TEMUKA PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1400, 10 September 1885, Page 2

TEMUKA PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

! The weekly sitting of the Temuka Parliamentary Union took place last Tuesday evening. Considering the weather, theie was a good attendance, but many were late, and business was not commenced before 8.15 o'clock -three quarters of an hour after the proper time. The greater part of the night was occupied in discussing points of order, and other equally uninteresting and unprofitable subjects. On the Speaker taking the chair, Mr Murray (Ashley) asked whether Government have any power to appoint someone to look after nuisances where no Public Inspector existn. —The Hon. the Minister for Lands said thut Inspectors of . Nuisances were appointed by public bodietj. Where a Town Board was in existence they should appoint an Inspector, and if there was no To* n Board the matter wis in the hands of the Road Board, or other local body*

The question of the admittance of ladies to the sittings was again brought forward. It was pointed out that a motion which had been negatived could not be broughc forward again during the Masion ; but it was also pointed out that ladies were free to attend the sittings as visitors, and had been invited to come but bad not done bo. Several members expressed their willingness to support a motion that ladies should be admitted as members, and the matter dropped. The Hon. the Premiar (Mr Aspinall) introduced a Bill to abolish the Bankruptcy Laws, which was read a first time. The debate on the Public Works Statement was taken up by the Hon. the Native Minister (Mr Bolton), who spoke in favor of it.

Mr Twomey said the Government had not brought forward their Statement in a proper manner. While ther* were Borne things in it of which they might all approve, there were in it many others which would prove hurtful to the country if carried into law. He should move—- " That a respectful address be presented io His Excellency the Governor, to the effect that this House disapproves of the Public Works Statement."

The Speaker (Mr Bryaru) held that the motion was out of order.

Mr Lee (Mount Egmont) said he did not agree with the Public Works Statement. What had been the curse of the country was the log-rolling that took place in the House. In point of fact members came to the House to sell their votes. The action of the Minister of Lands (their late Speaker) was an instance of it. He stated that he had resigned the Speakership and accepted the position of Minister of Lands simply because bio constituents considered they had not in the past received their due share of the public expenditure. He thought the railways had been a curse instead of a blessing. Were it not for the wharfage monopoly at Timaru carriers could successfully compete with them. The Government proposed to start the East and West Coast Railway, but had they considered its cost f It would cost £4,000,000. The Christchurch people were crying out for the line simply becau»e they wanted the money spent in their locality. What the House had to consider was whether it would be for the good of the country as a whole. In his opinion it would not. He concluded by making a spirited attack on the Ministry, in which he said he had no confidence.

The Hon. the Premier, after alluding to the attack of the member for Mount Egmont, said ♦.here was no question cf the Government wanting £4,000,000 for the line. The line would bo built in sections, which would be opened as soon as completed, and it would pay for itself. Mr Murray (Ashley) condemned, the proposals for the construction of the East and West Coast Kail way. He had been along the proposed line, and the land through which it passed would not be benefited by it. After passing the Red Post there was not an acre of land which would sell.

Mr Gaze (Auckland East) then criticised the Statement at length. He thought the proposal that the railways should be managed by non-political Boards ridiculous, as no Board that might be appointed could be politically free. He thought the Government would also soon find themselves saddled with indebtedness incurred by the Boards. The railways were very well managed at present, and rather than see them placed under nonpolitical Boards he would prefer them sold to % private Company, fie agreed with some of the proposals of the Ministry, but he did not think reductions were so much needed as a revision of the whole tariff. He thought that £20,000 was too much to ask for the line from Temuka to Kakahu. He felt sure the £250,000 aßked for the East and West Coast Railway would be refused, and concluded by moving—" That the amount for the East and West Coast Railway be reduced to £5." The proposition was seconded by Mr Tffomey (Gladstone). The debate was interrupted by the 10 o'clock adjournment. Mr Twomey gave notice that he would move at next meeting—" That this House has no confidence in the present Ministry ."—The Speaker refused to accept this notice. The meeting then adjourned till Thursday next. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Temuea—Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1885. [Before J. Beswick, Esq., R.M.J DRUNKENNESS. A first offender was fined 5s and costs. OBtCENB LANGUAGE. R. Lidsey was charged with having on the sth inst. used obscene language in a public place, within the hearing of passers-by, Mr Aspinall appeared for the defence. Harry Williams : I am a carpenter. On the sth inst. the defendant came to' ray place with his wife, and asked for money. I told told him there wa« nothing coming to him, and ordered him out. After I got him out on the public road he used obscene language. | To Mr AspiDsll: I do not owe him money. Mrs Lidsey was there and tried to get bim away home. I swear the bad language was used outside the gate. James Taylor : I was at Williams' shop on the sth inst. I heard Lidsey make use of the language attributed to him by Williams. It could be beard on the street. To Mr Aspinall: I am a relative of Williams. I swear I heard Lidsey use the language, There were females on the next section. Mr Aspinall said the complainant owed money to the defendant, who refused to pay him. The defendant was a little elevated and got annoyed, but he denied that he made use of the language attributed to him. He called for the defence the following witnesses : Richard Lidsay : I am a carpenter. The complainant is indebted to me. I gave bim ray account, and he said he would not give me a penny. I said I would take it out of bim. We bad a

rough and tumble, and he got on the top of me Bnd would not let me get up. I never used the language and I am not in the habit of usiug bad language. To Constable Morton : I never admitted making use of bad language. I was not drunk and I was not sober. I had had it few drinks. Constable Morton and myself haxe been brother Good Templars, and he is always on to me now when I take a drink.

Mrs Lidsey give evidence to the effect that she went with her husbnnd to Williams' shop, and when asked for money Williams refused to pay. They had a row, but Lidsey never made use of any b»d language. Henry Clinch : I heard a noise, and saw Lidsey on the ground and Williams on top of him. Lidsey got up and made a blow at Williams, and Willinras struck him again. I heard no bad language whatever. Lidsey made use of no bad language after passing out of the gate. His Worship said that any person was liable to 12 months' imprisonment | for nsiDg bad language. It was remarked by visitors to the Australian colonies that the use of bad language was abominable, and a law was made to put a atop to it. He would when capes were proved carry out the law very severely, as he intended to do all he could to put down such an abominable practice. In this case the evidence of Mr Clinch, who was an independent witness, tended to prove the language was not used, and he would give de fendant the benefit of the doubt aud dismiss tbe case. CIVIL CASE. Thomson and Smith v. H. Pratt — Claim 6s 9d. —Judgement by default for amount claimed and costs. Thomson and Smith r. d. Brosnahan —Claim £2 Os lOd.—Judgment bj default for the amount claimed and costs. The Court then adjourned.