PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, 31 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, July 30. In the Legislative Council to-day. The Oamaru Harbor Board Bill, Fire Brigades Bill, Hospital and Charitable Aid Endowment Bill, Qtago Rivers Bill, and the Qtago Harbor Board Empowering Bill (all from the Lower House) were read a first time. Dr. Grace asked if Government intended to dismiss three Wellington constables of very long service without giving them compensation. Mr. Whitaker protested against the question. It would be impossible for Government to carry out the policy of retrenchment and economy which was imperative, and on which Parliament insisted, if at every step they tftok they were to. be met and embarrassed with questions. He presumed if officers were entitled to compensation, they would get it. If they were not entitled, they could not get it unless Parliament specially voted it. The Treasury Bills Bill was read a third time, and passed.. The debate on the cost of education svas continued, Mr. Chamberlain advocated the reimposition of fees and the keeping of children away from sohool until seven years old, Mr. Lahman thought the educational expense most exravagant, though he did not wish the system to be impaired. He saw no necessity for the Central Board. Dr. Menzies also supported the imposition of fees.

Mr. "Williamson said it was high time we cut our coat according to our cloth, and begin an economy and reform that had long been wanted. Mr. Waterhouae said we spent 25 per cent, of our revenue on education, while in England it was not 4 per cent. This ended the discussion, and the Council rose at o p. m. In the House of Representatives toMr. Stewart presented a petition signed by 350 employes connected with ihe locomotive and other departments, .praying for a reconsideration of the determination to reduce their wages. Mr. Bryce introduced the Maori Prisoners Detention Bill, and asked them to pass it through all its stages without discussion, The prisoners were part of an organisation setting itself up against the authority of the Queen. That was why they arrested them. He hoped the House would see its way to pass the measure without discussion. He moved its second reading. Sir G. Grey asked if intimatiop been given to the natives of the penalties they were subjected to under this Bill. If not, he asked if such intimation would be, given. Mr. Bryce said no notice had been given to the natives, unless the arrests made

could be taken as such notice. He would, however, take care that intimation was given. The motion for the second reading was carried, and the House went into Committee on the Bill. Messrs. J. B. Fisher and Gisborne pointed out that the Bill as worded would, bring under its operation natives charged with all manner of crimes—murder, felonies, &c.—offenders never contemplated by the framers of the Act. Mr. Bryce admitted the objection, but did not see how it was to be obviated. Sir G. Grey suggested that the provision should be all arrests made by the police, subject to the approval of the Native Minister. The clause was amended so as to make it read "Arrests made by authority of the Government." Sir G„ Grey protested against the amendment as made. He considered it unconstitutional and unlawful, and was sorry to see it persisted in when a few minutes' reflection would be sufficient to convince the Government of the fact. He did not desire to embarrass the Government, but he wished to record his solemn protest. The Bill, with amendments, was reported. On the motion for the third reading Mr. Montgomery 'regretted that a Bill had not been passed a month ago proclaiming this a disturbed district. The measure was, one the necessity for which should not have arisen.

Sir G. Grey also protested against the measure, which with a few minutes' delay I would have made the Bill more perfect than it was. He was sure it would create a bad effect on the native n^ind. Mr. J. B. Fisher also protested against the Bill. It did not matter the nature of the offence —every Maori offender could clajm to be arrested under this Act, and its effeot would be to defeat the ends of justice. Mr. Header Wood said he had no desire to throw obstacles in the way of Government, but he considered this the most impracticably measure that could well be imagined, Major Te Wheoro said that he had no 1 wish to embarrass the Government, but he disclaimed all responsibility for the measure. In further support of that position he would call for a division. On the motion for the third reading, Mr. Bryce said the Government had shown every proof that they were prepared to accept the very fullest responsibility. They had arrested these men without a warrant, and that showed that they were not at all disposed in any way to shirk responsibility. These men were actively in opposition to the Queen's authority and had been arrested, as it was not known what form that opposition might assume. He ventured, however, to say this—that if the fate of the Bill depended upon his individual vote, lie dared not take upon himself the responsibility of voting against its passage. The House divided—Ayes, 41; noes, 24.

On the station that the. Bill do now pass, Mr. Speight protested against passing the Bill. It was an admission that they were unable to govern the natives by the same law which governed the rest of the community. Mr. Pyke denounced it as a cruel and unconstitutional measure. Mr. Moorhouse considered Government was acting right in proposing the Bill, He was prepared to take his full share of responsibility, for the measure. Mr. Tawhai gave his reasons for voting against the Bill. Mr. Pitt said the public interest demanded the passage of the Bill. Sir G.. Grey said the House misunderstood the nature of the Bill. One member said that the next thing they would hear of was that the women and children of the native race would be arrested. The fact was that this Bill conferred suoh powers on the Government, and was a greater outrage on the Constitution than the Government had yet perpetrated. He asked the Government even yet to consider what it was asking for. It was awful to think that men, women, and children'should be torn from their homes and thrust into prison as this Bill authorised. He asked them to spare him and others who thought with him the shame and disgrace of such a, measure. Mr. Bryce said that a responsibility rested on the Government, but a greater responsibility rested on the Opposition for what they had done. The member for the Thames had pointed out all the horrors of and yet matters in that respect would not be in the slightest degree changed if his proposal were carried. It was only mere talk and nothing more. General street talk was only calculated to inflame the native mind and confirm it in its evil courses. He was both disappointed, and ashamed at the action of the Opposition and if evil resulted heavy responsibilities would rest upon them. The Spsßikey said he regretted the Bill had no,t been translated into the Maori language. It was an infraction of the rules of the House which he would look into. The motion that the Bill do now pass was carried. An Imprest Supply Bill for L 2.5,0,000 was introduced, and passed through all its stages. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply. Sir G. Grey moved the appointment of the following as a Committee to inquire into the Patetere Block transaction: Messrs. Bryce, Jones, Kenny, Sheppard, Thomson, Wood, and the mover. Mr. B.ryqe demurred to the proposal. He suggested that first the Committee should be named with Messrs. Pitt and Fulton, in place of two gentleman who declined to act, Sir W. Fox and Mr. Stevens. He questioned the sincerity of the member for the Thames to have this matter gone into fairly, fudging from the names proposed. Mr. Macandrew said it was not an invidious thing to single out the names of individual members in that way, and he contended that the names proposed were just as impartial as those proposed by Ministers. Sir G. Grey said that he never thought of making this a party committee* as shown by the names originally proposed. He was ready to accept the name of Mr. Pitt, but he could not accept Mr. Fulton, as he had ahown a disposition on his part to incline to party in connection with committee workAfter the point had been further discussed, Sir Ct. Grey intimated that he would accept the names intimated by Ministers. Mr. Wood said the Government was making a great mistake indeed to make every question of this kind a party question. He was glad he had nothing to do with the Committee, but he objected to his views and motives being thus unfairly' canvassed. The real fact was there was no party at all in the House. Party meant combination for the purpose of asserting some great principle. They had had great party questions, but was there one now 1 The motion, as amended by the suggestion of Mr. Bryce, was put and oarried. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr. Moss said their revenue should enable them to meet all their liabilities without making all the panic that had been made about monetary affairs. Then they proposed a property tax, whichj in its present form, he apprehended would-be most abnoxioua. If they arranged it so that itwould be locally applied; it would be popular. To do that, it would be necessary to f enlarge the' Committee.' The resolution he wished to propose was that a Royal Commission should be appointed to consider the most suitable form of local

government for this Colony, BUch Commis* sion to consist of nine members, to be elected by the registered electors of tho several provincial districts. He felt strongly the importance of thia question. If they could separate local from general finance, a very great work would ho ■\chioved. They would get rid of much of i the log-rolling and other difficulties they \ had at present to contend with. Mr. Hall said the Government should have had intimation that a question of so much importance waa to bo introduced so that they could have come down pre' pared to say what they thought of the proposal. Speaking on the spur of the moment, he would say, if such an en- v quiry was to be made, the House of R e . presentatives was the best body that could be got to make it. Therefore, the proposal of a Royal Commission was not one that recommended itself at first sight. They had been taunted with Government by Commission, and this waa a proposal to perpetuate that system. Mr. Macandrew said he waa favorably impressed with the general idea, but was not prepared to discuss the question at. present. The motion was withdrawn on tho uti» derstanding that it would be brought on • again. The House then went into Committee ' of Supply. 1 Government Insurance Department; 1 L 26,925. Major Atkinson proposed to strike out LSQOQ for separate Government Insuranco offioes. i - Sir G. Grey said matters of this kind should be left to private enterprise, and Government should merely overlook tho safeguards provided for such companies in their dealings with the public. Mr. Giaborne bore testimony to the efficient manner in which the department had been worked, and showed that it had; been self-supporting. Mr. Hurst maintained that this waa not legitimate work for the Government. It was an institution that owed its origin to a time when they were literally intoxicated with the expenditure of borrowed money. He thought the time had arrived when the affair should be narrowed down, or rather regulated to the management of some private company. Mr. J. B. Fisher agreed that tho department. was not properly speaking a proper one for a Government to undertake.

Mr. Ballance spoke of the department as having been an unqualified success, and urged its being made more popular amongst the working classes. Major Atkinson said the discussion was no doubt interesting, but no practical result could possibly come of it. He confined his remarks to replying to the proposals made for the reduction of certain items in the vote. Mr. Andrews thought the Government had done well in establishing the department, but he doubted whether its management was altogether satisfactory. Colonel Trimble and Mr. Macandrew supported the vote. The latter said that so far from abolishing the department, ho would extend its functions by compelling men to assure their lives much on tho same principle as they compelled men to. educate their children. Mr. Turnbull moved that LIOO be deducted from the salary of the Commissioners. He said the question was not what other insurance societies paid, but was the work done worth the money 1 Ho contended that L7CO was quite sufficient, for the office. Mr. Murray said that political institutions were inadequate to conduct private" business, and the debate showed more and more that such was the case. He would support any proposal to reduce the operations of the department. Mr. Barron was disposed to retrenchment, but as regards this department he thought it would be unwise to reduce. Mr. Jones moved thj},t the item, Local Agent, Wellington (also, Registrar of &c., L 140), LI6Q, be struck out. The reduction of LSQOO, proposed by Mr. Atkinson, was agreed to. A reduction of LIOO in the item, Commissioner, LBOO, proposed by Mr. Turnbull, was negatived on a division, by 27 to 14. The total vote was then agreed to, and! the House rose at 12.45.