PARLIAMENTARY.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 149, 13 September 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

. [pee pkess agency.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, September 12. In the Legislative Council to-day, Mr Waterhouse moved that the Council’s report of the Committee appointed to report, whether members of the Executive Council were not coming within the exemptions comprised in the 7th clause of “ The Civil List Amendment Act, 1803 Amendment Act, 1873” and are entitled to sit and vote in proceedings of Parliaments That a copy of this resolution bo forwarded to the Government, Mr Waterhouse then brought forward tiio question of privilege, as there was a stranger in the Council, namely Dr Pollen. He further contended that there were doubts whether Dr Pollen had not been sitting illegally for the past two years. He concluded by moving the appointment of a committee to enquire ds to whether the scat of Dr Pollen had not been rendered vacanh The' motion was agreed to.

The Public Health Bill was recommitted. The Public Works and Eating Bill, was advanced a stage. Writs were formally Served to-day ori all Ministers', at the instance of Sir George Grey,.by his solicitor, Mr Kees, Sir Donald M‘Lean ftnd Dr. Pollen alone excepted. But it is understood that against the former the amount will bo about twelve thousand, and against the latter, seventeen thousand pounds. The plaintiff (Sir George Gray) sues defendants under section 12 of the Disqualification Act for one, hundred pounds per day, in ail], £OOO. Eight days arc allowed for pleading. The declaration against Whitaker has four counts, and claim's £SOO. First : That he has sat in the House while interested in Piako Swamp 1 coutracD Second : That he has been concerned ixi the contract while sitting. Third: Tliat he has sat while Attorney-General ; and fourth : That he has sat while holding office. 'A wilt has also been issued against Vogel for £4,000 because he was interested, in, a contract with the .Executive to go homo for certain purposes, from which ho would derive emolument, 'although at the time having a seat in the Legislature.

IIOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ; Wellington, September 12. The House met at 2.&0. Leave of absence granted Tescbemalcef for ten days. In reply to Henry Government said they did not intend to place upon estimates an additional sum for widow of late Colonel St. John. . Grey gave notice to ask to introduce’a Bill to make abolition permissive. The interim report of Select Committee to inquire into tbo' position of the Ministry was brought up and read. It was to the;' effect that the Disqualification Act had been infringed by.llie present Ministry. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of Civil List Act Amendment Bill. The bon’, gentleman argued at considerable length to show that the duty of the House was to remedy in the speediest • manner possible any error that might have • been made by the Ministry; and he ■quoted precedents frbm English' Parliament in support. Mr. Stout took an opposite view. Debate interrupted by 5.30. The House met at 7 30 p.m. The Speaker intimated that he bad received the resignation of Sir Julius Vogel, and a new writ wa’s ordered to bb issued. The Premier then moved the suspension ■ of the Standing Orders, in order to in- ' troduce and pass through, all its stages the Civil Service Act.Amendment, . After a good deal of discussion',- the motion for suspension of Standing Orders was withdrawn-, and the second reading of the Bill was made an Order of the Day for Tuesday. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr. Murray moved, that upon a change of Ministry the members of the new Cabinet should go before their constituents

for election. After a long., discussion this was lost by 20 to 22, and the House wont into Comniill.ee of Supply. After putting a vote for Customs Department progress was reported, and House adjourned at 2.15.