ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Southland Times, Issue 1788, 2 September 1873, Page 3

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Tuesday, ]9th August. In the Legislative Council, the Provincial Councils Powers Bill was thrown out on the second reading, after a very short discussion. In the House of Representatives the Governor's Salary Bill was read a first time. Mr Yogel explained that the intention of the Bill was to increase the Governor's salary by £500, but a similar sum was to be deducted from his " allowances," so that there would be no increased cost to the Colony. The salary would thus be made that of a first-class Colony, and would be the same as the Governor had in South Australia, and at the same time the rate of the retiring pension to which His Excellency would

be entitled would be considerably increased by the change. A discussion arose, in which Mr Bunny said that it was rumored that the late Governor had had allowances for archery materials, saddlery, clothinp, a cradle, and other matters. Mr Fox said there was no truth in the rumor. Mr Yogel knew nothing of any such allowances. Mr Stafford thought Mr Fox must be mistaken. The matttr ultimately dtopped. The Floatage of Timber Bill was read a second time, on the understanding that it would be referred to a Select Committee. The object of the Bill is to allow creeks to be used as highways for tbe floatage of logs to the sawmill, a practice very prevalent in the Auckland Province. Damage is frequently done to property on the banks of creeks so used, by artificial freshets, prcducid by clamming up a gully, and suddenly breaking the dam to facilitate the passage of the logs — a process known as " driving " Objections to tho Bill are raised on this ground. The remaiuder of the sitting was occupied in passing the estimates in Committee oi' Supply. .1 be House adjourned about half-past one o'clock. Wednesday, 20th August. The National Bank of New Zealand Bill was read a third time. Mr Reid called attention to tbe eyils of the Truck System, as practised at certain Dunedin collieries, and obtained a promise of co-operation from tbe Govern inent in bringing in a Bill to remedy the evil, and also a Bill to Regulate Coal Mines. Mr Collins succeeded in passing a resolution that the Distillation Act should be so amended as to permit of publicans in rural districts bi'fiwing beer on their own premises. ; I The remaiuder of the sitting was occupied in discussing Mr Fox's Licensing Bill. The clause placing the power of granting licenses in the hands of a Board elected by the ratepayers of the district was thrown out on a division by 18 to 13. A Licensing Court, composed of the Resident Magistrate and one or more paid Commissioners, was substituted for the elective Board. Tbe discussion lasted over four hours, and the House adjourned shortly after midnight. Thursday, 21st August. In the House of Representatives, Mr O'Neill moved the reduction of the duty on gold .by 6d per oz. He also suggested the desirability of establishing a mint. Mr Yogel did not approve of either suggestion. A discussion followed, in which various opinions were expressed on the question, and the debate was interrupted by the afternoon adjournment. On the House resuming, Mr Macan drew requested leave to withdraw the Otago Waste Lands Bill (Southland lands), then coming on for a second reading, and substitute a modified Bill, with the same title, known as Otago Waste Lands, No. 2. Some discussion arose, during which it was discovered that there was a third Bill of the same title on the Order Paper. (This third Bill refers to land in- Otago proper.) The House, including apparently the Speaker, became quite confused as to the identity of the three Bills, and a lively discussion at cross-purposea continued for more than an hour, when Bill No. 2 (Southland lands) was read a second time, and referred to tbe Waste Lands Committee. The Volunteers Land Act Eepeal Bill, amended so as to make it optional for Provinces to repeal, and saving all exist- ! ing rights of Volunteers, was read a third time and passed. The second reading of the Provincial Officers Disqualification Bill was moved by Mr J. Every Brown. This Bill was to disqualify members of Provincial Govern ments from sitting in the House. Superintendents were to be members ex offieio of the Legislative Council. Messrs Sheehan, Webb, Collins, Bunny, Andrew, and .Reid opposed the Bill. Messrs O'Conor, Steward, and Cuthbertson supported the Bill. The last-mentioned gentleman expressed surprise that the Government had allowed the debate to proceed so far without giving any expression of opinion. He would vote for the Bill in any case, but it was the duty of the Government to take a stand on an important question like this. Mr Reynolds said the Government would oppose the Bill. The whole thing was a farce. Mr Fitzherbert opposed the Bill. On a division the Bill was lost by 44 to 12. The House then adjourned. Feiday, 22nd August. In the House of Representatives Mr M'Lean, in reply to Mr Taiaroa, said that the Government intended to call a member of the Native race to the Legislative Council from the South Island. Tbe Telegraph Cables Subsidy Bill, slightly amended by the Legislative Council, was finally passed. The Province of Westland Bill, and the Evidence Further Amendment Bill, were committed, read a third time, and passed. The Life Assurance Companies Bill was passed through Committee and reported with amendments, the third reading being postponed. The discussion of the Native Reserves Act Amendment Bill in Committee occupied the House till midnight. The Bill vests Native reserves in Commissioners, and provides for their management, and in certain cases, for their sale. Nearly all the Native estate in the North Island may become Native Reserves under this measure. The Bill was warmly opposed by Messrs Sheehan, T. B. Gillies, and Rolleston, and defended by Mr M'Lean, the Native Minister. It was ultimately passed through Committee without material alteration. The House adjourned about half-past twelve.