PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 487, 9 July 1890, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE COLONY ] The recent research into the historic documents made with the object of ascertaining the actual date of the anniversary of the foundation of tho colony, has had some effect on the members of tho Legislative Council, and the Hon. Hr. Pollen has given notice that on Monday next he will ask the Government if they will change the public holiday commemorative of the foundation of the colony, from the 29bh January to the 30th January, in order that it may be in accordance with historical facts. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. There is attached to Mr Tanner’s Bible in Schools Bill a long schedule of portions of Holy Writ which are approved as being specially suited to the study of the rising generation. The selections are wholly from the New Testament, tho four gospels and the Acts of tho Apostles. The Bill provides that any school may sanction the daily reading of a portion indicated in the schedule without comment either at the commencement or close of tho day’s studies, Itis provided further that any scholar may be withdrawn by parents or guardians during the time of reading without forfeiting any benefits of the school. DUMMYISM IN CANTERBURY. The discussion on this subject in reference to alleged dummyism in connection with the recent land sales, especially in Canterbury, has been inquired into with such result as to convince the Government that there was good foundation for the charges made. Tho Hon, Mr Hislop having made an explanation to this effect in the | House yesterday afternoon, moved with permission without notice, “That allegations having been made that dummyism has been practised in regard to settlement of the land in Canterbury, instructions be given to the Waste Lands Committee tc inquire and report as to what stops should be taken.'’ Suggestions were made that the inquiry should be extended to all parts of the colony, and the motion was agreed to with this amendment. The return asked for by Mr Joyce showing all the facts and figures in the previous return, but grouping absentee owners, banks, corporations, companies and individual owners separately, is opposed by the Government as being too cost!}'. NATIVE LAND TENURE. In a lengthy i - eport by Mr Alex. Mackay, just laid before the House, the following conclusions are arrived at on the subject of native land tenure :—“ That the native title was communal ; that tribal rights may be classed under two heads—lst, territory, which had been in the possession of the tribe for several generations, and to which no other claimants had been previously known ; 2nd, territoryaequired by conquest, occupation, or gift, but that conquest without occupation did not confer a title. That no fixed law existed in regard to native tenure, except the law of might, and that various customs existed in different localities. That each native had a right in common with tho whole tribe over the disposal of the land of tho tribe, and an individual right subject to tribal rights to land used for cultivation or for bird, rat or pig-hunting. But to obtain specific title to land held in common there mus be some additional circumstance to support the pretension, and claimants must bo able to substantiate some sort of title to give them preference over such land. 7th, that neither manorial nor seignorial rights obtained among the natives, and that tho chief of a tribe had no absolute right over the territory of the various hapus, nor could lie dispose of any land but his own without the concurrence of those to whom it belonged.” DELIRIUM TREMENS PATIENTS. The Police Offences Bill introduced by the Hon. Captain Russell provides that persons suffering from delirium tremens arrested in a state of helpless drunkenness shall be sent to prison. The existing law provides that they shall be sent to the hospital, but it has been found bo be ineffectual, as the hospital authorities decline to receive such patients. MINERAL EXHIBITS. Mr Cadtnan is anxious to know:—(1) What lias become of the ore produce of Auckland mines sent from Melbourne to the Paris Exhibition ? (2) Has any of the said ore been sold, and if so what has become of tho proceeds ? (3) Has any of the ore been presented to tho French Government, and if so was this done with Do knowledge and consent of the owners ? (4) What were the conditions upon which the ore was given to the Government, and will the Government carry out those conditions, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILLThis measure, which limits tho terms of future appointments to the Legislative Council to periods of 10 years, and t is at in future the Speaker of the Council shall be elected by that body instead of by tho Government, as at present, came up for its second reading yesterday afternoon. As several members of Council were absent, however, it was agreed to postpone the motion for a second reading until all were present. OATHS BILL. The Legislative Council went into Committee yesterday afternoon upon the Oaths Bill. On the clause which provides that persons shall be entitled to make affirmation in courts of law, Hon. Mr Wilson moved an amendment giving a person the right of making affirmation in a court of law without any questions being asked as to his religious belief. After some discussion the further consideration was post- I poned. CHILDREN'S PROTECTION BILL. The second reading of this Bill, of which a summary has already been wired, was moved in tho Legislative Council yesterday afternoon by the Attorney-General, who remarked that although he did not think the evils referred to were much practised in this colony, he considered it advisable to meet the evil half way. The motion for second reading was agreed to, and notice was given by tho Attorney-General that on the following day he would move that the Bill be referred to a select committee. CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT. The Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act wa3 moved for second reading by the At-torney-General in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon. He explained that the object of the Bill was to prevent tho bribing of public servants and for the punishment of offendei’3. The Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed on Tuesday next. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. A Bill to amend the Industrial Schools Act, a summary of which I wired yesterday, was moved for second reading in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon. The Hon.Mr Stevens, SDeaking in support of the motion.said the powerssought to be obtained wore great, but pointed out that the evils sought to bo corrected were also admittedly very great. The Hon. Dr. Pollen drew special attention to tho clause permitting the arrest of any girl under 17 found in j questionable company, and said thab there |

were such strides taken in the Bill against the liberty of the subject, involving both social and financial questions, that it would be wrong to proceed with its consideration that session. He therefore moved that the debate be adjourned till the following day, and this was agreed to. A SINGULAR CLAIM. A somewhat remarkable petition was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by Mr Fish. It set out that one John Hammann, of Dunedin, had two years ago suggested the imposition of the now notorious primage duty bv which the Government had been able to raise the sum of £IOO,OOO, and claimed that the petitioner should get that reward to which he was entitled. THE COST OF GOVERNMENT. An interesting return has been prepared showing the amounts of the Governor’s Ministers and other expenses during the year 1888-89 as follows : - Governor’s salary, £5,121; allowances, £281; Government House and grounds, £4,025. Total: £9,428. Ministers’ salaries, £5,322 ; travelling allowances and expenses, £1,695 ; House allowances, £576 ; expenses, £l9l. Total : £7,785. Legislature’s salaries, including exclerks and messengers Legislative Council, £2,569 ; House of Representatives, £5,196 ; honorarium, £15,416; general expenses. £1,009. Total: £35,190. Government Departments, £1,944,880. Grand total: £1,995,283, against £1,923,313 for previous year. TIED PUBLIC-HOUSES. The desirability of legislation further in relation to the difficulties which have arisen in connection with what are known as tied public-houses, is affirmed by the Licensing Act Amendment Bill to be introduced by Mr R. Ree\es, of lnangahun. The object of the amendment proposed is to provide that no occupier of a licensed house shall be bound to deal with any brewer, wine and spirit merchant-, or other persons who may be tho owner or licensee of such licensed house. Mr MOSS ON THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. Mr Moss says : “ I always regarded the primage duty as a clumsy make-shift. My opposition to the property tax is wellknown. A material reduction in the cost of governing the country is imperative, and has been too long delayed.” PROPOSED REDUCTION OF ESTIMATES. Messrs Monk, Goldie, T. Thompson, with some other Auckland members, will endeavour to have the estimates reduced by a sum of £50,000. They recognise tho futility of fighting them in detai l , although they may resort to that if their present scheme should fail. The card is now being pricked that they may know what support they are likely to have, but whether they have the promise of the majority or not the attempt will bo made, so that the electors will know who the true economists are. The amount proposed is thought to be reasonable seeing that tho Government expenditure for the year ending March 31st was some £72,000 in excess of that of the previous year. PROMISES LIKE PIECRUST. Mr Goldie intends to ask Government why the promise made by the Premier that Ministers’ travelling expenses should not exceed £I,OOO in any one year lias not been kept, amount last year being £1,695. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. A meeting of the Bible-in-sebools party was held this morning.. The Hon. Mr Ackland presided. Ten members were present, but none of the Auckland representatives. The Bill drafted by Mr Tanner was discussed, and its provisions were in the main agreed to. Exception was taken only to the clause allowing comment. WORKS STATEMENT. The Public Works Statement is now ready and will be brought down directly the debate on the Financial Statement is concluded, but that may be a considerable time yet, judging by those intending to speak. YOUNG’S PETITION. The Public Petitions Committee, having fully considered tho petition of Richard Young, Auckland, recommended that the amount charged for asylum maintenance in this case be reduced from £i per week to 14s. Young when incarcerated had property valued at over £4OO wlfich realised £324. He was charged £1 per week for maintenance and on being discharged had only £4 7s 8d to his credit. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. The question of local government is likely to receive a good share of attention during this session of Parliament. Mr Moss has given notice chat, on going into Committeo of Supply, lie will move a series of resolutions declaring tho necessity of a reform in the system of local government, giving extended powers to the local bodies, and the Minister for Education has given notice for the appointment of a committee to consider the question of local government. JOTTINGS. The Educational Reserves Leasing was read the second time in the Legislativ e Council yesterday afternoon. The Legislative Council have decided that the question as to whether or not the Council should adjourn during debates on a want-of-confidence motion in the Lower House shall be left to the discretion of the Minister of the day who loads tho business in the Council. Mr Valentine wants the Government to extend tho period during which protection is given to sugar locally produced from beet-root or sorghum grown in this colony. Mr Seddon proposes to ask the Government if they intend to bring in a measure dealing with the isolation and prevention of lepers, and the spread of leprosy in the colony. Hon. Sir John Hall intends to move for a return, giving particulars of the public debt and transactions in regard to loans since 30th June, 1878. The Hon. Mr Hislop has given notice of his intention to move for the appointment of a committeo to inquire into the rights of lessees of natives interested in reserves made by the Governor under the West Coast Settlement (North Island) Act, 1880. Having failed last session to get a bonus for distilleries, Mr Duncan intends fo ask the Government whether they will give any concession, such as the remission of duty on colonial-made spirits, or by the imposition of higher duty on imported spirits, so as to encourage consumption of grain that is almost unsaleable in tho colony at present. Mr R. Reeves wants the Government to postpone any further land sales until measures have been devised for the effectual prevention of dummyism. Correspondence relating to the Railway Reform League’s proposal has been laid on the table of the House by the Hon. Mr Fergus.

Napier Harbour Board Further Empowering Bill provides for a more economical collection of rates authorised to be levied by the Napier Harbour Board Empowering and Loan Act, 1884, through local bodies having power to levy rates.