PARLIAMENT

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 743, 28 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

PARLIAMENT

■Waunw-ww, Au«ii-:. i.'.'-. Ixj,. the Council tOKfey, Colonel Vfldtmore gave notice of the Rating Act, and a Bill to amend tne Cotmtiw Act. - The Dangerous Oowfn Bill. Juries Act Amendment, Ro«d Bnnrd A».-t. and and Martin Annuity Bill. wei>* read a first time. On the motion of Sir R IML re Officers of the Cbnneil. a long discuaBion took place. In tlie opinion of Sir I>. Belly the Sergeant-at-arms and FHher of the Black Rod are not necessary to the dignity of Parliament. He however recited the opinion given by him when Speaker, that the Commons did not interfere with the officers of the lords, and that that precedent should be followed here. Mr. Fiaher in the other Hou.ho had characterised the nnestion an a personal one. Had Mr. Lee been appointed, the item would have passed in Committee of Supply. He had been told «o by the mover of the resolution. Colonel Whitmore said that the item hud come on in Committee of Supply somewhat by surprise, and therefore was not explained by the Government. He took some of the onus of the appointment of Mr. Humphries, who had been a civil servant and was dispensed with without fault of his own. The discussion was finished by referring the matter to the Standing Orders Committee to consider the taut means of agreement between the two Houses upon the question of officers of the Council. The Nelson Harbor Bill was referred to a Select Committee. The Rabbit Bill was read a second time, after considerable debate. :uvl referred to a Select Commit;tee. The Fraudulent Debtors and Friendly Societies Bills were pn*W through Committee without amendment. The Oamaru Waterworks Bib was discussed till the hour for adjournment. Tn the House of Representatives to 'lay, A petition was presented on behal of Dr. Buller. in regard to certain land purchase claims of his against the Government. Mr. Kelly explained that a breach .of privilege had been committed, by all the evidence taken in Dr. Buller's case last year having been published as a broad-sheet; and further, that a very large portion of such evidence wan i embodied in the present petition. He moved that the petition be not received. After some discussion. Mr. Stout suggested that, .as the petition was highly irregular in its present shape, it should be withdrawn, and presented in the usual form of petitions. The matter ended by Mr. Richmond withdrawing the petition and Mr. Kelly his motion. Mr. Bastings gave notice to move that th© House sit on next Monday. and rise on Wednesday week at ».00. until the 9th September. Mr. Macandrew announced he would make the Public Works Statement at the evening sitting. In reply to Major Atkinson, Mr. Ballance said the Government proposed to take the second reading of the Land Tax Bill on Friday, when they would take the debate on the financial proposals of the Government generally. " Mr. Ballance read a reply from Victoria to the effect that the Japanese Commissioners had left Victoria some time since.

In reply to Air. Bowen. Mr. Sheehan said that the Government did not intend this session to introduce a Bill dealing | with the s;ila,ry of Judges of the j Supreme Court. i Mr. Tole. gave notice to move to j morrow that the Government abolish j the system of tolls in the County of i Eden. | Several Bills were introduced and j read a first time. j In considering the Civil Service Act Amendment Bill, Mr. Do I*iutour moved for the insertion of a clause to the effect that all Resident Magistrates j and Clerks of District and R.M. Courts appointed before ltf66 now in the Go-1 vernment service, and who had been I continuously employed therein, shall j have all the rights and privileges con- j t'erred by part 3 of the Civil Service Act, 1866. notwithstanding that the; salaries of such officers may not have j Urn continuously appropriated by the f'olonial Legislature. A good deal of objection was taken to the recommita! of the Bill in order to consider the new clause. Mr. Pyke strongly maintained that justice ought to he done to these gentlemen, and contended that they were, and always had been, Civil servants. Mr. Saunders opposed on the ground that all these officers accepted their appointments knowing them to bo only temporary. Mr. M'Lean pointed out that they only occupied the same position as other Provincial servants and were not entitled to any different payment. . A division was called for. and the clause rejected by 44 against 22. The House again divided on the motion that the Bill be now read a third time. Ayes, 48; noes, 15. The Bill was then read a third time, and passed. On the motion that the Saviugs Bank Profits* Bill be read a third time a division was taken, and the Bill ordered to he read, by 30 against 27. The Bill then passed. The House was in Committee on the Administration Bill until its rising at 5.30.

Tie Hcmae resumed at 1, SO. Progress was rejpcrted go tis Ad-' loi/ii n.ration Bill, and leere ghrea to fax aLr«ii»i ro-raorrow. Tu..' Hon. Mr. ?.li-...*iindrew then pro■•tetrded to deliver Li; Public "Work l ; StHU-fuKu He '..!, greeted with loud ; ujjf'LiK.'. The .i'liv.iy of the Statement • i.'i I'l ;..'tt :■'>■• ;it an hour ami a trrurtew ''"ho ho.i. gentlemen sat down amidst i'.i:»l :-pplu:i.se. Mr. i-f'Ui, then said the Government had advlv d the Governor to withdnr.v from sale all Crown lands in the vicinity of Railways, especially in the Canterbury district, so as to prevent the operation-* of land speculators. The house thereupon adjourned.