TUESDAY'S SITTING. Wellington, June 11.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 156, 12 June 1886, Page 6

TUESDAY'S SITTING. Wellington, June 11.

- Limiting Private Members. An interesting discussion took place on the Premier's motion providing that the House meet on Monday evening, and that on Wednesdays the Government business should have precedence. Sir George Grey, who ia most affected by the lessening of the time at the disposal ot the private members, asked if there were any special reasons for this step. The Premier replied, that the only reason he could offer him was that usually given, that the arrangement was required to facilitate the business of the country. Sir George Grey complained strongly against the action of the Government, and said private business was frequently more important than Government. It was said that the Ministry proposed that the session should end in a month, and if thin was so he thought such a determination was wrong, seeing the large expenses involved on the meeting of the two Houses of the Legislature. Either the expenses should be reduced or members should sit a reasonable time. Major Atkinson supported the action of the Government, and said when he was on the Treasury Benches he was always glad to get Wednesdays set apart for Govern- j ment business as early in the session as j possible. He suggested that, in view of the short session, the expenses of the House might be largely reduced by a reduc- , tion oi members' honorarium. I Mr Bbadshaw would not vote for a reduction of honorarium, but thought a saving of £20,000 per annum might be effected by reducing the number of members Saving on the same principle could be effected by amalgamating offices in the Civil Service rather than by reducing salaries. After further discussion, the motion was put and carried.

Equitable Owners, When the report of the Native Equitable Owners Bill was brought forward, Mr Obmokd took exception to the provisions' ■of the bill, and regretted that it was being passed without greater consideration. The matter of the grants should be brought before the House* and the interests of Europeans were being risked by the . measure. ' • ' Mr Bkyge took it that the bill had been introduced to ' deal with classes that had grown up, and confessed that ho himeelf had not the courage to bring in such a bill. Mr Downie Stewart waa convinced the bill would "give use to a great deal of fun amongst the lawyers, and eadleas litigation. >- • ' '* • The Premier said the bill was intended to prevent rather than increase litigation. < i Wi'-'PARATA considered tbat if , thia'bill passed it would' give' greater satisfaction to the natives of the South' lsland than any ; other measure on the subject passed. %*'<" • lJ Mi'Mbsragked 'how the ' bill - affected the 1 larjre'eatate' vested in K&ratiaiia/ and which belonged to the CrownV l <j - ; " - n ■ ' < 'MrBALLiKCK eaid'thia bill was the result* of hundreds : of ' petitions r«c«ivd i from • < pedple' who had a n grievance'' before* tbtf Cdmmitteo, He waV hof prepared to say 1 how far it would afFdct Karatian»'« estate. *-'"• The'biiriwaff rdad^a third time;' and Li '-*pajsBb*ai* Ti: -r«t>'J^ mZ'iVrii X>l X >1 i.ioo «,'» ni . , Natlre Lands Admlnl«tr»Uon Bill ' : - : . of the Native Lands Administration Bill. He said this was a similar measure to the

the title 6f; the'Native'Lind« Disposition Bill,- aM which \raa 'refeVred 1 to the Native Affairs: Committee. A -favourable report Vr«B submitted; But &Tt the very lat« ttoriod of the sessioh. * A largely-attended meeting of nativ^a ! of 'tho( bill VitH *i^«M|meqt?^h(oh'! bo had f adopted. These'were in the'direction of bhanginj? the name of We bill, arid of substituting Com lnissipriere for' Board?; and of 4 appointing a native committee. ''The two cardinal prin- 1 oiples;oPihe bill 1 Were' that thetfe should be no future private dealings with lands, and that when tho3e landa are* 1" disposed'of it shall be on the Same-principle aa Crown lands wjeire A! Bbld. The Native Minister* proceeded to'enlarge* upon' the - neceseity for giving natives facilities for the disposing l of* lands under regulations, but' would prevent the' 'acquisition of large estates by Europeans in districts where public works were proceeding ' His object in introducing the bill was to promote the advance of colonisation.' The sooner they got rid of the past system Of' acquisition of native lands the better.' ;If the second readinsr were adopted, he would have the bill referred to the Native Affairs Committee. ( . On the motion of Mr Bryce, the debate waa adjourned till Friday.

Native Lands, Courts., Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the Native Lands Courts Bill, which he said was a consolidating measure. He also proposed to refer it to the Native Affairs Committee. ' The second reading was agreed to, and the bill referred to the Committee in question.

Gold Duty. Sir Juliui Vogel moved the sacond. reading of the Gold Export Duty Bill, and said the Government experienced difficulty in Committee with this question. In some districts the opinion was in favour of the removal of the duty, while in others, where the local bodies derived revenue from this source, the feeling was in favour of its continuance. The Government proposed the intermediate course of reduction of 6d per ounce as a preparatory step to removing it altogether. He hoped in the meantime to devise some other source of revenue for local bodies instead of this. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr O'Connor.

Justices of the Penoe. The Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill was taken in Committee Sir George Grey moved his amendments, making Justices of the Peace elective. Replying to Dr. Newman, tho Premier said if the amendments were carried, the Government would modify Clause 2 respecting ex offlcio justices. He aleo eaid the system was a great success in America. Mr Peacock stated that in Glaßgow justices were elected by town councils. Major Atkinson feared the difficulty in getting country settlers to vote, and foresaw that if they went on increasing elections they would have to fix a general election day. Progress was reported at 5 30.

The Estimates.—Several Reductions Effected. As several members were dining at Government Mouse, the Government endeavoured to get the evening: sitting dispensed with, but a bare quorum was present, and insisted on going on with the business. The Ministers present decided on taking the Estimates, and, though most of the Opposition members preferred pasting them in globo, throwing the responsibility of retrenchment on the Government, the Government supporters insisted that no increases ot salaries should be voted to already highly • paid Civil Servants, and successfully divided the House on two occasions. Mr Ormond, who has long regarded the Hinemoa aa nothing else than a pleasure yacht, got the vote for her reduced from £11,000 to £10.000, but the impression prevails that this item will appear in the Supplementary Estimates. Sir Robert Stout and Mr Ballance were enjoying the festivities of Government JBonte while the Estimates were being dealt with. The following item was passed and submitted t Property Tax Department, £18 897. Friendly Society's Registry Office, £1,350. The item Miecellanous Services, £21,200. The Treasurer explained that of the £10,000 on account of Colonial and Indian Exhibition, £500 was included in addition salary to the Agent • General. Mr Wakefield said this was all humbug, and that if the Agent-General was under paid hi« salary should be increased, instead of placing a special allowance undo* pretence of expenditure in connection with the Exhibition. The vote then passed. Stamp Department vote, total £30,500, passed as printed. Trade and Customs Departments.—Total vote of £58,977 agreed to.—The Minister for Marine said it would not be wi?e or economical to dispose of the Hinemoa. — Mr Ormond said he intended to test the feeling of the House with respect to expenditure on this vessel. He should move that the £11,000 for the Hinemoa be reduced by £1,000. — The Minister for Marine hoped the Committee would pause before adopting the proposal.' If it were carried a large cheque would have to be paid annually to the Union steamship Company for freight. Mr Ormond said the Hinemoa was nothing more than a pleasure yacht for the convenience of Ministers and others who had no right to use her. The Minister for Works and Treasurer defended the vote. Mr Ormond explained that if his motion were carried it would be an instruction to the Government to dispense with the Hinemoa. The liabilities incurred to date could be passed on the Supplementary Esti mates. The motion for reduction of the miscellaneous services by t'lo,ooo was carried by 18 to 14. ■ The remainder of the votes pissed ,88 printed. The Treasurer wanted to know if the Hinemoa vote could be reconsidered after the supper adjournment, but received a decisive answer in the negative from Mr Hamlin.

Employment of Females. Mr Brap^haw moved the second reading of the Employment of Females Amendment Bi}l. , This ,was a similar measure to that passed during the last two years, but thrown out,in the Upper Chamber. The second reading was carried, ou the voices,

"■ Small Birds Nuisance. ,' CaptAin StJTTER moved the second reading" of the Small 4 Birds Nuisance Act 'Amend n&nt' Bt 11, permits of poisoned 1 grain being laid pn! publiti roadk provided tb'at; hbtice' 'boards are'. 1 pddtet? directing attention" to r the 1 ' step's'!.'taken" for, the Vadictjbh of the.Vmall birds nuisance., u The Premier 1 j&id-he' w^s doubtful 61 the expediency, of allowing! 1 the "'mfeasuirtf, to become law"'and 'folio?' tnerfe'wfte"a danger iA%r,D6ps#' mMd*a¥%menclnYent 'that fttifc f Becond^re <idi]rig%<J bb A e <Ktakenf, six months nearly ."all i r> ,>B r o r " "we're tffifiiinfmYcl-m^fiiimtroyzd 'in 1 KM?' %to 20'?J&?23. •, Ttiti ,Houae rote at 11.20. ' ,