PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 761, 19 September 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

AViri.iKGTOx. September IS. '■■. ihe Legislative Council t..-uay. Mi \\ ilson brought ; : rue Clyde Alheiueun'" liil!, :mci sift or- the transaction ni -..me minor busi ness. various Bills were commit ted. On the Mil clause nf the Interpretation Bill, an effort was made by Mr Mant'.ll to -ret thu words which validate past orders in Council, which may have been irregular, struck out. He was unsuccessful, ami the clause passed. The Conimittee got through the Dill wilhout making any very material amendVhe Municipal Council Act is now before the Council. It enables Corporations to establish gasworks in opposition to existing companies. on the Council resuming at 7.30, the amendments or.'posed bv His Excellency the Governor. \r. the civil Service Acts Amendment fi'll uen.. agreed to, and Clause -S wi l ! new reao :—•' Xo person who was a Provincial officer, on the coming- into operation of the Abolition of ITovinees Act, 1875, and transferred to tlic Civil ."Service on the coming into operation of the Act last mentioned, shall be entitled to any retiring allowance, under the Civil Service Act, ISCIi, or any Acts repealed by such Act." The Council then proceeded in Committee with the Ilepe.ds Hill, and other measures of no great importance. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Dr. Henry asked if the Government would survey a line of railway between Westport and Reefton to connect Westport with the East Coast. Mr. Macandrew said the survey would be made during the recess. Mr. P.ov.eu asked whether the Government would obtain pattern railway carriages from America and elsewhere, with the view of increasing the comfort of the public without materially adding to the cost of rolling stock. Mr. .Macandrew thought the Government might do so, [in a idea the cost were not 100 great, but lira few 'hivs tliov would be able to consult with the Commissioners of both Islands.

Mr Sutton asked the Minister for Justice—(lst) Whether lie is aware that a person who lias not been appointed an R.M., or a J.P., is now presiding at the K.M. Court at YY'airoa. Hawke's Bay; ('2nd) Under what Aet has the same person committed a prisoner to Napier Gaol, sentenced by him to imprisonment for four weeks.

Mr Shcehan said he had taken steps to obtain the information asked, but had not yet received it. A short time ago lie might say they had appointed a Resident Magistrate for the express purpose of attesting Maori deeds, but not to perforin judicial functions and if he had gone beyond his tether it would be so much the worse for him.

Dr. Hotlgkinson rose to move that the rates of postage for sealed letters should he reduced from two pence to one penny, and postcards from a peuiry to a halfpenny for all places within the Colony. The Speaker cautioned him that it was highly inconvenient for a private member to bring in a specific proposition in regard to taxation. A discussion then ensued, Major Atkinson and Messrs Wakefield and Pyke contending for the right of private members to introduce motions and bills

affecting- taxation, without any necessity for their being cautioned. Mr Fisher said the Government couid not agree to the proposal, which would lead to a serious diminution in the postal revenue. Mr. Saunders contended that Post Offices should not be treated as a source of revenue. Mr. Ballance said the reduction would amount to about L 22,000 per year, which, allowing for the increased number of letters (about-10 per cent.) would he reduced to about L 19,000.

After Dr. Hodgkinson had replied he was about to withdraw the motion, when Mr. Wakefield objected, and on a division being- taken, the motion was negatived by 49 against 12. Mr. Fox moved for the production of all papers relating to the late distilling cases at Wanganui, ineluding the proceedings in the R. M. Court against M'Ponogh, Whitlock, Lough, and .lessop. Any petition received in reference to the sentences, and ail correspondence with the parties, the Resident Magistrate, justices of the peace, or other persons. Me was informed that although the case was one of the most glaring anil flagrant breaches of the law he knew, the Government reduced the term of imprisonment of Lough to three months instead of twelve, and abandoned all the property confiscated.

Mr. Sheehan said the Government found that Lough was not a partner, but a hired servant, and as the magistrate had given the two principals the option of ]mying a fine, they thought Lough ought to be shown the same clemency. It was found that a great portion of the property confiscated belonged to innocent persons, and to that extent only had there been auy remission.

Mr. Burff moved, " That this House to-morrow resolve itself into Committee of the whole to consider the following resolution :—' That, for the pnrposes of "The Financial Arrangements Act, Amendment Act,'lST"," it is desirable that the gold duty be considered as rates, and subsidised from the consolidated fund accordingly.' " Mr. Ballance opposed the motion, stating that it was not a General Government tax, but purely a County one. Besides, the amount of L 33.000 was involved. The gold duty was given by the General Government to the Counties in aid of local rates, and now by the motion this auty was sought to be made a rate, which would enable the Counties to demand as much more from the Government.

Mr. Earff said that had the Government been true to their pledges, the Treasurer would not have had to ask him (Mr. Barff) how the revenue lost in that way could be made up. Had they brought down an income tax (in favor of which he believed there was a majority of three to one in the House) there would have been abundance of funds to balance all reductions.

The divisior was then taken, and the motion was negatived by 4f> against 10.

Mr. Pyke moved that the House will, on the 2f>th September, resolve itself into Conmittee of the whole to consider an address to his Excellency, praying- that a sum of money may he placed on the Supplementary Estimates for increasing the rate of pay of the Police Force of the Middle Island of New Zealand upon the following- scale : -Third-class constahles, (.Id. per day ; second and first-class constahles, Is. per day ; sergeants, Ls. C'd. per dav ; Sergeant-Majors, 2s. <;d. per day. Mr. Sheehan pointed out that the police were paid for Sundays and wet and dry days, as well asquarteis and medical attendance, while the laboring man was dependent upon the weather. If an increase in pav were to be made, it ought to he general, and mad.: to applv to the Xortli as well as the South Island. The question was adjourned, Mr. Sheehan undertaking tu move to-morrow for a special Select (.'oinniiiteeto inquire into the matter. September 10. The House resumed at 7. "ft. Mr Curtis proceeded to move his series of resolutions with a view to amending the constitution of the Legislative Council. lie said if the House approved of these resolutions, it would he the duty of Government to embody their principles in a Rill, winch should be introduced in the Upper Chamber. The U(iii. gentleman explained at length his proposal regarding the prevention of dead locks, by giving power to a majority of two-thirds of both Houses, as a united body in deliberation, and also other proMr. Hodgkinson, who seconded pro forma, asked why they should have a second House at all, unless it was like the Senate of the United States, which was a model worthy of imitation. Mr Stout said, before such a radical change was made, there ought to be some dissatisfaction with the constitution, and the mo\er admitted there was none. To proceed with such a question now wi <uld be merely to invite collision with the other House. He entirely opposed an elective Chamber, which would only prove a curse to the Colony. Dr. Wallis, while agreeing- that the Legislative Council required reform, considered the resolutions went a very short way towards that. Mr Pyke thought nothing could be more detrimental to the interests of the Colony than to h.-«ve a second elected House to deal with money Pills, on an equality with the Lower House. The only issue of that must be a deadlock.

Mr Saunders concurred in the idea that the best time to approach the consideration of such a question was when there was no immediate cause for a change, and while admitting the necessity for a change in the constiuition, he disagreed with the mode proposed. Mr Douglas pointed out the neglect of Government in not making their appointments according- to. territory. The motion was rejected on the voices.

The adjourned debate oil tl\e. Triennial Parliaments Bill was then resumed. Only a few members spoke, and they made their remarks exceedingly brief in order to enable as much private business to lie transacted as possible. Dr. Wallis made a very few remarks in reply, and a division was taken with the following result :~ -For the P.ill, IS ; against it, 24. The amendment that the Bill he read that day si.-, months was accordingly declared to be carried.

Noks. Messrs. Atkinson, Barton, Powen, Brandon, Brown, Fox, Gihbs, Henry, Hursthouse. Kelly, M'Lean, Moorhouse, Morris, Pyke, Richmond, Howe, Sevmour, Satton. Tesehemaker, Thompson, Tnrnbull, Wakeiield, Whitaker, Woolcock. Avks. Baigeut, Bastings. Dig-nan, Feldwic'„ Fisher, George, (Jrev, Hamlin, MacFar!am\ M..ut gonierv. Moss. O'Korke, Sheehan, St<u\t, Swanton, Tole, Wallis, Wood. There were a number of r;di-s. The House adjourned at Vi.-lii.