GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2397, 10 September 1892, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on W ednesday. The Native Affairs Committee recommended that the Arms Act Repeal Bill be not allowed to proceed, the reason being that it is not required, as virtually the present Act was suspended by the Governor-in-Council.

The Wesleyan Methodist Bill passed its final stages. The Bankruptcy Bill passed its final stages. Mr Downie Stewart resumed the debate on the Electoral Bill. —The second reading -was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Tho Council rose at 4.35 p.m.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. Tho Local Bills Committee recommended that the Otago Harbor Board Empowering Bill be not allowed to proceed. The Workmen’s Lien Bill was committod.

The Committee altered tho title to make it read “ Contractors’ and Workman’s Lien Bill.”—A new clause, instead of danse 4, was agreed to, providing that an owner of laud, although not an employer of labor, shall be liable up to the extent of the contract ho may have signed for.—The amendments recommended by the Labor Bills Committee were adopted. The third reading of the Bill was made an order for next day. Tho Ohinemuri County Validation Bill passed its final stages. Tho Council rose at 4.20 p.m.

HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. House met at 2.30 p.m. on j..*Wednesday. yOLHILL GULLY llIi’LM HAUGH. Daniiin Russell moved the adjournment of the Uvm t 0 enilble Mlu t 0 r for to the Polhill GrU'Uy ’*‘$ a ran S e P™ ,cliase - He said that as his as Minister of Justice in the lute (j ment had l>eeu very severely attacked, Ip was compelled in justice to himself to refer to the matter in detail. He went into the whole question at groat length, arguing that the appointment of a Royal Dornmission to enquire into the administration of an ex-Minister was unnecessary and unusual; t}»ab the gentlemen appointed to that Di)mmis,;io:i wore absolutely niimiiterl to perforin the work; that the Commission had not properly endeavored to ascertain the real facts of the case; and that the of the Commission was manifestly not in .accordance with the evidence brought before

.Mr Seldon, in reply spoke at great length, nu'J congratulated Captain Russell on "making the ices': of a very bad case. (!c did not desire to say £ single word against Captain Russell's integrity ar. a Mini'dor of the Crown, or against ijis private cli iracksv, but he was bound to say t!i - d Hus whole transaction was one tied could not be juauho 1. Bo defended the members of the Commission, and said that there was not the slightest

ground for asserting that they had not shown any desire for fair play. The Government were anxious to allow this matter to drop, bat the more it was stirred up the worse it would be for Captain Russell. How was it, Mr Seddon asked, that the subject had been allowed by Captain Russell to rest for so long ? The general opinion was that judgment had been allowed to go by default. The speeches of Captain Russell and Mr Seddon occupied the whole afternoon, and the latter was speaking at the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. EMPLOYEKL’ LIABILITY BILL. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Employers’ Liability Act Amendment Bill -were agreed to. THE LAND BIEL. The Land Bill was farther considered 1 in committee. Clause 134 Residence to be compulsory.—Mr S'cobio Mackenzie moved that the conditions of residence should not apply to a person who, while retaining his bona Jides, took up bush or swamp land and made double improvements upon it, but who did not actually reside upon the land.—This was opposed by the Minister of Lands, and after a two hours debate was rejected by 33 to 38.—The clause, as amended the previous evening, was added to the Bill by 39 to IG. Clause 137 —Improvements, was altered to provide that improvements should be made on second class land “ to an amount equal to the original price ” of every acre of such land. Clauses up to 148 were agreed to with the amendments made by the Waste Lands Committee. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 1.30 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday. WESLEYAN BILL. The Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Wesleyan Methodist Church Property Bill were agreed to, LEAVE OE ABSENCE. Further leave of absence for ten days was granted to Mr Duncan and Mr Ward. THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. Replying to Mr Fergus, Mr Seddon said that as soon as more satisfactory progress had been made with public business, he should bring down the Public Works Statement. BILL THROWN OUT. The Momokaki County Bill was defeated in Committee by 30 to 14. The House rose at 5.30 p.m., and resumed at 7.30. LAND BILL. The Land Bill was further considered in committee.

Clause 150 Lease in perpetuity of lands.—Mr Hutchison (Waitotara) moved an addition to the clause to the effect that any lessee in perpetuity may, so soon as he has completed the improvements required by his lease, apply to the Commissioners for a grant of the freehold of the land comprised in his lease, and if the conditions have been complied with, and the capital value of the land paid, he shall be entitled to a Crown grant forthwith.—The amendment was lost by 30 to 17.

Clause IGl—Governor may set apart blocks of rural land for special settlement.—Mr Buchanan moved an amendment that the amount of land set apart as special settlement in any one year shall not exceed 100,000 acres instead of 250,000 acres.—The amendment was lost by 35 to 13. —Mr Hutchison (Waitotara) moved to add to the clause the words “ but shall not in any one financial year exceed the area set apart for selection.” —After two hours discussion, the amendment was rejected by 21 to 23, and the clause added to the Bill.

Clause 163—Block of rural land (5000 acres) may be set apart for occupation on the co-operative system.—On the motion of Sir John Hall a proviso was inserted that reports should be presented to the House of all transactions entered into under the clause, within ten days after the opening of Parliament.—Mr Rolleston moved a further proviso that no agreements should be made under the clause without the consent of Parliament.—The amendment was lost by 35 to 15. Clause 168 —Village settlements. —Mr Houston moved that the size of village homestead allotments should not exceed 100 acres instead of 50 acres.—Agreed to. Clause 172—N0 person shall be lessee of more than one run.—Mr Richardson moved that this clause be struck out,— Lost, and the clause added to the Bill. Clause 191—No person or company to hold more than one run.

A debate extending over several hours ensued.

Mr Rolleston urged that the clause should be postponed for future consideration and the undisputed ones gone on with.

Mr Mackenzie refused to adopt this course.

At 4 o’clock a compromise was proposed by Mr Richardson agreeing to reduce the number of sheep the land could carry to 10,000.

The Minister wanted it reduced to 5000, but Mr Richardson would not agree to this. At 5.45 Mr Rolleston said ho saw it was no use endeavoring to instruct the Committee further with regard to this clause, and his side of the House had done their best to enter a protest against it.

The House then divided on Mr Richardson’s amendment, which was lost by 25 to 10.

Mr Allen moved an amendment to the clause that the limit of one run should bo defined as the area capable of carrying not more than 20,000 sheep.—Lost by 2(5 to 8.

The thiad proviso was amended to allow licensees to hold any number of runs, provided that the carrying capacity did not exceed live thousand sheep. Mr llolleston said that amendment was a perfect mockery. Mr Fergus said it was a cruel injustice to small settlers in the interior of Otago, and if he had any idea that it would be accepted ho would have stayed there till the 31st of December to prevent its passing. The clatfse was then passed as amended. At 6.35 U.ni, Mr Rollestqn appealed to the Minister in charge to report progress, stating that if the Committee decided to go oiMvith the Bill they would bo abdicating their position entirely in working in l.he°jiilc-! , or;vii of the country. He moved that progress lie reported. Mr Seddon said llm remaining portion of the measure could be put through in a very few minutes now that the main points of the bill had boon burly discussed and settled. He thought the fcoipajuing el'«i«§3 might be disposed of at the present sitting. Sir GeOl’SQ Grey supported the stand taken by the Opposition, and raid the Bill was the" most iniquitous ami inhuman ho over beard of. Mr Seddon urged that further progress should ipade with the measure, and asked whether it was fair Hat twenty-live members should give into eight. " The Government bad made a fair'oiler of a compromise to the Opposition, but then’ leader had refused to accept it,

At eight o’clock an adjournment was aken till 9-30 and on resuming at that xour Mr Rolleston once more protested igainst the House going on with the Bill. With all the respect he had for Ministers le had a greater respect for the legislation and did not think this was a proper way ;o conduct business. He contended that liough the majority should rule, the ninority had a right to say that if parliamentary practice were cast to the ,vinds the majority should not be allowed :,o go on by physical force. Mr Seddon alluded to the waste of time m the bill while in committee. The principle of the measure had been diamssed in dealing with each clause in a Tjjynuer he had noyer before heard of in regard to any bill. Sir George Grey had said that ho would obstruct the bill by every form of the Rouse and Afr Fergus and Mr Harkness had threatened clearly that they would stonewall the bill , word by word, and lino by line. Mr Seddon proceeded to refer to the whole question, and when alluding to one of his statements Mr Fergus was understood to turn to Mr Harkness and ejaculate, “ Hear how ho lies.” Mr Seddon retorted that if any member had used such words to him outside the House he would take such steps as would prevent him ever using them again. Sir George Grey moved that these words be taken down. After some discussion progress was reported and the words were reported to the Speaker. Mr Seddon said he had nothing to say by way of extenuation or .apology. Mr Fergus within hearing of the chairman and himself had, in reference to his statement, used the words “ Hear how he lies.” He had'then asked for protection from the chair, and said there were two means open to him, and ho would take such steps as would prevent his using such words again. The courses open to him were to take proceedings against him for conduct calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, or he could report to the Speake. Mr Seddon then retired from the Chamber. Mr Fergus denied using the words attributed to him. He said nolhing offensive to the Minister of Mines and if he had done so he would be sorry for it. There was sucli a thing as private conversation in the House and if people listened to that they might hear things that would be unpleasant. Mr Reeves moved that the explanation given by Mr Seddon be accepted as satisfactory. He distinctly heard Mr Fergus use the words “ How he lies.” They were used in a loud tone, and though not addressed to the Minister undoubtedly referred to him, and the Minister had appealed to the protection of the chairman, who said that he did not think the words were intended to be overheard on the other side of the House, or he would immediately have taken notice of them. Mr Fisher said he was bound to support the motion of the Minister in the interests of goood order and decorum. Mr Fergus undoubtedly used the words. Mr Rolleston agreed, but suggested that it would bo a bad precedent to take notice of words used in conversation. He would support the motion if the words “ that under the circumstances of the words being used in conversation, and not intended for the House,” were added. Sir J. Hall said that though the Minister’s words were objectionable, they were used under great provocation. Mr Hutchison (Waitotara) moved an amendment that the last three words, “ as fully satisfactory,” be omitted and the motion he simply that the explanation given by the Minister of Mines be accepted. Captain Russell thought it was beyond all decency for any member, especially the leader of the House, to threaten personal violence. Mr Rees said he heard the words used by Mr Fergus, and he agreed that though the House ought under the circumstances accept the Minister’s explanation, they should be careful not to express any approval of a threat of personal violence. The Hon Mr Reeves said he could not accept Mr Hutchison’s amendment. After further discussion Mr Rees suggested that Mr Fergus should apologise to the House for the words used, but Mr Fergus replied that he had nothing to apologise for. The motion to adjourn the debate was lost on the voices, Mr Hutchison’s amendment was also rejected by 30 to 26, raid Mr Reeves’ motion was carried by 35 to 22,

Mr Seddou was then, re-admitted to the House. He said that the House by passing the resolution had reflected credit on the Parliament of Hew Zealand. As a politician and private individual he had always been careful of his honor, and he contended that under gross provocation he had exhibited great forbearance. Mr Fergus said ha was exceedingly sorry for the remark he had made, and he offered a most humble apology for having hurt the feelings of any member of the House.

This ended the incident, and the House resumed in committee on the Laud Bill. Mr Rolleston at 12.15 asked whether Mr Ssddou would consent to an adjournment of the House till 7.30. He pointed out that members had been sitting there for nearly 24 hours, and it was impossible for the House to consider an important measure like the Land Bill under these conditions. Ho denied that there had been anything like obstruction on the part of the Opposition,

Ml’ Seddon said if the committee passed clause 102 lie should consent to an adjournment till 2.20 p.m., but not till 7.30.

After further disussiou Mr Seddon agreed to report progress till 7.30. Clause 102 was then passed and tha House adjourned till 7.30.