PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2626, 20 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Aug. 19. CAPTAIN bailey’s POSITTTN. On Mr Waterhouse’s motion, the Standing Orders Committee was directed to consider whether Captain Bailey is disqualified from sitting in the Council through taking forage allowance. THIRD READINGS. The Education Act 1877 Amendment Bill and the Fisheries Bill were read a third time. TIMARU HARBOR BILL, The second reading of the Timaru Harbor Board Endowment Bill was moved by Mr Wilson. Several Councillors spoke slrongly against the Bill, on the ground that the Timaru harbor is certain to fill with shingle as predicted by Sir J. Coode- and two Government engineers, and which is now happening. On Mr Whitaker’s motion the debate was adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

PRIVILEGE. Mr Pyko rose to a question of privilege. He wanted to know whether the Speaker had power to alter a notice of motion given by. a member. On one occasion, lie said, a notice of his had been suppressed altogether, Theu again at yesterday’s sitting lie gave notice to the effect that Parliament should he prorogued so as to allow .the Governor to visit the Western Pacific and members to recruit their wasted energies, bodily as well as mentally. He had called on the Speaker in his Chambers, and the Speaker had told him that he would not allow the motion to appear on the Order Paper ns given. He now complained of the manner in which it appeared. He was aware there was a precedent in the House of Commons for what he had done, hut he contended— The Speaker interrupted the hon. member, saying he fully understood the point at issue, and was prepared to meet it. The first motion to which Mr Pyke referred appeared to him to be wholly irregular, and intended as a burlesque, and as to the other he could look upon it as couched in improper terms, and brought the Governor’s name into question. It was for these reasons he had acted on both occasions as he had done.

Mr Pyke was about to speak when the Speaker said he had disposed of the question of privilege as stated, and be would hear no more on the subject. Mr Pyke still persisted in speaking. The Speaker—l have already informed the bon. member that the question has been disposed of, and 1 will hear nothing further on the subject. Mr Pyke—l claim my right to speak. The Speaker—Sit down. I have told you to sit down. Mr Pyke—Then am I to understand you refuse to allow me to address the House as a representative of the people. The Speaker : —I hare already told you to sit down, and I must appeal to

the House to support my authority and enforce obedience. The Sergeant-at-Arms will attend to receive instrue lions.

> Mr Pyke—But, sir, I insist upon my right to speak as a representative of the people. The Speaker—Keep silence sir. I will hoar no more. lam only waiting for a formal motion being made to deal with this matter.

Mr Pyke still persisted in addressing the House, when Mr Hall said it was his painful duty to move —“That the horl. gentleman, having vexatiously interrupted the orderly conduct of the business of the House, has been guilty of contempt of this House.” The speaker said that he would afford Mr Pyke an opportunity for tabling a motion to bring his conduct in this matter under the consideration of the House.

Mr Pyke gave notice he would move that day eight days—“ That it was ultra vires of the Speaker of that House to omit or mutilate any motion tabled for consideration of the House, unless the same be of an improper nature.” The Speaker—l would prefer that this should come on for consideration at an earlier date than this day eight days ; that it should come on on Monday. Mr Pyke—Very well, Monday. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

The Education Act Amendment Bill was received by message from the Legislative Council. On the question that it be read a first time the voices were given in the nega tive.

Mr Turnbull protested against the in justice of killing a measure of tiiis kind, without allowing its purpose to be made known, lie would ask leave to introduce a measure of the same kind, to allow Bible reading in schools, on the very first opportunity. Mr Hall complained of the unceremonious manner in which the Bill had been thrown out. He’ said they were bound to give the same consideration to a measure passed by the other Chamber which they expected that Chamber to give to any measure passed by them.

Mr Sh cehan said he believed there bad been a mistake, still it would only be prolonging the Bill’s existence for a very short time, as he knew it could not possibly pass. Mr Speight protested against the Bill being introduced, alleging that it would only he wasting the time of the House to put it on the Order Paper at all. Mr ' Kelly, although determinedly opposed to the principle of the Bill, thought it should receive some consideration as a message from the Upper House.

Mr Barron thought they were quite prepared to deal with the Bill and go to a division at once. In that case it would be wrong to waste valuable time. Mr Fulton gave notice be would move the first reading of the Bill on Tuesday.

NKW PLYMOUTH HARBOR WORKS. Mr Wright said his attention bad been directed to the magnitude of these works, by reading a report by Sir J. Coode recently published, after being two years in the olheial pigeonholes. The expenditure for plant and works, not forming part of the breakwater itself, amounted to the enormous sum of £70,000, whereas plant for similar works at Oamaru did not exceed £OOOO, and that at Timaru £9OOO. He had no desire to see the 25 per cent of the land fund taken away from Taranaki, but he considered it might be spent to hotter advantage than on this work. The tank he had undertaken was a most unpleasant one, still it was a duty they owed to the colony to put a stop to reckless and unproductive expenditure, whether it was by Government or any local body. He moved —“That the report be adopted and that Government be requested to bring in a Bill this session to give effect to the recommendation,” * Mr Kelly contended that the whole proceeding bore on the face of it, not only a want of inquiry, but also, to some extent, a predisposition to the result arrived at. It was only tlio other day’ that a large land endowment had been granted to Timaru, and lie asked why it was proposed to deal with New Plymouth in the exceptional manner proposed by the report. He argued upon the importance of maintaining good faith with the various parts of the colony, and yet the report proposed a direct breach of faith with an important part of the colony 7 .

Mr Hall said the motion was one of importance as forming a precedent. He thought no full and exhaustive enquiry sucli as would warrant them to take the serious step proposed, a step which would look to many like repudiation,had been made. He moved as an amend merit —“ That this House is of opinion that the Government shou'd at once bring in a Bill to appoint a Parliamentary Commission to enquire and report on the New Plymouth Harbor scheme ; (a) ns to its suitability and practicability ; (h) as to its financial position and prospects; (c) as to the fairness of rating equally, or otherwise, all land included in the present rating district ; the Commission to have full power to stop all expenditure on the present harbor works.”

Mr Fulton controverted the statement made by Mr Kelly, that he had been dealt with unfairly b}' the Committee. The Committee had gone about the enquiry wholly unprejudiced, and with no feeling but a sincere desire to see the public funds honestly and fairly disbursed. The proposal of the Premier was bad unless the precaution was taken at once to prevent the Harbor Board entering into contracts or doing any other thing calculated to commit the colony to the prosecution of the work. Mr Hall said that he had intended it to be understood that the works should be stopped at once pending the result of an enquiry. Sir George Grey counselled them to act in this matter with prudence and justice. On the faith of this work largo numbers of men with families had gone to the place and acquired legitimate interests in it. He believed that the area of rating had been made unfairly large, and that was an additional reason why the course suggested by the amendment should be followed. Sir William Fox considered the remarks of the previous speaker as fair and considerate, and he would be prepared to follow the suggestion made. Certainly no such body as the Taranaki Harbor Board could be further trusted. Speaking I'rera a lengthened experience in the neighborhood of country districts he knew that the feeling was against the execution of such works, and that the money would be better expended in opening up the interior of the country. Mr Ballance did not think (his report should end the matter ; further enquiry was demanded. He was not sure but I

that a harbor could be made at Hew Plymouth. Mr Eichardson considered the Committee had made out a good prima facie case for the recommendation they have made.

Mr Gisborne suggested that the Bill should provide that no further expenditure should take place until after the report of the Commission had been considered by Parliament. Mr Sheehan characterised the report as being one of (he most complete and exhaustive ever placed on that table, and no recommendation could be more warranted by the evidence. Mr Barron hoped that the recommendation of the Committee would bo agreed to, and that no Commission would be appointed. Mr Hall said he would agree to the proposal that no further expenditure should be incurred until the report of the Commission had been considered by Parliament. Mr Weston defended the Committee against any imputation of partiality, and Mr Montgomery spoke in support of the amendment by the Premier.

Mr Levestara would not consent to the proposed Commission, until he knew who would compose it.

Colonel Trimble blamed Parliament for having passed the Bill authorising the work in 1877, in the face of a remonstrance signed by 800 settlers, and now proposing to stop operations suddtnly, to the great detriment of the place.

Mr Seddon supported the appointment of a Commission, with absolute power to settle the whole question. Mr Lundon supported the Taranaki harbor scheme as a colonial work which should be carried out.

The original motion was then put and negatived.

The Premier’s amendment having become the substantive motion, Mr He Laulour moved the omission of the last paragraph, and the substitution of the words, “ The Bill to provide for the cessation of all expenditure until the report shall have been considered and acted upon by the House, except such expenditure as may be necessary to preserve the works from injury, and preserve tbe material belonging to the Board, such expenditure to bo administered by the Government and defrayed out of the funds belonging to the Board.”

Messrs Kelly and Seddon and Colonel Trimble protested against tin's alteration, and after some further discussion, Mr Hull’s motion, as amended by Mr Ue Lautour, was agreed to, and the House rose at 1.30 a.m.