PARLIAMENT.

Patea Mail, 6 August 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

In the Assembly on Wednesday, a petition was presented against the Law Practitioners Bill, and a request made for a further sum to be placed on the Estimates for Volunteer purposes. In replying to questions Government stated that Charles Ryland Tylden, lately appointed a J.P., had been concerned in a trifling affray, bnt not in such a way as to affect his character as a J.P. Any intended relinquishment of negotiations for native lands on the East Coast would be notified in the manner required by law. The ten per cent, reduction was made only in accordance with a resolution of the House, and if the Estimates as framed were passed, the amount would be refunded from 30th June. Costs awarded by the Judges of Assessment Courts to successful objectors to the Government valuations are to be paid by Government. The commutation of sentence on Wharepa, the -Chatham Island murderer, had been reported to the Secretary of State. HONI PIHAMA AND MR PARRIS. Replying to Mr Hutchison, Mr Rolleston said the award of 1834 acres to Honi Pihama was made in conformity with a promise made by the late Sir Donald McLean, and the recommendation of the Royal Commissioners, and the award of 753 acres to his hapu was made in respect of a similar recommendation, which indicated the land as being situated within certain boundaries. At one time it was supposed that the land was of greater extent, but the Natives themselves quite understood this was the laud to be given. He was in a position to give a flat denial to the rumour that Hone Pihama and Major Parris, the special local Commissioner, had a joint interest in the land awarded to the former, and he deprecated the action of the hon. member in putting such a question upon the order paper. The following Bills were introduced. —Kakanui Harbor Board Borrowing, Rrilway Construction and Land, and to amend the Canterbury Rivers Act. DIRECT STEAM SERVICE. On the motion of Mr Macandrew the following committee was appointed to consider and report as to the best means of establishing a direct steam service between New Zealand and the Mother Country, the Committee to consist of Mr Bain, Sir George Grey, Messrs Hutchison, Johnston, Montgomery, Oliver, Pitt, Richardson, Reeves, and the mover. Mr Macandrew thought the colony could well afford a service of the kind indicated. Indeed he thought the time had arrived when the colony could not do without it. A direct line like this would be a great incentive to the right class of immigrants being imported into New Zealand. The great difficulty would be practically overcome. On the other hand it would open up direct communication with the Home market lor their produce.—Mr Johnston said Government had no objection to the motion, and were quite alive to the importance of direct communication being established. ELECTIVE .UPPER HOUSE. Dr Wallis moved, That the time has come when members of the Legislative Council should be elected by the people of the colony. He argued that the nominative system gave the Ministry of the day an opportunity for acting corruptly. They were enabled to appoint their own partisans to the Upper Chamber. For example, the Grey Ministry were in a manner forced to appoint no fewer than nine Councillors in order to enable them to carry on the business. The resalt was that it was not the wealth or yet the intelligence of the country that was. called to the Upper House, but the most subservient partisans of a particular Government. In that way the Chamber was in danger of becoming crowded with political partisans. Then again, he objected to its , present constitution, inasmuch as it was a lifelong appointment. It enabled Ministers to appoint their own particular friends

and reward them with a small pension for life. It also tended to create an aristocracy, a class with all the feelings of the aristocracy. It gave them an enormous advantage over the other branch of the Legislature. The lifelong appointment gave them a complete control of the Legislature, and the time had come for the stop proposed by the motion. Mr Reid supported the motion, but thought certain modifications in the proposals were desirable. Mr Bussell looked upon the system of nomination as being right in principle, but did not agree with the nomination being for life. Mr Hall regretted the question would not receive the full consideration it deserved. He did not think it would be wise to abolish the second chamber, A check was abosolutely necessary for the successful working of colonial institutions. Still he did not think nomination for life was necessary or desirable, as the system was liable to abuse. What they wanted was the best men they could get for the Legislative Council. There were many men who had all the requisite qualifications for efficient councillors, who yet lacked the ability to make themselves popular enough to secure the popular vote. He though the Councillors should be elected by the House and by ballot. Ex-Judges of the Supreme Court, Ex-Ministers, and many men in private life, were the class of men who would be most eligible for the Council; and by the means he proposed men of that class would stand the best chance of election. The whole question was one for ventilation, in order that the point might he carefully considered, and in that view he suggested that the motion should be withdrawn. Sir George Giey cited the case of the Provincial Councils, whose legislation was perfectly satisfactory, and yet it was done by a single chamber. So long as they had two chambers they were bound to have hasty and imperfect legislation, as the one chamber always, to a certain extent, lessened the care and consideration of the other. He insisted that the Upper House had stood in the way of good legislation. They had all along moulded the land laws in the interest of the squatter. It was wrong that there should he a second chamber to which a defeated candidate, who was useful to a Government might be called. He understood that the Premier intended to introduce a Bill to modify the constitution of the Upper House. That was what he had led the country te expect, and he called upon the Government to make good that expectation ; and he was sure they would aid the Government in their endeavor. Colonel Trimble thought that a Committee of the Lower House could carry out, under certain conditions, all the functions now done by the other chamber. Debate interrupted by the usual adjournment at 5.30. TIMAKU HAKBOK. Most of the evening sitting was spent over the Timarn Harbor Board Endowment Bill, which was ultimately passed through Committee, the endowment being reduced from 100,000 acres to 50,000 acres. OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON. Mr Weston moved fhe second reading of the Offences against the Person Bill, the object of which was to provide that consent on the part of a girl under 13 years of age should not excuse indecent assault, and that wife beating should be punished by flogging. Messrs De Lautour, Stewart, Grey, Lundon, Levestara, Seddon, Speight, Moss, Pyke, Turnbull, and J. B. Fisher opposed the Bill; and Messrs Rolleston, Hall, Stevens, Fulton, Bowen, J. T. Fisher, Brown, and Reid supported.— The second reading was negatived on a division of 23 to 19, and the House rose at 1.25. CHURCH ENDOWMENTS. In the Assembly on Thursday, Mr Stevens moved that the - report of the Church of England in New Zealand Trustee Incorporation Bill be adopted,

the object of the Bill being the incorporation of the trusts with respect to the Diocese of Dnnedin. Mr Sheehan objected, staling that he desired to see the whole of the church endowments looked into with the view of ascertaining how they were being dealt with. Mr Stewart supported the motion. Sir George Grey suggested that the Bill should stand over until next meeting of the General Synod. Although classed as a private Bill, it was one which affected the whole colony in a greater or lesser degree. Mr Saunders moved that it be remitted back to the Committee to take additional evidence which, after discussion and division, was agreed to. Ten notices were given of intention to introduce Harbour Board Endowment Bills.

In replying to questions, Government stated that it was inten led to bring down the Public Works statement next week. Police and Armed Constabulary uniforms were manufactured out of colonial-made cloth, by tender for £3 12s 6d. Justices of the Peace should be appointed at Charleston and the Lyell. A Bill was in preparation for dealing with native reserves generally, in .which reserves at Greymouth would be considered. The Timaru Mechanics Institute Act 1867 Amendment Bill passed through all its stages. PENSION BILL. Mr Shrimski, in moving the second reading of the Pensions Bill, said he had no wish to deprive anyone of what was justly due, but recent revelations showed the necessity for exercising control to prevent abuse. The Bill was not proposed to be retrospective, but to prevent in future such scandals as had occurred in the past. Mr Hall objected to the details of the Bill, and its interfering with rights which had occurred under statute. It would be a breach of faith to pass this Bill. Mr Ballance agreed in condemning anything in the nature of repudiation, but contended that the Bill did not contemplate anything of the kind. All that was asked was that, before a pension was granted, Parliament should be informed of the basis on which the pension was computed. This could not prejudice the jnst or legal rights of anyone. Mr Mclean thought a more comprehensive measure would be found necessary when the Public Accounts Committee reported on the subject. The present Bill was defective in many respects. Mr Collins did not agree with Mr Ballance’s interpretation Committee Mr Sheehan supported the Bill, as it was right Parliament should know the reasons of a pension being granted before it was so granted. He condemned the pensions system altogether. Mr Kelly and Mr Shepherd supported the principle of the Bill. Mr Saunders thought the law should be so distinct on the subject that any person entitled to a pension should be able to get it as a matter of right without asking a favour of either House or of Government. He was, however, altogether opposed to pensions. Mr Brown regretted that when pensions rights were voted in 1872 the claims had not all been bought out. It would have been the cheapest method of procedure. Mr Pulton supported the Bill. Mr Shrimski replied, and the Bill was read a second time. GOLD DUTY ABOLITION. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Gold Duty Abolition Bill, urging that the time had arrived for giving some relief to the mining population, and relieving them from a special tax, which pressed heavily upon them. A number of members spoke in support, after which Mr Bolleston said he would not oppose the second reading of the Bill, but he was not at all sure that removing the duty would really benefit the miners. He was willing to allow the various gold producing districts to settle for themselves whether they would impose the doty or abandon it. Since he became Minister of Mines he had not been able to devote ns mnch time or attention as he would have liked to the department, but after the session Government would make arrangements for the department being placed under the charge of a Minister not so fully occupied with other matters ns he was. The Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Gold Fields Committee.