PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5426, 17 August 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, August IG. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. RETURN'S, &C. Various returns were laid on the table, and several notices of motion given. IMMIGRANTS. The Hon. Mr. MILLER asked the Honorable the Colonial Secretary,—What steps are taken by the Government as regards the nomination of immigrants: what facilities are afforded for securing correctness in the applications, and for ascertaining the character of the nominated immigrants, especially in those places where there is no immigration officer? People who were not likely to introduce desirable immigrants were applying to bring friends out. He thought it desirable that the Government should take precautions in the matter.

The Hon. Col. WHITMORE replied, stating the precautions which had been taken by the Government. A circular was sent to all the immigration officer.*, directing their attention to a letter from the Agent-General, and asking them to notice the suggestions therein contained. Persons nominating should be warned to state age and other particulars correctly, and the suitability of their nominees for the colony. Persons nominating immigrants should be people whose statements could relied on. COMMITTEES. The Hon. Major RICHMOND moved, —That the resolutions embodied in the report of the Standing Orders Committee, brought up ou Tuesday, the 13th August, he agreed to. The Hon. Major RICHMOND moved, — That the number of the Local Bills Committee be increased to five, and that the names of the Honorable Colonel Kenny and the Honorable Mr. Wilson be added thereto. Both motions were agreed to. AN EXPLANATION. Sir F, D. BELL : Before the Council goes to the business of the day, perhaps the Council will allow me to say a word or two in respect to a statement in which I am made to say that the Governor should not allow his private opinions to interfere with his public action. I am sure the courtesy of the reporter who credited me with these words will give publication to the correction. Of .course the Council knows perfectly well that X could not talk such nonsense as that. COMMUNICATION PROM THE SPEAKER. The folio wingofficial communication was made by the Hon. the Speaker to the Council : —I would suggest for the consideration of the Council the desirability of referring to the Standing Orders Committee the expediency of taking measures to secure at all times to the Council, by Act of Parliament, the services of a sufficient number of competent and suitably paid officers to enable it to exercise, with efficiency and despatch, the functions entrusted to it by the Constitution Act as a branch of the Legislature. With this view, the Standing Orders Committee should be empowered to call for persons, papers, and records, and to search for precedents in the Upper Chamber of the Imperial Parliament and Colonial Legislatures. BILLS. Several measures were introduced from the Lower Chamber, and. the Hon. Colonel Whitmore gave notice of his intention to introduce the Friendly Societies Act. PUBLIC RESERVES BTLL. The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE moved the second reading. Under this Bill power would be given to make proper reserves, and this was necessary under the present form of local government. Clauses 9 and 12 proposed to extend facilities under the Laud Transfer Act. He thought hon. members would find that the BUI had been carefully drawn, and would ask members therefore to be chary of altering it in committee. The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE said the application of the Bill was very wide. In Otago some 700,000 or 800,000 acres of land were affected. He thought no Government should have such powers as were proposed to be given by this Bill The whole question of public reserves was one that required judgment, with extreme caution. Sir F. D, BELL agreed until the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse. He would go a step further and would oppose iu every way the giving of such powers to any Executive as were given in section 5 and other sections in this Bill. He pointed out the very large powers given by section 5. He thought they should hesitate before they extended the executive power at all. The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE, iu reply, said the Bill would have to go to the Waste Lands Committee, and would no doubt be there carefully overhauled. The only intention of the sth clause was to give power to the local bodies to carry out the purposes of these reserves. In any case the Government acted on their responsibility and under the control of Parliament, and he thought powers which had beeen held by Superintendents should be safely entrusted to the responsible Ministers of the Crown, but he would abide by the judgment of the Waste Lands Committee. Bill read a second time. EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOR BELL.

The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE moved the second reading. The Bill was, introduced to place the member representing the Government in a better position to conduct the work in that Council. Before they had the advantage of the presence of l)r. Pollen It had been the practice to have two members of that Council to represent the Government of the day. It was difficult for one to manage the business properly. The operation of the Bill was confined to that Chamber. No salary would be paid, but there would be allowances. ; He thought the principle of the measure would be concurred in by members of both sides in either Chamber. The Hon. Mr. REYNOLDS concurred in the Bill. He was sorry, however, to hear that there was to be no salary. He trusted that, after consulting his colleagues, the hon. gentleman would be able to give the Council farther information on the subject. The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE said that at the present time the Minister in that Chamber owed a great deal to the forbearance of the Council. It was possible that such would not be exercised if there were a second Minister in the case. There was another danger, viz., that they should see in that Chamber a non-official member of the Executive representing the Government. He would not increase the number of the Executive Council unless there were a distinct provision that there should be an official member of the Cabinet in the Legislative Council. If there were no official representative of the Government in the Council, it would lower the dignity of that Chamber.

The Hon. Mr. HA.LL supported tlie Bill, He agreed with Mr. Waterhouse that the Bill was not explicit as to the necessity of there being a Minister in the Council. He would go further. He thought there should be two salaried members of the Government in that Chamber. , . , The Hon, Dr. POLLEN agreed with Mr. Hall. No one was more conscious of the difficulties to which one Minister was subjected in having alone to conduct the business of the Government in that Council than himself. But if there was to be asecond member representing the Government in that Chamber, he should be a Minister of the Crown. He thought one of the Cabinet could he spared from the other branch of the Legislature, and it would be remembered that such was the opinion of the hon. and gallant member when they sat in opposite places. The solution of the difficulty in which the hon. member found himself was the addition of another member to the Cabinet. The Hou. Sir V. U. BELL supported the Bill. He advocated an increase iu the number of the Cabinet, pointing out the necessity of members of the Ministry itinerating during the recess. Ho paid a high compliment to the merits of the Colonial Secretary, as shown by his military career. He concluded by saying that the sooner the House of Representatives was brought to see the necessity of providing for one or even two more members of the Executive the better. The Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL advocated the appointment of Parliamentary uuder-secre-taries. The Hon. Colonel KENNY agreed with the views of the Colonial Secretary, but he maintained that the business of the Government in that Council should be carried on by a responsible Minister, and that the Council should be satisfied with none other. After some remarks from the Hou. Captain Phaser, The Hou. Colonel WHITMORE was sorry to see that auy objection should be taken to a return to the state of things which had at one time given satisfaction. Perhaps it would bo wall to allow the Bill to lapse. (No, no.) He felt very much the remarks of Mr. Waterhouse that bo owed so much to the forbearance of the Council. [Mr. Waterhouse explained that ho spoke generally. He bad owed much himself when a Minister to the forbearance of hon. members]. Colonel Whitmore proceeded, speaking of the worl;

done during the recess by the Cabinet, As to the Civil Service, he did not think there was a hotter Civil Service in the world. On the other hand, he did not think it should be said that the country had been ruled by the Undersecretaries. Ho considered they were not capable of so ruling. Men who worked for a long period of time in one groove {ho spoke without offence) became more or less machine?, and were not fitted for governing. In conclusion, he thought the civil servants were poorly paid in comparison with the civil servants o! other countries. In speaking to the committal of the BUI, Sir F. D. Bell was surprised that the Co’onial Secretary thought the measure had been badly received. —Mr. Waterhouse followed in the same line, and deprecated the sensitiveness of the Colonial Secretary to independent criticism. The second reading was then agreed to, and the committal of the Bill was made an order of the day for Tuesday next. IN COMMITTEE. The Harbor Bill was further considered in committee. Some slight amendments were made, and progress was reported. ADDRESS TO EARL BEACONSPIELD. The Hon. Captain FRASER give notice that on Tuesday next ho would move,—That an address bo presented to Earl Beaconsfield, congratulating him on the successful result of the Congress at Berlin. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. The Council met at 8 p.m. for the purpose of passing an Imprest Supply Bill for £ The Bill was passed through all its stages, and the Council then adjourned, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, August 16. T^p"Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS. Petitions were presented by Messrs. Douglas, Joyce, Hobbs, Pyke, Curtis, Tolo, Thomson, and Moss. NOTICES OF MOTION. Notices of motion were given by Messrs. Wood, Fox, Ayasley, Reeves, Hodgkinson, Curtis, Wallace, Thomson, Gisborne, Sutton, Beetham, Bowen, Waaon, Pyke, Taiaroa, and Manders. QUESTION. The Hon. Mr. FOX, without notice, desired to'ask the Hon. the Postmaster-General whether the Government would continue the practice of allowing bon. members to frank parliamentary papers to the other colonies and the Home country. At present the privilege extended only to New Zealand. The mail Would leave next day, and it would be very convenient to bon, members if they knew whether they might frank parliamentary papers in accordance with previous customs. The Hon. Mr. FISHER said he could not hear what was said by the hon. member, and he would therefore ask him to put his question in writing; and he would answer it at a later stage. PAPERS. Papers were laid oa the table by the Hon. Mr. Ballance, the Hon. Mr. Fisher, and the Hon. Mr. Sheehan. REPORT. Mi*. BARFF bronght up a report from the Petitions Classification Committee, which was ordered to lie on the table. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. Mr, O’RORKE moved that the report of the Standing Orders Committee (brought up on the 9th instant) be concurred in by the House. After considerable discussion the motion was carried by 51 to 8. FRANKING PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. The Hon. Mr. FISHER, replying to a question previously put by the Hon. Mr. Fox, said he had been advised that no Order in Council had ever been made to allow parliamentary papers to be sent out of the colony without being franked by those empowered to do so. Henceforth these papers would be passed through the Post Office if they bore the stamp of the House. INSCRIPTION OF STOCK ACT. Mr. McLEAN asked the Premier, —Who are the agents appointed under the Inscription of Stock Act ? Was the agency offered to Sir Julias Vogel ; and, if not, is there any objection to state the reasons why it was not offered to him ? Sir GEORGE GREY replied that the agents appointed under the Consolidation Xioan Act were Mr. Larnacb, Mr. Julyan, Mr. Sergeant, and Captain Ommany. At the time these appointments were made Sir Julius Vogel intimated that he might resign the office of Agent-General, and the Government thought that perhaps he might do so. SURPLUS LAND REVENUE. Mr. McLEAN asked the Colonial Treasurer,—Why the sum of £56,549 Bs, 7d., surplus land revenue, shown in table J of the Financial Statement to be due to the counties in Otago under the financial arrangements prior to 31st December, 1877 (before the proposals of the present Government for the confisention of the Otago land revenue took effect), has not been paid as directed by the Public - Revenues Act of last sesnon, which enacted that such balance should be paid over within ninety days from Ist January, 1878 ? The Hon. Mr. BALLANCE was understood to reply that the money was distributable and was being distributed. Mr. McLEAN asked,—lf the Government had any objection to refer the matter to the Public Accounts Committee ? The Hon. Mr. BALLANCE said the Government had no. objection to refer the matter to the Public Accounts Committee, and they would place before that committee all documents bearing on the matter. OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY. Mr. PYKE asked the Minister for Public Works, —If the Government will cause a survey to be made, at the earliest possible date, of a line from Clyde to Cromwell and Lake Wanaka, in continuation of the Otago Central Railway via Sfcrath-Taieri ? The Hon. Mr. MAOANDREW replied that information on the subject would be included In his Public Works Statement, EEMUERA ROAD. Mr. TOLE asked the Minister for Public Works, —If he will cause the level-crossing at the Remuera Road, near Newmarket,. to be lighted with gas ? The Hon. Mr. MAOANDREW replied that the Government had no objection to the crossing being lighted with gas. THORNDON RECLAMATION. Mr. MANDERS asked the Colonial Treasurer,—(l.) Why interest upon moneys expended, and the cost of supervision of the reclaiming of land at Thorndon, did not form portion of the calculation of the cost of such reclamation in . the estimate laid before this House on Tuesday last. (2.) Why was not a valuation made of the land before handing it over to the Wellington Corporation, seeing that the said Corporation is already endowed with a valuable landed estate ? The Hon. Mr. BALLANCE replied that one effect of the sale was to get rid of an old Wellington provincial liability of £25,000. As to the extent of Wellington’s endowments, the Government had no information. MANGAHOB INLET. Mr. TAIAROA asked the Native Minister, —lf the Government intend to introduce a Bill tn-ontKi* the title to the Mangahoo Inlet to bo determined ? , . Xjio ii-uj. Mr. SHEEHAN replied that all legal difficulties would be removed, and the hon. member could then have the title investigated in the Native Lands Court, THE AROHA BLOCK. The Hon. Mr. FOX asked the Government, —Whether the Crown title to the Aroha Block is now complete ; and, if so, whether they intend to advise the Governor to issue a Crown grant to Mr. Broomhall for the land agreed to be sold to him, under the authority of section 29 of the Waste Lands Administration Act, 187.6 ? r The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN replied that there were no further objections. With regard to the second part of the question, the Government were advised that the bargain. was illegal, and special legislation would be required. The Hon. Mr. FOX Inquirad if the Government intended to take special legislation 1 The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN said that the hon. member ought to give notice of his question. There was some difficulty in determining what course ought to be pursued. The Hon. Mr. FOX inquired whether the Government recognised the equity of Mr. BroombaU’s claim to have the contract carried out, and whether they would take legislation to enable the contract to be carried oat ? The Hon, Mr. SHEEHAN said the Government were advised that the contract was illegal, but a BUI would bo brought in on the subject, and the House would have an opportunity itself of settling the difficulty. DOMAINS. Mr. BOWEN asked the Minister of Lands, —How the amount voted last year for domains In the provincial district of Canterbury has been expended ; and whether the whole sum appropriated under the voto has been distributed for the improvement and maintenance qf domains » The Hon. Mr. STOUT replied that the sum of 415,000 had been paid in pursuance of appriation, and be would lay return on the

table allowing how the money had been distributed. Mr. BOWIN’ asked if the Government had received any information as to whether the money had been expended for the purposes for which it had been voted ? The Hon. Mr. STOUT replied that the attention of the Government had not been drawn to this part of the subject. K.UAFOI EMBANKMENT. Mr. BOWEN" asked the Minister for Public Works, Whether bis attention has been drawn to injury done to the Kaiapoi embankment by the groin above the railway bridge; and whether ho will give Instructions to have the injury repaired and the cause of mischief abated ? The Hon. Mr. MAG AN DREW replied that reports had been made on this subject already, but the Government would have no objection to having the matter again reported on without delay, VOLUNTEER FORCE. Mr. FELDWIGIC asked the Government, — If they intend this session to make any proposals regarding increased capitation grants to the volunteer force of the colony, or to do anything in the way of reorganisation ? The Hon, Mr. BALLANCE replied that the Government have been taking steps to effect a re-organisation of the volunteers, and he hoped in a short time to be able to lay a report on the table on the subject. It was not the intention of the Government to increase the capitation grant during the present year. ' SEAL FISHERIES. Mr. FELDWXCK asked the Government, —lf they intend this session to introduce a Bill for the protection of seal fisheries; and if they will exempt the Auckland Islands from the operation of the measure ? The Hon. Mr. MAOANDREW replied that he had a notice on the paper for leave to intro* duce a Fisheries Bill, and he would have no objection to include in it a clause referring to seal fisheries. The Government did not intend the Bill to operate beyond the coasts of New Zealand. THE NEW ROLLS. Mr. BOWEN asked the Attorney-General, —Whether he will lay before this House a return of the number o! electors registered in the several electoral districts, on the now rolls for the year ? The Hon, Mr. STOUT replied that copies of the roll would be laid on the table in a few days. CROWN AGENTS, ETC. - Mr. McLEAN asked the Colonial Treasurer, —lf he will lay before this House all correspondence with the Crown Agents, Loan Agents, and the Agent-General ; also, copies of the instructions given to Mr. Larnach relative to the raising of the £3,500,000 and the Inscription of Stock Act ? The Hon. Mr, BALLANCE replied that the Government. would have no objection to lay all public correspondence on the table. WELLINGTON COLLEGE ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Gisborne, the motion for leave to introduce this Bill was made an order of the day for Tuesday next. EXCISE DUTY ON BEER. The Hon. Mr. BALLANCE moved for leave to bring in a Bill to impose an excise duty on beer. Leave was given, the Bill brought in, read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Tuesday next. CUSTOMS TARIFF. The Hon, Mr. BALLANCE moved for leave to introduce a Bill to alter and amend the Customs Tariff Act, 1866, and the Customs Tariff Act, 1873. Leave was given, the Bill brought in, read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Tuesday next. PRESERVATION OP FISHERIES. . The Hon. Mr. MACANDREW moved for leave to bring in a Bill to provide for the better preservation of the fisheries of the colony. Leave was given, the Bill brought in, read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Tuesday next. WAIMAKARIRI HARBOR BOARD ENDOWMENT BILL. On the motion of Mr. Bowen the motion for leave to introduce this Bill was made an order of the clay for Tuesday next. BLUFF HARBOR BOARD ACT, 18/6, AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion of Mr. Wood leave was given to bring in this Bill, which was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Wednesday week. INCOME OF JOINT-STOCK AND OTHER COMPANIES. The Hon. Mr. BALLANCE moved,—That this House will on Tuesday next resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider of giving leave to bring in a Bill to impose a duty upon the net income of joint-stock and other companies. The motion was agreed to. LAND TAX. The Hon. Mr. BALLANCE moved,—That this House will on Tuesday next resolve itself into a committee of the whole ,to consider of giving leave to bring in a Bill to impose a tax on land. The motion was agreed to. FRAUDULENT DEBTORS BILL. The report of the committee on this Bill was agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. SIR WILLIAM MARTIN’S PENSION. Sir GEORGE GREY moved for a committee of the whole House to consider a message from his Excellency the Governor, enclosing the Martin Annuity Bill, and explained that the object of the Bill was to increase Sir William Martin’s pension from £333 6s. Bd. a-year to £SOD. Sir George Grey pointed out the great services which Sir William Martin had rendered to New Zealand, and considered a retired Chief Justice who had done so much should have a larger pension, Mr. McLEAN opposed the motion, on the principle that he .objected to the system of pensions. The House divided —Ayes, 42 ; noea, 7. The House resolved itself into committee, when the Bill was introduced. The committee having reported the Bill to the House, it was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for Tuesday next. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. The Imprest Supply Bill, No. % for payment of salaries, wages, and contingencies, was passed through all its stages, ELECTORAL BILL. The adjourned debate on this Bill was mad© an order of the day for Tuesday next. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then resolved itself into Committee oi Supply, when the discussion was resumed on the item “ Clerk of Writs, £100.” The discussion branched off to the item “ Mr. Speaker (addition to permanent salary, £000) £200.” Mr. SWANSON proposed that the item be struck out, in order that the Government might bring in a Bill fixing the salaries of the principal officers of the Legislature by Act. After a lengthened discussion, the item was passed by 54 to 17. Mr. SWANSON moved that the item “ Sergeant-at-Arms, £250,” be struck out. The item was passed on the voices. Mr. TAIAROA intimated that he intended to move that the item Expenses of Members of both Houses, £21,575,” be struck out, as he thought hon. members should begin at home. (Laughter.) An amendment to reduce the item “ Reader, £150,” to £l2O (proposed by Mr. Rees), was negatived on the voices. Mr. TAIAROA said hon. membrrs were trying to reduce the salaries of people who were not there to take care of themselves. They ought to begin at home, and therefore he begged to move that the item “Expenses of Members of both Houses, £21,575,” be struck out. The motion was put, and declared to bo negatived in the voices. Mr. TAIAROA called for a division— Ayes, 17 ; noes, 47. The item was therefore retained. Mr. SAUNDERS moved that thb item “Expenses of Members of both House, £21,575,” be struck out, and the figures £16,181 inserted in lieu thereof, making the amount 150 guineas to each member. After considerable discussion the committee divided on the proposed reduction, with the following result Ayes, 19 ; noes, 41. After some further discussion the item was passed as printed. Mr. SOHRIMSKI moved that the next item, “Examiner of Standing Orders on Private Bills, £250,” bo struck out. After some discussion the motion was negatived on the voices, and the item was passed as printed. Mr. WAKEFIELD moved that the item “ Bellamy’s, on account of establishment, £250,” be struck out. The committee divided after some discussion—Ayes, 22; noes, 25. The item was passed. A motion to strike out the Rent “ Custodian of Parliamentary Buildings, £250," was.nega* tived on the voices. The total vote, £39,247 17»* Cd., under the hesid “ Progress was reported, with leave to sit again on Tuesday next. The House adjourned at 1 a.m. until Tuesday nest.