PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (FROM "STAR'S SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, July 6.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 160, 10 July 1886, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (FROM "STAR'S SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, July 6.

Railway Employes' Grievances. When Mr Hobba was asking his question relative to railway employes' grievances, yesterday, he ga/e the Houee to understand that a great deal of petty tyranny was exercised in Auckland. The Minister for Public Works said he was not aware that sick pay had been stopped, and he believed that while seme guards sometimes worked thirteen or fourteen hours per day, others worked a much smaller number of hours. Holiday leave was granted to the men when they could be spared. Two Boards to coneider grievances had been appointed in the South and one in the Norttu There had been no demand for a Board in Auckland, And when there was the matter would be considered. The Stark Purchase. The purchase of the Stark property is being greatly talked of in the lobbies, and several persons are said to have been summoned from Aucklttuti to give evidence by the Public Accounts Committee. Of that, however, you will probably have heard in Auckland. A petition has been presented to the Houee by Dr. Hood, of the Bay of Islands. Me says that on the death of Dr. Dent, who received £125 per annum to attend to the ailments of the natives, he was induced by a native named Katene to take up practice, and he now prays for payment of salary. Stow a School-room was Got for a Dance Major Steward told a good thing while the bill dealing with cumulative voting was under discussion yestarday. He said that in one district young people were 'anxious to get the use of the school building during the winter months for a dance. Th&y saw no hope of getting it from the Committee then in office, but an election taking place at that time, they mustered in turned the old Committee out, and put a new committee favourable to their -designs in office. Municipal Corporations Bill. The Municipal Corporations Bill was under consideration at the whole of yesterday's sitting of the Legislative Council. No important amendments were made. The bill was got through with the exception Of some clauses, which were postponed with a view to further consideration and probable alteration. Legislative Expenditure. The committee on the question of Legislative expenditure is atill sitting. The evidence shows a great deal of unnecessary •expenditure, but it is improbable that the recommendation arrived at will indicate any particular direction of which economy should be exercised. The opinion prevails that the inquiry will not be productive of any good, and that the appointment of c committee was merely a " red herring " drawn across the Bcent to prevent a more complete investigation. Foisoning by Matches. In reply to Sir George Grey, the Minister of Justice eaid that he believed that no prosecution would lie against the vendor of the matches at Invercargill, by which a child was poisoned, for not having the box containing the vestas labelled " poison." Friendly Societies Bill. TThen the Friendly Societies Bill was before the House last night, the Premier said he had received a memo from the RegistrarGeneral approving of the provisions of the measure. He had also received letters from two gentlemen greatly interested in Friendly (Societies who were opposed to the bill, being afraid it would tend to weaken the societies, and not make them financially sound. The bill was committed, read a third time, and passed without discussion. New Plymouth Harbour Loan. Yesterday afternoon was absolutely frit~tered away by a debate on the New Plymouth Harbour Loan Bill, which occupied the House for two hours and a-half , and was talked out. Mr Samuel, in moving the second reading of the measure, in a moderate speech said that authority was wanted to sanction the rftiein^ of an additional £60,000 to utilise the money already spent on New , Plymouth breakwater. The breakwater, he explained, «ow extended 1,800 feet, and afforded accommodation for vessels like the Waka- ! tipu, drawing 19 feet of water. Butter j ivaa exported to Sydney from New Plymouth in large quantities. An amendment that the bill be read a second time that day six months was moved by Colonel Trimble, who said that, accordIng to Sir John Coode's estimate, three quarters of a million would be required to complete the breakwater, and what, therefore, was the use of borrowing a paltry £60,000? Raising this amount would put on an additional shilling rate, and raise the rates in the district to the amount of six shillings in the £. On the Other hand there was nothing but butter to carry the burden, and butter averaged from 5d to 9d per lb. The district (he avowed) was goieg straight to ruin, while the Waitara, which was but a little to the northward, would accommodate steamers of 600 tons, drawing 12 feet of water, and carrying 130 passengers. Moreover, the basin of the breakwater -was silting up very faßt. New Plymouth harbour did a small trade, there was no value in that trade, the rates were insufficient and unbearable, and every requisite was to be found at the Waitara. Such was the doleful picture of the efforts in connection with the New Plymouth breakwater, painted by Colonel Trimble, who, in conclusion, appealed to members not to impose on the honest hard-working settlers of the district further taxation. As I have already stated, the debate was interrupted by dinner adjournment, but the question will probably come up again on Thursday next. The Educational Franchise. Z: Major Steward to-night had his usual inoingB in connection with the Educational Franchise Bill. In moving its second reading, he said the Houae had, on more than one occasion, affirmed the desirability of repealing the cumulative vote, which existed only in connection with the elections under the education system. In another place, however, their efforts had been unsuccessful. He felt satisfied that the majority, which had several times been recorded in this House, was borne out by public opinion in the colony. At a conference of School Committees held in Dunedin the members were all but unanimous in their declaration against cumulative voting, and asked him to persevere in his efforts to get the principle done away with. It waß to be regretted that the Minister of Education had taken up a hostile Attitude towards the principle of the bill, and that he thought the cumulative vote was necessary to secure representation of minorities. If the education system was in such a state that it could not fltand any amendment test, the whole thing should topple to the ground. It mutt be in a very bad way indeed, or if the system was so perfect that it did

pot require amendment, they Bhould canonise the author of the Education Act, Mr G. 0. Bowen. There was no necessity to .provide for the representation of Catholics, for as a rule they did not avail themselves of the Act. Another point proposed in his bill w&b to re-define the term M householders." It was absolutely neoeseary that they should define the Educational Franchise. The Minister for Education said he could not support the measure, but he would meet its proposals to this extent — that he was willing that every adult should have a vote, and that the cumulative vote should be reduced to three. Speaking to the non-advisability of not permitting minorities to have a voice on the educational question, he stated that at Port Chalmers a minority had, in defiance of the Education Act, at tempted to violate the law by allowing religious education in schools. That of itself was breaking down the Education Act. In Committee, ne would move amendments in the direction of which he had spoken. Several members having spoken in support of the measure, Mr Buckland (Franklyn North) moved, "That the bill be read a second time this day six months." Dr Newman hoped the House in committee would reject the cumulative vote clause, but to avoid constant worry '«ni irritation on the part of School Com" uiirtees ho hoped that the term •« householders " would be clearly defined Mr Downie Stewart said that the House having clearly affirmed the desirability of abolishing cumulative voting, he was of opinion that the hon. member for Waimate, in introducing his bill, had made an ill-ad-vised speech, and rather courted opposition than support. It was true that at Port Chalmers a Committee, by a snatch vote, owing to the cumulative principle, had endeavoured to upset what had previously existed. — After further discussion the amendment was put and lost by 24 to 48. The Hon. Sir Robert Stout, Messrs Tole, Richardson, and Ballance voting with the minority. The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Thursday, the 22nd insr. A ojreat deal of time was occupied last night in consideration of the Dag Registration Amendment Bill in Committee. The clause giving local authorities power to fix the registration fee at 20a was passed on division by 38 to 24. Major Steward moved an amendment providing for different fees for different classes of dogs. This was lost. The bill met with strong opposition from the Maori members, who so effectually stone- walled it that. Mr Monteith, its mover, asked for an adjournment. Tbe Legislative Councillors. Members are still apprehensive that the Government during the recess will call some of their supporters to the Legislative Council, and with a view ot getting some decided information on the subject, Mr Taylor has given notice to ask the Premier on Tuesday if there ia any truth in the report circu'ated throughout the country that the Government intend to make further appointments in the Council at the time when there is so much need for economy, and when the number of members ia so much out of proportion to the number of menbers of the House of Representatives. I have no doubt that the reply will be of an assuring character, viz., that it ia not contemplated to make any additional appointments at present. Ex-Judge Fenton'* Petition. Sir George Grey has declined to further attend the sitting of Kaiwanawa and Owhaoko Committee, to which the memorandum by the Attorney-General on ex-Judge Fenton has been referred. Hia reason for declining to attend further was that some unpleasantness arose at yesterday's sitting between a fellow committee man and himself. He has taken exception at Sir Robert Stout's presence at the meeting, on the ground that that hon, gentleman stands in the position of accuser so far as the charges against ex-Judge Fenton, Judge Rogan, and Dr. Buller are concerned. Poisonous Matches. Sir George Grey is again to the fore with a measure providing for the better preservation of the lives of young children from poisoning: by phosphorous matches. He introduced a like bill last year, but the House ridiculed the idea. The bill was read a first time yesterday, and second reading fixed for Thursday next Medical Coroners. Mr Scobie McKenzies motion for tbe reappointment of medical men as coroners having lapsed from the order paper, that hon. member will bring the matter up in another form, viz., on the motion for going into Committee-of-Supply. Representation. It is unlikely that, should the proposal be made for reducing the number of representatives, it will receive any great amount of encouragement, as many bon. members would decline to vote in such a manner as would ensure their political extinction The more prominent supporters of this retrenchment agitation are Sir R. Stout, Major Atkinson, Messrs Mitchelson, Scobie McKenzie, Bryce, Ballance, and John McKenzie. Charitable Aid Amendment. " The Chattel Securities Act, 1880, and Amendment Act, 1886," notice of the introduction of which was given by Mr Hislop yesterday afternoon, is merely mii tended to deal with some technical defects in the old Act. The points have been submitted to the Attorney-General, who approved ot them. Contagions Diseases Act. Sir George Grey's Bill for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act is certain to meet with strong opposition. Yesterday afternoon the Minister of Justice promised Mr Thompson that he would at once procure from the police authorities at Auckland a report on the working of the Act, whereupon Mr Rolleston insisted that from Canterbury also a report should' be received setting forth the evils that had ensued from the suspension of the CD. Act in that provincial district. Kermadec Islands. Sir Robert Stout's deferred motion in favour of the annexation of the Kermader Islands to this colony came on for discussion yesterday afternoon. In proposing it, the Premier eaid that the Kermadecs were a group of islands lying between Near Zealand ! •nd Fiji. They were not very large, with the I exception of Sunday and Kirkaldy Islands. \ On Sunday Island, which consisted of several thousand acres, a family named Bell had been residing for some fifteen years, and Mr Bell had informed him that the climate was delightful and the soil very rich. Such fruits as bananas and oranges had grown on the island, and if a steamer were to call there occasionally an export trade with Auckland could be opened up. So favourably impressed with the place was Mr Bell that he proposed forming a Limited Liability Company to work the island. Further information was to the effect that the island afforded eood anchorages, and would carry ten sheep to the acre. In conclusion the Premier aaid that these islands, like the Chathame, were bo contagious to New Zealand that it was deeirablo they should be annexed. Mr Barron feared that some expenditure would be involved in the annexation, for the probability was that steamers calling there would have to be subsidised.

Sir George Grey thought that if any expenditure to the colony would be incurred the House should pause before adopting the motion proposed. , He had visited the islands, accompanied by first-class navy offioers, and found it impossible to effect a landing. Mr Downie Stewart supported the motion, remarking that as these islands were bo close to New Zealand it would be a decided pity if they were to fall into the hands of any foreign country. Colonel Trimble entered his protest against annexation which has a mere lust for territory, and Captain Russell raised a laugh by saying that the best excuse for annexation was that the Kermadecs in the future would be a sort of New Hebrides for this colony to export its con, victs to. The motion that an address be forwarded to the Home Government praying that the Kermadec Islands may be annexed to New Zealand, was then put and carried. Crofter Immigration. The Government have not, during the recess, been neglectful of the intentions of the Legislature in inserting Highland crofter clause in the Land Acts of 1884 and 1885. Instructions were given to the Ageni) General to make inquiries on the subject, and correspondence relating to it will be laid upon the table in a few days. Freignt on Racehorses. Mr Lance created some amusement yesterday afternoon when he presented a numerously-signed petition asking for a reduction of the rates charged by the Railway Department on the conveyance of racehorses. Members of the following Jockey Clubs had signed -.-Dunedin North~ Canterbury Steeplechase. Westland, New I Zealand Grand National, Hororata, Waverley, Waitotara, Fielding, North Canterbury, Lumsden, New Brighton, Auckland, Gore, Wardu, Hurmin, Hawera, and Auckland Tattersalls. They ask for the same concessions as are granted to hunters. Protection. The protection question is to be again raided in the Council on Friday next by Mr Chamberlain, who will then move, "'That in the opinion of this Council it is of the very utmost importance to the permanent prosperity of the colony of New Zealand that every encouragement should be given to manufacturing industuries by the in position of protective duties." The Inspectorship of Asylums The papers laid on the table of the House in reference to Dr. Macgregor's appointment as Inspector Lunatic Asylums and Hospitals certainly tend (says the "Post") to mitigate any regret which might have been feltregarding Dr Grabham's retirement from the position. Hia final communications to the Government in which he undertook to make certain recomtnenda tions in regard to the future arrangements for inspection, exhibit such complete misapprehension of the position which the Inspector should hold, and the system on which asylums should be managed, that we regard it as fortunate that the inspection has now been entrusted to other hands. Dr. Grabham wanted the Medical Superintendents of Seacliffe and Mount View^Lunatic Asylums to be appointed Inspectors, while also retaining their present positions. Such a system of inspection would simply be a farce, and the interests of both public and patients would undoubtedly suffer. It would also, we think, be most unwise to entrust to two gentlemen having the management of asylums the inspection of other asylums. The Inspector should ceriainly be above all superintendents, and be entirely independent of them, and of all local considerations. He should be an impartial authority standing between the Government and the permanant staff of the various institutions. We are very glad indeed that the Government ignored Dr. Grab Lam's most injudicious suggestions, and secured the services of such a competent man as Dr. Macgregor as inspector. We do not think he is likely to concur in his predecessor's views upon the points we have referred to, or to shirk or object to full publicity in regard to the administration of institutions under his charge. Sir F. Wbitaker intende to bring up on Tuesday his Pacific Islands resolutions, and to move the second reading of the French Criminals Influx Bill. Native Lands Administration. The Native Land Administration Bill came up unexpectedly yesterday afternoon, and was expected to provoke a long and acrimonious discussion. Such, however, did cot prove to he the case, for on every occasion on which the House was divided the Government scored largely, and eventually the opponents of the measure threw up the sponge. The hostility was principally displayed to clause 7, which provides that a committee consisting of seven members may be appointed from among owners of any block of land where such owners are more than seven in number. Mr Beetham proposed to strike out this clause, but it was retained on division by 30 to 18. Finally the bill passed through | committee, and was reported with amendments from the Native Affairs Committee. Attention has been directed to the Native Land Court Bill, which consists of 117 clauses, and these were put through in the brief space of 15 minutes, the "measure being reported with the amendments made by the Native Affairs Committee. Truck System. Mr Thompson has brought the truck system prevailing at bush sawmills in the Auckland district under the notice of the Premier, who says there is an Act of William the Fourth's reign dealing with the matter. It, however, does not refer to saw mill?, and he says he will consider the desirability of introducing a short bill making it applicable to them also. Civil Service Pensions. The following gentlemen are entitled, under the provisions of the Civil Service Acts, to the amount of pension set opposite their respective names : — Richard John Gill, Native Department, £228 per annum ; Chas. Halliday, Postal, £96 per annum ; Alex. Burgess, Customs, £116 per annum. Mr Pyke yesterday afternoon gave notice of the introduction of a bill providing for the construction of the Otago Central Railway from Taieri Lake to Lake Wanaka. The bill will probably be known as the Otftgo Trunk Railway Line. The proposal is for constructing the line by land grant, as in the case of the Midland Railway. Christchuroh-West Coast Railway. On the motion for the third reading of the Midland Railways Construction Act, MrG. F. Richardson proceeded to condemn, in unmeasured terms, the contract proposed. He alleged that such a contract had never been sanctioned before, whereupon Mr Holmes reminded him that a similar contract exists in regard to the Manawatu railway. The member for Ma aura proceeded to say that the grade was one in 40, and urged that the most powerful engines could not carry more than 55 tons over such a grade. He aeked what was to prevent the company from constructing the easy portions of the line, and selecting the best of the land, and after doing twenty or thirty miles of thej work throwing up the contract, an make a large profit out of Mr Auckland expressed the opinion that the Company would not carry out the work,

?W?iT nlf l the B«PPortera of the measure that though the bill would pass, they had not yet got their railway fu Mr J^ gUS u foll °wed. He said that he thought it ought to be placed on record in the London market that the bulk of the land within a radius of fifteen miles of the line was utterly worthless. The report justj ust received from Mr Blair, read by thelight of that gentlemen's previous report, was wholly inexplicable. Mr Holmes saw no necessity for further dwoussion on the bill, but Mr Rolleston indicated no less than six amendments, which he submitted the Government should have made in the bill. Mr Connolly took a similar view of the question, and held that the Company had a bau bargain. Mr Fisher said that when the bill and Mr Blairs report were sent to London, IQTn y intencled Mr Blairs 1879 report, condemning the proposed lino, should accompany them, He ridiculed Sir Julius Vogel's assertion that no alteration could be made in the bill, and eaid he was reminded of a somewhat similar statement made by the hon, gentleman some years ago relative to the Brogden claims, although on that occasion a reduction of half a milJion was made. Mr Leveatam defended the bill to a bare quorum of members. Mr Fulton, who followed was convinced that the Company would never have to run the trains on the line. He also said he had authority for stating that Mr Napier Bell knew nothing concerning his supposed ap pointment as consulting engineer, beyond what he had seen in the prospectus. Mr J. C. Buckland believed that one half of the present population of the West Coavfe was being maintained by the expenditure of Government money, which must soon cease. As a native, and forty years' resident of the colony, he raised his voice i against a company of Btrangers taking I such a foolish step as they were entering upon. Messrs Bruce and Beetham followed the latter, expressing the opinion that they were endeavouring to hoodwink the English public. The Premier defended the Bill in a forcible speech, in which he said all the House were asked to do was to give authority to make their contract within the linea of the correspondence, and it did not follow that they would go to the extreme of the latitude allowed to them. Wellington, July 3. The House of|Representativea eat till after two this morning discussing the East and West Coast Railway Bill Ultimately the measure was read a third time and passed by 36 to 13. The following is the division list: —

Ayes, 36. All wright Lance Ballance Larnach Beetham Levestam Bevan Mackenzie, M. J. S. Bradshaw McMillan Bruce Menteith Cowan Montgomery Dodson O'Callaghan Fraser Pearson Garrick Pratt Grace Reese Guinness Richardson, E. S. Hakuene Samuels Holmes Seddon Hurethouse Stout Ivesß Taylor Joyce Turnbull Kerr Walker

Noes 13 : Barron Newman Buckland, J. C. Peacock Connolly Richardson Duncan Rolleston Hamlin Ross Hislop Trimble Lake

Pairs : For Haka Smith J. McKenzie Harper Macandrew Tole Vogel Fitzherbert Dargaville Brown Coster O'Connor Sutter Wi Pere Gore Steward

Against : Fergus Wilson Fulton Ruesell Bryce Whyte T. Thompson Johnston D. Sfcewart Mosb W. J. Hurst Mitchelson H. Hirst D. Reid J. W. Thomson Buchanan