PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1108, 6 November 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, September 5. In tho House of Representatives today, In accordance with a report brought up and read from the Native Affairs Committee, Mr. Hamlin moved that the evidence of Woigan, a prisoner in Wanganui gaol be taken, and that the warrant of the Speaker for his production be issued.

Mr. Hall said as that was the first motion of the kind; the whole circumstances of the case should have been stated for the information of fihe Government before the motion was' made. He did not allude at all* to the merits of the case. If the evidence were necessary, the Government did not wish to oppose the application. Sir G. Grey said he did not understand upon what ground the Government sought to interfere with the matter at all.: He knew that the case was an urgent one, and he trusted the Government would not interfere to throw obstacles in the way of the whole facts being investigated. Major Atkinson questioned the propriety of allowing committees to bring witnesses, at great expense, from all parts of the Coloiiy. The Speaker said that as this was an exceptional case, for his own satisfaction he would' consult the law advisers before giving effect to it. Mr. Hislop said that evidence taken before committees was privileged, and could not be founded upon in courts of law.

A motion for adjournment till to-mcr-row was put and carried. Mr. Hall said that that evening, in Committee of Supply, he would ask that provision might be made for going on with certain railway and reclamation works amounting to LG6,000, with the view of providing work for the unemployed. Tenders for the work had been accepted, subject to' Parliamentary sanction. Replying to questions, it was stated that the Government was willing, subject to certain conditions, to make progress payments to the Tapanui-Waihopai railway contractors. The repayment of LIOO,OOO held back by the late Government from the Canterbury County Councils and Road Boards depended entirely on the negotiation of the five million loan. The (Government could not at present adopt the suggestion to authorise the sale of railway tickets at post-offices, and by persons licensed to sell stamps. Bills introduced and read a first time : A Bill to establish an elective Legislative Council in New Zealand (Grey) ; Elections Validation Bill (Hall) ; a Bill to amend the Railway Construction Act, 1878 (Oliver). A motion was passed to appoint a Committee of the whole House to consider the address to the Governor, praying that 17,000 acres in the Seward district be set aside for constructing the Seward Bush Railway. A Committee was appointed to consider what facilities can be given for the use of the telegraph to the press. A motion that the House sit on Monday was withdrawn. The debate on the motion for the appointment of a commissioner to take evidence and report on the operations of the present tariff, with a view to ascertain whether such readjustment would foster the various branches of industry, was interrupted by the 3.50 adjournment. At the evening sitting, The House wont into Committee of Supply. Mr. Oliver explained that a vote of L50,Q00 was wanted for prosecuting the works required to provide labor for the unemployed. To the end of October L 24.000 had been spent on works of that kind, and they had 2500 men so employed, and applications were increasing. As the season advanced, they expected that other employment would be found for many cf the men. The works on which they proposed to expend the sum asked were the WeHington-Fcxton railway ; Wellington reclamation, Otago central railway, and the Amberley extension. A long debate ensued. Sir G. Grey blamed the Government with having taxed the working nien to keep them employed, .whereas they ought to have taxed the wealthy classes for that purpose. He denounced the Government i'or 'pretonding to befriond the working men on .such unfair terms. Colonel Trimble retorted by stating that Sir. G. Grey constantly appealed to the mob. Eventually the motion was carried, and on res'nning the House proceeded with the Orders of the Day.