PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 165, 24 June 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Per Press Association.] House of Representatives. THE GUM FIELDS. THE HONORARIUM. TOT? 3A V. JARRAII WOOD. REFUSING TO FLOG A PRISONER. JIB. LOCKE SWORN IN. Monday, June 23. The House met at 11 o’clock. Mr. Connolly said, in reply to Mr. Feldwick, that no warder had ever been dismissed from the Auckland prison service for refusal to Hog a prisoner. Warders were required to administer such punishments; but as to what would be done in the event of their refusal he was not prepared to say. Mr. Moss, on a motion for adjournment, protested against warders being compelled to do this work. If it was necessary to administer such chastisement, he would suggest that the Judge, Magistrate, or even the Minister of Justice, was the proper person to do it. It was monstrous to say that a warder should chastise a prisoner in this way, and afterwards be entrusted with the charge of him. Mr. Feldwick and Mr. Daniels denounced the infliction of such punishment. Mr. Connolly said this was not a question as to whether or not such punishments should be inflicted. The only question was as to who should inflict it. The punishment was invariably administered by warders. The alternative proposition was as to the propriety of appointing a public flageolator, and he confessed that a proposition of that kind had never entered into his head. The punishment was only inflicted in the case of brutal and disgusting offences, and he did not see his way to have it abolished altogether. Sir George Grey inveighed against the injustice done to warders in this manner. It appeared to him the height of injustice. It was only reasonable to ask that a person should be got upon whom this as well as other duties might devolve. Me. Rolleston denounced a statement made by Sir George Grey that Mr. Connolly was mainly responsible for the measures under which this punishment was provided for. Mr. Rolleston explained that on enquiry he found that no proclamation had been issued in the name of Sir George Grey, as Superintendent of Auckland, re the gum-fields lease. He found, however, that all the correspondence on the subject had passed through the office of the Superintendent. In reply to a question, Mr. Rolleston said he would withdraw the statement that these leases were provided for by Sir George Grey, as Superintendent of Auckland. Still he held to the fact that they were so provided for by an officer under his immediate control.

On the motion of Sir George Grey, the debate was adjourned. Mr. Locke, (East Coast), was introduced by Colonel Trimble and Dr. Newman, sworn in, and took his seat. The House resumed at 2.30. Mr. Seddon moved that certain alterations should be made in the regulations of the Kumara Sledge Channel. He complained that a variety of hardships and inconveniences were imposed upon miners who used the channel. Mr. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Munro spoke in support of the motion. Mr. Rolleston said that the regulations could not be altered, but promised that the hardships and complaints would, as far as possible, be remedied. Motion negatived. Sir George Grey resumed the adjourned debate on the question of the gum field leases. He had been charged by Government with having, while acting as Superintendent of Auckland, been a party to the granting of a lease over a large area of gumfields country. He had that day received from Auckland the papers which showed that he had not, as had been alleged, been a party to the transaction. The whole negotiation took place between the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Governor in Council. These documents showed that he had been unjustly blamed by Ministers. He had that day received a letter signed by sixteen diggers asking him to do all in his power to prevent the issue of large leases in these fields. He complained of the conduct of the Minister of Public Works, in threatening that in consequence of the action taken in this, and other matters against the Government, that he would have his revenge, by unseating at least three members who had voted with him. As a matter of fact, Mr. Mitchelson took his seat upon the Land Board, the very body who had to judge as to the illegality of the transaction on his part. Such conduct was most reprehensible. It was notorious that over and over again persons of this sort, who had wrongfully acquired wealth, had found their way on to these benches. Mr. Dargaville also complained of unfair dealing in the administration of these gumfields on the part of these Land Boards of Auckland.

Mr. Rolleston said that when the large leases were provided for, the whole administration of the waste lands of Auckland was vested in the Superintendent and the Waste Lands Commissioner. It did not proceed from the Central Government and was purely the result of consort between the Superintendent and the Commissioner. In the circumstances it was absurd to say that this was not the action of the Superintendent. The motion for production of papers connected with the gumfields was agreed to. The House then went into Committee of Supply. The resolution for £13,000 out of the Consolidated Revenue as honorarium was put. Mr. Holmes moved that the amount be reduced to £21,000. He argued that it would be unfair to vote the full amount of honorarium, seeing that the session had not exceeded eleven sitting days. The average duration of a session was three months, and the proposed reduction was only fair under the circumstances.

Mr. Peacock seconded and supported the amendment. He argued that the honorarium should not be looked upon as payment for services, but simply as a fund for necessary outlay. They had not exceeded one-fourth of the normal period of an ordinary session. The amendment was negatived on the voices.

Mr. Hurst moved that the honorarium be reduced so as to make the amount £lOO. Mr. Seddon said that this propssal came from wealthy men. He had never known these men leave the surplus amount in the hands. of the Treasurer to give it to charitable institutions. It was a contract made with the members that they should be paid £2lO per session, and the full amount should be paid. He cautioned the supporters of the reduction that they would not catch five votes more by this sham proposal of theirs. Colonel Trimble spoke in support of the amendment. He was in favor of payment of members, but under the circumstances ho thought £lOO sufficient. The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. A long discussion took place on the relative merits of Australian and New Zealand timber for railway purposes. Air. McDonald produced samples of totara and jarrah, submerged for different periods, showing that the former was much more reliable. Mr. Hurst house said this was the case where timber was submerged, but not for railway sleepers. Australia took ten times as m ’.ch timber from us as we took from them. Tawhai said an unlimited supply of puriri was available in his district. Mr. Mitchelson promised to make enquiries and after further discussion the matter dropped. A motion by Mr. Turnbull, to have all orders in Council gazetted, was withdrawn after discussion. On the motion for going into committee of ways and moans, Mr. Munro, moved an amendment, calling for immediate action towards improving the harbors of Greymouth and Westport, so as to assist the dcvelopeinont of the coal trade. Considerable discussion took place. Major Atkinson recognised the colonial importance of the work, and said it would be prosecuted as fast as with the means at disposal. Mr. Hursthouse urged that Collingwood should also be included.

Ultimately the amendment was negatived on the voices. The debate on the honorarium was continued by Mr. Fish, who advocated payment of members to be fixed by statute. Ho deprecuted any reduction, and thought members had fully earned the full amount by turning out the Government. Mr. Peacock supported the reduction. Mr. Moss supported the full amount, and pointed out the danger of allowing only rich men in the House. Members were under various disadvantages, being unable to do business with the Government or take pay as Commissioners. Major Atkinson thought £l5O sufficient to cover all reasonable expenses, and that members should not be paid for their services. In proportion to the ordinary length of the session, £lOO should suffice this year. Sir George Grey supported the full amount, as he considered there was an implied contract that the honorarium should be £2lO. They should not shut poor men out of Parliament. Messrs. Seddon, O’Callaghan, and Harris supported the full amount. Mr. Stevens urged a reduction to £lOO. Mr. Swanson supported the reduction, but thought a special tax should be made to provide the honorarium. The motion for reduction was put and lost on division. Ayes, 25. Atkinson Locke Beetham Mitchelson Bryce Newman Buchanan, W. C, Peacock Cadman Pearson Dick Postlethwaite Driver Rolleston Fulton Shepherd Hobbs Stevens Holmes Swanson Hursthouse White, W. Johnston, W. Wilson Levistam Noes, 35. Bathgate Mackenzie, J. Bracken McKenzie, Cept. Brown, J. E. Montgomery Daniells Moss DeLautour Munro Dodson O’Callaghan Feldwick Petrie Fish Pyke Fitzgerald Seddon George Shaw Green, J. Sheehan Grey £ ward Harris Tawhai Hutchison Thompson, H. Joyce Thompson, J. W. Kelly Tmabull Larnach Watt Macandrew PAIRS. Ayes. Noes. Tole Tomoana Trimble Tairoa Richardson Ivcss Sutton McMillan Wynn Williams Duncan Mason Green, M. W. Hurst Morris Connolly Brown, J. C. Wakefield Pelliett In Committee on public revenues, the Bill was considered, and after considerable discussion on various points reported. In passing the third reading, Major Atkinson said it was intended to prorogue to-mor-row, and dissolve if possible on Wednesday, but it might be Saturday, as the polling places had to be fixed. The writs would name 22nd July as the day for the general election, so the nominations would probably take place about the 16th. The new Parliament would be called together on 7th August. With regard to appointments to the Legislative Council, they would make none unless they had to call someone there to represent the Government. As to the Agent-Generalship, the Government had the mail before last written to Sir Dillion Bell, expressing satisfaction at the way he performed his duties, and asking him to retain office for two years, from the Ist January next. No answer has yet been received. Mr. Fish, J. C. Brown, Seddon, and Grey, wished to bind Government to a more specific provision as to appointments, especially political ones, but Mr. Montgomery expressed himself satisfied. Major Atkinson said he fully recognised the right of any Government to remove the Agent-General. After a long discussion the Bill was passed, and the motion carried to have private and local bills brought up at their present stages next session. The House rose at 1.25.