PARLIAMENT

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 529, 5 June 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

(Latest by Telcgrpph.) Wellington, Friday Night, legislative Council. NEW LAND BILLS. In the Legislative Council the Hon Mr Wliitnkor moved the first reading of a Bill to make provision for native reserves; a Bill to prevent improvident dealings and frauds, upon the alienation of lands by natives ; a Bill to repeal certain Acts relating to native lands; a Bill to extend the jurisdiction of Native Lands Courts in the estate of deceased natives; and a Bill to amend and consolidate the law relating to Native Lands Courts. He explained that it was contemplated to supersede existing law on the subjects dealt with, and to place the Native Lands Courts on a footing similar to that of ordinary courts, making them independent of the Executive. House of Representatives. Mr Macandrcw gave notice to ask if it was the intention of Government to continue local subsidies. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced: Lodgers Protection Bill ; Female Redress Bill ; Auctioneers Bill ; Joint Stock Companies Act Amendment Bill ; Execution Against Real Estate.

Political Gossip. (Special from our Correspondent.) Wellington, Friday. The’Education Act is not to be amended. The Premier says the Government have no alterations to propose. A strong set ; is being made against the Property Tax, and there is an expectation that the Government will have to make some concession, though their party profess to pooph-pooph the present agitation. Sir George Grey’s bill to repeal the Property Tax is regarded as a bid for the Opposition leadership. The exPremier is evidently calculating on being able to embarras the Ministry by this move, and some partizans profess to see in this bill a certain defeat for the Government, In the debate on the Address, some good speeches were made ; one by Mr Pyke, full of rollicking fun ; one by Sir George Grey, eloquent, but windy; one by the Premier, heavy but business-like ; and one by Mr Macandrcw, bristling with party point, some of them rather blunted. Dr Wallis’s long and solemn speech on the Address in Reply evoked a good joke. -The Premier said that, to make: the doctor’s speech complete, it ought to : have been prefaced with “ Dearly beloved brethren!” ' . j; "opposition; , • Mr Pyke’s speech on thoAddresa is thus describedlt was a rollicking speech—-

evidently one that had been prepared!; His speech must be classed under three heads. Tfie»first to please the Opposition, and any Government; the second to tickle the ears of h'isconstituents ; while the remainder was intended merely to amuse the House. Ho took a different view from Sir G, Grey of the Property Tax, condemning it altogether for its inquisitorial nature, and predicted that, if enforced, it would create a social commotion worse than that of Wat Tyler. Before sitting down he congratulated the Government that they had got on the Treasury Benches and had no party against them ; no compact party except the compact party of the Auckland four. He did not desire to see that party increase, but had no doubt they would all “hang” together ; and a ripple of laughter passed through the House from floor to gallery, and Mr Pyke waddled out apparently attacked with hiccups, ora subdued chuckle.” LEADERS AT LOGGERHEADS. The N.Z. Times is eager to show how Mr Macandrew and Sir George Grey, both looked upon as leaders of the Opposition, are at loggerheads on some leading questions. “Sir George Grey has especially devoted himself to inciting the people against any attempt to relieve the financial pressure out of the Education vote. He has declared in the most fervid terms that he will not hear of such a proposal, and he has called upon all those who have any confidence in him to aid him in resisting it to the utmost. Mr Macandrew, on the contrary, strongly advocates the reimposition of school fees, and the limitation of the school course to the simplest subjects, in order to .reduce the expenditure and avert: the necessity for further taxation. Here we have the two most prominent members of the Opposition fighting oyer what both regard as an important question of policy. Whenever the two speakers do meet on the same topic, however, they immediately come to loggerheads. Sir George Grey is an ardent advocate of the sale of land on deferred payments. Mr Macandrew condemns the deferred payment altogether. Sir George Grey is^ all for borrowing more money and spending it freely among the people, while taxing property to pay the interest. Mr Macandrew says he wishes the Five Million Loan had miscarried, declares that a reduction of the expenditure is absolutely necessary, and instigates the people to refuse payment of the property tax. , Sir George Grey designates the discontinuance of the subsidies—‘ the most inhuman proceeding that he ever heard of.’ Mr Macandrew ridicules the subsidies, says that system involves a waste of fifty per cent., and recommends local taxation as a substitute; So they go on.”