PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2930, 16 August 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, August 15. VOLUNTEERS. In reply to Sir G. Whitmore, the Premier said the Council would be given an opportunity in a few days to discuss the Volunteer Commission’s Report. BILLS BEAD. The Customs Laws Consolidation Bill was read a third time, and the Public Works Bill, Industrial Schools Bills, and Bluff Harbor Foreshore Reclame* tion Bill a second time. The Law Practitioners Bill was passed through the Council, numerous amend* ments being made. The Premier said that next year he would bring in a separate Bill dealing with Law Societies. ADJOURNMENT. The Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. SECOND BEADING. On the motion of Mr Tawhai the Orakei Reserves Bill was read a second time. WELLINGTON CEMETEBIES. On the motion of Mr Levin, the re* port of the Joint Committee on Standing Orders on the Wellington Cemeteries Bill was agreed to. PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS. The question of the ventilation and improvement of the buildings was again raised by Mr Montgomery, who complained that, in consequence of the draughts, many members were sustaining serious damage to their health. The Speaker promised the matter would be further looked into. BANKEDPTCT BILL. The Bankruptcy Bill was introduced by the Hon Mr Dick and read a first time.

PBIBONS BILL, The Prisons Bill was reported withamendments. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE BILL. The Justices of the Peace Bill was recommitted for the purpose of enabling Sir J. Hall to introduce a clause empowering Justices of the Peace to hear cases of an immoral nature with closed doors. Mr Connolly objected to the clause as opposed to the spirit of jurisprudence, which provided that every accused person should have a fair and open trial. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m.

The House in Committee resumed the consideration of the Justices of the Peace Bill, and divided on the new clause proposed by Sir John Hall—Ayes, 24; Noes, 25. The Chairman gave bis casting vote in favor of the Ayes. Mr J. E. Brown proposed that the duly authorised representatives of the Press be excepted from the prohibition. Mr Macandrew said that that was the most objectionable part of the whole thing. It was the publication of these reports that created the evil. The Committee divided—Ayes, 50; Noes, 24. On the question that the clause as amended pass, the Committee divided —Ayes, 47; Noes, 29. Toe clause as amended was passed and the Bill reported.

BILLS PASSED. The Prisons Bill was read a third time and passed. On the motion of the Hon Mr Johnston, the Railways Construction and Land Act Amendment Bill was reported read a third time and passed. NOSTH ISLAND LOAN BILL. On the motion for the committal of the North Island Trunk Railway Loan Bill, Mr Montgomery asked if any arrangement had been made with the Natives re the survey of this line, and had the Natfro owners agreed to give land adjacent to the line, which would to some extent recoup the cost of the line ; also, when the survey was likely to be commenced, and if the loan was got when would the work commence. The Hon Mr Johnston said that this year Government only proposed asking for a sum to defray the expenses of the survey. Government was of opinion that il a large sum was set aside for the railway that the Native owners would in all probability make some concession in the shape of gifts of land. Mr Turnbull reviewed the loan proposals of the Government at consider, able length, condemning them. He asserted that the colony should not at present add further to its loan indebted* ness.

Mr J. W. Thomson also spoke against the borrowing policy. Mr Macandraw gave notice that in Committee he would move the insertion of a new clause affirming the principle that no money should be borrowed until the lines were approved of by Parliament, and that a certain quantity of land had been set aside by the natives through which the line would pass. The Hou Major Atkinson, m reply, defended the system of main trunk lines in contradistinction to branch linos to small centres. He argued that the latter would find no sympathy in that House. In reply to an objection raised he argued that the fact of the imports being largely in excess of the exports was evidence of material progress and prosperity, inasmuch as it proved there was a steady flow of wealth coming jnto the colony.

The motion for going into Committee was then put—Ayes, 47; Hoes, 23.

Aybs—47. Atkinson Moss Beotham Munro Brown J. E. o‘Callaghan Bryce Peacock Buchanan, W. 0. Petrie Connolly Postlethwaito Dargavill® Rolleston Dick Euthorford Dodson Shepherd Fergus Stevens Fitzgerald Sutter Hall Swanson Harris Thomson Hobbs Tole Hurst Trimble Johnston. 0. J. Watt Johnston, W. W. Whitaker (teller) Kelly Whyte, J. B. Leveatam Williams Levin (toller) Wilson, I. Mason Wilson, J. G. McMillan Wright Mitohelson Pilliott Morris. Nous—23 Barron Montgomery Brown, J. C Seaton Buchanan, J. Sheehan Cadman Shrimski Daniel Smith Duncan (teller) Steward Holmes Tawhiai Hursthouse Thomson, J. W. Hutchison Tomoana Joyce Turnbull (teller) Macandrew White, W. « McDonald,

On the question for leaving the chair, Mr Hutchison spoke in opposition to the loan. He charged the Bank of New Zealand with being a perfect incubus to the progress of the colony, and alleging that it was constantly plotting and scheming in connection with the affairs of the colony, this projected loan being another instance of that kind.

Messrs Shrimski, Joyce, Seddon and Turnbull spoke against the loan. The Bill was then committed by 44 to 25.

The Hon Major Atkinson said be would move in addition—“ That the sum of one million shall not be raised until the line has been surveyed and approved of by Parliament. Mr Barron moved that the sum be reduced by £250,000, The House divided—Ayes, 47; Noes 13.

THIS DAY. [By Telegraph.] Wellington, August 16. The House continued after 1.30 a.m, in Committee on the North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Bill. Major Atkinson’s addition to clause 3, providing that the loan should not be raised until the line had been surveyed and approved by Parliament, was opposed by Messrs Sheehan, George, and Cadman.

Major Atkinson said the only difference it made was that they could not raise the loan until the line was determined. If they raised the money they could not spend it without the sanction of Parliament.

The proviso was added on a division of 55 to 15, Mr Barron moved the reduction of the amount of the loan to £250,000. The motion was negatived by 47 to 13. Mr Barron then moved to limit the rate of interest to 4 per cent. This was also negatived by 48 to 13. On the motion of Major Atkinson, clause 6 was struck out as being similar to clause 15.

Mr Barron proposed to strike out all the words after “ security ’’ in clause 13. The motion was negatived by 45 to 16, The remaining clauses then passed and the Bill was reported as amended. In Committee on the New Zealand Loan Bill Major Atkinson moved to report progress with leave to sit again. The House rose at 2.45 a.m.