAKEB said that as the Native Lands Court Bill had now been before the country for two or three months, the Government proposed to make the second reading the first order of the day for Tuesday next. QUESTION. Mr. MACANDREW asked the colony was likely to lose the services of Sir J. Vogel as Agent-General at the end of the year ? He said there were a great many rumors abroad, and it would be as well if they were authoritatively set at rest. The Hon. Major ATKINSON said the arrangement between Sir Julius "Vogel and the Government was for one year. They had been quite satisfied with the manner in which he had performed his duties during the past year, and when the vote for the expenses of the Agent-General’s Department came before the House the Government would be able to state definitely what were their proposals on the subject. Mr. TRAVERS asked whether the Government proposed any funds towards the construction of a road to connect large tracts of land on the south side of the Manawatu River with Palmerston North. The Hon. Mr. ORMOND said the question was one of a category which, were frequently put, but the Government hoped to be able to propose a vote for assisting localities in works of this kind. NEW BILLS. Leave was given to introduce the following new Bil’s :—The Hon. Mr. Reynolds—The Port Chalmers Waterworks Bill (in committee). Mr. Sheehan—The New . Zealand Public Recreation Grounds and Reserves Bdl. Mr. Lnmsden —A Bill to authorise the Municipal Council of the Town of Invercargill to increase its borrowing powers for the purposes of the gasworks of the town. Mr. Lnmsden— A Bill to vest the Management of the- New River Harbor in the Municipal Corporation of Invercargill. IMPOUNDING BILL. The Hon. DONALD REID, in moving this Bill, said it was more of a declaratory nature than anything else, but there were some few changes of an unimportant character. Mr. TRAVERS said it was necessary to compare the Bill with the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act and other Acts, to see they did not clash, and so increase litigation. Sir R. Douglas and Mr. Stafford suggested that this Bill and all of a kindred nature, being consplidatory Bills, should be referred to select committees. The Hon. Major ATKINSON said such was the intention of the Government. Mr. REES thought the work should be done by a commission, as select committees, if they did their work well, would not be able to present a report by the time the House rose. All the Bills should be referred to a commission, and let stand over till next session. Mr. GISBORNE suggested that a short Act should be passed, empowering local bodies to pass by-laws dealing with such questions as im-, pounding, fencing, slaughter-houses. He twitted the hon. member who introduced the Bill with having turned his coat, and now appearing in the character of a centralists legislator. Mr. WASON said such a suggestion showed that the hon. member for Totara had a very slight acquaintance with the practical affairs of the country. Mr. Wood, Mr. Hursthouse, Mr. Stout, Mr. Woolcock, and Mr. Takamoana, also spoke to the Bill. . ' Mr. REID, in replying, defended the Bill from certain criticisms ; and in answer to Mr. Gisborne, asked where was the . centralism in this Bill? But even if he had turned centralist, he better knew what was due to his position than to attempt to retain his position by unfair means. That hon. gentleman, when a member of a thoroughgoing centralists Ministry, had used the wires of the people of the colony to obtain support for himself. He (Mr. Reid) had not and should not do that. The BUI was then read a second time, and referred to a select committee. FENCING BILL. The Hon. DONALD REID moved the second reading of this BUI, and said its object was very similar to that of the former. Mr. DE LAUTOUR moved, by way of amendment:—(l.) That in the opinion of this House, it is not desirable to create a fencing law for the whole colony, the governing productive interests of the different parts not being identical. (2.) That the origination of all fencing laws should be limited to the local governing bodies, who should have power, by by-laws, made under their respective constitution Acts, to decide to what extent, if any, fencing laws should be enforced within the boundaries of their respective districts, and to regulate accordingly. (3.) That where no fencing laws exist, the owners of all live stock shall keep them on their own their own risk and expense. ■ YMr. SHARP spoke in favor of theßill, and said if it >vas necessary to haviean impounding law for the whole colony, it was much more necessary to have a fencing law. Mr. SEYMOUR also thought a general law for the colony would prove a great boon. Mr. SWANSON strenuously opposed the Bill, and instanced injustice which had been done him some years ago in consequence of the fencing law. In cases where pastoral properties adjoined compulsory fencing might be very well; but therewere cases in which it would have an unfair operation. For instance, a man growing corn and cabbages should not be forced to contribute to the cost of a fence in order to keep his neighbors’ cattle out; the cattle should be kept out by the owner of them. Let every man keep his stock at home.

Mr. J, E. BROWN supported the Bill because it repealed a mass of conflicting legislation, but thought the basis of new legislation should be the principle Mr. Swanson had spoken of. Mr. Tole, Captain Russell, Sir R. Douglas, Dr. Hodgkinson, Messrs. Rolleston, Thomson, Takamoana, Nahe, O’Rorke, and W. Wood having spoken, a division was taken, with the result, 51 for the second reading, 16 against. The Bill was then referred to a select committee. SHEEP AND CATTLE BILL. The second reading of this Bill was moved by tho Hon. Donald Reid. After discussion the Bill was read a second time, and referred to a select committee. SLAUGHTER-HOUSES BILL. The Hon. DONALD REID moved the second reading of this Bill, which was read a second time, and referred to a select committee.

EDUCATION BILL. Mr. BASTINGS, who thoroughly approved of the Bill aud meant to support it, moved that the debate on its second reading be adjourned for a week.— The motion was agreed to. THE CONSTABULARY BILL. The second reading of this Bill was postponed for a week. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Sir George Grey and Mr. Rees objected, whilst the vote of censure of the latter re the Wcika Maori was pending. _ Mr. WOOLCOCK moved the resolution of which he had previously given notice, that the time had arrived for considering the incidence of taxation. Mr. Woolcock spoke until the aci-iom-nmpnt at half-uast ten O dock.

On the House resuming, ~ , The Hon. Major ATKINSON said he had been placed in a very false position by the motion given by the member for Auckland City East. Ihat koii. gentleman had stated that it was not intended to be a no confidence motion, and the Government, taking that assurance/ proceeded in the ordinary way. Well, the . honorable gentleman continued to talk till .within a few-minutes of the hour for adjournment, and the Government therefore had no immediate opportunity of reply. That evening he (the Hon. Major Atkinson) had stated what the intentions of theGovernmentwere, and on the motion to go into Committee of Supply, the member for Auckland City hast got up in his place aud said the motion he bad moved on the previous day was practically a want of confidence motion. No notice would have been taken ■ of that after the previous declaration of .the hon. gentleman; but the leader of the Opposition immediately said “ Hear, hear,” and afterwards rose in his place and said that a disgraceful charge was hanging over the Government, which must necessarily affect their position. He now called upon the leader of the Opposition (the member for the Thames) to . tell the House whether he looked upon this as a no confidence motion, because if so the Government were fully prepared to suspend business and fight it out. Mr. STOUT thought that it was not the part of the Opposition to pronounce what should be a vote of want of confidence. The Hou. Mr. WHITAKER pointed out that Mr. Rees on the previous day had disclaimed any idea of a vote of want of confidence, yet he, the nominal leader of the Opposition, and others, now put it forward as a want of confidence motion- In the first instance the Ministry had accepted Mr. Rees’ words, and were prepared to go on with other business; but as a challenge had been thrown down to them they now were prepared to suspend all business and fight the matter out. Mr. SHEEHAN disclaimed all discussion at present. The Hon. DONALD REID pointed out that Sir George Grey had only given one side of the question ; and that, his own motion having been discussed, he had, as leader of the Opposition, cheered a splitter of hairs put up to move a resolution first announced as a motion without reference to party and then made a party question. An’ English gentleman in the position of the leader of the,Opposition would have at once either adopted or disclaimed the : motion of Mr. Rees.

A discussion ensued, during which Mr. Gisborne said he would vote against Mr. Rees’ motion, and Mr. FITZROY expressed surprise that the leader of the Opposition should have slunk out of the House as if afraid to face the question raised by the Premier.—Mr Rees explained that after he had perused his notices of motion, he. had offered them for perusal to Sir George Grey, who had not read them, but had referred him to “Stout and. Sheehan.” Mr. .Rees, then attacked the Government on financial and other matters at considerable length. He also considered the New Zealand ' Times a disgrace to the colony. He expressed his intention of writing to the London Times and putting the position of the colony before the British public. On the motion of Mr, J. C. Brown the debate was adjourned until half-past seven o’clock on Tuesday evening. The House adjourned at a quarter to one o’clock.