PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 738, 21 August 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, August 20.

In the Legislative Council to-day

Mr. Pharazyn asked the Colonial Secretary whether it was an established rule when a complaint is made of -the misconduct of a civil servant, that the complaint is referred to the Courts of Law tor redress.

Colonel Whitmore answered : Yes ; and that special remedv was provided in Mr. Pharaayn's case by law.

Sir F. D. Beit's motion for a return of all reserves made uinh-r part 7 of the Land Act, 1877, in each Provincial District, was agreed to,

On the motion of Captain Fraser, a Select Committ -e was appointed to prepare a congratulatory address to the Queen, on the successful result of the

Berlin Conference. The Trades Union Bill. :inrl Literary Institutions Bill were eonsi.trred in Committee, and progress reported,

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. v -!r. Bastings gave notice to move that the House adjourn on the sth proximo for eight days, to enable ni'moors to witness the ripening of the ChristchurchDiinedin railwav.

Mr. Fux askt-d, without notice, whether it was a fact that Rewi was at present under the constant surveillance of a policeman, and could not be seen outside wirhout the presence of this policeman.

IVIr. Sheehan said that he had been unaware that such was the case, and if he fouud on enquiry that it was so he would prevent such a thing being continued. He believed tiiere was a gentleman named Thomas, formerly in her Majesty's service in India, who was endeavoring to negotiate with Rewi in regard to some block of land, and he had been communicated with to desist from interfering between the Government and Bewi at such a critical period.

Mr. Whitaker called attention to the appointment of members of the Cabinet to show that there were douWts as to the validity of the appointment of certain members of the Ministry. It appeared to him, if he was correct in his facts, thar the Premier and four of his colleagues came within the Disqualification Act. The hon. gentleman went, at length into the circumstances of the different appointments, and quoted very minutely the law bearing upon the subject.

Mr. Stout intimated that he would take time to consider the arguments U3ed by Mr. Whiiaker.

In reply to Mr. Feldwick, Mr. Macandrew laid upon the table a statement showing the hours of labor of guards, engine-drivers, stokers, &c, on the Government railways, with particulars respecting each section.

In reply to Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Macandrew said that a sum of money would be placed on the Estimates to enable volunteers on duty to have free passages by train provided they have certificates from their commanding officers.

The Premier, in reply to a question by Mr. Hobbs, said the Government could not give all libraries in the Colony copies of the book on the indigenous grasses of the Colony, but copies would be given to the principal libraries of the Colony. In reply to Mr. Gisborne, Mr." Stout said the Government did not this session intend dealing with the present system of Crown prosecutions, with a view to its improvement by assimilating it to the Scotch system or otherwise.

Mr. Sheehan, in reply to Mr. Taiaroa, said it was correct that the late Sir Donald M'Lean promised 5000 acres in Marlborough and Nelson to theNgatimu tribe, and the present Government intended to make good that promise. In reply to Mr. M'Lean, Mr. Ballance said the only correspondence between themselves and Sir Julius Vogel relative to his proposed retirement from the AgentGeneralship was of a semi-private nature, md the Government did not feel justified in making it public.

Several Bills were introduced, among which were a Bill fur the triennial election iif the House of Representatives, and a Bill to amend the Education Act, 1877 (Mr. Curtis) ; sdso, a Government Bill imposing a duty upon Joint Stock and other Companies, and a Bill to impo.se a Tux on Land,

The Martin Annuity Bill was read a second time. In Committee on the Civil Service Act, Amendment Bill. Mr. Kelly moved a new clause to the effect thai no person who was a Provincial Officer on the coming into operation of the Abolition Act, and i•-••!' uerred to the Civil Service on the b'.'.-l Act coming into operation, shall he e.'.niled to any retiring allowance. The House divided on the question, and the clause was read a second time by .'l7, against 24.

It was then moved that the first word " no" be left out and the word " every" substituted, but it was mh-cl on a point of order that the amendment could nut be out, inasmuch as it involved a question of public expenditure. A good deal of discussion ensued over this point. It was maintained by Mr. Rollestou that Mr. Vogel, when Premier, gave what was equivalent to a promise that Provincial officers would be dealt with in a liberal spirit, but Mr. M'Lean replied that what Mr. Yogel did promise was that any cases of special hardship would be taken into favorable consideration. It was then moved that progress he reported in order to test the question raised in regard to Provincial officers. The House divided,

the result being—Noes, 4S ; Ayes, 22. The proceedings were interrupted by ;">.:-]O.