PARLIAMENTARY.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 128, 1 July 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[pee press agency.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, June 30, In tho Legislative Council, the Friendly Societ.es Bill was read a second time. Dr. Pollen said the Government intended to follow out English legislation on the matter, and that all the suggestions of the Friendly Societies would receive fullest consideration. Mr Hart ; gave notice that pn the third reading of the Bill, lie would move its re-committal for consideration pf a clause prohibiting, in societies hereafter to bo constituted, the practice of disposing of the privileges of realizing shares by competition. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. . Wellington, June 28. On the House resuming at 7.30 last night, Mr Pyko maintained that tho charges of corruption wero emanations of diseased minds. Mr Lusk followed, denying tho expediency of the sale, and* that more land was s3ld than was originally bargained for, and that it was worth £200.000. The hon gentleman made a long argumentative speech against tho motion. Major Atkinson made a brief vigorous rejoinder, insisting that Ministers had no resource but to resist the imputations upon thoir honor, an I laid plans upon the table to show that tho statements of.tho Government regarding the land wero correct. Mr Joyce opposed the motion strongly, and denounced the transaction as essentially had. Mr G. McLean stated that lie hud visited the swamp to satisfy himself regarding the sale, and was convinced that the Government did what was best for the country and district. Sir Donald McLean explained that the disposal of the land to a company was good for tho Colony, and an excellent strategical move. Mr Button supported the motion, and quoted from the Act to show that the Government acted quite legally. Mr Hodgkinaon looked on the attitude of tho House On the question as a packed jury, with foregone conclusions. Mr Andrew made a witty speech, supporting the motion. Sir J. Vogel spoke at great length, replying to principal points and arguments during 'the debate, especially to personalities of Sir George Grey and Mr Reader Wood.

Mr Strut's amendment was then put and lost hy 52 to 20. Division called on original motion, which was carried by 51 against 19. The following is the division list:— A3'es—Messrs Andrew, Atkinson, Ballance, Baigent, -Barff, Bastings, Bowen, Bryce, Brown, (J. E,), Bunny, Button, Carrington, Cox, Curtis, Douglas, Filzroy, Gibbs, Ileniy, Hunter, Hursthonso, Johnston, Kelly, Kennedy, Larnach, Macfarlane, Manders, M‘Lean (D.), M‘Lcan (G.), Montgomery, Moorbonse, Murray, Aynsley, Ormond,' Pearce, Pykc, Head, Reynolds, Richardson, Richmond, Rowe, Russell, Sharp, Stafford, Stevens, Taiaroa, Tawiti, Tcschemaker, Tribe, Vogel, Wakefield, Wnson, Williams, and Woolcock. Xoes—Messrs Brown- (J. C.), Brandon, Burns, Delatour, Dignan, Fisher, Hamlin, ITodgkinson, Joyce, Lusk, Murray. Nahe, Rollesfou, Rees, Shrimski, Stout, Swanson, Tolo, Thomson, and Wood (W.) The Address in Repl.v was moved by Sir Robert Douglas, who briefly touched upon the various subjects referred to in llio Address. Mr B istings, who seconded the Address in Reply,’ took the opportunity of declaring that ho came to that House cxprowsly to support Abolition. The Address in Reply was. agreed to without a dissentient, voice. Mr Rees moved for a select , committee to inquire into and report as to whether Mr Whitaker was qualified to sit in the House, in consequence of his connection wit it the sale of the Piako F wamp. The Premier opposed the motion. Several members taking the same view as the Premier, the motion was . negatived -on the voices. On the motion of the Premier, seconded by Sir George Grey, Mr O’Rorkc was appointed Chairman of Committees. Mr Burns moved that the Government call for tenders for the construction, in the colony, of all their railway rolling stock, and such other railway appliances as could be manufactured here. The motion was agreed to. r» Returns of all Savings Banks (other than Post Office Savings Banks) in the colony, and of all education reserves (stating acreage and locality), were ordered. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. June 29. The House resumed last evening, at half-past 7 o’clock, when the adjourned debate on the-Public Accounts Committee took place. Mr Stout said he did hot want to serve on the Committee. Sir George Grey wanted the Committee to be increased from 14 to 15, and moved that Mr Rees be placed on the Committee. This was opposed by the Government, and a long, sharp, and in some respects, personal debate ensued. Mr Reader Wood warmly supported Mr Rees, and considered it an insult to Auckland if he was not placed on the Committee. ‘ ; • A division was taken, and the motion was lost by 41 to 21. Mr Delatour then moved that Mr Reynolds be struck off, so that Mr Rees could be put on. Mr Rees said it was a real shame that the Government objected to his being on the Committee. It was ,an insult to Auckland and discreditable to the House. Mr Reader Wood followed by saying that Mr Rees was as fit to be on the Committee as he was. It looked as if the Premier was afraid to allow Mr Rees to examine the accounts. Mr Rees spoke with vehemence against the action of the Government. Their opposition to him would excite the indignation of not only New Zealand, but of other colonies, and also of England. Mr Macandrew condemned the high handed action of the Government.

Mr Swanson wanted to . know why Auckland was not better represented on the Committee. Mr Moorhousc defended the action of the Government, and said that Mr Rees was unfit to be on the committee on account of his financial ignorance and offensive declamatory style, - Mr Hamlin considered the Government had acted tyrannically. ; Mr Pearce supported the Government, as also did Mr Tribe MrShrimski said Mr Rees ought to have a seat on the committee. Several other members spoke for and against the motion. 1 Sir Julius Vogel replied at some length, not blaming Mr Rees, but the indiscretion of his friends in trying to force him upon the House.

The res id t of the debate was that Rees was rejected on the voices. ' The. House adjourned at 1.40 a.m The House met at 2,30 this afternoon. Sir Julius Vogel laid on the table a letter from the Superintendent of the Bank of Australasia.

In replying to Mr Roes, Sir Donald McLean said the Government would appoint a Native Lands Frauds Commissioner as soon as they could get a suitable person. On the motion of Sir George Grey, the House agreed that on Wednesday next it would resoivc itself into a committee of the whole, to consider the placing of £4OO upon the estimates to defray the cost of a work upon Native grasses, with natureprinted plates of each grass, and the description of the book to be accompanied with an essay on all grasses. The majority of those members who spoke .thought - the object was. an ’ exceedingly good one, and if the plan was carried out it would likely do the colony a great deal of good ; but they also expressed their opinion that £4OO was insufficient for the purpose. The motion was agreed to.

Sir George Grey then moved a series of motions for the production of all papers and correspondence relafing to several land purchases by Mr Thomas Russell from the Natives, and all wore agreed to without a word. The House resumed at 7.30. On the order of the day for the consideration of the Governor’s speech being moved, Header Wood took occasion to make an exceedingly strong personal attack on the Premier. The whole House spoke out with one voice against it, and the Speaker called the hon. gentleman to order, and he was understood to apologise. The gist of his speech was that Auckland had been badly served in the compact of 1856. They did not wish to break it. They however, wanted a fair share of Customs revenue, wherewith to carry on their local ‘government, and pay contribution to the General Government" instead of the General Government collecting taxes, and, doling but subsidies to provinces. What was wanted was four colonies, and a Dominion of New Zealand. The very laws of nature were against it being anything else, and nature was' above man. Sir J. Vogel did not reply to the personalities, merely saying that he hoped such exhibitions would never again be made in the House. He informed the House that as the Financial Statement would bo made on Tuesday, he did not care to discuss matters, that would be embraced in that. Referring to what they heard from Auckland, and Otago against abolition, lie it j-uz&rtfv*! to him fiiat in all of these the objections came from Auckland City and Dunedin on'y: All other parts of these provinces would hail with satisfaction any form of Government, that was not Provincial Government. What the country real y required was separate local governments for the cities, and separate? local givermnent for country districts. They had had enough of joint government. The motion was,, agre al to, and the House adjourned. , Juno 30. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Business was mainly unimportant. Amendments are to he made in the Public Health Act.

Replying tp Mr llocs, regarding the liability of tin; Government for indemnifying persons injured, by the carelessness of railway officials, Sir J.''Vogel said the Government were quite prepared to recognise their liabilities in'that direction, but, while providing for the future, they would not make the measure retrospective, A gppd deal of discussion took place on the proposed alterations in Orders in Council, and all were carried, excepting the one referring to the exclusion of strangers from the galleries. The order was amended and, carried in the following form —“ That strangers may at any time be ordered to withdraw on motion without notice, and that no amendment or debate shall be allowed on the question. The Speaker can at any time order strangers to withdraw.”