GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 491, 23 September 1899, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEgMitIVE COUNCIL. THURSDAY. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. EMPLOYMENT OF BOYS OR GIRLS. In Committee on the Employment of Boys or Girls Without Payment Prevention Bill, the remaining clauses were agreed to without amendment. The Minister of Education moved the adoption of a new clause to the effect that no premium shall be paid by any boy or girl, provided that section shall not apply to a case of a boy or girl who has entered into articles of apprenticeship. He explained that the object of the clause was to ensure that boys and girls were properly taught their callings. Mr Shrimaki asked who was to be judge of that. Mr Macgrcgor waked, if the object of the clause was as stated by the Miuiater, why no penalty was provided. He wa3 of opinion that the clause would operate prejudicially on boy Ut'our, and there fore moved that the section should only apply to girls. This was negatived by 21 votes to 16, and the clause was added to the Bill, the third reading being made the order of the day for the next afternoon. WAGES PROTECTION BILL. The motion for the committal of the Wages Protection Bill (dealing with joint accident insurance policies) was agreed to after some discussion. Messrs McLean and Bonar opposed the measure on the ground that it was an interference with individual freedom, while the Bill found support at the hands of Messrs Pinkerton and Twomey. The Minister of Education said the Bill was based on the principle that wageearners should be paid in full, and on no consideration should be induced to barter an apparent privilege for a portion of those wages. On going into committee, the first clause was agreed to. Progress was immediately afterwards reported, and the Council rose. FRIDAY. The Employment of Beys and Girls Without Payment Bill was read a third time without debate. PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARIAN. A long discussion took place on the report of the Library Committee, which recommended that the Government should appoint a man selected by the Agent-General, in consultation with Dr. Garnett, of the British Museum. Several members expressed regret that it should have been found necessary to send Home for a man to fill the position, as there were plenty of men in the colony well qualified. Others urged that to do so would be an injustice if Mr James, the assistant Librarian, were not promoted to the position, aa he had actually filled tho post for nine years. Dr. Grace, Chairman of the Committee, explained that there was no intention to exclude colonials, but wished the selection to be made independently in London. Residents in New Zealand could compete the same as other people. It was eventually agreed that the Council recommend the Government to appoint Mr James. The Council rose at 4.40 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY. THE WRIGG CASE. The interrupted debate was resumed on the question of granting the New Zealand Cross to Mr Wrigg, the motion being that the report do lie on the table and be printed. An amendment was moved that the report be referred to the Government for consideration. Ou a division being called for, the voting was : Ayes 30, Noes 30. The Speaker pave hy casting vote against the amendment. Mr Lewis reviewed the evidence upon which Mr Wrigg was granted the cross, contending that the service performed by Mr Wrigg, riding through disaffectea country with despatches, was not a dangerous one, and was in no sense worthly of the cross being granted. The means Mr Wrigg adopted to secure the cross were also referred to, and he characterised iheni as lamentable and degrading. The finding of the committee that Mr Wrigg was not entitled to the cross was not intended as a reflection upon the Minister of Defence ; it merely indicated the opinion of the committee upon the merits of granting the award to Mr Wrigg. Mr Cadman moved a further amendment, that the report be referred back to committee for further consideration. Mr Bollard quoted from the evidence given by witnesses beforo the committee in support of his statement that witnesses had contradicted themselves. The evidence was quite complete that Mr "Wrigg did perform good service for the claim, although there was a difference a 9 to the degree ot danger connected therewith. Mr Moore blamed the Premier for making the question a party one, and using his power to get the committee to reverse its decision. But for tho fact that the Premier made it a party question he believed that a great majority of the members would vote against the cross being granted. Capt. Russell complained at tho manner in which the Premier had burked a discussion on the question after giving his promise on the floor of the House that facilities would be given for its full con sideration, no matter what difficulties were put in the way. However, the Opposition was strong enough to force a full discussion of the scandal with regard to granting the cross to Mr Wrigg. He contended that the service claimed then, if it were performed, was not sufficiently meiitoriouß to warrant being rewarded with a New Zealand Cross; and further, even if all the circumstances warranted the cross beiDg granted, the mere fact that Mr Wrigg was a suppliant for the distinction and had interviewed Ministers and importuned members of the House, was sufficient to disqualify him for tho honour. Never in the wholo military history of tho nation had such degrading means been taken to obtain an honour—a most coveted honour. In military circles objection was taken to such honour being given at the discretion of Ministers, and he hoped there would be a full discußsion when the whole evidence came before the House.

The Premier said it was absurd to accept the statement that the question was not a party one. The Opposition well knew that from its iuception to the present time the whole affair had been a party one, and efforts had been made to make political capital out of the matter. He denied that he had broken faith with the Opposition in regard to the agreement as to giving time to discuss the question. The committee was unanimous that the Government was not to blame in recommending that the cross be granted to Mr Wrigg. Replying to the argument that after a lapse of 30 years the crr« should not have been granted, he pointed to cases where a cross had been grapted to persons after a lapse of 24 and> 17 years, respectively The statement that the cross was granted on the application of Mr Wrigg himself was not correct. On the contrary it was granted on the application of Captain Bower. Then as to the statement that the fact that Mr Wrigg had personally interviewed Ministers on the subject, he could not see any objection to that, as it was done too often by the Opposition,, and if they were they would be more careful of doing so in the future. There could be no doubt but that an act of bravery had been performed by Mr Wrigg. He urged that the question be referred back to the committee ; that the evidence be printed, and then let a most full and complete discussion follow.

Mr G. Hutchi on urged that the matter should go to the country as it stood at present 'I here was no political orpirty spilic in connection with the matter. The debate was interruped by 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. VARIOUS BILLS. The Amendment of Payment of Jurors Bill was brought down by Governor's message. It provided for payment of jurors at 8s a day if over four hours engaged on a case ; if under that time, 4s per day. The House went into committee on the Volunteers and Military Officers Parliamentary Privileges Bill. Clause 2 was omitted and a new clause added, repealiug clause 11 of the Disqualification Bill, in the direction of enabling a person to take his seat immediately upon being appointed to the Council, or being (lected to the Upper instead of after six months. A long discussion followed on the proposal to alter the title of the Bill. . The question of the reform of the Upper House being raised, eventually a motion by. the Premier that progress be reported was carried. In committee on the Jurors Bill, anew clause was added, providing for payment of coroners' jurors at 8s per day for over four hours, and 4s per day under four hours. The Bill was reported with amendments and the House rose at 1.15 a.m. FRIDAY. SUPERINTENDENT OF ASYLUMSIn reply to Mr Rolleston, Mr Seddon said that the cable message published in the papers that a superintendent of asylums had been appointed at Home was incorrect. An appointment of a man specially qualified had been made to an asylum. THE WRIGG CASE. Mr G. Hutchison resumed the debate. He condemned the reflection cast by the Premier upon two of the present holders of the New Zealand Cross, and quoted from the Gazette a record of the services performed by the two men in question in refutation of the slur cast upon them. He traced the history of Wrigg's application for the decoration up to the time when the Defence Department informed Wrigg that the list of those whose claims would be considered had closed. Then commenced the exercise of political influence, culminating in the Cross being granted to Wrigg. Even if Wrigg had earned the decoration it was against the military code that it should be granted on personal application. Mr Duthie deprecated the attack made by the Premier on one of the holders of the Cross. The person referred to had worthily earned the distinction, and his whole life had been an exemplary one. Mr Fisher said the people of the country were as sick of the Wrigg case as they were of the Marine scandal, and he hop'ed the question would be settled. The fact stood out clear that Wrig>; had proved his claim to the distinction, and having been given it the Government should stand by the award. He ques tioned whethor the Government or Parliament could now take the cross away, as it was really granted.

Mr Rolleston condemned the inconsistent attitude taken up by the previous speaker in regard to supporting tho motion to refer the report back to the Committee. It was true that the Committee did not intend to reflect upon the Government in stating that Wrigg was not entitled to the cross ; it was for the House to do that. He characterised the granting in defiance of the law of one of the highest distinctions that could be given to a military man as degrading and a great impropriety. The Ministry had determined to baulk the enquiry into the matter. Mr Field had attempted to whitewash the Government in its action ; but nothing could do that.

Mr Meredith said that the question had now assumed a purely party aspect. The Government had not burked the question. The petition against the granting of the Cross was got up by the member for Patea merely for the purpose of getting a slap at the Government, and was signed by only some half-a-dozcn person. Reviewing the evidence, he thought that it was idle for anyone to contend that the service performed by Wrigg was not of a highly dangerous character.

Mr Hcrrics narrated the experiences of settlers in the district through which Wrigg rode with despatches, showing that the dangers alleged to have been encountered by Wrigg were daily incurred by residents of the district. The fact was that the Cross had not been granted on documentary evidence, but sufficient political influence had been brought to bear upon Ministers to disgust many old soldiers who had rendered good service, and who had told him that they would sooner tear the decoration off their breast, did they possess it, rather than see it tlegraded, as it had been, by its bestowal upon Wrigg. Mr Morrison said it was perfectly clear from the speeches of Opposition members that it was not the degradation of the New Zealand Cross that they were concerned about, but that they desired to seize an opportunity to attack tho Government. He believed that Wrigg's services did not warrant the Cross being granttd. Mr Monk, referring to the admission by last speaker that a mistake had been made, said that if the Government had aditted that the debate would not have taken place.