HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3400, 14 November 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Last night. The House met at 2.30.

On the motion of Mr Hursthoupe leare of absence for one week was granted Mr Richmond.

NEWMABKET "WOBKSHOES

Replying to Mr Tole, Mr Oliver said that an appropriation had been made for the preliminary contract for the removal of the Auckland Railway Workshops to .Newmarket.

WANGANUI GAOL.

Mr Bnllanee asks whether any communication has been received from the Justices respecting the state of the Wangauui Gaol Buildings, and when it is proposed to commence the erection of a new gaol.

Mr .Holieston said there was no doubt the matter required immediate attention ; two suggestions had been made, one for expending £300 in repairing the present buildings, and the other for £350 for new buildings, and it was probable the former recommendation would be adopted in the first instance, with the view ultimately of giving effect to the latter. mj* barton's petition.

Replying to Mr Keid Mr, Oliver said he believed a settlement would be made of the sum of £400 on the estimates as recommended by the Waste Lands Com' mittee in settlement of the olaims of John Barton, Thos. Hamilton and other petitioners.

POST OFFICE AT NEWMABKET. Beplying to Mr Tole, Mr Hall said he would lay before the House the report of the Chief Postmaster at Auckland on the advisability of erecting a post office in connection with the telegraph office at Newmarket. NEW BILLS. The following new Sills were introduced and read a first time:—" The Patents Ael Amendment," Hall; to amend " The Forest Trees Planting Act, 1871," Wright. On tho motion of Mr Thomson, it was agreed that the petition of upwards of 600 residents and settlers in the southern districts of Otago, relating to the JBalclutha bridge, should be referred to the Government for their consideration. HANSABD.

Mr DeLautour moved that this House coincides in the recommendation of the Keporting Debate Committee, that in future no pro: ft of speeches made in either Houses be sent out from the printing office, except to the two Speakers and the members whose speeches are reported. He said that since 1871, it had been the custom to send these reports to the Government, and the Committee did not see the necessity for such a practice, so long as members were enabled to correct their speeches. The Committee corld see no reasou why these speeches, with, all their inaccuracies, should be given to anyone but the members for correction. Mr Saunders did not agree with the the motion. He thought the' speeches should not be revised at all. In Hansard these speeches were greatly altered and improved, and he thought it wag a great pity they were not sent out to the public as originally delivered, so that it might be seen, the nonsense that wac talked iv the House.

TIIEATBICAL MATTEH3. Mr Dick moved that it is expedient for the Gorernment to have power to control .theatrical performances, and that a bill should be brought iv by the Government giving such powor. Government had said they were alive to the importance of the matter, but he questioned much if they were, as otherwise the recent scandals would not have been tolerated in the youth. It was thought an ordinance for this purpose was in force, but it was found not. What was aimed at was that the powers of this kind should be restored. Tho matter was one of urgent public importance, and should be taken in hand by Government, and not by a private member.

Mr Stewart seconded the motion. Whut Government was asked to do was simply lo follow in the footsteps of the Government at Home and the Governments of othe? colonies. Such being the case, Government should have uo hesitation in the matter.

Mr Eolleston said a bill had been prepared and would be brought down, and it would remain for the House to nay whether or not it would be carried this cession.

Mr Turubull suggested that a more simple way of dealing with the evil was, to introduce a clause into the Municipal Act, giving Corporations the power to prohibit objectionable entertainments. The motion was put and carried. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

Mr Hall moved that a select committee, to consist of fourteen members, be ap pointed to examine into and report upon questions relating to the Public Accounts, such committee to consist of the Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr McLean, Mr Stevens, Mr Wood, Mr Saunders, Mr Dick, Mr Ballance, Mr Hislop, Mr Montgomery, Mr Moss, Hon. Mr Gisborne, Sir G. Grey, Mr Johnston and the mover.

Mr DeLatour suggested that provision should also be made for a more efficient nudit being made of the accounts of Loca. Bodies.

Mr Pyke concurred in the opinion, adding that it was a fact within his knowledge that County Councils had paid away moneys they had no authority to do, and when the account came before the Auditors, that while the accouuts weie correct the sum or sums had been disbursed iv violation of this act, and as the body was at present constituted there was nothing for it but to pass the accounts as brought down, unless a ratepayer took upon himself the duty of sucing the Council for the recovery of the amount illegally disbursed. *

Mr Turnbnll thought as local bodies raised their own revenues, they were quite sharp enough to look after their proper disbursement. He objected to hamper these bodies with too much outside interference.

Mr Bowen dissented. The policy of the Government was to look after the proper disbursement of the funds of friendly, and other societies, and he looked upon the step proposed as a very proper one indeed.

Mr Speight said it was no uncommon thing for the funds of these institutions to be squandered away in the most insignificant way. Eeceptiou3 were got up, the towns decorated, and other extravagances gone into, which were wholly unjustifiable and illegal, and yet the ratepayers were powerless to check the evil.

Mr Gisborne thought in the case of subsidised bodies the suggestion was a very proper one. The proper auditing of the'accounts of these bodies was very necessary, not only with the view of seeing that the money had been expended, but also wilh the view of ascertaining that the objects aimed at had been strictly kept in view, and that the expenditure was not carried outside the object for which it was provided. The motion as amended by embodying the suggestion was put and carried.

NATIVE LANDS.

Major Te Whcoro moved that Crown Grafts be issued for those lands which have been returned to the Maories. Put and carried.

On the motion of Mr Stevens a return of the securities held against the Public Trust Fund was agreed to.

On the motion of Mr Fulton it was agreed that a return be laid before this House giving a detailed statement of the damage done to the railway by tbe flooding of the Taieri, together with the cost of repairs consequent thereon. OTAQO PUBLIC WOEKS. On the motion of Mr Shrimski it was agreed that on a future day the House would go into Committee to consider an address presented to the Governor, praying that he will cause the sum of £500,020 to be placed upon the Estimates as a fcrant for the Provincial District of Otago for roads and bridges. THAT TSLEGBAH.

Mr Gibbs moved that a copy of a telegram addressed individually to numerous electors of the Collingwood electorate signed " G. Grey," and received on the day of the election, be laid before the House.

Mr Macandrew said that it was absurd to ask for a production like this. It was open for " G. Grey " or any other person to send whatever telegrams they thought fit, provided they paid for them. Mr Hall concurred, but thought the mover should be allowed to withdraw it. The motion was put and negatived. DIBTBIBUTION OF HANBAED.

Mr Saunders moved that in the opinion of this House twenty copies of Hansard bo placed at the disposal of each member of the House; and that the price at which they bo sold to the public should be as low as will cover the cost of paper and extra printing. The debate elicited the information that Hansard cost £50C3 per annum ; that the revenue derived from subscriptions was £111, and that the cost for extra copies would be £46 per week, or at the rate of £23 per issue. It was moved as an amendment, that the question be referred to the Debates Reporting Committee, and on a division the amendment was carried. Ayes 31, noes 22.

On the motion for adopting the motion a division took place. Ayes 33, noes 18. The motion as amended was put and carried, and the House adjourned at 5.30. • .;..':■