PARLIAMENT.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1062, 20 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, July 18. The House met at 2.30 p.m. MAINTENANCE OP HOSPITALS. Mr Sutton moved, That in the opinion of this House it is necessary that permanent provision be made for the erection and maintenance of Hospitals, that provision be made for the election of Local Boards of Governors, who shall have the entire control of the hospital and hospital buildings, and shall bo empowered to invest any funds which may be placed at their disposal for the benefit of their local trust; that the Boards shall be entirely independent "of Government control, except as regards medical inspections ; that the necessary funds for either building pr maintenance be provided locally; that Government be requested to bring in a Bill this session in accordance with these resolutions. He said that Hawke’s Bay was quite prepared to accept the responsibility, if other larger and richer places would do the same. It was a most important question, and one requiring to be dealt with. Mr Fish agreed with the portion of the resolution as to these institutions being under popular control, but he did not at all agree that the whole cost of election and maintenance should be borne locally. Mr Barron moved the omission of all the words after “ hospital,” so as to insert the words, “ requiring that one million acres of land be set apart for the endowment of these institutions,” proposed in the BUI introduced in 1880 by Mr Stevens. Mr Sntton objected that this wonld 1.-ave the question of local control unsettled. Mr Turnbull supported the amend-' raent. Mr Rolleston altogether objected to a land endowment. It would be rmJro better to vote a fixed sum annually from the land or general revenue. He could not consent to allow a large block of land to be removed from the control of the Government. • Mr FitzGerald opposed both resolulutions and amendment, but strongly urged the necessity for a uniform and better system of administration. Mr Macandrew supported the amendment, and Colonel Trimble opposed both resolution and amendment. Mr Pyke opposed both, but insisted ■ on some general system of uniform application being necessary, if the Slate was to interfere at all.. Instead of giving farther endowments of any kind he would like to see all endowments resumed by the Slate. Mr Dick could not agree to resume all endowments. Some were very well managed. He could not support the amendment, but. agreed that these institutions should be locally administered. He had to some extent sympathy with the resolution, but still could not support it. Mr H. Thomson admitted that in Christchurch one-half of the people receiving charitable aid were not-really entitled to it. He hoped both the motion and amendment wonld be withdrawn.

House adjourned for dinner'. EVENING SITTING. ELECTION PETITIONS Mr Ivess moved the of the Election Petitions ment Bill. Mr Dick did not oppose the reading, but Government should have been consulted about clause 4, making the county responsible for the laches at the returning officers. Messrs Harris and Sheehan supported the Bill, which was read a second time. CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BILL. Sir George Grey moved . the second reading of the-Constitution-Act Amendment Repeal Bill. As. the subject had been fully discussed on the motion for the introduction, he would not make any remarks at this stage.- ; -' > ’ Major Atkinson failed altogether to see the object of the Bill, . It simply proposed to repeal an. Imperial Act, which enabled that Assembly to amend the Constitution Acts in certain respects. The House had no power to pass such a Bill, and its solo object was to decrease not increase the powers of the Assembly. Colonel Trimble thought-Sir George Grey was trifling with the House, and moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr Shepherd had voted for leave to introduce the Bill, bat conld not support the Bill itself. Clearly the House had no power to pass such a Bill. Sir George Grey* speaking to the amendment, said that the question was one of the most important ever brought before the House. He maintained that the House had fall power to send such a Bill Home to the Imperial Government for its assent. The Bill was to increase, not limit the powers of the Assembly. He claimed for the Assembly the power to pass a Bill to repeal any Imperial Act injurious to the peace, order, and good government of New Zealand, and send it Home for assent. Major Atkinson quoted authorities to - show that there was no power to pass such a measure as the present one. Mr Tole moved the adjournment of the debate. Sir G. Grey then combatted Major Atkinson’s interpretation of the authorities quoted. Mr Moss supported the Bui, as, if passed, it would refer the question of the powers of this Legislature to the Imperial Government. Mr Connolly argued at length against the possession of the powers claimed by Sir G. Grey for this Legislature. To pass this Bill would make us the laughing stock of England. We might as well pass one to depose the Queen. The motion for adjournment was,_ negatived on the voices. The House divided on the question that the Bill bo now read a second time; Ayes, 26; noes, 49. Bilk ordered to be read that day six months.

COMPULSORY VACCINATION ABOLITION BILL. Mr Dodson, in a long speech, moved the second reading of the Compulsory Vaccination Abolition Bill, which Mr M. W. Green strongly supported. The bill was thrown out by 43 to 8. The Religions, Charitable and Educational Trusts Board Bill (Mr Dargaville) was read a second time, and at 12.40 a.m. the House rose. Thursday, July 19. The House met at 2.30 p.m. • - ' NEW BILLS. The following new Bills were introduced and read a first time : Native Lands Act Amendment (Grey), Kawhia Township Sale Bill. PACIFIC ANNEXATION. Major Atkinson moved, “ That the House agree with the report of the Committee on Pacific annexation. Mr Montgomery disagreed with the report. He did not think it at all desirable, either in onr own or the native interests, to annex the New Hebrides. - .It would be.a bad bargain. He objected to a blind guarantee of expense which /might: amount to millions. [We had had enough to do to manage - onr own.affairs. . Mr Holmes moved ns an amendment, the addition of words to prevent the Colony being committed to bear any expense of the annexation.” . " Mr Macandrew approved of annexation, and Mr Moss opposed it. Debate interrupted by the 5.30 ad- , jonrnment. EVENING SITTING. . The debate was resumed by-Mr J. Buchanan, who opposed both motion and amendment. , Sir George Grey said that the colonies for the first'time had awoke to ..national life and joint action, and they shonld not damp the movement, bnt r tliey stonld not pledge themselves to any pecuniary liability; . The debate was adjourned.-: COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. Major Atkinson moved that* the House go into Committee of Supply. Mr Lcvestam moved an amendment, that the central route of the Main Trunk Middle Island Railway should be proceeded with. After discussion this was negatived on the voices, and the House went into Committee on the estimates for Land and Mines Department. The following votes were passed after considerable discussion, but without alteration: —Class 10, mines, £18,883; class 13, Crown Lands Department, £21,444; Grown Lands, miscellaneous, - £13,407; ; coalfields, £2OO ; Survey Department, £111,729 ; Minister of Mines Department, £10,500. The House rose at 1 20..