PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 30 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, July 29. In the Legislative Council' to-day. The Treasury Bills Bill passed through Committee unaltered. The debate on the appointment of a Committee to enquire into Mr. Taiaroa's disqualification was resumed by Sir F. D. Bell, who alluded to the persistent efforts of Sir G. Grey to degrade the Council in the eyes of the country, though he explained that Dr. Pollen had not meant on the previous day that the late Premier had made appointments to the Council with the object stated. The assertion had given great pain to the members appointed by Sir G. Grey. The debate lasted nearly the whole of the afternoon, other speakers saying that the former Premier had also vilified the Council, whose dignity, however, would be best consulted by their treating such vilification with contempt. Ultimately, after a very long personal discussion, a Committee was appointed to inquire into the subject of the disqualification.

The general debate on the cost of education was resumed by Captain Fraser, who said the expense to the State might be lessened a third if children were kept away from school until their 7th or Bth year, as was advocated by medical men and leading writers on education, for which fees should be imposed. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose at 5 p.m.

In the House of Representatives today, Mr. Bryce asked leave to introduce the Maori Prisoners BilL As it was a matter of. ..urgency, he requested to be allowed to carry it through all its stages tomorrow. Replying to Mr. Reid-, Mr. Oliver said Government had received an official report from the Warden, stating that a number of claims had been taken up on recentlydiscovered goldfields at Mapouraki, in the Okarito district. In reply to Mr. Reeves, Mr. Bryce said the claims sent in for compensation by constables who had got notice of dismissal were under consideration, and until they were disposed of it was manifestly unfair to ask the attention of the Government in respect to individual constables. Replying to Mr. Barron, Major Atkinson said Government would not in addij tion to the amalgamation of the Marine with the Customs Department, the practicability of which the Colonial Treasurer has promised to take into consideration, with a view of further retrenchment, endeavor to effect an amalgamation between the Land and Deeds Registry and Stamp Departments. i Replying to Mr. Masters, Mr. Oliver | said the Government recognised the importance, and next session would introduce a Bill to amend the Regulation of Mines Act,-1874, to provide for the issue within the Colony of certificates of competency as managers of coal mines to those persons who are anxious to pass examination and prove fitness to hold such, the preference shown by all owners to appoint certificatedmanagers onlyplacingat a great disadvantage those who though thoroughly competent cannot now obtain Q§yfcifioates in the Colony. The House went into. Committee on the Oamaru Harbor Board Bill.

Mr, Murray objected to the principle of the Bill, and moved that progress be reported, Mr. Hurst concurred in stating that the members in charge of the Bill had shown no necessity for the measure.

Mr. Hall said Government was not enamoured of the Bill, but the House had decided it should go on, and he deprecated £vn attempt being made to obstruct it, Mr. Murray said the object of the Bill was to take this endowment out of the hands of the Waste Lands Board. The land was under lease for 14 years, and there was no pressing necessity for legislation. Mr. Jones said they were not asking for an endowment. All they asked was tho administration of one. already secured, and in virtue of which the Harbor Board had contracted large liabilities. In the hands of the Harbor Board it was likely to be better administered than it would be if left in the hands of the Waste Lands Board. The motion for going into Committee was then carried. The House divided on the question that clause 3. be. struck out. Ayes, 13 ; noes, 38, The Bill then passed, and was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The House went into Committee on the Taranaki Iron Smelting Works Land Act, 1874, Amendment Bill. Major Atkinson protested against the Bill as giving away the public estate, but as the House had decided on oarrying the Bill, he would not further oppose it. Messrs. Macandrew and Ballance denied that qo effort had been made to smelt iron, the former stating that he was present and witnessed a smelting experiment, and the latter that L6OO had been spent on appliances. Mr. Rolleston said he would vote in every way against the Bill, with a view of preventing, if possible, a fraud being perpetrated on the public. Mr. Murray said, he had ascertained that shares had been bought up by speculators in the hope of this Bill passing, thereby making something out of them.

Mr. Turnbull said a goodly number of shares were held by residents in the South Island. He oonsidered it would be a hardship to withhold the land simply because the affair had not turned out successfully. The Bill passed through Committee 3 and was reported without amendments. Major Atkinson moved that the House meet to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock, to dispose of Bills of a non-political character, more particularly the Revision of Statutes Bill. After a little discussion the motion was put and carried.

Mr. Moss called the attention of Government to valuable reports of Inspectors of Schools laid on the table yesterday. Hitherto these reports had formed part of departmental reports. Mr. Rolleston replied that some of these had been received too late this year, but he appreciated their value, and would see that they were printed in the appendix with the report.

The District Courts Acts 1858 Amendment Bill was withdrawn. The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment and the Friendly Societies Acts Amendment Bills were postponed. The Fire Brigades, Hospital and Charitable Aid Endowment Bills were reported with amendments. Mr, de Lautour moved the second reading of the Education Reserves Act 1877 Amendment Bill. Government should agree to the motion on the understanding that full discussion would take place in Committee. The motion was carried. The Justice of the Peace Act, 18.G6, Amendment Bill was discharged, and the Mines Act, 1877. Amendment Bill was postponed. Mr. Tole m,oyed the committal of the New Zealand University and University Colleges Bill, and explained its provisions. Mr. Rolleston said the Bill, proposed an expenditure the Colony could not afford. With the principle of the Bill ho fully agreed. Ho would support the Bill going into Committee, but no further. The House went into Oommi,tteo. Sir G. M. O'Rorke expressed surprise that no notice had been taken by the Government of- the recommendation 'by-1 tho Commission on Higher Education. He

had seen the advantage the South Island obtained from its University, and he earnestly desired to see the North Island enjoy similar advantages. After making every possible allowance for the straightened circumstances of the Colony, he hoped the Government would make tho concession sought for—tho cause of higher education in the North Island. On clause 54 being proposed, Mr. Rollobton moved that progress be reported. Sir G. Grey said that their primary education required to ke supplemented by education of a higher order. He believed that with the establishment of four colleges in New Zealand, all teaching differ", ent branches of eduoation and of they would tarn out men of varied knowledge and attainments. At Otago and Christchurch, the Colleges were established by public funds, and no oxcuße would avail for not giving a similar concession to the North. He would say, take the funds from some endowments in tho Middle Island, if no other means could be found. The North had as good a right to a higher education as the South. He did not think that very expensive buildings were required. The points relating to tha constitution of Universities might very well stand over for a year. He hoped the wisdom that guided the South in securing these advantages would guide them in securing similar benefits for the North Island.

Mr. Macandrew said that the Bill proposed to spend L 30,000 on buildings and LBO,OOO per annum on Professors. That; was more than the Colony could at present afford. Mr. Bowen agreed that'it was necessary that means should be devised for establishing a system of University education all over New Zealand. Mr. Moorhouse said that if education or religion were worth having, they ought, to be paid for by those getting them. Colonel Trimble said they must recognise the fact that those endowments were> Colonial, and not made for mere provincial purposes; still, he would deprecate the suggestion made for appropriating thei South Island endowments for North Island purposes. Mr. Moss them against the superficial style of education followed onfe in some of the Colonial Universities. Sir G. M. O'Rorke disclaimed any intention of appropriating the South Island endowments for North Island purposes. What he desired was similar provisions made for the North which existed in the, South. The motion for reporting progress w#si carried. The Otago Harbor Board Empowering; Bill was further considered in Committee,, reported with amendments, and read a third time and passed. The Chinese Immigration Bill was withdrawn.

On the motion of Mr. Fulton, the Otago Rivers Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. Mr. Moorhouse briefly moved the second reading of the Deceased Wife's Sister's, Marriage Bill. Mr. Macandrcw said every member had), no doubt made up his mind on the question, so he would, without remark, move* that the Bill be read a second time that; day six months. On a division, the second reading was< carried by 27 to 9. Mr. Moorhouse wished to have the Bill committed forthwith, but Dr. Wallis objecting, this could not be done. On the motion that it be committed next Thursday, Mr. Swanson moved the additional words " at 7.30." This led to some discussion, tho motion as amended being carried, and the Houso rose.

TO-DAY'S SITTING. The House met at 11 o'clock to-day*. Mr. Hall moved the second readings of the Counties Act Amendment Bilk Referring to the clause providing that in tho case of Counties where the Act is not in operation, the Governor is empowered to exercise the functions of the Council. He said there might be a difference of opinion, and if he found the majority were againßt. that proposal, he would be prepared to. forego it. The motion was carried, and the Bill ordered to be committed presently. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Land Transfer Act Amendment Bill. The object of the Act, ha explained, was to deviate the issus of Crown grants, thereby expediting the completion of titles and save a considerable amount of money to the country. Sir G. Grey said that the present system was an adaption of one in operation at the Cape of Good Hope. Tlierotwo Crown grants were drawn. One was; deposited in the Land grants office andl the other held by the grantee. Whea at transfer took place the parties went to the Crown grants office and had the trainsaction endorsed on both of the grants, thereby obviating the expensive and cumbersome system of land transfer still in vogue. Major Atkinson said that the present, proposal was not to deal with the registrar tion of titles, but he would keep 4h.e. suggestion in view, considering it ev able one.

Sir George Grey said he would makean effort to have the proposal introduced into the Bill. ** Its effect wtould be that, parties transferring property would go to. the office, and for the sum of 10s 6d get, their grant endorsed, and the transfer completed. I.fc. was of great importaaca that property should be transferred with the same facilities as bank notes. The second reading of the Bill was carried, and its committal ordered for Monday. Mr. Hall moved the second reading of the Rabbit Nuisance Bill. He said the nuisance was becoming a formidable not less than 500,000 acres of land having; been abandoned in consequence thereofThe Bill was similar to the ono now ini existence, with the addition of a few clauses which subsequent experience had shown desirable.

Mr. Seymour said that, as the Bill involved the question of taxation it should be postponed. This was a consolidation of a variety of measures for dealing with the nuisance in different parts of New i Zealand, and as such it was of importance jthat it should be considered by a full House. . Mr. Bain endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker, stating he expected representation on the subject from Softth,--land. Sir G. Grey concurred, and mated thatt the second reading be postponed Mr. Hall consented to tha postponement, and the motion fox the adjournment of the debate was carried. Mr. Dick moved the second reading of the Census Act Amendment Bill, introduced at the request of the Imperial Government. All the Australian as well as the United Kingdom, would, talce a oensus on the 3rd of April next i year. The motion was agreed to. Mr. Rolleston moved the second roaaof the Arms Bill.—Carried. The following Bills were read a second! time :—Banks and Bankers Bills of Exchange, Proceduro of Mercantile Law or Chattels Securities, Building Societies* Animals Protection, Married Woman s Property Protection, Aliens Marriage* Juries, Cruelties to Animals, Deaths by Accident Compensation, Adulteration Prevention, Tlwnea Water Supply* Transfer, and Fisheries. Bills. The above Bills, with the exception 01 the two laa.t mentioned, were considere in Committee, read a third time/ an passed, as also the Oensus Bill.