PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1028, 6 August 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

- Wellington, August G. The business in the Legislative Council J yesterday was unimportant. In reply to Sir D. Bell, Colonel Whitmore said the new Parliament would meet the last week in September. It was ' physically impossible to meet earlier, but . Government would not cause the least delay that was avoidable. On the motion of Colonel Brett, the ' Council resolved to minute their apprecia- : tion of the services, and regret at the loss of, the late Hon. Sir J. Richardson. ; In the House of Representatives vaster- | day, a large number of questions were put, 1 those of more general interest being as follow : Mr. Murray asked if the papers referring to coal mining would be laid on the table and distributed to owners and managers of mines ; also, if the Regulation of Coal Mines Act would be immediately prepared and circulated so as to be accessible to those interested in the working of mines. The Minister of Mines said they were in course of being printed; and would be laid on the table. Mr. Murray inquired if the Government intends to continue the systein of granting subsidies to local governing bodies —first, out of general revenue ; and, second, out of land fund. The Premier said it would be impossible to give an answer until he knew whether he would be in the Government after the election or not. , , The Premier, replying to Mr. Murray s question as to whether, after providing for loss in the working of, and interest on, railways and guarantees to private railways, the Government would make the surplus land tax revenue local Government revenue, said it was impossible to give an opinion on this point, as it would depend on the state of the revenue. Mr. Murray asked the leader of the Opposition if he was in favor of, and would support, a measure for aiding permanent agricultural improvements on the principle of Sir Robert Peel's Drainage Advances Act, and for obtaining better facilities for out-falls and carrying out the regulation of district drainage operations. The Speaker ruled the question out of order, and disallowed it. Sir W. Fox said he would have no objection to answer the question if he was head of the Government after the election. Me would give the matter his support personally. After some other formal business had been disposed of, the House then went into Committee on the Loan Bill, and on resuming it was reported with amendments. Mr. M'Lean asked th;-t ;i« agent should be sent Home for the spjeial purpose of negotiating (he loan. He thought the agents at Home were quite capable of doing the work. Dr. Hodgkinson said he desired it to be understood that it \iiis only the exigencies of the case that induced him to vote for the Bill. He had hoped that some attempt. would be made to reconstruct the financial arrangeniei;is of the Colony by the present Government, so as to_ put an end to the corrupt practices which the present system had given rise to. Mr. Wakefield felt that the proceeding was a most- reckless one in passing the Bill as they had done. This system of going on borrowing from year to }eai must inevitably lead to a crisis, and he hoped a better state of things would be brought- abofit, and that before long. The Premier said the Government could not give a pledge that an agent to float the loan would not be sent Home. Until the question was put by the member for Waikouati such a thing never entered his mind. But this lie would assuie them, that no unnecessary expense would be incurred in floating the loan. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. The Premier said he would now state, for the information of the House, the order in which it was proposed to dispose of the remaining business. He now proposed to move the first reading oi the Imprest Supply Bill No. 2, and if possible, the second reading should take place in Committee. After that he would ask the House for one day's delay for the purpose of enabling him to prepare a Financial Statement, and have it brought down on Thursday. In moving that the House go into Committee of Supply, as stated above, he stated that he had the authority of His Excellency the Governor ! to state that he recommended that the House should make provision to the oOtli September next. ' Sir W. Fox stated that he had no objection to the House going into Committee of Supply. He would, however, object to the proposed adjournment. They were now prepared to go on with ' the Appropriation Act, and give reasonable appropriation based on the estimates of List year, and they did not care for the Financial Statement. The Premier was 1 no doubt anxious to get one made up for hustings purposes, but that was not what ■ was wanted. All they wished to see was that the amount of money asked for was of such a character, and the items were of such a nature, as they would be justified in "ranting. They could not accede to one" single day's delay. Hon. members expected to get .away at the end of the week, and if the proposed adjournment was given effect to, they would not get away for days to come. The Premier said that if the arrangement proposed was given efleet to the House would dissolve by Friday. By " Financial Statement" he not only meant a few words he would address to them, but likewise the schedule of payments, &c. Mr. Downie Stewart moved that it be an instruction to the Government that writs should be issued within two days after Parliament was dissolved, that they be made returnable within two months, and that the meeting of the new Parliament take place not later than the 27th September. Mr. Bowen seconded the resolution. In doing so he insisted upon the necessity for a distinct understanding on the various points mentioned in the motion being arrived at before the House dissolved. Mr. de Lautour said there was a palpable wish on the part of members in the House to rush the election ; but, on the other hand, constituents did not desire to be so rushed. He contended that the feelings and convenience of the constituents should be consulted under the circumstances.

Mr. Moorhouse stated that he would be content to receive from the Premier an approximate idea of the date when the new Parliament would meet. Mr. Sees said that it had been ascertained that the Govenment did not represent a majority of the House, and in that cage he could not see how the House

could expect the Government to take any notice of an instruction like that embodied in the resolution. Mr. M'Lean said that the Government that sat there was unfit to manage tho affairs of the country, and no man of spirit 'would consent to remain in office under such circumstances.

The Premier said the responsibility rested upon the Government, not with the members on the other side, many of whom might never again return to the House. The resolution could have no reflection on the Government, He desired to give effect to the resolution, but he declined to bind himself or his collengues under the circumstances. He believed he would have a majority in the new Parliament, and naturally wished to meet his friends as early as possible. The hon. gentleman was interrupted by the usual adjournment for dinner.

On the House resuming. The Premier continued his remarks. He said it was undoubtedly the duty of the Government to consult the interests of the country, and not those of individual members who might find it convenient to push on the elections. He could not tax himself with a single attempt at the autocrat. He had mixed freely with his fellow men, and he had attempted to inculcate those truths which he considered to be right. The gentlemen on the other side had attempted to set up an autocracy of the" worst character ; they had acquired enormous wealth for themselves, and he asked for a fair franchise for the people; triennial Parliaments, i\:c. Was that an attempt to set up autocracy in the colony ! The Opposition professed themselves Liberals, but if he thought they really were Liberals he would just as soon see them on the Government benches as himself. He believed the efforts of the party on the other side had been to defeat his every effort in the way of gaining a liberal administration. The wealthy classes used the Legislature for their own benefit, and it would be found that all through New Zealand those who made the laws and administered them made them so as to make large fortunes for themselves. On their side of the House they had determined to put an end to this state of things, and he felt satisfied that few as the electors were in lNew Zealand, himself and his friends would come back in the new Parliament, and that all the measures set down in the Governor's speech would yet pass into law.

Mr. Saunders said that nothing the Premier had done could go further to prove that he was an autocrat than the course he had pursued in sending members to the country rather than cede possession of the Government benches. He complained that certain liberal measures had not been carried, when all lie required to do to get these carried was to walk out of these benches and allow his measures to be carried. If the Premier had been a good, wise, and intelligent administrator, he would have been more careful to keep the duty 011 the working mail's tea and sugar, and make provision for the education of his children, so that these children might have an opportunity of acquiring an 1 intelligent appreciation of their natural rights and privileges. The motion for going into Committee of Supply was then put and negatived. Sir W. Fox moved as a further amendment—That the following words bo inserted at the beginning of the amendment: That a respectful address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, to the ellect that the House is of opinion that the writs be issued within two days after tho dissolution, &c. Mr. Itees characterised the amendment as an indecent attempt to bring tho Governor and Government into collision. Mr. Moss said the amendment was an insult to the Governor. He charged ihe Opposition with trying their best to delay the dissolution.

Mr. Barton contended that the amendment was an attempt to get ihe Governor to stand on their side, 111 the face of 11 is Excellency's memo., from which it was inferred that he desired to stand neutral. Mr. Downie Stewart defended the amendment.

The Premier refuted a statement of one of the previous speakers calculated to convey the impression that he had been regardless of the education of the rising ueneration. The reforms of Parliament will show to the contrary.

The amendment was put and carried, 43 voting for the ayes, and 23 with the noes.

The original amendment as amended by the insertion of the words stated above was put and carried. Sir. Carton was about to move as an amendment the motion standing in his name, preferring certain charges against Judges of the Supreme Court, \vhen_ Mr. Downie Stewart rose to a point of order. He objected that it was against rhe first principle of equity that the character and reputation of persons not present should be brought before the House, and inquiries made into an c.c parte statement.

The Speaker said he had looked into the point, and could find no authorities to warrant him in preventing the amendment being moved. Mr. Barton then proceeded. Pie adduced a number of instances of the maladministration of justice in Taranaki, Napier, etc. He then went on to re\ie\\ the circumstances of tlie cases inquired into at his instigation by Select Committees last session, and complained that, despite an undertaking given on that occasion, the witnesses who gave evidence would be protected from after consequences, they had been persecuted and otherwise dealt hardly within consequence of tlie evidence they then gave. After some discussion, the amendment was negatived on the voices, and the motion to go into Committee of Supph" declared carried.

Replying to a question put, the Premier said that the Government would ask tlie House to grant two lump sums, one for ordinary expenditure, and the other for public works ; whether they would be in the form of Supply, an Imprest Bill, or otherwise, he had not made up his mind. The Premier moved the adjournment of the House until Thursday.