PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5824, 28 November 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, November 27. The Hob. the Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. Some papers and reports were laid on the table. The following Bills were read a first time The Southern Native Districts School (Jill (Mr. Taiaroa) and the Marlborough Livers Union Bill (from the Lower House). The Hon. Mr. Menzibs moved,—That, in the opinion of this Council, provision should be made, subject to a time-table and conscience clause, whereby the Bible shall be read daily in the public schools without comment. But after speaking briefly to the motion, withdrew it. The Christchurch Drill-shed Bill was read a third time and passed. EMIGRATION AGENTS IN GREAT BRITAIN. The Hon. Mr. MILLER asked the AttorneyGeneral, —How many persons are at present employed us emigration agents in Great Britain and Ireland, and what salaries they are receiving.—The Hon. Mr, Whitaker : There arc five persons : —Mr. Christopher Holloway, at £l5O a year ; Mr. G. M. Reed, at £6OO ; Mr. A. Claydea, at £250 ; Mr. John Bathgate—(Oh, oh,)—at £350 ; the Rev, J. Berry (laughter),—at £3oo ; the arrangement with the latter terminated on September 30th last. qualification op electors bill. On the motion for the third reading of the above Bill, the Hon. Mr. Wilson moved that it be recommitted, with a view to striking out the words “in severalty,” in clause 2, subsection 3 [thereby to allow Maoris who held land in common to vote]. He believed the time would soon come when the special representation of the Maoris would be abolished, and therefore the course he proposed should be taken as an anticipatory recompense.—The Hon. Mr. Whitaker opposed Mr. Wilson’s proposal. He would have liked to see the special representation wholly' abolished and the natives placed upon the same footing as Europeans, or the special representation slightly increased and the Maoris wholly sxclnded from European elections. —The Hon, Dr. Pollen opposed Mr. Wilson’s suggestion, as did Colonel Whitmore.— The Hon. Mr. TAIAROA supported Mr. Wilson’s amendment, and the Hon. Mr Ngatata opposed it.—The Hon. Mr. WILLIAMSON would like to see natives placed on the same footing as Europeans in all respects, and therefore would oppose Mr. Wilson. He would like to see complete free trade in native land, with such regulations that it would ho unprofitable to hold land unused. —The amendment to go into committee was rejected on the voices, and the Bill read a third time and passed. REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS BILL. The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER moved the second reading of this Bill. He explained the present state of the law on the subject, and how its inconveniences would be remedied by the new measure. He did not think the Bill was a complete panacea tor what was a very great evil, but takingallthe circumstances into consideration ho could not himself devise anything better. He hoped it would be read a second time, and if amendments suggested themselves to hon. members they would bring them forward when in committee.—The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse thought the Bill did not contain adequate purging machinery, and hoped in that respect especially it would be amended in committee. —Sir F. Bell and Mr. Wilson spoke briefly, and the Bill was read a second time. waitara harbor board bill. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved the second reading of this Bill, explaining its objects.— The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse, in supporting the Bill, expressed his opinion that the proposed harbor works at New Plymouth were visionary and impracticable.—The Hon. Captain Fraser also supported the Bill, because he thought the New Plymouth scheme impossible.—The Hon. Colonel Whitmore believed the New Plymouth harbor scheme possible, basing his opinion on the views of Sir John Goode. Nevertheless, the object of the present Bill was a necessary one.—Other members having spoken the Bill was read a second time. READINGS —COMMITTEE. The Otago University Reserves Leasing Bill passed its second reading. The Patents Act Amendment Bill, the Hamilton Volunteer Hall Site Act 1878 Amendment Bill, the Hokitika Harbor Board Endowment Act 1878 Amendment Bill, and the Masterton and Greytown Lands Management Act 1871 Amendment Bill, having been passed through committee, were read a third time. The Council rose at 9.60. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, November 27. The Speaker took the chair at half-past two o’clock. Several petitions were presented, notices of motion given, and reports and papers laid upon the table. QUESTIONS. In answer to a question by Mr. Bowen, asking the Government whether they were in a position to supply the cadets throughout the colony with light rifles, The Hon. JOHN HALL replied that they had communicated with the Agent-General on the subject, but light Snider artillery carbines were not at present procurable in England They had, however, again written to the Agent-General on the subj mt. With regard to Sir George Grey’s question as to the arrest of a man while seeking work on the Westport work, the Hon. John Hall said inquiries were being made into the matter, Mr. ORMOND asked the Government, — Whether the system of letting the clearing and formation of the Hue on the Napier-Mana-watu railway iu small contracts to the settlers residing adjacent to the railway is intended to be dispensed with, and the works let in future in large contracts ; also, if the work is to be let in large contracts, whether any provision will be made whereby the settlers resident in the locality may obtain employment on the works ?

The Hon. Mr. OLIVEE replied that it was intended to continue letting out the small sections of the railway to settlers along the route, but the large contracts would be let out in the usual way, and would doubtless give employment to numerous settlers. Mr. J. B. EISHER asked the Government, —Whether they will lay before this House a return showing the extent to which the revenue and expenditure of the colony are augmented by cross entries, crediting and charging the various departments of the public service with work done and materials provided for other departments ? The Hon. Major ATKINSON replied that the return would be of little value, and would be rather difficult to get out. At present there were no such cross entries, except in the Railway Department, which was credited with all the work it did for other departments.

Mr. REID asked the Minister of Mines, — If the Government will fulfil the promise made by the late Government to sand Professor Ulrich on a visit to the Rangitoto District, in the County of Westland, in order to report on the silver mines and mineral discoveries in that locality ? After a few remarks from Mr. Oliver and Mr. Macandrew, the former replied that if it was the desire of the Mouse that Professor Ulrich should visit the district in question, the Government would take the necessary steps in the matter.

In reply to a question re grants to botanical gardens and domains put by Mr. C. C. Bowen, the Hon. John Hall stated that a sum of £ISOO had been placed on the Estimates for division among them, although the Government was of opinion that such questions must in future be looked upon as purely local. Mr. WAK KFIELD asked the Government, —(1) Whether they have any information as to the Agent-General having taken up his residence at Falmouth ; (2) whether they consider he can properly attend to his duties while residing so far from London ; (3) whether they intend to insist on his abstaining from taking part in politics while retaining his present office ?

The Hon, Mr. HALL said with regard to the third question the Government had stated in that House that they were opposed to Sir Julius Vogel mixing up in politics ; with regard to the first and second questions the Government had no knowledge of the facts referred to except what they had seen in the newspapers, and from those ho had come to the opinion that the Agent-General was taking a short holiday in Falmouth. In answer to a question by Mr. Andrews, on the subject of the rates of wages and some other particulars with regard to the Weka Pass railway. The Hon. Mr. OLIVER stated that an inquiry was now being made into the matters referred to.

In answer to a question by Mr. George on behalf of Mr. Reeves, <9 The Hon. Mr. HALL stated that the cost of a full staff of telegraph operators for the office at Parliament Buildings would be £230. It was not only the cost of the telegraph office which had induced the change to be made, but the very great inconvenience which resulted to the central station at Wellington.

Mr. J. T. FISHER asked the Government, —Whether they have considered the advisability of making provision on the Supplementary Estimates to provide suitable accommodation for bis Excellency the Governor when he may be please 1 to visit the two 1 irge centres of popnl ttion. Christchurch and Dunedin? The mover referred to the advantages which would result fr un the Governor bring able to periodically visit different parts of the colony. The Hon. JO (In HALL sod he agreed with the mover of the resolution that good results would follow from his Excellency being able to reside in different parts of the colony. The subject had been under the consideration of the Government, but they had not yet arrived at any decision. Perhaps on Tuesday next they would give a definite answer. In answer to a question from Mr.FINN, when the outstanding liabilities of the late Provincial Governments due to County Councils will be paid, The Hon. Major ATKINSON said the hon. gentleman must be laboring under some mistake, as there were no such liabilities. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The resolutions proposed at the sitting of the Committee of Supply were read a second time, and agreed to by the House. BILL DISCHARGED. On the motion of the Government, the Special Settlements Bill was discharged from the Order Paper. LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT. The motion on this subject was also discharged from the Order Paper at the request of the move-, Mr. Sutton, who said he saw very little chance of getting the Bill through this session. BILL PASSED. The District Courts Proceedings Validation Bill was read a third time and passed. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time : —Murihikn Native Reserves Grants Bill, Onewhero Land Grant Empowering Bill, Electric Telegraphs Act 1875 Amendment Bill, Intercolonial Probate Bill, Administration Bill, Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Act Amendment Bill, Imbecile Passengers Act Extension Bill, Building Societies Act 187 i Amendment Bill, Sheriffs Act 1858 Amendment Bill, Kumara Education Reserve Bill. MEMBERS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY EXPENSES BILL. The Hon. JOHN HALL moved the committal of this Bill, and the Speaker left the chair. Sir GEORGE GREY moved that the members of the Legislative Council should not be paid. The Hon. JOHN HALL said he would oppose the amendment, and said that he would be very sorry to see the day come when any bar should be placed against the elevation of gentlemen to the Upper House, and to withdraw payment from them would be an injustice to the people. Several members of the House spoke, and an expression of opinion was given that it would be as well to drop the Bill for this se-sion. Some members however hoped that the Government would go on with. Mr. SPEIGHT believed in the principle of payment of members, but not of nominated members. If they struck out the payment of the members of the Upper House, then the payment of the members of the Lower House might be very well reduced to 150 guineas. He hoped the Bill would not be withdrawn, but that the suggested alterations would be made. Sir GEORGE GREY replied to the remarks of hon. members on the subject of the Upper House. He was not only adverse to the system of nomineeism in that House, but he was adverse to the existence of it altogether. A single Chamber, thoroughly representative, as in the case of the Provincial Councils, would be far preferable to the present system of two Chambers.

It was moved that progress be reported, and leave given to sit again. A division was taken with ths following result :—Ayes, 29 ; noes, 32.

Half-past five having arrived, the House adjourned for the usual two hours. On the House resuming, it was addressed by Sir George Grey, Mr. Gisborne, Mr. Guesthouse, and Mr. Reid, the second and fourth of whom contended that it was more reasonable that the members of the Lower House should be paid than the members of the U pper, as they had heavy election expenses to bear. Mr. MOOKHOUSE thought the Bill was a very good one, and he hoped it would pass into law. The time had come when they might hope to see the Upper House not composed solely of men of wealth and large estates. He should like to see poor men who had served the colony for a course of years sitting iu the Upper House, and who would require the honoraria to pay their expenses. He should therefore support the Bill, although he did not agree with the distinction it was proposed to make in the payment of what might be called town and country members, for he believed the expenses of the one were equally as heavy as the other.

Mr. DICK said if they were to put anything on the Estimates at all as honoraria, it should be put on for those unfortunates who had contested elections, but had failed to get in. He did not believe in the members of the Lower House receiving honoraria and members of the Upper House not, their expenses were equally heavy. Mr. MOSS did not agree with disturbing the honoraria now paid to the Upper House, in the way proposed, but there might be some modification.

Mr. GEORGE said his object in first bringing this question before the notice of the House was with a view to getting a Payment of Members Bill, an 1 he was very sorry that such a Bill, pure and simple, had not been brought down, so that no matter how many sessions they had in the year they would have a fixed state of payment for that year. He should support the amendment of the hon. member for the Thames.

Sir GEORGE GREY thought if they were to pay defeated candidates, the result would be that at the next election every man in New Zealand would stand. (Laughter.) Mr. JOHN LUNDON thought the Upper House was of very little good, for tbo members were like children and had very little sense ; and this might be especially said of those hon. gentlemen who represented bis province. To put a stop to this nonsense at once he would move that the Chairman do leave the chair.

The motion was put and declared to be carried on the \ oices. A division was called for, which resulted as follows ;—Ayes, 30 ; noes, 39.

The motion that the words “ General Assembly” be left out, and the words “ House of Representatives” inserted (Sir George Grey’s amendment), was then put, and a division called for, when the numbers were shown to be—Ayes, 41 ; noes, 28. Mr. LUNDON again moved that the Chairman leave the chair.

Mr. McL BAN protested against such a waste of time.

Mr. SPEIGHT said if they passed the Bill it would place the House in a worse position than it ever occupied before. A division then took place on Mr. London’s motion—Ayes, 48 ; noes, 23. The Bill is therefore shelved.

The committee then proceeded to consider the Laud Bill, commencing with clause 10, and it was suggested to restore sub-section 6, erased the last time the Bill was in committee, and after some discussion this course was followed.

A good deal of discussion took place on that part of clause 4 giving the Governor power to proclaim that sub-section 4 of 63 of the said Act shall or shall not apply to the whole or any part of the land so set apart. Ultimately the clause was passed as printed. Mr. THOMSON moved that clause 9 be struck out. Mr. ORMOND said the clause had been added because it seemed clear that any settler who completed his improvements in three years was entitled better fchau one who required seven years, and he ought therefore to be allowed to obtain his title. After some discussion the clause was carried as originally printed.

Mr. ACTON ADAMS moved that clause 15 be struck out, with the view of substituting another.

A long discussion ensued. New clauses from 17 to 29 were introduced, and provided for joint applications on deferred payments and for village settlements. The whole of them passed without opposition. The following clauses in reference to special settlements occasioned some discussion. Colonel TRIMBLE suggested that they should be withdrawn.' Mr. SPEIGHT contended that in these special settlement clauses people coming from the old country had better chances given to them than those in the country themselves, who would be very glad to take up land, but could not get the opportunity. At a quarter-past one o'clock the Committee were still considering the various clauses, with little chance of finishing the Bill that morning. [Left sitting.]