GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1534, 20 July 1886, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

In the Legislative Council on Friday, Dr Menzies presented several petitions from the women of Dunedin against the Contagious Diseases Act. Mr Reynolds moved the second reading of the Civil Service Reform Bill. He spoke at length and explained the proposed measure. The debate was adjourned till Tuesday,

The Hakateramea Racecourse Bill was committed, and reported with amend* monts.

The Wellington Harbor Board Leasing Bill was read a third time and passed. The amendments which the House had made in the Defence Bill were agreed to. The Local Bodies Loans Bill was read a third time and passed. - The Council adjourned till Tuesday next. HOUSE OF REPBESEUTATITB3. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Friday. The Premier introduced the Representation Bill. Sir George Grey asked the Minister of Justice upon whose if as F. Slee appointed a Justice of the Peace, and what was the date of his appointment, Mr Tole said that local representations had been made on the subject. The date was June Bth, 1885. Mr Turnbull moved the adjournment of the House on the ground that the answer was not satisfactory. Sir George Grey said he was not to be put off by the adjournment being moved, <

and proceeded to quote a letter bj Slee, E tinted in the evidence taken by the ►istrict Railways Purchase Committee, in which a promise of remuneration was made to Major Steward, and if they sold the railway debentures satisfactorily. He explained that it had become known that Sir Julius Vogel’s name was the original of the blank, and he submitted that Slee’s proposal was most improper and he ought to be punished.

Sir Julius Vogel asked permission to make a personal statement, explaining that he would have done se on Wednesday but for being taken by surprise at ths Premier’s resolution not being traversed by a motion for the adoption of the Committee’s report. The paragraph of that report referring to him was unwarrantable. He admitted that letter was exceedingly improper. The evidence had totally failed to establish that any member had any pecuniary interest whatever in reference to the passing of the Railways Purchase Bill. Mr Steward could not possibly have known that Government would purchase the debentures. When be first read the report he thought it implicated Mr Peacock, but on rending that gentleman’s evidence, to his surprise be found that the report was utterly iucoosistent with it. He read a memorandum dated October 3rd, last year, to the Secretary to the Ireesary giving the reasons which guided the Government in the purchase' of the District Railways debentures, and also ethers five days later showing that the Arrangements had not even then been definitely made to purchase. He bad drafted a letter possibly to the Waimate and Duntroon Companies, but it was not sent, as Mr Stewaid appeared oh the scene in tba meantime. fie claimed that all these purchases had been a great bargain to the , Government, and the account' showed £BO,OOO to credit, which it could not do had not the negotiations been conducted with discrimination and judgment. He deemed it not right of the select Committee to comment upon the opinions held by members whom they examined, as nobody would ks safe could this be done. Regarding the privilege of members he qnotsd the practice of the Honse of Commons in which it had lately been established by a large majority that directors of Companies were free to vote on questions in which they were directly interested. Regarding the -blanks, in Siee’s letter be thought it an outrage on him that his name had been so med. If Major Steward bad let him kaow, this matter would have assumed a very different aspect. He considered the letter a contempt of Parliament. The Premier would confer witb the Speaker and leader of the Opposition si to whether the writer could not be punished for daring to suborn members of ths Government. He himself had given instructions to his solicitors to take proceedings against two papers in Wellington for their comments on his behaviour. ■

Mr Thomson said surprise had been ex* pressed that its chairman of the Committee he bad not defended bis report, but he had nothing to reply to. -The re* solution of the Premier, in his opinion, confirmed the Committee's report. He detailed the reasons which led him to take any part in the enquiry. When he first heard the rumours he thought them so serious that he at once said they ought . to be looked into. The committee was i too fair and impartial in its constitution * to bo warped by any party considerations. He himself was reluctant to undertake the duty, but he thought they had done good work. All right-minded men must feel tbis traneactiou was discreditable to al 1 concerned.

Mr Garrick defended the report of the committee clause by clause, using most emphatic language. He accused Major Steward of lobbying in favor ef the District Railways Purchase Bill by fair mesne and foul.

Major Steward again defended bis action.

Mr Wi Pore said it was too, much for one mas to make £IOOO,. and be intended to move that the money be refunded for the benefit of the sufferers by the eruptions.

A number of members spoke for and against the action of the committee.

Major Atkinson regretted that Sir Julius Vogel had attacked .the Committee in such unmeasured terms, for which he thought there, was no ground. He had known Major Steward for many years, and always found him as good as his word. .When he first beard the rumors be disbelieved them. At the request of Major Steward he had carefully perused the evidence, and be was now bound to say, though with great pain, it fully bore out the report j indeed, he cou- - sidered Major Steward had no course bat to demand a further enquiry, for the present one had clearly not gone far enough. Slee’a letter was of so gross a nature that Major Steward immediately he received it ought to have gone to Sir Julius Vogel and brought it under the notice of the House. Proceeding to the details of Major Steward’s transactions, he argued that it was plain Sir Julius Vogel would have come to terms with the company without Major Steward’s intervention, and practically, therefore, the commission came out of, .the public chest. Major Steward's only hope of regaining the good name be had always borne was by refunding the money to {he Government or to the company. They must be jealous of the good name of the House, and no member was justified in taking such commission after he had assisted by accident or not in passing sn Act like the District Hallway Purchase Act. Major Steward himself admitted that he ought to have retired, end he could not in good faith retain that money in his pocket. He (Major Atkinson) had dis'iked very much the letter mentioned ; in Mr Buckland’s evidence, wherein tion was made of £3OO or £4OO to be paid to Major Steward for some purpose or other. This ought to be cleared up. He thought now they had been too hasty in passing Wednesday’s resolution. He protested in the strongest possible terms against the Treasurer’s dictum that it was right for membeis to engage in such transactions, Mr rtolieijfon felt that {he qqqptry generally would be disappointed {hat there had not been a more general pression of opinion, in the House on this matter, He thought, however, the pre, sent debate was not an unsatisfactory one. He felt when he heard what took place in defence of the action of (ho Treasurer and member for Waimate (hat he could not refrain frsm expressing his opinion of it. After the reference they

bad heard to the Committee he thought the House should express its opinion as to the Committee’s action. The position taken up by the Treasurer w;ia so entirely untenable one. He had used expressions regarding that Committee which made it impossible for him to leave the matter where it was. He should certainly . take some steps to ascertain whether the House endorsed the Committee’s opinion. If SirJ. Vogel took the course which he stated— that ot bringing this matter before the Law Courts— the country would be in a p>-si« Uonto.judge of the whole question. It yrai, ha thought, greatly to be regretted that neither Sir J. Vocal nor Major Steward saw any impropriety in members of. Parliament undertaking sales of this nature to the Government. As to Mr .Steward, his (Mr Kolleston’s) opinion was .that it was to be regretted that ho did pot see the difference between right and wrong on this occasion. He believed the House had taken the right vie n of the matter, and he felt sure that the verdict of the country would be that the report of the Comnrt •• #»i a judicious one. f . The motion Lr the adjournment was then put and lost, and the orders of the day called on. Sir George Grey’s second . question consequently was shut out. ” The Premier introduced the Representation Bill. .In .answer to Major Atkin_/jQD f he said he would make his statement the secopd -Trading. . 7 The Pirst Offenders Probation Bill was passed through Committee with slight amendments.

The Mining Bill was partially considered in committee. At clause 152 progress was reported, and the House rose at 1.40 a.m.