ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9187, 11 August 1880, Page 2

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

■ ♦ (Evening Post, 7th August.) In the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, the Governor's assent was received to tho Treasury Bills and Bank of New Zealand Act Amendment Bill. It was resolved to insist on the Council's amendments to the Election Petitions Bill, the Attorney-General, Mr Wilson, and Mr Waterhouso being appointed a committee to confer with a committee of the Lower House. After some discussion the Pharmacy Eill was read a third time and passed. Colonel Whitmore moved that the return of the expenditure of the last ten years be printed, stating that a great misconception was prevalent in consequence of the announcement of the Colonial Treasurer that the Grey Government had spent 11-J millions in two years. It was true that about that amount had gone through their hands, but by far the largest part was money over which they had no control, such as, for instance, (he £700, 0C0 refunded to the provinces for land fund. Tho expenditure of the late Government, in point of fact, was less than during the two years before they took office, and at a less ratio than was shown by the Estimates for the present year. ■ He deprecated the throwing of stones between parties on financial questions, as it had a bad effect outside the colony, and in reference to | the statement that the late Government had forestalled most of the five million loan, said he found that on 30th June, the balance of that loan was £3,400,000, and tho only liability against that sum was on account of Native land purchases, from which the Government announced that they intended to withdraw. The motion for the printing of the return was carried. There was little of interest done in the House yesterday afternoon beyond the second reading of the Wellington Racing Club Bill, the debate on which is reported in another column. A resolution, moved by tlie Premier, to hold, a morning sitting next day was carried. The Taranaki Iron Sand Bill was read a third time and passed. One or two motions calling for returns were carried, and Mr Andrews' motion for a committee to enquire how Parliamentary papers were obtained by the correspondent of the Christchurch Prcas was withdrawn. The evening sitting was wasted upon discussing in committee the merits and demerits of the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill. Before the bill got into committee, an attempt was made to get it thrown out by Mr Finn, who moved that it be read that day six months, but it was allowed to be committed by 46 to 14 votes. The debate in committee was for a time an animated, one, each side endeavouring to out-vie the other in regard to the legal, moral, and social bearing of the case. - Seven lawyers spoke on the legal aspect of the bill, and as many different opinions were the result. Mr Turnbull and Major Harris frequently inflicted the House with their lay opinions on • the subject, the latter always using the expression " diseased " for " deceased." Some members spoko as many as nine times on the samp subject, and it soon became very evident that the opponents of the measure intended to " stonewall " the bill. At 12.30 a.m. Mr Seddon commenced to talk against time, declining to listen to all appeals from the Government to allow the business to be gone on with. It was a pitiable exhibition altogether ; on one haad a member talking utter rubbish to eke out the minutes, and on tho other a large majority of members patiently bearing the infliction in order that the time already spent should not be absolutely thrown away by allowing the" bill to be shelved. Mr Seddon could plead no excuse for his childish (to quote the Premier) conduct, because he had previously intimated that he had no strong feeling on the matter. After speaking an hour, he coolly said he bad not wasted time, but wished to help the Government to get on with the business. He then moved that progress be reported. _ All sorts of suggestions were made during tl(e ne^t hour $0 got over the difficulty, but members on each side announced their intention to sit for a month rather than give way. At length, however, an understanding was come to that the bill should pass through committee, and the third reading made an order of the day for 7.30 p.m. on Thursday next. The bill was then passed through committee and reported. On the question being put that it should be read a third time on Thursday next, Mr Brown moved an amendment that it be read a third time now. A division was called for at a quarter to 3 a.m. by Mr Brown, who was the only one to go into the "noes " .lobby. The ; House adjourned a few miiiutqs before 3 a. in. The Crown Grant's Bjll was passed through committep, Tho Countios Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee, ' and besides several amendments being made a new clause was added providing that the Councils of two or more counties may unite for the construction, rppair, use, and niaintonance of bridges-, roaefs, t'r.amw'ays, and ferries in any o,f suph counties. The District Goupts Bill was read a second time, committed, and reported with amendments. The Land Tranafov Act Amendment Bill was also reportedfrom committee.