PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4567, 24 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Pjsb Pbess Association.]

HOUSE OF REPBESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Yesterday. Mr Shepherd brought up a very long report from the Roads and Bridges Construction Committee, with one from the Surveyor-General attached.—Major Atkinson stated that Government would consider the report, and if approved would embody the recommendations in a bill.— Mr J. Green said the Committee was a hollow farce.—Mr Steward said the Committee bad only taken the SurveyorGeneral's evidence. It was most unfair.— Oapt. McKenzie defended the Committee. —After a discussion the report was Ordered to lie on the table. <

Major Atkinson read the telegram from the Premier of Victoria re Annexation Conference, and stated that at the close of the session Government proposed to send a representative to the Conference.

Sir G. Grey stated, in reference to what had taken place in Committee last nigiit, that lie had written to the Colonial Treasurer asking him to fulfil his promise to give facilities for moving the following resolution :—" That a committee be appointed to inquire into aad report upon the action of the Government in administering, since the end of March, 1882, 'he laws relating to native lands in such, a j manner as to benefit their friends." The Colonial Treasurer had replied that as the resolution waa not at all of the nature indicated he declined to afford any facilities for moving it. Government proposed next session to bring in a bill to afford increased encouragement for planting forest trees. —Several interim reports regarding the North Island main trunk railway line through Hawkes' Bay had been received ; a fairly practical line had been found /—Government would consider the desirability of' removing the Supreme Court Judges from time to time from one district to another. —Government would, during the recess consider a measure for mining on private land3.—Terawhiti an i jNinety Mile Bush j could not be proclaimed^a mining district, being on private land.—Amendment of the law of insurance would be made next session as to borrowing on policies for a wife's benefit.

Mr Dargaville drew attention to a garbled account of the proceedings before the Dargaville allegations committee, which had appeared in the Post. He moved that he publication was a breach of. privilege,—Major Atkinson said he did not wish to take any part in the discussion, but as leader of the House ha was bound to protect its privileges, and would take any action which the Speaker thought necessary.—Mr Macandrew said the statements published were incorrect. —Mr DeLautour thought it was high time the Press was made to understand that proceedings of committees were private.—Mr Whitaker did not see how a bad shot at what might have been done could be a breach of privilege.—Mr George said it purported to be an account of what took place, and that was sufficient.—Mr Montgomery thought if what was published was not an account of what took place there was no breach of privilege.—Mr Pyke thought that publishing what pur« ported to be an account of proceedings was a breach of privilege.—The Speaker said that the publication of anything which purported to be an account of what had taken place in a committee was a clear breach of privilege.—The motion declaring the publication referred to a breach of privilege was agreed to—Mr Dargaville said he was quite satisfied with this; he did not wish to summon the printer to the bar.—Mr Fish said they must hare got their information from some member or official, and it was desirable to know from whom. —Major Atkinson moved that John, Henry, and Louis Blundell, the publishers of the papev, be called to the bar of the House on Monday. He would ask that consideration of the motion be postponed till tomorrow and thought it would be necessary to farther find oat where the information came from. Adjourned till to-morrow. Major Atkinson moved that the orders "of "the jjiay be postponed in order to allow local bills to come on.—A long talk ensued j Mr Fish speaking at considerable lengtb,jblaming Government generally for its conduct of business, bat professing to support the motion, as one of the local bills jias an important Otago one, in the hand* of a Government supporter. —After nearly an hour's talk, in which Mr Sheehan, Mr.J. C. Brown* and others tooU part, Major Atkinson said the public should know what the obstruction meant: It was an attempt to prevent a certain bill coming on because it was in charge of a certain member. He had offered to' hold a special morning sitting for local bills, or to do anything to forward business, but certain members of the Opposition would listen to no terms, He warned Mr Fish that if this were persisted in on this measure, the Otago measure in which Mr Fish was: greatly interested —the Otago Dock Bill,—would never come on. What was now being done had been common talk in the lobbies all the afternoon. —Mr Montgomery and Mr Bracken indignantly contradicted the Treasurer's statements as to any concerted obstruction by the Opposition.— Mr tSeddon spoke upwards of half-an-hour. —After Mr M. W. Green had spoken briefly, a proposal to adjourn local bills till Monday agreed to. j LATEB.-rThis day. The House went into Committee on Native Land Laws Bill.— Mr Bryce moved a new clause in lieu of clause six to regulate the negotiation for land after the title had been ascertained.—Mr Kelly moved the omission of nearly the whole of Mr Bryce's clause to make room for other words, restoring the right of preemption.—On a division Mr Kelly's amendment was lost by 86 to 11.—Mr Kelly then moved the pre-emption clause he had given notice of; but it was negatived by 38 to 6.—Mr Bryce's new clause was added to the bill. He then moved a series of twelve new clauses having for their object, to remove from the Government the power of dispensing with restriction on the alienation of land, and vesting that power in the hands [of Chief Judges of the Native Lands Court. This he said would prevent charges of corrupt practices being made against the Government. —Mr Stevens strongly objected to the Government shirking its duty, and abrogating its proper functions. The clause proposed would cause serious injustice in certain existing leases. Progress was reported and the House rose et 1.35 a.m.