PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1298, 4 June 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

—: ♦ Wellington, June 3. In the Legislative Counci] to-day, The following five new-/Native Land Bills were read a first time, and referred to a Special Committee —A Bill to make provision for native reserves ; to prevent improvident dealings and frauds upon the alienation of land by natives ; to repeal certain Acts relating to native lands; to extend the jurisdiction of the Native Land Court; the estates of deceased natives ; to amend and consolidate the law relating to the Native Lq.nd Court, The Hon. Mr. Whiiaker explained that these five measures and three more to come from the Lower Honse would comprise the whole of the native land law, and would when passed be put into and made to supersede all existing native land laws.

Several Bills were read a second time.

Mr. Chamberlain moved the throwing out of the Fencing Bill, bqt the seoond reading was carried by 17 to 1.

• • The Council adjourned'at 4.30.

In the House of Representatives today, '■ Mr. Bain gave notice that he would ask the Colonial Secretary on what "basis of calculation Building Societies were expected to pay the property tax provided for by thei Act of last year, IYJt. Hutchison gave notioe of question whether the Government would bring in a Bill this session relative to Chinese immigration. ■ ' A fortnight's leave of absence was granted to Mr. Sheehan on urgent private business. .

Replying to Mr. Richmond as to what steps the Government had. taken with reference to reducing the immigration staff of* agents in the United Kingdom, q,nd also if it is their intention to limit the number of immigrants to those nominated by friends in the Colony,

The Hon. W. Rolleston said that, at the close of last session instructions of the kind had been sent to the Agent-General, and the services of all immigration agents were discontinued, excepting those of Messrs. Jleed and Claydei}, who were under a two years' engagement, which could not be broken.' With the exception of females, all immigrant operations on the part or the Government had ceased in the meantime.

In reply to Mr. Stewart, the Hon. W. Rolleston said that new regulations were in Course of preparation relating to court fees' under the Resident Magistrate's Court Act, 1867, so that a hearing fee would not be charged in actions settled out of court.

Mr. Stewart asked, If Government aro acquainted with the circumstances under which instructions were lately issued to good porters at* the Dunedin railway sheds requiring them to work nine hours or moro if required without an inoreaso.of wages ; and whether it is the mtentiofl. of the Government to receive suoh officials

to perform extra work without pay therefor.

The Hon. Mr. Oliver said he was glad the questions had been asked, as it afforded him an apportunity for setting the public mind right on the point. He did not know that such an order had been made until it ceased to operate. During the busy season in Canterbury and Otago the hours, of::;labor were increased; : but during the slack season men were not required to work full time —the one counterbalanced the other. Government had no desire to extend the ordinary hours of labor. * * ' • -

"Replying to Mr." Pyke as to whether Goyernment will- -bring down a ■ bill this session to prevent-religious and party public processions, the', Hon. ,T., Dick stated that the Government relied upon the good feeling of the public in a matter of that kind.

Several Bills were read a first time, including a Bill to Amend the Oamaru Harbor Board Act, 1876, introduced by Mr. Shrimski. Mr. Shrimski moved that returns be laid before the House showing in detail the amount of money expended by the General Government since the abolition of the provinces at Timaru, Invercargill, New Plymouth, Waimate, arid Oamaru in the erection and construction of public buildings, viz.,courthouses, post and telegraph offices, gaols, hospitals, land and registration offices, &c. I Tho nrotidn'was carried.

Mr. Shrimski moved for a return showing the number of days and the dates on which Ministers of the Crown have been absent from the seat of Government between the 19th December, 1879, and the 27th May, 1880The motion was discussed at length, but was eventually withdrawn.

Mr. Ballance moved that there be laid before the House all papers connected with the recent dismissal from his office of the Maori chief, Major Kemp. The motion was put and carried. Mr. Shrimski moved that a return be laid before the House showing the number of defaulters, apd amounts due, under the Land Tax Act, in each Provincial XSistriot, as on the first instant.— Carried.

; Mr. Murray moved that a Committee be appointed, to whom may be referred all petitions and matters relative to agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and mining, other than gold mining.—-Carried. The SJleptvio Telegraph Act, 1876, amendment Bill was read a second time. On the motion to go into Committee on the Regulation of Elections Act, some members wanted the Bill postponed until the Redistribution of Seats Bill was brought dowp_. 'J he Colonial Secretary explained that this Bill would not be down for a few days yet, and it would seriously inconvenience the business, for in reality there was nothing more on the Order Paper to go on with. The motion for going into Committee was aarried. On clause 11, Every duly registered elector, desiring to be a oandidate for any district, shall give notice to the returning officer," &0., Mr. de Lautour moved as an amendment that the clause read, "Every person desiring to be a candidate."

On a division that the clause stand as printed, the ayes were 35, the noes 23. Sir G. Grey moved as a further amendment that the words, "Or any person who has at any time been a duly qualified elector," be inserted after the word " Elector" in the first line.

The amendment was put and lost on the voices, Progress was reported, and the House rose at 7.35 p.m.