PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 154, 11 June 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Per Press Association.] Legislative Council. Tuesday, June 10. Questions. In r.?ply to Mr. Waterhouse, Mr. Oliver said 300 forms of surrender had been printed at Lyttelton Gaol for the Government Insurance two years ago, but they were not the A.M.P. forms. The printing was ordered by Mr. Thorne, with whom litigation was now pending, and therefore he would not be more explicit.-—ln reply to Sir G. Whitmore Mr. Oliver said it had been found impossible to prepare a return showing all expenditure from loan in the different counties. Notices. Mr. Wilson gave notice to amend the Bankruptcy Act, so that all bankrupts whose debts were under £2OO might be dealt with summarily.—Mr. Waterhouse brought in a bill to amend the law relating to the guardianship and custody of children, which was read a first time. Major Ropata—Te Kooti. Sir G. Whitmore moved for all the papers connected with the cases of Major Ropata and To Kooti, strongly condemning the action taken in reducing Ropata’s pension.—Mr. Oliver defended the action of the Government. —Mr. Waterhouse, Colonel Brett, and Captain Fraser condemned it, and hoped Ropata would. be restored to his former position.—The motion was carried. More sessional committees were appointed. New Bills. Mr. Hart’s Criminal Code Bill, and Mr. Oliver’s Land Transfer Regulation Bill, were read a first time. Petitions Committee. The debate on the appointment of the Petitions Committee was concluded.—Mr. McLean said there were evils connected with the present system of dealing with petitions. —Mr. Wilson opposed the appointment of a Petitions Committee, which he thought was an unmitigated evil, and considered the presentation of the same petitions over and over again should be discouraged.—Mr. Scotland and Mr. Oliver defended the present system, and Mr. Waterhouse refused to serve on the committee. The Council rose at 4.50.

House of Representatives. Tuesday, June 10. The House met at 2.30. Mr. Richardson was introduced by Messrs. Macandrew and C. J. Johnston, and took the oath and his seat. Sir George Grey gave notice of motion for the abolition of the postage rate on newspapers, and a bill to regulate the admission of persons to the practice of the law.—Mr. Seddon gave notice of the introduction of a Gold Duties Abolition Bill.—Sir George Grey gave notice that he would move on Friday “ That this House has no confidence in the Government, either in its administration or in its general conduct of affairs.” Replying to Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Bryce said the restriction hitherto placed on the alienation of lands vested in the natives, and specified in the Gazette of May last, had been done at the request and in the interest of the owners, with the exception of one case, recommended by the West Coast Commission, Sir William Fox.—Replying to Mr. Dargaville, Mr. Mitchelson said the Government would shortly be in a position to make a formal recommendation to the House as to the route of the North Island Main Trunk Line. He hoped to make his Public Works Statement in a fortnight, and the report and maps would be attached to it, if not previously published.—Replying to Mr. Hutchison, Major Atkinson said the Government did not consider a penalty of £5OO had been incurred by the Bank of New Zealand neglecting within the statutory time to send in quarterly returns of assets and liabilities to the Government, as they did not consider the bank authorities had contravened the provisions of the Act. The detailed reports of the branches had been sent in in time, and it was a question whose duty it was to prepare the general abstract. New Bills. The following bills were introduced and read a first time: —Land Act, 1877, Amendment (Rolleston); Married Women’s Property, Alienation of Land, Local Courts, Bankruptcy Act Amendment, Supreme Court Registrar and Taranaki Empowering (Conolly); Auckland Harbor Board Timber Floating (Mitchelson); Otago Harbor Board Empowering Act, 1875, Amendment of the Regulation of Elections Act, 1881, Amendment of the Representation Act, 1881, Amendment of the Parliamentary Electors Act (Dick); Pension (Shrimski) ; to amend the Anatomy Act, 1875 (Fulton); to amend the Auckland College and Grammar School Act, 1877 (Dargaville). Leave of absence for one week was granted to Mr. Wynn-Williams, on the motion of Mr. Wakefield.

On the motion for the appointment of a Select Committee to consider bills that may be introduced affecting land, Mr. Seddon objected, in view of the adverse motion that had been given notice of. He called on the Government to state what course thay proposed to pursue in the circumstances. Major Atkinson said that as the amendment on the Address-in-Reply had not been tabled by a recognised leader, the Government did not think it would be right to delay the business until that motion had been disposed of. If a recognised leader of the Opposition asked for the delay the Government would be prepared to acquiesce. Sir George Grey objected to the business going on, and suggested a postponement of the debate until the amendment had been disposed of. Major Atkinson said the Government at once recognised Sir George Grey as the leader of the Opposition and willingly accepted the proposal for postponement, which was agreed to. It was even agreed that the motion for the Address-in-Reply should be taken up at 7.30.

Several motions by Mr. Hutchison for returns were postponed. The House adjourn id at 3.50. EVENING SITTING. Tiie Address-in-Reply.—An Amendment of No Confidence. On the House resuming at 7.30 Mr. Newman moved the Address-in-Reply. He was glad that the Governor, who had seen so much of the world, could speak so well of this colony, which is now suffering such extraordinary depression through the fallen price of the main products. He saw little hope of any increase in the price of either wheat or wool, and thought that people should turn their attention to other productions and manufactures, so as to make our exports exceed the imports. He approved of perpetual lease tenure of lands, as calculated to promote settlement, and also of the Government proposals regarding Native lands. He praised the conduct of Major Atkinson and Mr. Whitaker at the Australian Conference, and urged that federation of the colonies is the first step in the direction of the federation of the whole Empire. He regretted that it was not proposed to extend the franchise to women, at least those on the burgess rolls as a beginning. Mr. M. W. Green seconded the motion, speaking in general terms of praise of the policy enunciated in the Speech, and warmly commending the land policy proposed, also urgent encouragement of local industries. Generally he approved of federation and of annexation, if with the consent of the native inhabitants. He reserved full right to vote as he liked on details of all Bills brought

Mr. Steward moved an amendment of no confidence in the Government. He accused Ministry of undue clinging to office, even though unable to carry out their measures—they were like a grub which, when it lost a limit, immediately replaced it by a smaller one. The speech was more remarkable for its omissions, than for anything it contained. There was nothing about the local Government, nothing about Charitable Institutions, nothing about National Insurance, nothing about Reform of Legislative Council, and yet these and other things had all been urged by the Government one time or other as requisites. The Government did not possess, I and did not deserve to possess the confidence |

either, of the House of the Colony, owing to its variation and bad administration. For himself he was, on this occasion, only acting as the executive of his party. He dia not de' sire to put any particular person in office, or aim at the Premiership himself, ail he wanted was to force a dissolution as soon as ever the necessary amendments could be made in the electorate laws, and a few matters of urgency be attended to. Mr. Richardson seconded the amendment, blaming the Government for neglect of important subjects, extravagance, and bad administration. He said he would never forget the injustice done to Nelson by the Representation Act On Mr. McAndrew’s motion the debate was adjourned till to-day.