PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 758, 14 September 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, September 13. In the Legislative Council to-day, after the transaction of some formal business, leave of absence was granted to the Speaker for one week. The Hon. Mr. Hart moved that proprietors of land dividing the same into townships should be compelled to set apart a proportionate part for recreation and other public purposes. Motion agreed to. Captain Fraser's motion for a call of the Council for Thursday, 25th inst., was carried on a division by two. Captain Bailie moved the second reading of the Land Drainage Bill shortly, and was followed by Mr. Waterhouse, who opposed the Bill strongly, and concluded by moving that it be read that day six months.

Mr. Wilson suggested the withdrawal of the measure. Mr. Waterhouse's amendment was carried, and the Bill thrown out. The Council then went into Committee on the Brands Registration Bill. The postponed clauses 3, 8, and 9, were discussed at length. Clause 8 (brands) was further postponed. After a long discussion clause 9 was struck out and a new clause substituted. The same course was taken with clause 15.

The following report of Thursday's sitting of the House of Representatives was crowded out of our last issue :

Mr. Barton presented a petition from 396 Catholics of Wellington and 103 of Wanganui, praying for Government aid to their schools.

In reply to Mr. Wakefield, Mr. Sheehan said the Government did not intend to go on with the Licensing Bill this session.

The Premier moved that the House for the remainder of the session sit on Mondays at 7.30 p.m. for the transaction of Government business only, and that on Thursdays Government business take precedence.

This was agreed to after some discussion.

There was a long and somewhat bitter debate over Mr, Green's motion that the House should, on Wednesday next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole to consider a respectful address to the Governor, requesting him to be pleased to make the necessary provision for the construction of a bridge across the Taieri river at Hyde, The Government strongly opposed the motion, which was lost by 48 to 19. At the evening sitting, Mr. De Lautour moved the second reading of the Judicial Commission Bill. He explained that its object was to ascertain by commission as to the authority of Judges of superior Courts, and especially as to the authority by which Mr. Barton was committed to gaol for one month. Mr. Sheehan said the question was far too important to be dealt with hurriedly, and he therefore moved the adjournment of the debate till Tuesday next, which

was agreed to, all correspondence and paper* connected therewith in the meantime to be laid on the table.

During the remainder of the sitting the House was occupied over the Triennial Parliaments Bill until it rose. The following members supported the Bill, mainly on the ground that it was requisite in the interests of the people that representatives should go oftener before them for re-election, so that the people might have their attention constantly turned towards the affairs of the country, and that their representatives would not have the opportunity of acting for any long period in atagonism to their constituents :—Messrs. Wood, M'Minn, Saunders, Feldwick, Swanson, and Fitzroy. On the other hand, the Bill was opposed by Messrs. Murray, VVoolcock, Pyke, Henry, Hursthouse, Bunny, Douglas, and Barton, on the ground that the Bill was not asked for by the people, was not wanted by the Colony, was expensive to poor candidates, and was calculated to play into the hands of the rich, who could afford these repeated elections. Eventually, after several divisions as to when the debate should be adjourned to, it was adjourned till Wednesday next at eleven p.m. The House rose at 1.5 a.m. September 14. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. On the motion of the Premier, it was ordered that for the remainder of the session Mr. O'Rorke occupy the chair, in the absence of the Speaker, without obtaining permission.

Mr. Murray asked, if arrangements would be made for introducing the American system of baggage checks on the New Zealand Railways ; for the sale of railway tickets at other places than railway stations ; and also if arrangements would be made with the Steam Ship Company to run at reduced rates between Wellington aud Lyttelton, and whether there would be any objection to utilising the Hinemoa for that purpose.

Mr. Macandrew said the Government desired to make all the improvements possible, and with that view would consult the Railway Commissioners of botli Islands. As to the second question, arrangements were now being made for the sale of tickets at other places than railway stations. As to other matters enquired about, he thought it would be better to defer them for the present. Mr. Richmond asked, in the event of the Government not proceeding with the General Licensing Bill this session, what steps they intend to take to place the various Licensed Victuallers Associations in the Colony upon an equal footing by equalising the licensing fees. Mr. Sheehan said they would not deal with the matter piecemeal, and if the Government were unable to bring in a general measure this session the question would have to stand over till next session.

Mr. Sheehan moved the second reading of the Cemeteries Management Act Amendment Bill, the object of which is to enable the public reserves to be proclaimed as cemeteries and managed by local bodies. The Bill was read a second time. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr. Woolcock raised a question in connection with the finance of the Colony by pointing out that the disbursement being made as aid to counties was not being expended for the common good of the country. Out of the 52 counties in the Colony, and out of the sum of L 113,485, ten counties received each of them for the half-year L 11.375, leaving the other 42 counties something over L3OO each. The hon. gentleman concluded by moving —That in the opinion of the House, clause 6 of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, Amendment Act, 1877, should be repealed. Mr. Ballance pointed out that it had been decided last year that 20 per cent, of the land revenue should be handed over to localities, and when a compact was made with certain portions of the Colony one year, it was not conducive to public confidence to upset such a compact the next. While admitting there was much justice in the charges made, yet, if the hon. gentleman who made the charges would only take an extended period, he would find that many of the wrongs complained of would be redressed. The Government were not prepared to accept the amendment. Mr. M'Lean said the working of the 20-per-cent system was giving great dissatisfaction, and the Government ought to rectify it. Mr. Bowen hoped the Government would stand firm and maintain the 20 per cent, the last rag, by the localisation of the land fund, of a principle which had been in operation in the Colony for ni.niy years.

Mr. Wakefield denied that the principle of localisation of land revenue worked unfairly, and no change ought to be made.

Mr. Whitaker said it was absurd to suppose that any arrangement entered into by the Treasurer or any one else during one session could bind the House in another session. The land fund was made consolidated revenue, and the House could apply it as it chose from year to year. If the amendment of the member for Grey Valley were carried, he would move as an addition the words, " That the money thereby available should be appropriated towards the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges throughout the colony." Why should one district be allowed to starve while others rolled in wealth 1

The Premier made a personal explanation to show that the member for Geraldine had not apprehended correctly his remarks of the previous day. Major Atkinson denied that there was that landed aristocracy pointed to by the Premier, who, by the way, never showed in what County these landed aristocrats lived. The Hon. the Treasurer spoke of the sacredness of compacts, and he violated the compact (if there were compacts) entered into when Patea was created a County, and where the Act had been worked very successfully. On what possible pretext did he take away 15 per cent., because any money spent on war in the County was not for the benefit of the County but for the Colony. He regretted that the motion was brought forward, because he wanted to ascertain from the Government what they intended to do respecting local bodies. Mr. Sheehan thought if they could see into the secret thoughts of the member for Egmont, it would be seen that he heartily rejoiced at the action of the Government in regard to Patea. The

County of Patea was very lil"Nrally treated, and deserved no sympathy. ; The hon. gentleman strongly condemned this constant carping at the Ministry for not having done this or the other thing, and asked the member for Egmont why he and his friends, during their long term of office, had not done a thousand things that were required. No ; they preferred to allow the country to slide, and, unlike the present Government, when a difficulty was to be encountered, he and his friends never faced it boldly. The hon. gentleman earnestly warned members on his side of the Hoiise to beware of the advice of the Opposition leader and his friends, and not to be beguiled into joining the Opposition in an attack upon some point of their policy in order to bring about a complication or a change of Ministry. If, on his side of the House, there were members who had any suggestions to make in regard to modifications of the Government policy, let them make them to the Government, but avoid herding with the Opposition. Were it not for the present Government the Waimate Plains would not be now an asset of the colony. The late Government could never have achieved such success. The debate on Mr. Woolcock's amendment finally concluded about half-past ten o'clock by the amendment being lost by 52 against 11.

The House then went into Committee of supply, and passed a number of votes without alteration. The electoral vote of L 0,190 was withdrawn until the Electoral Bill was committed. A long discussion ensued on the vote of L 50,000 for charitable aid, but it was passed on the assurance of the Government that the assistance rendered to hospitals and other charitable institutions would be guided by a general principle. The House adjourned at 2 a.m.