HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 11629, 3 November 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, November 2 Major Atkinson gave notice of a series of resolutions on the Midland Kailway, to be taken in Committee of the whole to. morrow. Major Atkinson gave notico of the introduction of the Governor's Salary and Allowance Bill, and the Parliamentary Honorarium and Privileges Bill, Eeplying to questions, it was stated that' the question of altering the Juries Act, so as to avoid bringing men a considerable distance to attend juries in towns, would be considered during the recess, — That club licenses be paid to local bodies. — That the Government had no control over the banks issuing notes in New Zealand, such power bping given by Aot ef Parliament.— That a bill will be brought in this session, to amend "The South Island Native Beserves Act, 1883. "—That there was no intention of taking intj consideration the advisability of entering into negotiations with the Midland Eailway Company for the purchase by the Government of the line completed by the company from Brunnerton to BichardSOB. The Speaker informed the Souse that invitations had been sent by the Canterbury .agricultural and Pastoral oiation for the attendance of members of the House at thfcir annual show on Friday, the 11th instant. Mr Seddon asked whether the Premier proposed to adjourn the House for that purpose, / Major Atkinson said that ha would be Qa PPy to consult the wishes of the Opposition on the. matter. Mr Wilson moved, That a committee be appointed with power .ta..oall for persons ana 'papor -*emfc[uxre (1) i-t" «iuopresent large expenditure on education can be reduced without unduly impairing the' efficiency of the present system, or closing country sohools ? (2) In what direction, if any, any reduction should take place ? And (3) and to inquire generally into the working of the system, the committee— to consist of the Hon. Mr Fisher, and Messrs Allen, Beetham, Loughrey, M. J. S. Mackenzie, Ormond, Barton, Walker, Dr Fitchett, and the mover — to report within a month. The' Hon. Mr Fisher approved of the motion. Mr Seddon moved an amendment referring to the committee the question whether State aid can be given to de« nonuinational schools in large centres without ipjuring the State system ; or whether it is advisable that the Bible should be read in shools. A long discussion ensued, and ultimattely the amendment was carried by 38 to 36. Mr Blake moved a further amendment, That an inquiry should also be made into the management of the Native Sohools. The amendment was agreed to on the voices, and the motion, as amended, was oarried by 31 to 29. I Mr Monk moved, That a return be laid on the table of this House of all sums of money expended in making roads between Wanganui and the North Island Trunk Eailway ; also, for snagging the Wanganui River, and building steamers, boats, punts, Ac, and from what fund the money has been obtained. HOSPITALS AND OHAEITABLE AID, Mr Macarthur moved the second reading of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the bill was to constitute the Manawatu and Waimate Hospital Dißtriots, and to separate the Ashburton District from South Canterbury, The principle of the bill was simply to give local control of the hospital funds . to those most interested. Mr Steward, in supporting the bill, presented a petition from 956 residents of Waimate, praying that that district may be constituted a separate Hospital district. He spoke strongly on the necessity for this power being conferred on the people of his district. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Steward continued his remarks on the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act Amendment Bill. He hoped the House would allow the bill to pass its second reading. Mr Walker supported the bill, as re* presenting one of the districts in whose interest it was introduced. He pointed out that the passing of the measure would carry out the true principles of local government, so far as the three districts named in the bill were concerned, and he appealed to the House to affirm the principle, that the districts which were naturally separate should be allowed the privilege of local selfgovernment. Mr Bhodes opposed the bill, as he was agaiust splitting up the districts in the > manner proposed by it. The bill would < also be prejudicial to his own district. < Mr TarabuH also opposed the bill, I &&d jointed out that if tb,& a.cfc wat^tcil <

be interfered with in this manner, I dozens of other bills would be brought in with similar objects. The whole thing was becoming a very serious question, and the bill was most dangerous, and should not go to the second reading. Mr Ballance would not oppose the bill, althoug ie affected very plosely the distriot he represented. His opinion was that they should approaoh the system of "cottage" hospitals, and he thonght there Bhoald be a hospital in every suitable centre of population. This would also extend the system of local self-government. With regard to the Manawatu Hospital, the people of that district were prepared to maintain their own hospital, and he thought that this privilege should not be denied them. Sir John Hall hoped that the bill would not be read a second time, as he looked on it as a very dangerous measure. If the districts were out up in the mauner proposed it would lead to a large amount of distress, and would throw burdens on the districts whioh were not responsible for it. He looked upon it as a large and important question, and it should not be dealt with by a private member until the Government saw its way to deal with it. The question should not be approached in this manner. Mr Wilson supported the second reading. Mr Taylor opposed the bill, and said that Sir John Hall had put the matter in a proper and reasonable light. Mr Hislop quite agreed that the bill was one on which the Government ought to take a stand, but the bill had only reeeutly been distributed amongst members. If the bill got into Committee, he should endeavour to get clauses inserted to provide that sparsely populated distrusts may. be better represented. Mr Jones said that the cottage hospitals worked satisfactorily in his distriot. He saw no reason for interference with the present act. Mr Buxton supported the bill, as he thought that when in Committee it would have a fair chance of being pro* perly dealt with: He believed in smaller areas for Hospital Districts. Mr Hodgkinsoa opposed the bill, and quite concurred in the views expressed by the member for Selwyn. Captain Eussell supported the bill, and said that they should not be frightened by Sir Julius Vogel's set up against it. He aaid that Manawatu was a large distriot, where it was absoaolutely necessary there should be a hospital, and it was surely reasonable that the people of that district should be desirous of managing their own hospital. Mr Mills supported the bill, as he had great sympathy with the position of the Waimate Hospital. The motion for the second reading was carried by 41 to 24. grey's law practitioners bill. Sir GK Grey moved the seoond readiDg of the Law Practitioners Bill, to regulate the admission of persons to practise in courts of law. He explained that the bill had been before the House on several previous occasions. He would simply say to the House that what he asked them to do by the bill had been the means of grnng to America some of its greatest men. He was convinced they would never attract people to New Zealand unless they showed a fair field to all in this direction, and he considered it was most unfair that a measure so eminently just should be de» feated year after year by the efforts of a few legal gentlemen in tha House. Mr Fitchett protested against the passing of the bill. He held himself a Liberal, but the point where Liberalism became | profligate was, he thought, reached by this bill. If the honourable gentleman consented to withdraw his bill, and brought in one to amend the present act— in the direction of relieving candidates from passing the general knowledge examination — it would receive his (Mr Fitcheit's) hearty support. Mr Beeves (St. Albans) would support the bill. He did not consider the question of the general knowledge examination of such great importance ub the last speaker considered it. The real question (to his mind) in the after having passed his law examination, had to pay a crushing fee for admittance as a barrister. He believed that the legal gentlemen who had hitherto opposed the bill had done so from the honest conviction that it would endanger the. profession if it became law. Mr Taiwhanga supported the bill. If the measure had been in force he Bhould not have lost £1400 through a promising lay wer. Mr Menteath had hitherto consistently opposed the bill, but the present bill did not contain an objectionable provision that the previous one contained, namely, that personsishould be admitted to the bar who did not possess any knowledge of the law. He was, however, compelled to vote against it. Mr Hutchison supported the bill, and was quite confident that the practice of the law wnuld not suffer tnrough admission to it being made more popular. Mr Taipua supported the seoond readiog,