GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2522, 29 June 1893, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. LOSS OF H.M.S. VICTORIA. On the motion of Sir Patrick Buckley, the Council resolved to address the Governor, asking His Excellency to convey the deep regret of the Council for the late disaster in the Mediterranean. THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr McGregor moved the Address-in-Roply. He said that a system of laissez fairs, instead of action had characterised the conduct of previous Governments. After alluding to the fact that the people had recently acquired greater power in State affairs, he expressed the opinion that the State should exert itself with a view to render life more tolerable to the workers and a blessing to the State. Ho thought it should be a function of the State to redistribute property. Hia views were perhaps revolutionary, but certainly were not of a Socialistic character. He regretted that the Civil Service was mistrusted, and should bo glad to see it placed on a more satisfactory footing, which would have the effect of attracting good officers. He congratulated the country on the adoption of co-operative works, which would prove a great boon both to the State and the workman, but he warned the Government as to the risks which they were running in making experiments in this direction, which would probably prove irksome to the taxpayers in carrying on public works, and might be a source of abuse and corruption. He paid a high tribute to the good effected by the Labor Bureau, and expressed himself as decidedly in favor of the State railways being under Government control. He would support a Bill again placing the lines under the control of the Government. He spoke /highly of the energy and patriotism of s Mr McKenzie as Minister of Lands. He hoped that the Minister would continue to conduct his Department with much vigor, and thereby ensure settlement of the lands of the colony. Mr Jennings seconded the Address. The recent labor member appointments were unique in the annals of legislative history. He was sure that his lately-appointed colleagues and himself would unite with the older Councillors in efforts to effect the greatest good for their fallow-colonists irrespective of party or nationality. Sir George Whitmore, Dr Pollen, and Mr Oliver spoke, and warmly congratulated Mr McGregor and Mr Jennings, and took occasion to welcome the new members, but at the same time reminded them that the Council never had been a party or class chamber, but had striven to do the best for the country at large.

At 5 o’cloek the debate waa adjourned till the next day.

V HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. NEW MEMBER. Sir R. Stout, the new member for luangahua, took his seat. THE TOTALTSATOR. Mr W. O. Smith gave notice to move that the totalisator be abolished, and that the Government bring in a Bill to that effect. LEAVE OF ABSBMCB. Leave of absence for a week was granted to Sir George Grey in consequence of illhealth. LOSS OF H.M.S. VICTORIA. The Premier referred to the recent naval disaster in the Mediterranean, and moved—“ That a respectful address be sent to the Governor, requesting him to convey to the Queen an expression of the deep regret of the House at the loss of H.M.S. Victoria, and its sorrow at the death of so distinguished an officer as Admiral Tryon, and so many brave officers and men.” Mr Rolleston, in seconding the resolution, paid a high tribute to Admiral Tryon, who had endeared himself to all with whom he had come iu contact. The resolution was carried, unanimously. THE LATE SIR WM. FOX.

The Premier made reference to the lamented death of Sir William Fox, who had once held a prominent position in the history of the colony. He spoke in high terms of the many valuable services rendered to the colony in its early days by the deceased statesman, and moved—- “ That this House desires to place on record its deep regret at the death of Sir William Fox, K.O.M.G , and its appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him to the colony during a long series of years.” Sir John Hall, Mr Saunders, and Mr Hutchison (Dunedin) added their testimony to the great services which Sir William Fox had rendered the colony in various capacities. The motion was carried unanimously, MB CABMAN, Mr Cadtnan rose to refer to a personal matter. Ho said that about ten months ago, a circular letter, together with memoranda published by Mr Rises, had been sent to all members of the House* 1 his letter and memoranda contained certain very serious charges against himself as Native Minister, respecting hia being personally interested in native lands, the implication being that he had corruptly used his position as Minister of the Crown to farther those purchases. Mr Cadmau referred to the charges contained in the memoranda, and said that it had been his intention to have answered those communications and requested that his reply might be read before the House, but before he had time to do that the whole of the correspondence was published. He then took immediate proceedings to vindicate himself in the Supreme Court. After announcing the result of the trial, he went on to say that he had found from articles that had appeared in the public press that the fact that the damages had been assessed at £1 reflected on his character to a certain extent. That being so, he had placed his resignation as Native Minister in the hands of the Premier, and it was his intention to place his version of the affair before his constituents. He c jmplained that the Press Association reports of the trial had been incorrect and misleading and did not convey to the public a fair idea of the proceedings. The Premier said that after the explanation of his colleague, he desired to express his great regret that the Native Minister felt it his duty to retire from the Ministry. As to the opinion formed by the colony of the late libel case, he asserted that that opinion had been formed on incorrect information supplied ' to the papers. The finding of the jury was in favor of plaintiff on all the charges, and it was distinctly proved that hia colleague had been libelled by another gentleman holding a high position in the colony. His colleague, however, qoft.

sidered that on the question of costs there was a personal reflection on himself, and he had therefore resigned his position in the Ministry in order to vindicate himself. He felt sure that in doing so Mr Cadman had the full sympathy of the House. Mr Bees said that if Mr Cadman had had sufficient courtesy to intimate to him that he would meet any charge in the House he should not have attempted to go on with the matter, but the Native Minister had not communicated with him in any way, nor shown that he was willing to meet any charge which he (Mr Bees) had made. He then detailed the circumstances attending the finding of the jury, and pointed out that although pressed by Sir Robert Stout His Honor had said that he entirely agreed with his (Mr Rees’s) arguments against costs, and declined to certify for costs. He intended to take an early opportunity to go into the whole case in the House, and he ventured to say that if that were done astonishment would be felt in the public mind. He asserted that not half the available evidence had come out in the Supreme Court. Sir Robert Stout said that he should not have risen had hia name not been dragged into the matter by Mr Bees. He regretted to hear of Mr Cadman’s resignation, and he thought that there was nothing in the finding of the Napier jury that necessitated such a step. He found that there was an entire misapprehension in the public mind over this case. Mr Rees had made several charges against Mr Cadman, but he (Sir Robert Stout) contended that he had brought forward no proofs whatever in respect to any of them. Mr Rees now said that he was not allowed to bring forward his evidence, owing to technicalities, and that he wished to appoint a Committee of the House to go into the whole matter, but he (Sir Robert) would remind the House that there was n o punishment for perjury on the part of witnesees before a Select Committee, and Mr Rees was well aware of that, as he himself had had experience of that formerly in the case of a Napier gentleman. Sir Robert Stout dealt at length with the position of the native land connected with the recent case, and quoted from reports of the House to show that the charges against Mr Cadman could not be sustained. As to the costs, he said that the jury left that question to the Judge. The jury never said tfhat they did not wish to give costs. . Mr Scobie Mackenzie and Captain Russell spoke. In reply to Mr McKenzie, the Premier said that he would endeavour to procure a copy of the Judge’s notes in the case, and lay them before the House, so that members could deal with the subject impartially. . Mr Rees having replied, the subject dropped. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. and resumed at 7.30. THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr Willis moved the Address-in-Reply to the Governor’s Speech. After paying a tribute to the memory of Mr Ballance, he went on to refer to the prosperous state of the colony, and said that although one of the youngest offshoots of fie British Empire, New Zealand was the most vigorous of them'. All the sister colonies of Australasia were at present in anything but an enviable state ; but New Zealand still progressed, and was destined to be the grandest place in the two hemispheres. Speaking on the subject of taxation he hoped that the day was not far distant when improvements would be exempted altogether, as the present system worked unfairly in some cases. He applauded the intention of the Colonial Treasurer to bring in a Bill to improve the audit of banks; he praised the Government for the valuable services they were rendering the Colony iu the way of laud settlement, and expressed the opinion that Ministers should have some control of the railways. Fie added his testimony to the success of the co-operative system of labour, and the Labour Bureau, and congratulated the Premier on the firm stand he had taken on the unemployed question and the female franchise question. Mr Willis said that he had promised to support the Electoral Bill, but he had done so with great hesitancy. He approved of the oue-man-one-vote principle in its entirety, aud hoped to see it accomplished. Mr Earnshaw in seconding the motion said that it was a proud thing for New Zealand that she was the most progressive colony, not only in the British Empire, but iu the world, and it was satisfactory to learn that the Governor in travelling through the country had found the people thoroughly loyal to the system of government by which they were ruled. In passing a tribute to the memory of the late Premier, Mr Barnshaw said he had always been a consistent friend of the Labour party. He congratulated Mr Seddon on the firm attitude he had taken towards the unemployed in Wellington, for while he believed that it was the duty of the Government to provide employment for those who needed it, still it was not possible to absorb an ever-increasing population, and to find work for all who came into the colony from foreign shores. Speaking on the railway question he said that he felt sure that when the opportunity was given them, the public would demand that the control of the railways should be placed iu the hands of the Government, He also commended the Ministry for their efforts iu the direction of the land settlement. i Mr Rolleston congratulated both mover and seconder of the Address-iu-Roply on the manner in which they had performed their task, especially complimenting Mr Willis on his calm and deliberate speech, They had heard a great deal about the Labour Bureau, but he contended that there never had never been a great** number of men out of work than at the present. In the vicinity of towns there were a large number of artisans and other men out of employment, many of whom were ready to take the lowest possible wages if they could obtain them. The fact was that the Government were bein g found out, and the people would discover before long that the colony was being flooded with unemployed. Referring to the late additions to the Legislative Council, he said that he did not object to any of those twelve gentlemen, and be thought they would rise to the occasion as men with fair ability generally did when responsibility was thrust upon them. In a passing allusion to the Cheviot purchase he asserted that the estate was not in a right place for settlement purposes, and that the transaction was not in interest of the labouring classes. Mr Rolleston traversed several other planks of the Government policy, and condemned many of the public statements of Ministers durjng the roepsa as insincere, With respect to the native land laws bethought the sooner the Government got somebody not interested in native land, and who had no particular fads, to prepare a bill dealing with the whole question, the better it would be for all parties. The Premier said he thought the House was to return of Willie for Wanganui. He also cum.

plimented Mr Earnshaw on the speech he had made. It showed a marked improvement on his previous, utterances, and was much more moderate in tone. He agreed with Mr Willis that a better system of auditing bank accounts should be established, and that they should not wait for cala nity to overtake them such as had recently occurred in the sister colonies. In spite of Mr Holleston’s assertions to the contrary, Mr Seddon ventured to assert that more people had been put on the laud during ahe last year than during any two previous years. The GoAernment were using every effort to deal with the unemployed question, and he challenged the statement that more men were out of work now than ever before. The fact was that men now worked nine months of the year, as against three months as was the case when Mr Rolleston was in office. He prophesied that the same satisfaction would be expressed with the legislation passed by the labours members in the Council as by those in the House. He strongly defended the Cheviot purchase. There was a prospect of settling hundreds of people on land in a locality where it was specially desirable to settle them. The Government had done good work in securing this property. The Government had largely reduced the public floating debt, and last year they had taken from the surplus £200,000 for public works. They were living now within their means, and were not living on past finance. He would say now to the House and the country that the time had come when the Minister should have some control over the railways, and it was not for the leader of the Opposition to say that the House was not to be trusted with the control of what belonged to the State. The Government were determined to go on and introduce legislation which, while encouraging labour, would also protect capital. Mr Duthie spoke, and the debate was adjourned until Wednesday, on the motion of Mr McLean. The House rose at 12.10 a.m.