PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5209, 1 December 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, November 30. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at halfpast 2 p.m. NOTICES OB’ MOTION. Notices of motion were given for next sitting day by the Hon. Dr. Pollen, and for Monday next by the Hons. Maj’or Richmond, C. 8., and Mr. Pharazyn. report. The Hon. Major RICHMOND brought up an interim report of the Standing Orders Committee, which was read. leave of absence. On the motion of the Hon. Dr. Menzies, leave of absence was granted to himself from Ist day of December for the remainder of the session. .motions. The Hon. Dr. MENZIES moved, and it was agreed to,— That his name be struck off the Waste Lands Committee. The same hon. member then moved,’ and it was agreed to, — That another hon. member should be elected by ballot to fill his place. A ballot was then taken, resulting in favor of the Hon. Mr. Miller. GREENWOOD pensions act. This Bill was received by message from the House of Representatives, and read a first time, its second reading being fixed for next sitting day, on the motion of the Hon Sir F. D. Bell. CALL OF THE COUNCIL. Before proceeding to the business on the Order Paper the Council was called over, and there was only one gentleman whose absence was not satisfactorily accounted for, i.e., the Hon. Robert Campbell. The Hon. the Speaker intimated that he had sent a telegram to this gentleman, but bad so far received no reply thereto ; but it was j'ust probable that tne telegram had not reached the Hon. Mr. Campbell’s hands. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed:—The Balolutha Athemeum Bill, the Southland Boys’ and Girls’ High School Bill, and the Public Libraries Subsidies Act. ORDERS OF THE DAY. The Sale of Food and Drugs Bill was further considered in committee, reported with amendments, and ordered to be read a third time next sitting day, and the Mines Bill was further considered in committee, but progress being reported, leave was obtained to sit again next sitting day. SECOND READINGS. The second reading of the Gisborne Harbor Bill (the Hon. G. R. Johnson) was negatived on the voices, in consequence of which the Waikato Port and River Trust Endowment Bill (second reading —the Hon. Dr. Pollen) was withdrawn. The Nelson Rifle Prize Act Amendment Bill (the Hon. Mr. Edwards) was read a second time, and passed through committee, its third reading being fixed for next sitting day ; and the Taranaki Roads and Bridges Ordinance IBSS Amendment Bill (the Hon. Mr. Hall) was read a second time, passed through committee, read a third time, and passed. TARANAKI SMELTING WORKS LAND RILL. A message was received from the House of Representatives, stating that they disagreed with (the amendments made by the Legislative Council, and giving their reasons for so doing, which were read. The Hon. Mr. Holmes, who had charge of it in the Council, stated that he did not wish to press the Bill further, as he did not think it would be to the interests of those concerned. The Bill therefore lapsed. Tile Council then (at 9 p.m.), on the motion of the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, adjourned till the usual hour next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, November 30. The Speaker took the chair, at half-past two o’clock. MINISTERIAL RESIDENCES. The report of the Public Accounts Committee was read re the Ministerial residences. The committee recommended that the late Ministers retain possession of the residences until the ' prorogation ; but that in future Ministers vacate the premises in thirty days after leaving office.—A long discussion ensued. The Premier and the Native Minister were of opinion that the late Ministry had been treated too liberally by the committee. They should be called upon to pay a reasonable rental for the residences, or Ministers would be in occupation of them seven or, eight weeks after leaving office. —Mr. Rolleston said it was a question of courtesy between Ministers, and expressed his regret that the matter had been brought forward. It had been the custom for Ministers to occupy the residences till the end of the session. The question was one of good feeling and not of bargain, and an attempt should not be made to prejudice .gentlemen in the eyes of the country.—Mr. McLean said it was undoubtedly better that Ministers should retain possession of the premises than that a man should be paid to take care of them. There was one vacated for some time, and no attempt had been made to occupy it. He had received a letter from the Und..r-Secretary of Public Works, asking him to ajipoint an arbitrator to confer with another appointed by the Government as to the rent to be paid for the residences. He had vacated the house long before he had received the document, whicli stated that his occupancy ceased the day he left office.—Mr. Bowen said no member of the late Government refused to pay rental for the premises.—Mr. Swanson hoped the outcome of the • discussion would be that everything Ministers in future would received would be in hard cash.- —Mr. Reynolds thought it was absolutely necessary that there should be Ministerial residences, and that retiring Ministers should have a right to retain them till the end of the session. It would be a contemptible thing to ask for rental.. To expect a Minister with his wife and family to turn out at a moment’s notice was preposterous.—Mr. Wakefield read a letter addressed to Mr. Stafford in 1889 by Mr. Fox, wherein it was intimated that Mr. Stafford had no right to occupy the premises after he ceased to be a Minister. —Mr. Fox said no member had charged him with discourtesy to Mr. Stafford at that time. With regard to asking Ministers to pay rent, it was the result of a radical feeling. It was an appeal to people outside, and was done at little risk—Mr. Reid said the question did not affect the public revenue at all. It was a matter between Ministers and Ministers. There had been two changes of Ministry in one session, and it would be exceedingly inconvenient in such cases that Ministers should be compelled to leave the residences immediately on quitting office. —Major Atkinson and Mr. Ormond explained that there never had been any refusal on'the part of late Ministers to pay rent for the premises.—The report was ordered to bo printed, when it was intimated the subject will be further discussed. NEW LAND BILL. On the motion of Sir George Grey, a measure entitled the Waste Lands Sale Bill was introduced and read a first time, the second reading being fixed for the following day. Major ATKINSON asked if the Bill was the same Bill promised by the Government.

The Hon. .Mr. SHEEHAN replied that it was one of two Bills which proposed to give effect to the policy contained in the I inaucial Statement. BILLS. The Stamp Act Amendment Bid, the West Harbor Borough Mayoralty Election Validation Bill, the Maori Real Management Act Amendment Bill, the Native Land Act Amendment Bill, the Government Native Land Purchase Discontinuance Bill, the Shipping and Seaman’s Bill, the Dangerous Goods Bill" the Wyndham Shire Ground Reserve Bill, and the Canterbury Roads Ordinance Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in ■ the District Railways Bili, the Domicile Bill, the Public Reserves Bill, and the Crown Redress Bill were disagreed to. The Financial Arrangements Act 1876 Amendment Bill was discharged, .Mr, Sheehan stating that it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill dealing with all the matters contained in it. IE ARO RECLAMATION BILL. On the motion of Mr. Travers, the above Bill was read a second time, passed through committee without amendment, and ivaa read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 12.35 a.m.