HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3393, 6 November 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 230. E. B. WOBGAN

The Native Affairs Committee reportsd that the evidence of E. B. Worgan, a prisoner in the Wanganui gaol* was necessary, and requesting that • the Speaker would issue his warrant for the production of Worgan. Mr Hamlin moved that the Speaker's warrant should be issued for tbe abovenamed purpose. Mr Hnll said this was the first occasion upon which a motion of the kind had beeu made. The circumstances wero peculiar, and he thought that the Government should have due notice ■ of the intention to bring forward the motion.

Mr Murray concurred in that opinion, and moved the adjournment of the question.

Mr Hamlin said that the matter was fully considered in Committee, and the course now taken was the one directed by the Speaker.- He bad no objection to the debute being adjourned as proposed until to-morrow.

Mr Hall said the Government considered it was wrong to bring forward the motion without giving due notice, lie did not allude afc all to the merits of the case. If evidence was found necessary they would not object to evidence being taken as proposed. Sir G. Grey said if tiiis witness had not been in gaol the Committee could have insisted upon the a'tendance of the witness without reference to the Government at all. Such .being the case, he did not see what right the Government had to interfere in the matter. He knew the case was an urgent one, and hoped the Government would not throw any obstacles in the way of the whole facts of the case being inquired into at as early a date as possible. Mr Eolleston said the House veiy properly looked to the Government to express an opinion on the proposal. They knew nothing at all about the merits of the case ; all that was wished was time to make that inquiry, so as to guide the House in the peculiar circumstances of

the case. Mr DeLautour contended that Ministers had no right to inquire into the merits of the application. The inquiry was for the Committee, and the Committee having considered it necessary for the evidence of the witness he maintained it was sufficient for all the circumstances of the case. There wos no precedent at all in the application. It was quite a common tiling for Legislative Councils like this to bring up witnesses under these circumstances for examination.

Mr Tolo contended that the witness was asked for by the Committee. Tbe Committee in reality was the House, ard this House was superior to any department of the Government. In that case he maintained the Government had no right to interfere with the proposal coming as it did in effect from the House.

Major Atkinson said ho very much questioned the propriety of allowing the Committee the power to summon a witness from all parts of the colony at the public expenses. He repudiated any intention on the part of the Government to faurk this particular case. It was however unreasonable to hurry the House into a proceeding of this particular nature. The House was not uncommonly put to the expense of bringing up evidence through its committees. Petitioners in particular cases did not care about defraying expenses. Mr Montgomery said it was not for the Government to judge whether the evidence waa of sufficient importance to warrant the expense thereof being defrayed by Government. That would b interfering with the functions of the Committee.

Blr Turnbull objected to the action of the Government. If the Government was allowed to interfere as proposed the action of Commiitees and Conimisious would be completely nullified. Mr Gisborne quoted from the Standing Order to prove the comiiittee bad power without -eference to the House or Government to call for evidence. It was monstrous to say that when a committee, asked for witnesses that the committee was to be told " you must tell us all about what the evidence is wanted for." Having entrusted the committee wi.'lx the power to call for persons and papers they had no power to interfere with its action in the matter.

The Speaker said as this was an excep. tional case he would not think of issuing his wa/rant without taking the advice of the law officers.

Mr McLean said it was no uncommon thing for petitioners to come to this House with, a view of getting up evidence so as to fortify their cases in civil courts. Under these circumstances he contended that Government was perfectly right in

wishing to look into all tho facts of the ease. Mr Hislop said if Government asked for an adjournment simply to enquire into (he propriety of a warrant being issued for tho attendance of witnesr.es situated as tho witness in question is, he would not oppose it. If tlu'y'dcsired an adjournment simply to enquire into the allegations in tho petition then ho would raotit certainly oppose it. The motion for tho adjournment was then put, and on a division the ayea wero 40 and noes 20.

On tho motion of Mr Montgomery tho debate was ordered to bo resumed at 3 o'clock to-morrow. HABITUAL DRUNKARDS.

Mr Dick gave notice that lie would ask if it was the intention of the Government to introduce a bill to restrain Habitual Drunkards. THE UNEMPLOYED. Mr Hall said that there were certain works of a pressing character, and which would afford employment to workmen and others who were at present in distress. In regard to these Government desired action should be taken at once. These remarks applied specially to the Pipitea Reclamations, and also a small section of the railway line from Wellington toFoxton. At the evening sitting in Committee of Supply Government would ask authority to enable them to accept tenders for these works, so as to be placed in a position to alleviate the existing distress and afford employment. CANTEBHUBY STIEI, CBYING " GIVE."

Mr Saunders asked why the £120,000 which the late Government hold back from the Canterbury County Councils and Road Boards, and which the Public Acts Committee reported on 3rd October, 1878, was due to them and should be paid to them, has not yet been pnid, and what was the nature of the provision made for that purpose by tho late Colonial Treasurer referred to by him in these words to the Christchurch electors—" Canterbury has £110,000 due to it, for which ample provision is now made. He took care that this should be done, and at the time I had no idea for a moment that I should be asked to represent Canterbury. I did it solely as Premier of the colony from a sense of justice." Major Atkinson said there wa3 no doubt but that money had been kept back. ■ As far as he knew the only provision made was in the Five Million Loan Act of last session. He regretted to say that the loan is so much anticipated, that he was unable to tell when the payment in question will be made. The payment would depend entirely on the negotiation of that loan. PAYMENT OF CONTHACTOBS. Mr Ireland askrd if Government are willing to make to the contractors of the Tapanui-Waipahi railway progress payments with a view of enabling them to complete the line as speedily as possible and thus afford the producers of districts affected the means of obtaining a market for their grain, &c. Mr Oliver said that the contract was taken on the distinct understanding that it has to be paid for after the work was flnished. They had gone on a certain length and now .asked for a progress payment. In view of the great inconvenience f his delay was occasioning the residents of the district, Government would accede to the request of the contractors, provided tbe contractors agreed to vary payments in accordance with the alteration proposed to be made on the condition for payment. WELLIHGTON VOBKS.

Mr George asked whether it is true as stated in the Evening Post of the 3rd Ifovember that a tender for £66,000 odd pounds had been accepted for the Pipitea Reclamation and part of the Wellington-Foxton Bailway. Mr Oliver replied that a tender had been received and would be accepted by the Minister for Public Works so soon as the neceesaiy appropriation had been obtained from Parliament. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE. Eeplying to Mr Eiehardson, Mr Oliver said the monthly railway returns of the receipts and expenditure would again be published in the Gazette as had been the ca<-e some time ago. SURVEYS IN THE WAIKATO. Major To Wheoro asked whether it is their intention to discontinue all surveys being carried out at the present time in the district of Waikato.

Mr Bryce soid he was not anxious to press on these surveys. The survey in question might be continued to a suitable point and then stopped until the natives had held a meeting with the view of arranging for a settlement of the question inrolved in the survey. BAILAVAY TICKETS. Eeplying to Captain Eussell, Mr Oliver said ihat at present he could not adopt his suggestion 10 authorise the sale of railway tickets at Post Offices and by such persons as are licensed to sell stamps. INVEHCABGILL GAOL. Eeplying to Mr Bain, Air Oliver said the Government would consider the case of the gaol at Invercargill when the question of making alterations aud additions to establishments of a simitar character were considered. NIGHTCAPS RAILWAY. Eeplying to Mr McCaughan, Mr Oliver said the .Nightcaps railway would be prosecuted vigorously. NATIVE LAND DITTY. Captain Eussell asked whether the Government will appoint some official in the principal towns ii each provincial district to receive the duty payable^ on native lenses; and whether, taking into consideration the under pressure of the Land Tax on holders of laud under native leases, they will recommend this House to repeal that clause of " The Native Land Act," 1878," under which the duty is levied. j

Major Atkinson replied that appointments of the kind had been made in Auckland and o'Uer centres of population. As regards the second part of the question, that was one of policy, which would have to be dealt with in the general question. BEAD FOB THE FIBST TIME. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—Awatere Shearing Keserve Management Bill, Seymour; to establish an Elective Legislative Council in New Zealand, Sir George Grey ; Elections Validafon, Hall; to amend " The Eailways Construction Act, 1878," Oliver; to amend " The Hating Act, 1876 " (No. 2), Pitt. MOTIONS. The following motions wei*e put and parried:—That this House will to-morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider an address to the Governor praying that 30,000 acres of land in the Seaward forest be set aside for the purpose of constructing the Seaward bush railway aa authorised by the Fro*

vinri'i! Council of Olago (Shanks), a select committee to inquire into the question of whal facilities can be Riven by tho Government foe the use of tho telegraph by the public press (Johnson), for a return of revenue nud expenditure upon each branch line of railway connected with the main trunk line of tho Middle Isknd (Wrißiil), that the present position of investments of public trust funds should bo taken into consideration by the Public Accounts Committee with a view to sco whether the treatment of those funds hitherto adopted' is the best practicable (Stevens). Mr Murray moved that the House meets on Mondays during the remainder of the session.

Mr Hall objected alleging that il was necessary for the Government to get work brought forward. The House should not sit on Mondays for at least a couple of weeks.

With the consent of the House the motion was withdrawn. Mr W. J. Hurst moved—That in the opinion of this House tho Governor be moved to issue a commission to take evidence at the principal commercial centres of New Zealand, and report upon the operation of the present tariff with a view to such a readjustment of the Cus» toms duties as may be considered best calculated to foster the various branches of industry within the colony. Mr Murray suggested the addition of the words " or such other industries as may be established." The suggestion was put and negatived. Mr Gisborne urged that the committee now sitting was sufficient for all purposes of the case. Mr Fulton moved the adjournment of the debate. Ou a division the motion for adjournment was lost—Ayes 18, noes 33. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.