PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5161, 6 October 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, sth October. PAPERS AND RETURNS. Various papers and returns were laid upon the table by the Hon. Dr. Pollen. reports. The following reports were brought up and rea( j . By the Hon. Mr. Bonar, from the select committee on waste lands, on the Dunedin School Deserve Bill (on the motion of the Hon. Sir F.D.Bell ordered to be committed on Tuesday next), and the Queenstown Athemeum Bill (on the motion of the Hon. Dr. Menzies ordered to be committed on next sitting day) ; by the Hon. Major Richmond, from the select committee on private bills, on the Wanganui Gas Bill ; by the Hon. Mr. Hall, in the absence of the Hon. Captain Baillie, from the select joint committee on Parliamentary buildings (on the motion of the Eon. Mr. Hail, who gave notice that on Tuesday next he would move that the Council concur in this report, it was ordered to be printed) ; by the Hon. Sir F. D. Bell, from the managers of the free conference with the House of Representatives, on the amendments of the Legislative Council in the Canterbury Rivers Act 1870 Amendment Act, 1877, (on the motion of the Hon. F. D. Bell, the Council concurred in the report, and a message was ordered to be sent to the House of Representatives to that effeci,.) MESSAGE. A messa"e was received from the House of Representatives, to the effect that that body aoreed in the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Port Chalmers Mechanics’ Institute Incorporation and Reserves Act, 1877, and covering the following Bills, whicli were’ read a first time;—The Municipal Corporations Act, 1877 (second reading, on the motion of the Hon. Captain Baillie, fixed for Tuesday next) ; the Dunedin Gas and Waterworks Act, 1877 (second reading, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Holmes, fixed for next Pastoral Association Reserves Act, 1877 (second reading, on the motion of the Hon. Dr. Menzies, fixed for Wednesday next). QUESTION. In reply to the Hon. Mr. Hall, who asked whether notice of action for any damages sustained through the management of Government railways, at a distance from the seat of Government, can be served upon some officer of the Railway Department in the provincial district in which the cause of action has arisen? the Hon. Dr. Pollen said, that provided notice was first given to the Minister, any officer of the Railway Department in that part of the colony in which the action was raised could he proceeded against, MOTIONS. The Hon. Mr. HART moved, and it was carried, That an address be presented to his Excellency the Governor, requesting that he will be pleased to command that there be laid upon the tahie of this Council a copy of the despatch received by the Governor of this colony in reply to a despatch from Governor Sir T. Gore Browne to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, of the 4th December, 1860 (No. 132 Executive). . The Hon. Colonel BRETT moved, and it was carried,—That there be laid upon the table a return, to the latest practicable date, giving the following information: —The names and stations and strength of each volunteer and cadet company, troop, battery, or brigade; the number of efficients in each on the date of the return ; the additions to each during the preceding twelvemonths ; the deductions from each during the preceding twelve months ; the number of and description of ordnance and arms with each ; the quantity of rifle ammunition, blank and ball, each ; the quantity and

description of ordnance and ammunition in reserve depots.

ORDERS or THE DAT. The District (Railways Bill (second reading) was introduced by the Hon. Dr. POLLEN, but at the wish of several hou. members, the debate on it was adjourned till Tuesday next. The Lawrence Reserves Bill, Lawrence Athenseum and Alining Institute Bill, and the Havelock Athemeum and Mechanics’ Institute Incorporation Bill passed their second readings, on the motion of the Hou. Sir F. D. Bell, and were ordered to be referred to the Waste Lands Committee.—The second reading of the Clyde Public Reserves Grant Bill was moved by the Hon. Air. Aliller, which being carried, the Bill was ordered to be referred to the Waste Lands Committee. The debate on the second reading of the Oamaru Reserves Bill, also moved by the Hon. Air. Aliller, was adjourned.—The Council rose at 5 p.m., but met again at 7.30 for the purpose of going into committee on the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Bill and various other Bills.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Friday, October 5.

Mr. PYKE asked the Premier, —If he will lay before this House a return showing, in detail, the cost of County Government? The Hon. Alajor ATKINSON replied that the Government were not at present in a position to furnish the information required as fully as it was desired. Such information as the Government had on the subject he would lay upon the table of the House. Air. LUMSDEN asked the Government, — If they will lay before this House a return giving the original area of the several pastoral runs in Southland, the area of purchased land held by each runholder, and the area held by other freeholders on the said runs?

The Hon. Mr. MoLEAN replied in the affirmative.

The Hon. Mr. FOX, in asking the Government, —If any means exist to prevent a wasteful expenditure of public money at the election of municipal councillors? —readanewspaper extract showing the large amount that had been spent in liquor at the election booths over the recent municipal election. The Hon. Air. WHITAKER replied to the effect that the Government had no power whatever to suppress such expenditure ortointerfere in the matter. It was a matter for the ratepayers to protest against the money being wasted in that way. Mr. P YKE asked the Government, — Whether they will lay before this House a copy of the report or recommendations of the conference of police officers which recently sat at Wellington? The Hon. Alajor ATKINSON in replying stated that no regular report had been furnished to the Government. He would be happy to show the hou. member making the inquiry such papers as there were on the subject. Sir GEORGE GREY asked 'the Government, —The reason of the delay which is taking place in handing over the control of the harbor and foreshore at the Thames to the Local Board elected in January last ? The Hon. Air. WHITAKER replied that the necessary survevs of the foreshore had not yet been made. The matter would be dealt with as quickly as possible. BILLS INTRODUCED. A Bill to provide for the establishment of Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools for the Education district of Southland (Mr. Lumsden); the Kaiapoi Cemetery Reserves Bill (the Hon. Alf. Bowen.) SETTLEMENTS ROADS ADVANCES BILL. The Waste Lands Committee reported on this Bill, recommending that it be not passed. Tbs Bill was ordered to be committed on Tuesday next. DISQUALIFICATION OF MR. KENNEDY. The House proceeded to the consideration of the report of the Disqualification Committee presented to the House on the 2nd October; and a resolution and amendment proposed thereon. The Hon. Air. WHITAKER was quite prepared to agree to the motion of Air. Alacandrew, and accept the whole of the report.

Air. STOUT thought that there was no need to discuss the matter further.

Air. REES dissented from the report as a whole, and contended that as the law had been broken Air. Kennedy had forfeited his seat. It was doubtful, however, whether Mr. Kennedy was liable to any pecuniary penalties. Air. AIACANDREW said there was no doubt that the Act had been broken in spirit, though not in the letter. Air. SHARP would suggest that some other tribunal than the House should deal with the question of disqualification. The question to then put,—That the House do concur in the entire report brought up by the Disqualificatiou Committee.

Mr. REES moved as an amendment, —-That in the opinion of this House Mr. Kennedy is disqualified from holdiog a seat in the House. Mr. STOUT argued that there was nothing in the Disqualification Act that prevented a member of the House from becoming a Government contractor after his election. Sir GEORGE GREY took an opposite view to that of the hon. and learned member who had just sat down. Messrs. Rolleston, Gisborne, and Hislop having spoken on the subject, a division was called for, when the motion for the entire adoption of the report was carried by a majority of 30—Ayes, 46; noes, 16. Mr. ROLLESTON moved, —That the following words be added :—“That Mr. Kennedy be reprimanded by Mr. Speaker for the course taken by him.” He (Mr. Rolleston) did not think the House had been treated with proper respect by Mr. Kennedy. The Hon. Mr. STAFFORD would like to know what would be the effect of the amendment. What would be the character of the reprimand ? The word reprimand was too strong a term. Mr. STOUT said the word “ admonish ” would he more suitable.

The Hon. Major ATKINSON considered the debate had gone quite far enough. If they intended going beyond what the committee recommended, something more than a reprimand would be needed. The Hon. Mr, FOX remarked that Mr. Kennedy had received sufficient punishment from the action already taken in the matter—sufficient to act as a deterrent to others. Mr. ROLLSSTON’S amendment was then put, and negatived on the voices. THE LAND BILL. The House proceeded to the further consideration of this Bill in committee. Clause 18, relating to the establishment of land boards, was discussed at great length. Varions amendments were proposed. Mr. De Ladtodr’B amendment, to strike out the latter part of the clause relating to the appointment and removal of members of the Waste Lands Board by warrant under the hand of the Governor, was lost by 43 to 30. QUESTION op privilege. The Hon. Mr. FOX brought up a report of the Privilege Committee in the case of Mr. Lusk. The purport of the report was that Mr. Lusk had received £SO from the Corporation of Auckland for legal services rendered prior to and during the session of 1876, in respect to the Auckland Corporation and Auckland Waterworks Bills. And that certain clauses of the former Bill, which the Corporation of Auckland desired, had. through his exertion, been accepted by the Government, and embodied in the Municipal Corporations Act. The report, with evidence, was ordered to be printed on the motion of the hon. Mr. Fox. The evening sitting was occupied with the consideration of the Land Bill in committee.