PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5813, 15 November 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISL ATI V K COUNCIL. FhIDAT, NOVEMBER 14. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. GENERAL. Several petitions were presentee), notices of motion given, and returns laid on the table. MIDDLE ISLAND NATIVES. The Hon. Mr. TAIAROA asked the Attor-ney-General, —Whether the Government will taka into consideration the case of the old decrepid Maori men and women in the Middle Island, many of whom are destitute, and afford them «ome relief ? Also, what they intend to do with regard to the native medical attendants in the Middle Island, whether they will pay them regular salaries as native medical officers, and also defray the cost of medicines ; whether the doctors who attend the natives at the present time are paid by Government ; and, if so, if it is their duty only to attend the destitute, and not those possessing means among the Maori people '! Also, whether the Government have brought the Kaiapni Native lleservn.s Act, 1877, into operation ; if so, whether any steps have been taken, or are likely to be taken, ..to have a sitting of the Native Land Court held, to enquire into particulars respecting the natives entitled to the land ? The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER said he believed provision was already made for all aged and needy Maoris. If there were any unprovided for if Mr. Taiaroa would bring the cases under the notice of the Government they should bo attended to. As to doctors, four of them were paid by Government, and the remaining five derived their salaries from reserves ; they provided medicines out of their salaries, and attended all natives who required their services. The Act aliuded to was in operation, and the Land Court directed to enquire into tho ownership of the land, SEW COUNTY OF I/MAP.U. The Hon. Mr. ACLAND moved, —That, in the opinion of this Council, tho proposed new County of Tirnaru should not he constituted. —Tho Hon. Colonel Whitmore was averse to dividing the present counties. He would rather advocate the amalgamation of small ones.—The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse agreed with Colonel Whitmore’s remarks and considered that to begin to allow counties to split up would tend to create much local illfeeling and do no good, but rather the reverse.—The Hon. Mr. Holmes supported the motion. He considered it anomalous that there should ho counties and rood boards existing side by B‘de with two large sots of officials doing the very same work. lie was in favor of enlarging road hoards and giving them more power, and then do away with the counties, or abolish road boards and leave everything to tire county councils. Other members having spoken in support of the motion, the Hon. Captain Eraser, moved the adjournment of the debate till Tuesday, so as to allow both sides of the question to be heard. —Several members supported the adjournment, which was eventually carried. LOCAL BILLS COMMITTEES. On tho motion of the Hon. Mr. Whitaker, three committees, consisting of seven members each, were appointed, after a long discussion, to consider local Bills to take measures alternately. The Standing Orders relating to local Bills wore ordered to be suspended for the rest of the session. HIXBKB DEFENCES. The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE moved, — That it is desirable that this Council he informed what course the Government propose to take with reference to the harbor defences, and the visit of Colonel Scratchley, R. 8., to inspect the colonial harbors. The mover said the late Government had got an appropriation of £44,000 for harbor defence purposes. The big guns and fittings had cost £13,000, which left £26,000 for the erection of batteries, &c. This was found to be insufficient, and it had been proposed that Colonel Scratchley should come over from Australia to endeavor to devise plans that would come within the amount, and to examine and report generally on the best means of harbor defence. Ha thought it most desirable the services of so eminent an officer should be availed of at so •good an opportunity. The Hon. Colonel BRETT, in seconding the motion, spoke of his own exertions for nine successive years to awaken interest in this question of defence, hut he had only been laughed at. He hoped Colonel Scratchley would be brought over at once, and not treated in the same discourteous manner Sir W. Jervois had been. Now was a most favorable time to put the colony in a state of defence, but we knew not the day or the hour when we might find ourselves face to face with an enemy at our very doors. It being 4 p.m. the debate was adjourned. HEADINGS—COMMITTEE, The Primitive Methodist Temporal ASeirs Bill, and the Elections Validation Bill were read a third time and passed. The Ashburton Water Supply Bill (Mr. G. Buckley) was read a first time, and the District Law Societies Act Amendment Bill a second and third time. The Camera Waterworks Act Amendment Bill was passed through committee with amendment?. The Fencing Bill was committed, hut after some clauses had been passed progress was reported, in order that the Bill might be translated Maori, the committee to sit again on Tuesday. The Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, November 14. The Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. GENERAL. The usual routine business was gone through. QUESTIONS. Mr. SHRIMSKI asked the Government, — Whether the Borough Councils of Tirnaru, Lyttelton, Lawrenc-, and Wellington obtain the benefit of prison labor ; and, if so, whether the various Corporations above mentioned are charged with the cost of the same, or any part thereof. If not, why it is made a condition to tho Oamaru Corporation obtaining the benefit of prison labor that they should pay the cost of a warder ? The Hon. Mr. EOLLESTON replied that wherever extra cost was involved it was charged against local bodies. In reply to Mr. Bain, —If they will make provision for the registration of mining companies in Invercargill—the Government replied that such provision could be effected at the Supreme Court of that place. In reply to Mr. Reid, who asked the Government whether they will lay before this House a copy of Sir John Goode’s Report on the Hokitika Harbor, the Hon. Mr. Oliver said the report should be laid upon the table. In answer to a question by Mr. Sutton Mr. OLIVER said that no reports of Sir John Coode on the harbors of Napier and Wairoa had been received. On the motion of Mr. Hall it was agreed that the House should meet for the despatch of Government business at half-past seven on Monday evening. NEW EILIB. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—The Christchurch District Drainage Act. 1875, Amendment Bill, a Bill to regulate the width of streets and roads, the Public Reserves Sale Bill, the Special Powers and Contracts Bill. QUALIFICATION OP ELECTORS BILL. The Hon. JOHN HALL moved that the report be adopted, and that the Bill be read a third time. Mr. PYKE moved that the Bill be recommitted. Seconded by Mr. Moss. Mr. THOMSON said the question of the female franchise was sufficiently important to entitle it to be a Bill by itself. The question had not been before the country or the constituencies, and he did not see for his own part ■what good was to come of it. If they were to be placed on the roll at all, they should be placed there on the score of their womanhood and not on account of their having a piece of property worth £25. A debate then ensued ns to whether the Bill should be recommitted as a whole, or whether only the first section of the second clause should bo reconsidered, for the purpose of striking out the word “ person ” and substituting the word “man.” In this debate most of the members of the House took part. Ultimately a division took place on the original motion, —that the amendments made by the committee be adopted,—with the following result :—Ayes, 30 ; noos, 34. Mr. BOWEN moved that the words “ for the purpose of considering sub-section 1 of section 2,” should be added. The Hon, JOHN HALL hoped the House would accept the amendment of the hon. member for Kaiappl. Messrs. M.--. Seddon, and Hamlin also spokr. The Honuvided on Mr. Bowen's addition to the amendment, with the folio win" result: —Ayes, 37 ; Noes, 22. ° Ayes (37). —Messrs. Allwright, Andrews, Bain, Beetham, Bowen (teller), Brandon, Bryce; Colbeck, Dick, Gibbs, Hall, Hursthonse, Johnston, Kelly, Levin, Mason, Masters, McLean, Murray, Oliver, Pitt, Eolleston, Saunders, Sad-

den (teller), Seymour, Shephard, Steven?. •Sutton, Swanson, Tomoana, Trimble, Tarn-mil, Wakefield, Willis, Wood, 'Richardson, and Wright. Noes (22) —Messrs. Ballanco, Bi'toi, Do Lautour, J. B. Fisher, J. T. Dinner, Gisborne, Grey, Hamlin (teller), Hutchison, L union (teller). Macandrew, Montgomery, Moss, IMd, Shrimski, Speight. Stewart, Tainui, Tawhai, Thomson, Tole, aud Wallis. Mr. HISLOP moved a? a farther amendment that tho following words he added, “ and also that for the purpose of considering auusection 4, section 2.”

A division resulted as follows :—Ayes, 2-1; noes, 37. ... Aye?, 24.—Ballance, De Lautour, fisher. .). B„ Fisher, J. T , George (teller), Grey, Hamlira Hutchison, Ireland, Laudon, Ma'jandru’.u, Montgomery, Moss, Pyke, Reid. Shrimski (teller), Speight, Tainui, Tawhai, Tc Wiieoro, Thomson, Tole, Tomoaua, Wallis. _ Noes, 37.— Allwright, Andrews, Lam, lv;etham, Bowen, Brandon, Bryce, Colbeck, Dior. (ribb*, (lisborne, Hall, Hur*tbou-c, Kelly (teller). Levin, Mason, .Masters, Ale Loan, Murray, Oliver, Pitt, Richardson, Koileiton, Saunders, Seddon, Seymour, Shephard, Stevens, Stewart, Sutton, Swanson, Trimble, Wake’ield, Wallis (teller), Wood, Wright. Or. WALLIS moved that the words “and also for the reconsideration of sub section 2 of danse 2 ” be added. The motion was lost on the voices The motion as amended was agreed to, and the Bill was recommitted for the purpose of considering sub-section 1 of section 2.

Mr. MONTGOMERY moved that tho following words be placed after the word person, —“subject to the provision that he shall not have more than one vote.”

Mr. DE LAUTOUR would like it to be clearly shown by the House if they were in favor of manhood suffrage.

Mr. GISBORNE woul i like to have it distinctly' defined in the Bill, whether an elector could have his name placed more uuu -nice upon the roll. Mr. WAKEFIELD said he should propose later on that the word person be struck out and the word man substituted. The Hon. JOHN HALL would object to the amendment of the hon. member for Akaroi. Mr. KELLY said that to pass the amendment of Mr. Montgomery would be to make nonsense of the whole clause.

Mr, IRELAND hoped tho amendment would be carried. Mr. SWANSON addressed tbo House, and the debate was cut short by the - hour for adjournment. THE QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.

On the House resuming, ou the motion of Mr. SHEEHAN, progress was reported, in order that Mr. Sheehan might make a pers-mal statement. That gentleman stated that one of the telegrams which had been placed on the table ou the previous night from himself, aud which bad been freely talked about, was a private telegram, paid for by him, as were also a good many of the others which hid been produced. Ho had given instructions to his legal adviser to take steps in the matter. Tho Hon. the PREMIER said he must take the whole responsibility. Mr. SHEEHAN said he should prob.bly proceed against one of Idles officers of oh ; department nevertheless. Mr, WAKEFIELD thought that bringing up this matter now was very ill advised. The whole subject ought to be left with the committee without any further discu?siou. Mr. SHRIMSKI thought Mr. Sheehan ought to be commended for having spoken. Sir GF.ORG H GREY also defended his Government, aud again attacked the Ministry for their action with regard to these telegrams. With regard to the committee which had been formed to consider the matter he considered it was a most unfair one. He hoped before the matter dropped that the House would pass a vote of censure on the Government. (Oh.) A discussion earned, lasting for an hour and a quarter. It was similar in tone to that of the previous evening. QUALIFICATION OF ELECTORS BILL.

The Speaker left tho chair, aud this Bill was further considered. The amendment of Mr. Montgomery was put and declared to be lost on the voices. Mr. Montgomery called for a division, which resulted as follows:—Ayes, 22 ; noes, 29. Mr. PYKB moved that the word “person,” in the first sub-section of the second clause, be struck out, aud that the word “man” be substituted.

The Hou.se divided, the result being that the word “person” was struck out and the word “ man” substituted by 31 votes to 22, Mr. HISLOP moved that the words “in his own right, and not as trustee,” be inserted. Agreed to without discussion. Mr. SEDDON moved that the words “twenty-five” (pounds) be struck out, and the word “ ten” inserted in their stead. The motion was lost on the voices. As amended it was put to the House, and a division being called for resulted as follows : Ayes, 32 ; noes, 20. The clause was accordingly added to the Bill. The House adjourned, and progress was reported. The amendments were agreed to by the House ; the Bill was read a third time and passed amid loud applause. REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS BILL, The House went into Committee to consider this Bill. A good deal of discussion took place on the second clause, (Mr. Macandrew saying the country had asked for bread aud the Government had given them a stone. The best thing they could do to save time would be to pass the Bill as it stood.

Mr. J. T. FISHER moved that progress be reported.

The Hon. JOHN HALL would tell the House that the present was one of the most practical Bills that had been brought before the House for years, and he hoped the House would not throw any unnecessary obstruction in the way of the passing of the Bill.

Mr. STEWART would like the Government to give the House an assurance that the Bill for the Redistribution of Seats would be brought down this session.

Mr. TURNBULL hoped the motion of the hon. member for Dunedin to report progress would be withdrawn.

Mr. MOSS was extremely disappointed with the Bill, which he was quite sure would not satisfy the country. Mr. SWANSON was in favor of going on with the Bill.

Mr. GISBORNE hoped the Government would giue them some assurance as to the Redistribution of Seats Bill being brought down this session.

Mr. BOWEN hoped the House would go on with the Bill before them, and Mr. Seddon expressed the same opinion, adding that he considered his party were throwing unnecessary obstruction in the way of the business of the country. With regard to the Redistribution of Seats Bill, as soon as such a Bill was passed the House would have to be dissolved. Was the country prepared for this ? (Yes.) He did not think it was, and he hoped that no such Bill would be brought down this session.

The Hon. JOHN HALL said so far as the Redistribution of Seats Bill was concerned it would depend upon the progress of the business before the House, and the Government would take the earliest opportunity of making the House acquainted with their opinion on the subject.

Mr. ANDREWS said the Bill now before the House was not fit to be called a measure, while he very much doubted whether the Qualification of Electors Bill just passed would meet the wishes and requirements of the country.

Mr. J. T. FISHER did not care whether he went to the country or not to-morrow, but what he did want was the Redistribution of Seats Bill, and if the other measures were passed they would not see that Bill this session.

Dr. WALLIS thought the best way to see the Redistribution of Seats Bill introduced would be to get on with the business of the country, and pass the measures before the House. He did not see that a dissolution was any more necessary in connection with the Redistribution of Seats Bill than with the Qualification of Electors Bill. The motion to report progress was then put and loss on the voices.

The committee then proceeded to consider tho Bill before it. Discussion took place on the sixth clause, aud Mr. Montgomery moved that all the words should be struck out after the words “ House of Representatives” to the end of the sentence.

Ultimately the section was allowed to stand as printed. Mr. SEDDON moved that the following words should be added to tbe end of the first section —“ or who were the holders of a miner’s right i.-sued previous to the 31st July, IS7O, or of a new miner’s right issued since that date.” Discussion ensued, and the motion was declared to be lost on the voices ; but a division being called for resulted in the motion being lost by 29 to 14.

In the fourth section, line two, on a divi-

I -; : on the word “one” was substituted for ! “ three.” .Mr. MURRAY moved that the following words o; aiMed :—“ Prodded further that no person shall be entitle 1 to have his name plae-d on more than two roils within any p oj jK. divi-ion was takcu, and resulted Aves, 17 ; n itts, 19. Mr. SHUI.MSKt moved a further amendment to the effect that no person .should have his name noon more than one roil m the colony' at the time. The Mod. JOHN HALL hoped tho motion would not be pressed. The committee then proceeded to the further consideration of the Bill, after which progress was reported, and the House adjourned.