PARLIAMENTARY.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 88, 19 October 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

The Legislative Council, on Tuesday, passed the Land Tax Bill and the Electoral Bill was further discussed. The right of female ratepayers to the franchise was affirmed by 24 to 10. Clause 18, relating to the Maori vote, was amended so as to become the same as originally introduced in the Lower House. On Wednesday a motion of Colonel Brett asking for the issue of free passes to enable Volunteers in the South Island to attend the general review at Dunedin was agreed to. The Timaru High School Bill was read a second time, and the third time on Thursday. In the House, on Tuesday, amendment bills on the Juries, Debtors and Creditors, and Districts Railways Acts were passed, and the second reading of the ' Law Amendment Bill carried. The last a technical measure relative to the rules of the Supreme Court, and designed to simplify the proceedings in that Court. Mr Stout said it was, in its chief details, a copy of a recent English Act which had been adopted by Queensland and other colonies. Mr Barton, n speaking on the bill, said that reform was greatly needed. One of the chief changes he indicated as necessary was that after a jury had agreed upon questions of fact th°re should be no appeal on questions of fact, unless on the ground of surprise, or where the finding of a jury was insufficient for the Court to found a judgment upon. Another great means of prevention of vexatious suits would be to make the parties agree before trial on the lump sum which was to be paid as costs by the losing party. Lawyers would then take care to do their . work thoroughly, and there would be an... end of long breefs and the mistakes j lawyer's, necessitating appeal after appeal, v would be very rare. At present the ends of justice were defeated by those continued appeals, wearing out the poor client and driving him into the Bankruptcy Court. On Wednesday Mr M icaiulrew admitted that something must be done to provde for the immediate necessities of the sufferers by the late floods. No doubt the house would permit advances to be made, on loan, to the local bodies. Mr Stout, in speaking of the Otago University Bill, said that if the House ruled that trust properties were private properties, and could not be touched but by a private Bib, it would lead to gross abuses. Mr Manders brought up the question of co'onial defence, but the House refused to consider it. The debate on Mr Saunders’ motion, to exempt from taxes in aid of public works those distri which are not bonefited.by the works, was resumed. Mr Bowen agreed with the mover. Mr Sheehan said it was impossible to say that any districts received no benefit from the public works policy. Land everywhere had increased in value through it. He admitted that many districts had been unfairly treated. Mr Hodgkinson agreed with the motion, but could not say how is could be carried out. Mr Macaudrew denied that any districts had failed to receive benefit from the expenditure. Mr Pyke said the motion was simply a useless expression of opinion. The Bill for the regulation of private townships being brought forward, gave rise to some strong sentences. Some of the speakers objected to Government interfering with private property. The Bill is not designed to deal with areas of less than five acres, and it was pointed out that in order to avoid the restrictions the Bill could impose, small secth ns would be cut up into smaller allotments, thus leading to overcrowding. On Thursday Mr Reeves gave notice to ask for a stronger Bill against adulteration of liquors. On the recommendation of the Governor, a clause was inserted in High School Bills to provide that such schools shall be subject to inspection by an officer of the department. Mr Sheehan promised Mr Taiaroa that the Wait iki Maoris shall be compelled to cease from their disorderly courses. The Harbors Bill was read a second time. . j The immediate second reading of the Education Act Amendment was lost by 38 to 32. A motion that it be read that day six months was agreed to. The Premier asked the assistance of the House in disposing of business, so that the House might be prorogued on Tuesday next. In Committee ou the estimates several votes were passed. In discussing the vote for Native schools, Speakers agreed that endeavours should be made to secure a better class of teachers. In the course of a debate on the items for defences, Captain Kenny urged that a f weak defence was worse than none at all, as in case of war, at any rate between civilized countries, it was always customary to mulct far more severely an n enemy who opposed a weak resistance, than one who did not attempt to defend. It was urged that in the event of war between England and Russia, the Colonies, would be attacked as the most vulnerable portion of the Empire,