PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2595, 15 July 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, July 14. TIMARU MECHANICS’ INSTITUE. Timaru Mechanics’ Institute Act, 1877, Amendment Bill was read a second time and agreed to. CAPTAIN HUME’S REPORT. Mr Jones moved that there be laid before the House any correspondence, or the report, confidential or otherwise, which may have passed between Government and the Inspector of Prisons in reference to the gaols of the colony or officers thereof, and which has not yet been laid on the table. Mr Dick said it was scarcely fair to ask that a confidential report should be produced. If that principle were to be affirmed, officers would be chary about making such reports, and Government equally chary about asking for such reports, and in that way the general efficiency of the service would be impaired. Sir George Grey demurred to the immunity proposed to be given to this class of reports. If men’s characters were assailed, and they were not to be allowed to answer, or even know of such reflections, great injustice and gross abuse might be perpetrated. Mr Andrews the motion, and in doing so criticised adversely the proposition of the Prison Inspector, and concurred in the opinion that the confidential communication of such a man demanded to be carefully watched. Mr Leveatam spoke in support of the motion. The Inspector was paid a high salary, and the colony ought to have the advantage of this man’s experience. Moreover, his report, as published, was of a nature to create suspicion respecting the wisdom of his recommendation, and as such they should not be sheltered on the plea of secrecy. Again his proposal to withhold information from the press still further strengthened the suspicions alluded to.

Mr Hall did not understand that the communication contained charges against anyone, but still it might contain information which it would not be prudent to publish. Unless the principle of confidential communications was recognised, then important information valuable to the public service, would be sure to be withheld. Mr Hutchison said what was known about this inspector, whose report showed he was destitute of all knowledge of human nature, was calculated to excite grave suspicions respecting his confidential communication.

Mr Whitaker said that apart from the fitness or otherwise of the Inspector, he thought it was of the utmost importance that Government should have the right to say whether or not certain communications were or were not confidential. In native matters the principle was recognised, and very properly, as the contrary might involve the colony in serious trouble. He would vote as an amendment the addition “ provided such publication be not, in the opinion of the Government, detrimental to the public interest.” Mr Pyke challenged Government to say whether this report was so vile that it could not be produced. On no other grounds could he interpret this desire for reticence on the part of Government. Mr Turnbull criticised the published report of the Inspector, and gave it as his opinion that he was a very weakminded man indeed. He agreed that Government should protect reports under certain circumstances. He thought it very necessary they should hear more about this man’s report. He would move that the word “ confidential ” be struck out, leaving all reports and papers to be produced for inspection. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. IICENSINQ BIIiL. The House went into Committee on the Licensing Bill. Clause 106—Mr Pyke moved, “ That the fee of £SO be reduced to £25, where the population of the borough does not exceed 1000.”

The House divided—Ayes, 21; Noes, 36. Mr Pyke moved “ that the fee be reduced from £4O to £3O.” —Negatived. Mr George moved “ that the fee outside a borough be any sum not exceeding £25.” —N egatived. Mr Pyke moved “ that the amendment be £2O instead of £25.”

The question was put that the sum as printed stand. —Ayes, 37; Noes, 19. Messrs Pyke, Weston, Levestam, and Wallis denounced the Bill as having been reduced to a perfect chaos, through the indiscretion of the temperance section of the House, and intimated their detemination to oppose its passing the third reading

Mr Reeves concurred. He said he had been from his boyhood a constant advocate of temperance, but denounced

the shape to which the Bill had been reduced. All that they heard in the lobbies was that the Bill was a piece of confounded rot.

Mr Speight thought that the rest of the Bill should be passed as it stood, and that its opponents should test their strength on the third reading. Mr Andrews moved that progress be reported. He said it was quite evident nothing would be done that night. He blamed Government for not bringing it in in the afternoon instead of leaving it until that time of night, when the House was not in a fit state to deal with a matter of that kind.

Mr Hall opposed reporting progress in consequence of the threats used by the opponents of the Bill. He was willing to keep them to their word, and sit till 4 in the morning: _ Sir William Fox hoped that after the disgraceful scenes of the last two nights members would support his motion to abolish Bellamy’s when he next brought it forward.

Dr Wallis said it was a private member’s night, and the Licensing Bill had come on unexpectedly after many members had left. He denied that any members present were not in a condition to temperately and fairly consider the Bill. Progress should be reported. Mr Weston indignantly repudiated the aspersions cast on the members by Sir William Fox. The Bill had become a scandal and should be thrown out. He, though a young member, would not submit to such aspersions as those Sir William Fox had thrown on the House.

Mr Pyke also protested against the language used. Mr Reeves strongly condemned Sir William Fox’s intemperate remarks, and the Premier’s evident loss of temper. Sir William Fox’s remarks were a dis grace to the House, and the Premier should be ashamed of himself.

The motion for reporting progress was lost on a division of 33 to 18, Mr Sheehan said there had been scandalous scenes enacted. Had he as Chairman of Committees required to call one single member to order the Premier was evidently the person. Mr Pyke said that the previous speaker had not put the worst aspect on what transpired that night. It was the Chairman who had been insulted, and it would go forth that he had allowed to pass unchallenged scandalous scenes. The Premier ought to be treated as such conduct merited.

THIS DAY. [Bt Tblegbaph.j THB GBOCBBB VICTOBIOtTS. The debate on the Licensing Bill continued last night. The bottle license, of £4O, was reinserted by division of 42 to 7. Mr Oliver moved that the wine license fee be increased from £1 to £lO.

Mr Bastings opposed this license altogether. Dr Wallis strongly supported it. After considerable discussion the motion for increasing the fee was lost by 28 to 20. Progress was then reported, and the House rose at 2 o’clock.