PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2907, 20 July 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, July 18. The Council|met at 2.30 p.m. ‘ ' 1 ABHBUKTON COUNTY COUNCIL EMPOWEEING BILL. 1 0n the motion of Captain Baillie Standing Order No, 20 was suspended, to allow the Ashburton County Council Empowering Bill to be proceeded with. VAGRANTS BILL. The Council agreed to the amende monts made bv the other House ;in the Vagrants Bill. NEW BILLS. The following Statute Provision Bills were read a first time;—Explosive Goods Bill, Imbecile Immigrants Bill, and Prisons Bill. , DOGS EEGIBTEATION BILL. The remainder of the sitting was in Committee on the Dog Registration Bill, which was reported with amendments;, and the Council rose at 3.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES'. .. The House met at 2.30 p.mi, NOTICE OE MOTION. ' Mr Moss gave notice of motion in favor of the re-batablishment of local Legislature throughout the colony. ; MEDDLE ISLAND NATIVE CLAIMS. | The report of the Native Affairs Committee waa read to the effect that Judge Smith should be summoned-to attend and give evidence on the petition of Taiaroa and Tainui on the Middle Island native claims. _ • : Sir George Grey moved that it be, agreed to. The Hon. Mr Bryce reviewed what had been done by the Commission appointed to enquire into the claims. The Commission had been most unduly prolonged, and one of the Commissioners had actually drawn £IOOO for personal expenses. He (Mr Bryce) had refused to authorise any expenditure for this Commission beyond the £2OOO voted by the Housed blit still the Commissioners had gone, on incurring expenses until £3OOO had been spent. If allowed it would have gone on without limit. Only an interim / report'' had ever been obtained' from it. The difference between.the £2OOO and £3OOO was paid while he was out of office, or he would have reused to sign the vouchers. The whole proceedings of the Commission were one-sided. The enquiry of 1868 Was much fairer, and that should have been regarded as final. Both the Commissioners had been suggested by Mr Taiaroa himself. |A great mass of useless evidence had been taken, and this was now before the Native Affairs Committee. All that Judge Smith could say was already before the Committee, and bringing him down was quite unnecessary. ; After a long debate, the original motion, for the Report to lie on the table was carried; the amendment to authorise the payment of expenses, D GlZlyf - v-ckl “T,"' SECURITIES ACT. The Chattels Securities Act Amendment Bill was read a second time on the motion of Mr Feld wick. RELIGIOUS AND (.OTHER TRUSTS BILL. The debate on the second reading of the Religious, Charitable and Educational Trusts Corporation Bill, was adjourned till August 10. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Moss moved the second reading of the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill. He said- the Bill provided for an extension of time for which a Borough could make A cbhtract. It would be a useful measure for small Boroughs. After a long discussion, the House divided for the second reading—Ayes, 43 ; noes. 34. i The Bill was then read a second time. .CONSTITUTION act AMENDMENT BILL. The adjourned debate on this Bill was resumed by the Hon Mr Rolleston, who said the Bill was one of the most extraordinary he had ever seen. He could not imagine that the House would spend its time over such a measure. He moved that the Bill be read that day six months,; n Colonel Trimble would oppose the Bill. It was the moat tyrannical measure ever put before an Assembly of a free country. ’ It would give the same power to the Legislative Council to alter the Constitution of the country as was possessed by the body representing the people. As a Liberal, he protested against this most illiberal, treasure. He would support the amendment that the BUI be read that day six months. Sir John Hall agreed that the people of a free country should have power to alter their - Constitution in accordance with altered circumstances, but contended that this colony already had this power. He was in favor of making the Legislative Council elective, and was sorry the Government had not seen fit to bring in a measure to effect this. He did not'see the necessity for passing this Bill, which practically abolished a second Chamber. The most important part of the Constitution of the colony was not in the Constitution Act, but in the Statutes of the colony. The Bill practically abolished the representatives of the Crown as a branch of the Legislature, There was not the least chance of the Bill passing. This Bill was the same as that of Victoria, but the circumstances here were entirely different. There was no necessity for a radical measure like this, to make necessary alterations in ’ bur Constitution. ' The history of the colony did not point to a necessity for this Bill. It was a mischievous thing to be always tinkering with the Constitution. It was a step to the abolition of the Governor and the Legislative Council; a step to an elective governorship and the severance, from the Mother Country. He Would oppose the Bill. Mr Kelly thought the constitution of the Legislative Council ought to be altered. This Bill did not provide for that. He did not think the time- had arrived to make groat alterations in the Constitution of the colony. He could not assent to the second reading of the Bill. The Hon Mr Bryce said if the leader of the Opposition (Mr Montgomery 1 ) did not propose to support the Bill, ho ought to have seconded Mr Rolleston’s amendment. There was a duty devolving on the leader df the Opposition in this matter. The Government were prepared to stake their existence in opposition to this Bill. The Legislative Council was at present practically elected by the House of Representatives. The Bill was subservient of the Constitution.

Mr Kelly opposed the Bill, and said j the waste-paper basket was its proper place. Mr M. W. Green was surprised at the consternation this Bill had caused. With a slight amendment ho approved of the Bill. It simply provided for the will of the people being carried out. If the Council treated a Bill passed by this House with the discourtesy they had shown yesterday in throwing out the Eight II burs Bill, it was time to make Bomeebrmge. - The Speaker called the hon, member to-order. He could not .refer,: to the. Council in such terras.

Mr Green withdrew the expression. He would like to see tho Bill so amended ;as . to; require the House of Representatives to pass ip measure two consecutive sessions before putting it to the popular vote. It would then prevent all chance of a deadlock. Mr Green spoke up to the time of adjourn■mont.

On resuming, Mr Turnbull moved the adjournment of the debate, saying this Bill was a very open question on the Opposition side of the House.,

Sir G. Grey said he occupied such a position that no party had any right to dictate hjs course of conduct.

The Hon. Major Atkinson said he would not consent to this. The leader.; of the Opposition, the member for Akaroa, could have indicated r the position of the Opposition : on ■ this question, but he had not chosen to do so. The 1 Government would dispose of no business, public or private, till this was disposed of., He. held Mr Montgomery' guilty 'of a breach’ of 5 faith .in the understanding cbm’e to with him las to the conduct of business by his attitude on this occasion. He seemed to treat this Bill ao a huge joke. The Government looked , on it as a serious question, and would hot consent to any adjournment of the debate.. Mr Montgomery said he would be very sorry to see any ; Opposition drilled to such a state that a word from anyone would settle a question How could the Government know he wished to embarrass them P He totally denied it. The Government had allowed the no-confidence question to slide. He. challenged the Hon Major Atkinson ,to prove any breach of faith; Sir George Grey was able to bring in Bill after Bill, apd carry them despite the Government. He had a perfect right to do so, and the idea of anyone stopping him was aboard. j If he himself had laughed how could he, or anyone else help laughingwhen he saw the consternation existing on the Government Benches. Ho thought the Bill deserved full consideration and discussion, but who could help laughing at the ridiculous attitude of the Government. He should vote for the adjournment and speak on the Bill afterwards. . I Mr Mr W. Green' said that lie had entered, the House with the, earnest intention of supporting the Ministry, bpt within the last few days he had arrived -at the conclusion that he could do so no longer.. The Hou Mr Bryce objected to constantly hearing of Mr Green’s conscience. It was trotted out on every occasion. The Bill involved the most important constitution question raised for years, and no other business should go. on until it was settled. ‘

Mr Moss supported the adjournment. . ;3S4r, ;Seddon said virhen this most important question was last brought up it was the . Hon Mr Rolleston himself who moved the adjournment. Why did not • the : Government then take up their present position ? They hod ho right now to object to the Doatnonflipent which was asked, to allow other business to proceed,., They would not stand or fall on their own measures, although they would on a Bill like this introduced by an Opposition member. He challenged them to stand or fall on the Native Reserves Bill for instance. .

Colonel Trimble said the time had come for checking the factious pblicy of the Opposition, and compelling them to take a decided stand on great measures. The leadership of the Opposition should 1 be put to,tender., ,r Mr Joyce thought the present debate should not he taken as a test of strength. He asked the Government to try their strength on one of their own measures. .After„,,a, wrangling, discussion, .the House then divided with the following result—For the adjournment, 40,; against, 44. ■ Mr ... Montgomery, expressed... tpe .opinion that,. the . Legislative Council should be ,! elected ,by ! the same constituents,and on the same qualification .as members of the Lower House, but elected only for. five years. If there was then a disagreement he thought the two should meet, and if the two were then unable to agree the < Government should ■be enabled to dissolve both Chambers. After Sir George Grey had replied the House adjourned at 1,5 a.m. ,