GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1145, 6 September 1883, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

In the Legislative Council] last Monday, The Premier moved a Bill which would have the effect of making the honorarium of members of the Legislative Council £IOO. Dr Pollen moved the previous question and it was carried on the voices. The Bill was thrown out. In the House of Representatives on Monday, Mr Moss brought up the Report of the Public Accounts Committee. Mr Buchanan moved that the report be printed. f Major Atkinson objected to the printing of the report. - Mr Sheehan said it would bo quite impolitic to make all the transactions of this Committee public. There were cases in which such publicity would bo financial suicide to the colony.

The Report, however, wasordered to be printed. In connection with a Report from the Public Petitions Committee on the petition from the unemployed at Timaru, Mr Turnbull urged on the Government the importance of getting these men transported to other parts of the colony where labor was reported to be more plentiful, Mr Fulton brought up the Report of the Waste Lands Committee on the Russell Land Exchange Bill. The Report was read, recommending that the agi eement with Mr Russell be carried out, despite the fact that the agreement was somewhat irregular. He moved ‘That the Report do lie on the Table.’ Sir George Grey then moved that the Bill be not proceeded with until the full evidence taken by the Committee had been printed and placed in the hands of members. A roll of evidence on this Committee had just been put into his band, and he could not possibly correct it until to-morrow. The transaction was delayed until the last moment, and now they were told that all other business must stand aside in order that the claim of this gentlemen (Mr Russell) might be attended to. It was monstrous that the business of the country mu at be made subservient to a single individual, simply because it affected the interests of a gentleman of wealth and influence. There were several persons in the House whose claims would be decided by this case, and it was unfair that *hey should vote on the question.

Mr Sheehan agreed in the opinion that the proceeding was a most unfair one, The contract between Mr Russell and the Government was void in law. To his knowledge, there were hundreds of men! with better claims than this, who had come year after year, but they could not get the consideration given to Russell. The whole thing resolved itself into this ; That because Russell was a power in the land his case was to be considered against all others. What they were asked to do was to complete an agreement made by a previous Government, an agreement which was in itself illegal, as was shown by the Government refusing to fulfil that agreement. Several other members spoke against the proposed measure, but Sir George Grey’s motion was lost on a division of 30 to 37.

A motion by the Hon Mr Rolleston fixing yes terday for the seconding of the Bill, was carried on a division of 34 to 31.

Colonel Trimble brought up a Report from the Native Affairs Committee on the petition of Waiuhiko Tohere, and asked that the report and evidence be printed. Mr Bryce said it would be most unfair to print the evidence in the face of most libellous statements having been given which the parties implicated had no chance of repudiating. It would be mest unfair that such evidence should be published and no opportunity afforded for rebutting the same.

The debate was interrupted by the dinner bell.

A memo, from the Controller-General was read to the effect that £IB,OOO had been paid by the New Plymouth Harbor Board, and that it should be paid into the public account, whereas it was paid into the account of the Minister for Public Works, This removed the money from the custody of the Audit Office.

After an acrimonious debate the motion was referred to the Public Accounts Committee,

The Gore and Kelso Railway Construction Authorisation Bill passed through Committee, was reported with amended schedules, read a third time, and passed. In the Legislative Council on Tuesday,

Mr Peacock moved— ‘ That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that all future nominations made by the Government to seats in the Legislative Council should be submitted to the House ot Representatives for approval.’

The Hon. Mr Whitaker opposed the motion, to pass which would be prejudicing a Bill he intended to introduce next day, to be considered during the recess, for altering the constitution of the Council.

The following motion by Colonel Whitmore was withdrawn ;— ‘ That it is desirable that provision should be made by alteration of the Constitution or otherwise to enable the Ministers at the head of the several departments to sit in either Chamber, but to vote onxy in that to which they belong,’ In the House of Representatives, The Public Petitions Committee < reported on the petition of Angeliquo Thereso, lately imprisoned for theft, that

she had sustained a grievous wrong, and recommending she be paid £SO as compensation, and £5 for legal expenses incurred.

Mr Conolly said it was a great mistake for members to suppose this was a woman of unblemished reputation. In Christchurch, whence she came, she was known, to be a person of bad repute in all respects of the word. She and the men she called as witnesses for the defence were known as bad characters, and she lived in a house of bad fame, and found it convenient to leave that city in order to evade the provisions of a certain Act relative to females of the class to which «he belonged. The stolen property had been kept in the hands of the police, and would be forwarded for identification to Christchurch. If it was identified as the dolman purchased there, then the recommendation of the Committee would be favorably considered, but there were very grave doubts yet as to her innocence. Mr Conolly was very severely handled for making this, statement. Several members characterised bis conduct as cruel and heartless, others. stating that it shocked them. The report was, referred to the Government for favorable consideration. . .

The report of the Dunedin Prison Enquiry Commission was laid on the Table.

Messrs Bracken, Macandrew and Bathgate appealed to the Government on behalf of the chief warder of the prison, whose immediate dismissal was recommended, and notice had been given him. They bore testimony to 20 years’ faithful service on bis part. Several members deprecated the action of Dunedin members in interfering in the matter, but the Minister of Justice held they were only doing their duty, and promised to give serious consideration to their recommendation. ; The report of the. Committee appointed in reference to the memo, sent by the Controller-General re £IB,OOO paid by the New Plymouth Harbor Board to the credit of the Minister for Public Works was laid on the table. It recommended' that .no action should be taken in the matter, as the money was to be handed back to the Harbor Board.

The report was ordered to be printed. Ou the motion for going into Committee of ►Supply, Mr J. Buchanan took exception to the manner in which' the Government Insurance Department was conducted’ and the principle on which it was founded. The practice of canvassing for business was, to his mind, most reprehensible. Again, the manner of investing the deposits of £225,000 was wrong ; the 'amount ought to have been invested on real security or in the public funds. He moved as an amendment that in the opinion of the House, the security of the colony should not be given to any insurance policy issued after Ist October next, and that the principle should bo embodied in any Bill amending the Act by Government.

After considerable discussion the amendment was lost. The House at 12.30 a.m. wont into Committee of Supply. Vote : Legislative Departraontj £34,843.

Mr Turnbull moved tiie item Chairman of Committee, Legislative Council^£loo, be struck out.

The Committee divided—Ayes 36, Hoes 21. Struck out.

Item : Clerk to the Council, £2OO. Mr Shephard moved it be £loo. Carried on the voices.

Item—Clerk’s Assistant, £400.; Reduced by £SO. Second Clerk’s Assistant, £225. Reduced to £IOO.

House of Representatives. m Clerk’s Assistant, £450. Mr O’Callaghan moved its reduction by £SO.

The Committee divided—Ayes 6, Noes 33.—Passeel as printed. Item—Sergeant-at-Arras, £250. Mr Tnrnbull moved it be reduced by £IOO.

The Committee divided—Ayes 38, ! Noes 4. ..