PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5116, 16 August 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, August 15. The House met at half-past 2 o’clock. The Speaker took the chair. PETITIONS AND NOTICES. ; Numerous petitions were presented and, notices of motion given: QUESTIONS. In answer to Mr. Richardson, the Government stated that it was proposed to erect a lighthouse on Wairau Heads, which. would suit vessels seeking shelter in Port Underwood. ; Mr. RICHMOND asked the Premier, —If the Government intend to recognise, by some substantial reward,, the services of the Nelson Naval Brigade crew, who at once voluntarily went out and succeeded in rescuing the boat containing the women and children, passengers of the wrecked ship Queen Bee?—The Hon. Major Atkinson said he would answer the question next day. In answer to Mr. Burns, the Hon. Mr. Reid said he had no information as to whether any steps were being taken to enforce payment of over-due rents from the present holders of the Wakatipu runs. i In reply to the Hon. Mr. Reynolds, the Hon. Major Atkinson said he was not prepared, without further consideration, to promise that the Government would grant donations to efficient fire brigades. In reply to Mr. Lusk, the Hon. Major Atkinson said there would be no objection to lay before the House all papers connected with the claim of the Auckland Defence Force to grants of laud in recompense for the services of that force during the war in Auckland in 1863 and 1864.

Mr. BEES asked the Premier,—(l.) How much of the incidental receipts for the past year arose from the deposit of borrowed money als interest, or otherwise? (2.) What provision has been made by the Government for the paying-off, on the Ist day of November next, of the sum of £412,000 Treasury bills, which become payable on that day? (3.) What amount of interest becomes payable on the whole public debt of New Zealand—(l) during the quarter ending 30th September; (2) during the quarter ending 31st December? (4.) Where the same is payable, the days on which it has to be paid, and what arrangements have been made for the payment of the same, and at what cost to the country? (5.) Whether the balance of Treasury bills now outstanding beyond the above sum of £412,000, and the other sums which have fixed dates for payment set opposite to them, can be brought tb the Treasury at a moment’s notice for payment; and whether the Government intend to pay them off . this year, and if so, how? . The Hon. Major ATKINSON said he was unable to answer the 7 first; question, because there was no distinction in the public 'account between borrowed money and ordinary revenue. , The total interest ; received bn the public account in New Zealand was £6607 Bs. 6d., and in London £2041,125. Bd, If he rightly understood the next question he should answer it in this way : Of the £412,000 Treasury bills payable on the first day of November, £IBO,OOO was held by the Trust Fund, £120,000 by the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, and £112,000 by the Bank of New Zealand. Instructions would in due course be giVen to take up these bills. The amount of interest payable bn the public debt was, during the September quarter, £312,645 15s. ; during the December quarter, £162,979. It would be impossible for him to answer the, fourth questipn without an elaborate return. As to the Treasury bills, the Government did not intend to pay them off this year. A number of questions relative to local matters in different parts of the colony were put and answered. BILLS. ' The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—A Bill tb amend the St. Andrew’s Church (Wellington) Trustees Incorporation Act, 1873 ; a Bill to provide for Copyright in Works of Art in New Zealand ; a Bill to enable the Timaru Mechanics’ Institute to raise Funds to defray Liabilities incurred for the extension and improvement of the Institute, and for other purposes ; a Bill to amend, the New Zealand Law Society’s Act, 1869,- .; CONTROL OF PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS. The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS moved, and it was carried, —That a committee be appointed, with power .to confer with any similar committee of the Legislative, Council, to consider the recommendation of the Joint House Committee relative to the custody and control of the Parliamentary Buildings, and to bring up a report, : Such committee to consist of Mr. Speaker, Hon. Mr. Ormond, Hon. Mr. Stafford, Mr. Reader Wood, and the mover. ' Three to be |the quorum. To report within a fortnight. ; MOTION EE ELECTION OP GOVERNOR. Mr. STOUT moved,-—That, in the opinion of ’ this House, the Governor' of the colony should be elected by the people. In doing so he referred in the first place to theobjeotionslikely • to be raised against the proposal. One of those objections would be thatitwas unconstitutional; but he had observed that it was a remarkable fact that whenever an innovation upon ancient custom was made it was called unconstitutional—that it was an attack upon oar liberty. He then referred to Mr. Sewell’s expression of opinion in reference to the appointment of the Governor,- which almost went the length of advocating complete independence of the colony as regards England, He (Mr. Stout) did not go so far as that, nor as far as Mr. Waterhouse had gone in speaking to the same subject. He simply wished to make the Governor of the colony, as an executive officer, responsible to the people, and he failed to see how the election of a Governor by the people could affect the relation of New Zealand with' the mother country. There was a strong feeling in England that members of the nobility alone, should be Governors of the colonies. But there could be no sound prosperity for a colony, he contended, that had to look to something outside itself; and men as well qualified to fill the office could be found in the colony as those appointed by the Queen, There was, he submitted, no danger of a Governor'eleoted by the people becoming a partizan. He would have a better appreciation of the wants of the people, without being a whit less partial than the Queen’s nominee.- He was not saying how the election should take place, but what he wished to establish was, that the people of the colony should be looked upon as the. great source of . power, and the .people themselves should be taught self-reliance, Mr. TOLB seconded the motion. He said the'abolition of provinces against the will of the -majority of the people had destroyed the confidence that previously existed between the colony r and the old country. The Hon. Mr. BOWEN said the giving effect to Mr, Stout’s motion would be to deprive that House of a portion;of its power; and it would be very dangerous to the interests of the people to place a.man in a position with respect to the House who would:be able tb say i he was elected by .the whole of the people, and so held the greatest power. In no country had the government been a success, when the chief of the Executive has been elected by the people. . He must be the representative of a party, could not fail, in fact, oo be the creature of the majority. It would be a most unwise thing to introduce a system such as that into this, country, whicbj enjoyed

the great advantage of living under a system of hereditary monarchy. He hoped the House would not delay the business by discussing the motion at any length. Dr. HODGKINSON supported the motion in a long speech, in the course of which he referred to government by party and otherwise; and speaking of the abolition of provinces, charged the Governor of New Zealand with having acted the part of a partisan. The Hon Major ATKINSON rose to a point of order. The SPEAKER ruled that the words of the hon. member referring to his Excellency were contrary to - Parliamentary practice and improper. Dr. HODGKINSON then continued his address, and towards the conclusion made some personal remarks regarding Mr. Donald Reid, whom he charged with deserting his party and with political immorality. The Hon. DONALD REID replied, and denied that he had ever had anything in common with the Opposition of the past two years, save on the abolition question. The House at this time took the usual adjournment. PRIVILEGE. Mr. REES rose to a point of privilege, a breach of which he said had been committed by certain members of that House in regard to the petition presented by Mr. Barton, barrister, of Wellington. Having read the published report of the proceedings relative to the case iu question, which had taken place in the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning, he said he noticed among the names of those said to be present on the occasion that there were four members of the House of Representaves, namely, Messrs. Brandon, Moorhouse, Travers, and Button, M.H.R’s. He regarded it as a gross breach of the privileges of this House for members publicly to express opinions in reference to a petition laid before the House. He had not seen the complaint—did not know what it contained—and those, gentlemen had also said they were unaware of its contents; but nevertheless the proceeding he spoke of was most unworthy. He did not wish to use harsh terms ; but it seemed to him that all hope of justice would be shut out from persona coming’to this House with a petition for investigation into charges against high officials, if hon. members identified themselves with the case, and held out in public the hand of sympathy to the officials against whom the petition was lodged, especially when it was considered that this House was the only tribunal to which the petitioner could appeal. These remarks came more effectively from him (Mr. Rees), because it was tolerably well known by many members of the House that his relations with Mr. Barton, the petitioner, had never been of a very friqndly character. And it might fairly be said, therefore, that in the action he was taking he was solely actuated by a love of justice and fair-play. He did not see any of the members he referred to present, and he took what he say published in the paper he held in his hand to be true. He hoped, therefore, that the House would express an opinion that it was highly improper for persons iu the position of members, who were supposed to be in the position of Judges of a solemn Court, to act in such a manner as certain members, of that House were reported to have acted. He would move, with’ the permission of the House, that this House regrets that any of its members should, pending the hearing of a petition before the House itself, make any expression of opinion, either one way or the other, to persons charged in a petition before the House. The SPEAKER ruled that this was scarcely a question Of privilege, neither the petitioner nor the Judges being members of the House. The only course open to the hon. gentleman was to'give notice of motion. Mr. REES accordingly gave notice that on the following day he would move a resolution in the same terms as those he had just expressed. ; Mr. STOUT - asked -the Speaker- whether the rule of the Supreme Court did not apply in the case of a, newspaper commenting on a petition pending before the House ? The SPEAKER was understood to say it was a debateable question. The House then proceeded to the ORDERS OF THE DAT.

On the motion of Sir. Bunnt, the Wellington City Reserves Act, 1872, Amendment Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed next day. The Wellington College Act Amendment Bill was made an order of tlie day for the dayfollowing. The Lyttelton Public Domains Bill and the New Plymouth Harbor Ordinance Amendment Bill were read a second time.. The committal of the Port Chalmers Waterworks Bill was postponed for a week. The House then went into committee tocohsider of an address to be presented to his Excellency the Governor, praying that he will recommend for appropriation by this House the sum of £SOOO in aid of public libraries throughout the colony. 3nch sum to be distributed by grants to free public libraries established under the Public Libraries Act, 1869, of £1 for every £1 raised under that Act, and by grants to other Public Libraries of 10s. for every £1 raised by such libraries. Mr. PYKB proposed that the words “or hereafter established" should be inserted after the word “ established.” The Hon. Major ATKINSON said he was not at present prepared to resist the mo tion, but would like to retain the right to do so, as it was desirable to further consider whether the money asked for could be made available. After some little discussion the motion as amended was put and carried, reported to the House, and the resolution ordered to be taken into consideration next day. The Auckland Provincial Council Library Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed next Wednesday. The second reading of the Crown Redress Extension Bill No. 1 was postponed for a week. LOCAL OPTION BILL, The debate on the second reading of the above Bill was resumed by : Mr. Taiakoa, who spoke in support of. it.—Mr. Button followed. •He favored the measure, and thought the question of such importance, and the evil of drunkenness so dreadful in its results, that ■any sacrifice should be made to eradicate it.—Mr. Rowe did not believe the Bill before ; the' House was calculated to have the effect intended. He should be glad to see all the public-houses shut, but thought the people were not yet prepared for a measure o£ the kind proposed by Mr. Pox.—Sir George Grey, Mr. Wason, Dr. Hodgkinson, Messrs. Macandrew, Tole, Montgomery, Lusk, Joyce, Reynolds, Ballanoe, and Stout having addressed the House, the debate was adjourned until Wednesday next at half-past 7 o’clock, on the motion of Mr. Hislop. The House adjourned at 1.6 a.m.