HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 10235, 27 June 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS. Amongst the petitions presented was one by Mr Bryce, which he characterised as one of unusual impoitarjce. It was from Wahanui, Tawnui, Manga, and 412 other principal natives of the Waikato, praying for some less expensive method of investigating the title to native land and dealing with it afterwards. The petition was read, and ordered to be printed. PUBLIC BEVENUH3 ACT. Major Atkinson gave notice that he • would move to have the Public Revenues Act referred to the Public Accounts Committee, to consider whether any alteration therein is necessary, PERSONAL EXPLANATION. Mr M. W. Green, as a matter of personal explanation, said that he had, on further inquiry, found that the charges he had inada on Tuesday night against the Government, in regard to the administration of justice, were without foundation, and therefore, as a matter of duty, he begged to withdraw them. — Major Atkinson expressed his pleasure at the request. MINISTERIAL ANSWERS. Replying to questions, Ministers said that the Government would give every encouragement to promoting the emigration of fishermen from the North of Scotland in their own vessels. If any additional facilities were required by the deferred payment settlers in the Waikato, as to the place of payment, they would be made. He did not think there would be any difficulty iu complying with the request of the South Canterbury Education Board as to land for a road to the new school at Waimate. The Government did not intend to bring in a Riparian Rights Bill. The Government were not prepared to introduce an Act to repeal the Contagious Diseases Act. Government did not intend to establish reformatories apart from the industriSl schools, the classification in which would suffice. The railway between Waverley and Patea would be open for traffic next month. It was the intention of the Government to ask the House'to renew the West Coast Peace Preservation Aofc until the end of next session. Government had no power to prevent solicitorf , coßts being oharged on summonses in the Resident Magistrate's Court, or they would do so. It would be prevented in the local courts under the new Bill. It would be a great inconvenienee to order the olearing of all buildings on the railway reserve in Bast-street, Ashburton, and Government would not do it. It would not be convenient to have all inquiries,into all aooidents on the railways open to the Press. Government would not free the Tamaki Bridge from toll, as had been done at Hamilton end Wanganui, unless the local bodies would undertake to keep it in repair. Uoverninent did not intend to offer any of the Lake Ellismere reserve for sale until a soheme for draining the lake had been adopted. The looally-mado brown paper was so brittle that for many purposes Government had to import a tougher kind. If equally good paper could be made here the Government would \ue it. REPEAL OP THE CONSTITUTION ACT. The Speaker, before calling on Sir G. Grey to move for leave to introduce a Bill to repeal, so far as it relates to New Zealand, an Act of the Imperial Parlia - ment known as the Constitution Act, said that it would be for the House to consider whether it would permit a Bill to be introduced, the effeot of whioh was to declare ourselves free from Imperial control, and whether it was consistent with their own dignity to assume powers which were distinctly prohibited. — Sir G. Grey contended that an Act of the Imperial Parliament of 1865 removes the restrictions imposed by the Act of 1857 on the powers of the Assembly to repeal certain sections of the Constitution Act. The course he proposed was strictly legal and constitutional. The Bill, of course, could have no effect unless assented to by the Crown. — Major Atkinson regretted that Sir G. Grey had not withdrawn his Bill after the Speaker's expression of opinion. Government had looked into the matter, and arrived at the eonolusion that the House had no such power as the Bill assumed. The Act of 1865 did not give any such power, and the prohibition of 1857 was clear and precise. If the House desired power to abolish the Legislative Council, it should pass a resolution inviting tho Imperial Legislature to pass such a Bill, as the present one would render the House ridiculous. Only the Imperial Parliament could repeal its own legislation. He appealed to Sir G. Grey to withdraw the Bill. — Mr Montgomery said that Sir G. Grey simply proposed to put in the form of a Bill what was really a resolution, which would have no effect until the Queen assented to it. The Assembly surely had the power. He would therefore support Sir G. Grey. — Mr Shepherd would also support the introduction of the Bill, as a test of the power of the House to deal with amendments of the constitution. Sir George Grey, in reply, said that a mere resolution of the House would not have the same effect as the Bill, On a division leave to introduce the Bill was granted by 38 to 34. The following is the division list on Sir George Grey's Constitution Bill : — Ayes 38 : Barron, Bathgate, Braoken, J, 0. Brown, J. Buchanan, Cadman, Daniel, Dargaville, De Lautour, Duncan, Feldwick, Fish, George, M. W. Green, Grey, Harris, Hutchison, Ivess, Joyce, Kelly, Levestam, McAndrew, F. W. McKenzie, McDonald, J. McKenzie, Montgomery, Moss, O'Callaghan, Pyke, Seddon, Shepherd, Shrimski, Smith, Steward, Swanson, J. W. Thomson, Tole, W. White. Noes 34 : Allwright, Atkinson, Beetham, Bryce, W. C. Buchanan, Dick, Dodson, Fergus, FitzGerald, Fulton, J. Green, Hurst, Hursthouse, Mason, Mollraith, McMillan, Mitchelson, Munro, Peacock, Petrie, Poslethwaite, Rolleston, Shaw, Stevens, Sutt««, Sutton, Tawhai, H, Thomson, Trimble, Watt, Wynn Williams. NEW BILLS. Tho following Bills were introduced and read a first time : — Prevention of Frauds Against Insurance Companies (Mr Ivess), Masterton and Greytown Lands Management Bill (Mr Beetham) , Abolition of Education Districts and Education Boards Bill. Westland Education District Subdivision Bill (Mr Seddon). The Native Affairs Committee was appointed, and several unopposed returns ordered. BANKRUPTCY DILL. Mr Coßolly moved the second reading of the Bankruptcy Bill, briefly explaining its provisions. — After brief remarks from M>ssrs Trimbl.; and Pea- i cock, Mr Hursthouse moved au amend- ' ment to refer the Bill back to the

Government to amend, so as to repeal i all bankruptcy laws, and provide that " no debts be recoverable after five years 1 from the date of being contracted. — The i debate was interrupted. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Barron admitted, the Bankruptcy Bill to be an improvement on the present law, but thought it would be better to abolish all bankruptcy lw, and leave debtors aud creditors to settle matters between themselves.— Mr Joyce thought that all bankrupts should be sent to gaol until their estates were finally wound up. Assignees should be licensed, and should pay a fee. — -Mr Ivess supported the second reading of the Bill. No petition ought to be - filed when the debts were below Mr I Fish heartily approved of the Bill. — Messrs Monro and Posflethwaite also supported the Bill. — Mr Smith thought that the Bill would require great amendments. —Mr Braoken supported the amendment.— Capt. MoKenzie thought that if legal process for the recovery of a debt was done away with, a bankruptcy law would be unnecessary. — Major Atkinson moved the adjournment of the debate to enable the Government to consider the effect of the amendment, which at first sight had much of his sympathy. It was worthy of consideration at any rate. After some discussion the motion for adjournment was agreed to. fisheries bill. Mr Dick moved the second reading of the Fisheries Bill, and said that it was a reprint of the Bill of last so>sion. — Mr Moss strongly opposed the Bill on the same grounds that he did last session. — Mr Cadman would support the Bill, if allowed to introduce certain amendments to suit the oyster trade in his district. ' — Mr Macandrew supported the Bill. — Mr Seddon opposed the BiH, as it was 1 framed simply in the interests of the Acclimatisation Society, tie moved the adjournment of the debate. — Messrs - Hutchison, O'Callaghan, and Smith ' opposed the Bill. — Mr Montgomery sup- ; ported the adjournment. .. After some i further discussion the motion for ad- ' journment was lost by 37 to 30.