PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1309, 17 June 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, June 16.

In the Legislative Council to-day, ; The Hon. Mr. Scotland gave notice" to move that for the credit of ;the Colony and the interests of the two races,, all recognised claims to reserves by the nativeson the West Coast should be acceded to, as recommended by the' Royal Commission.

The Council went into Committee on the Gambling and Lotteries Bill. ' The discussion- lasted the whole afternoon on the proposal Jfco allow racing clubs to use the totalisator with the consent of the Colonial Secretary. This was-ultimately carried by 11 votes to 9 the totalisator being rendered illegal to all others but clubs. An amendment was carried that an art union should only take place with the consent of the Colonial Secretary. The Bill was then reported, but ordered to be re-committed next day, on the proposal to give Resident Magistrates the power to allow art unions instead of the Colonial Secretary. The Council rose at 4;45.

In the House of Representatives to

day, Mr. Sutton presented a petition from 31 publicans and brewers in Napier, protesting against the beer tax. Replying to Mr. Tnrnbull, Major Atkinson said the money was ' advanced to the Waimea Railway Company on the 17th March last, and will be . repaid by the Annuities Department to the Public Works account in the course ,of a day or two. In addition to ~L48,000 of guaranteed debentures at 7 per cent., a mortgage was taken over the company's line. Replying to Mr. Seddon, Mr. Oliver promised to produce a copy of the correspondence betwebn them "and the Waimea Railway Company, relatiye to the advance of. L 40,000, and" also; the terms and conditions on which the said sum is advanced would be included in this return. . - Replying to Mr. Seddon, Mr. Hall said that he hoped that next week he would be able to introduce the Representation Bill.

Replying to-Mr. Bowen, Mr. Rolleston said that the percentage of female over male teachers was "rapidly increasing, and in the natural course of events was bound to increase. In these circumstances, he did not think it necessary to give any extra encouragement for the more frequent employment of females in that way. Mr. Bowen asked whether a Teachers' Pension Act has been under the consideration of Government, and what course they inten4 to take in the matter. Mr. Rolleston replied that a BilJ. of the kind had been prepared, and was under the consideration of the Government. The Bill as it stood would not be satisfactory to teachers as a whole. The six per cent, deduction would not be fair to all. There was a large preponderance of females over males, and as the former did not take teaching as a lifelong ~ employment, it would not be fair to have them all placed on one footing as regards these deductions. The subject was, however, under consideration. ■ . .

Replying to Mr. Wood, Major Atkinson promised to furnish a statement in detail of the reductions from the proceeds of the property tax (estimated'last year to realise L 470,000), in consequence of the extension of exemptions from L3OO to LSOO, of the exemption -of agricultural

implements, insurance policies, furniture, or from further causes., - Mr. Wood asked if he will state the amount demanded and collected on account of the duty of 6d per gallon on colonial beer during the first four days of the existence of the tax, that is to say up to Saturday last. Major Atkinson replied that if the object was to ascertain the basis of his calculation as to the amount that would

be raised from the tax, the return, would be useless. He explained that the calculation was based on the amount of tax collected during the time it was in force in 1878. Mr. Barron asked if all the land tax defaulters throughout the Colony, as shown by the return to Ist June laid before this House, have been summoned for the tax, and if not why not 1 Major Atkinson replied that the department had acted most leniently in the matter. They had, when they found no other course would do, issued summonses commencing with the letter A and going right through the list alphabetically. Sir W. Fox asked who was the chief for whose marble bust L7O was paid to Thos. Miller in August, 1879, and who was the chief for whose marble bust LG6 was paid on account to Thos. Miller, in July, 1879 ; also, for what native a head-stone costing L 35 was paid for in September, 1879 ; where such busts and head-stones now are, and to whom they belong ? Also, where are the five volumes of '-' Bancroft's Races" for which L 6 10s was paid in August, 1879, and by what officer of the Government were 3uoh charges respecf tively authorised, as stated in the return ocontingent expenditure of the Native Department laid before this House. Mr. Bryce replied that L2OO was authorised by the late Government for a bust of Hapuka, which was sent to the Sydney Exhibition, . and from Sydney would go to the Melbourne Exhibition. The tombstone was authorised by the late Native Minister over the grave of a distinguished chief.. The volumes of " Bancroft's Races" were got for Mr. White, who was preparing a work ,on the subject of the Maori race. The' bust was' the property of the Government. Leave was granted to Sir. George Grey to introduce a Bill entitled "A Bill to repeal the Property Assessment Act, 1879, and the Property Tax Act, 1879." Sir George Grey moved that it be read a second tjme to-morrow weet. Mr. Hall submitted that the Bill was tantamount to a vote of want of confir dence. and should be brought on for its second reading at once. He moved as an amendment that it be read a seqond time to-morrow 1 .

■ Sir George Grey said that he thought he was consulting the-convenience of the Government by making ,it to-morrow week. He would, however, be prepared to go on- with it to-morrow night. The amendment wa3 agreed to.

Mr. Seymour moved, the adoption! of the report of the Standing Orders Committee, commending the sessional order that the House rise at 12.30 every night, and other alterations in Standing Orders ; Mr, Hall .supported the motion generally, but opposed the proposal for the adjournment of the House not later than 12.30.

Mr. Macandrew supported the report. He would prefer remaining a month longer in session than remaining all night, and seeing the work'hurried through with the small houses they usually had after midnight. ! Being put, the original motion was carried on the voices. Mr. Hamlin moved that a return be laid before the House of all correspondence and telegrams that have passed between the Defence and Public Works Departments and their officials in Taranaki relative to the road lying between the Werekino and the Waiweremei Rivers.

Mr. Bryce hoped he would not be called upon to produce the confidential correspondence passing between him and the head of the defence force now on the West Coast. The motion was put and negatived. 1 Mr. Hutchison moved that the Select Committee consisting of Captain Russell, Mr. Macandrew, Captain Colbeck, Messrs. Shephard, Masters, Montgomery, Kenny, and the mover be appointed to consider the best means for encouraging the settlement of the industrial classes upon the waste lands of the Colony, and further what »help and encouragement may be |

promptly extended by the Government | to. those who are desirous of taking up i small sectionff-of land. To report in four weeks. . Mr. Rolleston said thatas the Minister for Land-he was quite alive to his duty in regard to the bona fide settlement on lands. He did not think it would be wise to create another committee to.eonsider this point. The Waste Lands Committee was the proper quarter to refer to this question, and the subject of the motion was quite within its'functions. Mr. Ballance charged the Government

with having shewn a feeling of hostility to the special settlement clause of the Land Act of last session; The Minister for Lands had said that the intention of these clauses was the introduction of" foreign capital. He denied that such were the facts of the case, and quoted from the Minister's own speech on the occasion of the passing of the Act to show that the primary object was to afford facilities to Working Men's Clubs and other combinations of that kind. If working men were bound to show large capital before the Government would enter into negotiations with them, as had been alleged by the Minister for Lands during, the recess, in answer to an application by Working Men's Clubs, then these special settlement clauses were a mere delusion. What he complained of was that these concessions were readily granted to men who could command foreign capital, and who did so for their own personal aggrandisement, while working men in the Colony, who could'command a small amount of capital, would not be treated with at all, He did not think that this .Committee would do much good. If they had not men at the head of affairs enthusiastic in the matter of: settlement,; all the Committees in the world would not be able to promote it. Government had the facilities for providing the Wellington and. other associations with what they require in the-way Of land for special settlement purposes. Mr. Dick moved as an amendment that it be an instruction to the Waste Lands Committee to consider and make a recommendation on the subject referred to in the motion.

■The discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. At the evening sitting, - Mr. Pyke moved the second reading of the Party Processions Bill. He said it was a bill for the better of the peace. It aimed at all bodies whose proceedings were likely to be regarded by any section of the community as being obnoxious. He referred to the factionfighting which lately took place at Christ-? church and Timaru as evidence of the necessity that existed for the measure. They did not wish to revive the memory of. the wretched past in this young community. It was not the procession that was constituted an offence unless accompanied by preparations for offence, and even then it was left to the Justices of the Peace to say whether or not these preparations were of an offensive character. It gave the option of commuting the offence into one for a monetary penalty instead of imprisonment. In that respect it differed from a similar measure passed in one of the other Colonies. . The .Hon. Mr. Hall was understood to say that the Government was disposed to regard the Bill as to some extent an interference with the liberty of the subject. The late disturbance brought dowri upon the offenders such an ampunt of condemnation as would prevent a recurrence of such proceedings. He hoped the mover of the motion would be content with having directed attention to the subject. It would give all concerned to understand that the Legislature would be prepared, to interfere if the force of publip opinion were found not strong enough to prevent a recurrence of these disgraceful pro-

ceedings. A discussion followed in which .Messrs. Siddon, Bowen, Andrews, and Steven opposed the measure, and Mr. Stewart supported it. The Bill was eventually thrown out on the motion of Mr. Stevens that it be read that day six months. Sir G. Grey moved the second reading of the Moorhouse Services Recognition Bill. He stated that in 1868, as Governor of the Colony, he visited Canterbury, and found Mr. Moorhouse, the then Superintendent of Canterbury, administering the affairs of that province with great ability and foresight. His efforts in promoting the Lyttelton tunnel in order to connect Christchurch with tbe port he alluded to in flattering terms. What he asked was that a medal should be struck and be in the hands of Mr. Moorhouse, his heirs, and their heirs in all generations, and recognised as a free pass on all railways. The effort he looked upon as a move in the direction of entering upon a new field of rewards superior to any knighthood or peerage. . Although between him and Mr. Moorhouse the utmost friendly feeling existed privately, in political life they had' never voted on any occasion" together. He hoped that fact would go to show that merit coul4 be acknowledged freely by all parties, independent altogether of political predilection.

The Hon. Mr. Hall seconded the motion. He could not agree with the speaker in the remark that this was a kind of protest against the opinion that the Imperial authorities were alone capable of being entrusted with the rewarding of the distinguished. He agreed with the warm eulogium expressed upon Mr. Moorhouse's public career, more especially in the indomitable perseverance he had shown in carrying out the Lyttelton tunnel scheme. It reflected great credit upon his foresight and sagacity. Herecognised the appropriateness of the recognition proposed to be conferred on Mr. Moorhouse.

A discussion followed, during which the Bill was supported by Messrs Macandrew and'Bowen, and opposed by Messrs Ireland and Turnbiil}. . Sir George Grey replied that the Premier had been mistaken as to what he meant by his reference to thfc Imperial authorities. What he meant to assert was that they should show that they were able, independent of polittcal strife, to recognise and reward merit as they found it existing among themselves. If it was thought they were going too far in making the medal a railway pass in all time coming, let some other member move for the striking out of those words. He would not object. At the same time, what he desired was an hereditary honor in the usual acceptation of the phrase.

| . The Bill was read a second time and in when a further discussion took place, Eventually' the Bill passed through Committee with an amendment moved by 'Mr, Stewart that the words "eldest heir in direct line for the time being " be inserted instead of the word "descendant." The Bill was tben read a third time and passed. The Execution Against Real Estate Bill was passed through Committee.

The House went into Committee on the Elections Petitions Bill. The number of judges before.whom pet.ltionssh6uld.be tried was altered from one to two. Other trifling amendments wnre made, after which the Bill was reported with amendr merits. ' At 12.30 the House adjourned.