PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2311, 13 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, Aug. 12. A Select Committee was appointed to enquire how the work performed by the staff of the Council can be best and most economically done. In moving for a report of the New Plymouth Harbor Board’s illegal expenditure, Mr "Waterhouse said it was high time Parliament provided a better audit, and that local bodies, acting in direct contravention of law, as to spending money, should be punished. HOUSE OF HE PEE SEN TAT I YE S. GAOL LXQUIKY. A report of the Eoyal Commission re the death of prisoner John Wilson at Invercargill was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, Ministers stated that a work on Polynesian mythology" was being printed in the Government printing ofiico. It was written by a missionary" named Wyatt Gill. The cost of printing was £l2O. Three hundred copies were printed, and a copy" would bo sent to each member, and 2UU copies would bo sold. A survey was being made of 40 miles of a lino of railway" across the South Island from Canterbury into Westland, with a view of discovering a more practicable route. Another survey" would be made by" way" of Whitcombe Pass. Government would make enquiries about a sum of T2OO which was promised by the late Government to George llarcourt, and another, of Grahamstown, for prospecting part of the Thames goldfields. Government had taken the opinion of the Crown law officers on the Deceased Wife’s Sister Marriage Bill, and when the Bill was before the House Government would be prepared to take action in accordance therewith. The salary of the Governor could not be interfered with during the incumbency" of the gentleman lately appointed, and it was not desirable that the time of the House should be taken up this session with the consideration of a Bill to reduce the salaries of future Governors. XHE CHATHAM ISLANDS. Eeplying to Mr Bowen, as to whether or not the property" tax is to be levied in the Chatham Islands, where the inhabitants arc not represented in the Legislature, and have received no benefit from the public works expenditure, Mr Hall said if they admitted au

exception in this instance they might just as well exempt a great many other parts of the colony which had not benefitted by the expenditure. He admitted, however, that the Chathams wore entitled to some consideration on the part of Government, as they were not at present included in any electoral district, but they proposed joining them to the electoral district of the member for Akaroa. RACIXfr BILL. On the motion of Air Levin that the House go into Committee on the Wellington Facing Club Bill, Sir William Fox moved that the House go into Committee on the Bill that day six months. He said that the member in charge ol the Bill had, in replying to him on the motion for the second reading, made out a rather strong case of inconsistency on his part in denouncing racecourse practices in general, when he was charged with having thirty years ago been a steward on a Wellington racecourse. Now that was the case; but horse-racing in those days was a very different thing from what it had now become. In those days it was in every respect a good old English sport, which excited an emulation, similar to that excited at a game of cricket or football. Tinyy had no betting nor any of the other evils attending modern turf pursuits. The motion for committal was carried by 28 to 17. DECEASE!' WIFE’S STSTEIt. Mr Moorhousc moved the third reading of the Deceased Wife’s Sister Marriage Bill. Mr Speight spoke against the passage of the Bill. He was more satisfied than ever that if this had not been an instance of the power behind the throne it would never have gone this length. It had been forced through to suit the peculiar circumstances of a few favored persons. They were asked by the Bill to legistrate *x>r persons who had broken the law. He woidd not allow the Bill to pass, and he called on those who thought with him on the subject to make such a representation to the Governor, or if necessary, the Queen, as would ensure the rejection of the Bill.

The House divided : Avcs, 32; Noes, 13.

The Bill was then read a third time and passed.

MEM BEKS’ EX I’EXSES.

The Members of Ccnoral Assembly Kxpensos Bill was considered in Committee.

Major Atkinson suggested that progress should bo reported as there was no chance of the Bill passing.

Mr Moss and Mr Turnbull considered the Bill should le gone on with.

Air Sodden said he was in the hands of the House. Government had refused to bring in a measure of this kind, and it was in view of that fact he had brought the measure down.

The motion for reporting progress was then put and lost on a division by 20 to 20.

In Committee Mr Shepherd moved that £2lO per annum be struck out, and the amount be Jixed at £lod.

Mr Bunny said this was well spent monc} r . The honorarium was spent among the people. Triennial Parliaments meant that a man had spent £IOO ou his election. Unless the} r had a full honorarium it would throw the representation into the hands of the rich ; and poor men like himself: could not afford to go into Parliament, lie hoped the Bill would be withdrawn, and a measure lixing the amount definitely at not less than £2lO would be brought up next session by ( toverument.

Col. Trimble thought the honorarium of £2lO was not too much.

Dr Wallis said their work was quite as onerous as that performed lay Ministers. Mr tieddon said the member for Waimca might be able to do with £lO5, as lie was a newspaper editor, who was doing his work all the time lie was here.

Mr Shepherd protested that the remark was a gross insult to him. Mr Soddon said lie would put las remark in a general way then. He would, however, insist upon the Dill going on. Mr Shepherd denied that his ordinaiy avocation was that of an editor. It was that of a sheep farmer. The member for Auckland City A Vest had given them a lecture on morals. That became him.

Dr Wallis : Do you prefer my profession ?

Air Shepherd said he did not. lie would press his motion to a division, and if it did not succeed, he would take other divisions, and occupy the whole night. A motion made that the Chairman leave the chair was put and carried on a division by 2d to 20. MUNICIPAL HILL. Air Hutchison moved that the amendment made in Committee on the Almiicipal Corporations Act Acmeudmeut Dill be agreed to. Air Dick hoped the I Sill as reported would not be accepted. Koine of the amendments were inconsistent, and others were incorrect. The Dill was so bungled that if passed as it stood, it would bo a disgrace to their Legislature. He moved that the Dill be recommitted. The proposal for recommittal was curried. The Dill was passed through Committee, reported with amendments, read a third time and passed, and the House adjourned at 2.30 a.m. THIS DAT. [Dv Tklkcraph.] The House met at 11 o’clock. The following Dills, passed through committee, were reported without amendment, read third time and passed —N.Z. University Reserve, Canterbury Divers Act Amendment, Dogs Degistralion, Drands and Draudiug, and High Schools Deserves.

The Fencing Dill was partly considered, and leave granted to sit again.