PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1476, 6 September 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

UNITBD PREBB 48SOCIATjO».

.LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, 5 .. WEDNESDAY; <1 In the Council the land Boards Empowering . Bill was' introduced and passed throtigh ; «ll its stages, ■ The Justices of the 'iPeace Act Amendment- Bill, Special Powers mid /dfjritvarjte"-Billy South Island' Native Reserves'Bill, Harbor Act Amendment Bill, and Companies Act Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed..

'" 'lhe second reading of the GoreKelso Railway Authorisation Bill was moved by Mr Whitaker and opposed by Messrs Pollen, Richmond, Holmes, and Wilson, and supported by Mr Menzies.

On a diviaidn the Bill was thrown out by 14 to 9.

The Wanganui Bridge Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council withdrew its amende ment'on the Road Boards Act Amendment Bill.

The Premie|laid on the table a Bill for the Reconstruction of the Legisla. tivo Coimoil, and at some length detailed its nature of the proposals. The Council adjourned till 11 to-day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In the House yesterday, the Hon Major Atlinbon stated that a Bill to embody the dummyism clauses of the Rejected Land Bill would be passed. The Russell Land "Bill would not be proceeded" with-tijM session, but he believed roflectiorf during the recess would show members it was a just and necessarv measure. The Railway Improved land Bill would not go further this session. Tho Rill for reconstituting the Legislative Council would be laid on the table, and the National Insnrance Bill would bo circulated amongst members during t))e recess. Mr Moss brought up the interim report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Government Insurance Department. It stated that so far as their enquiry had gone they saw no reason to doubt tho soundness of the business. Mr Moss brought up another report from the same Committee on the NewPlymouth Habor Board LIB,OOO affair and moved it be read,

Major Atkiksok objected, and moved it be sent back for reconsideration. The full Committee had the previous day reported on tho matter. That morning another meeting had been held for a different purpose, only four attended, one was in the chair, and two of the other three had carried this present report,, rescinding the one made by tho full committee, and, censuring ministers. ;The proceeding was a most extrftqrdjnajjr o.ne. Mr Bapqn, its one of the twq inetnhers, said he and che other- IMv Dargaville), bad taken perfeotly fair means of putting their opinions aud protest on record,

A long discussion ensued, Mr Moss stating that as Chairman, he had, before allowing the motion t6 be put, sent out to try and'find the other mombers.

H«an Evans, Brown, Petrie, Sheehan, Fish, Levastam, Hursthouse, Kelly, Joyce, Hurst, and others condemned the course, adopted by the minority, of the committee in getting a surpriso, motion passed, . Messrs Grey, Seddon, J. Buchanan, Dargaville, and Montgomery defended the committee, and Sir G. Grey denounced the Government as afraid to "let the report be read, and tyranising over the minority. Ultimately the. report was referred back to the committed without being read, and with instructions to meet forthwith. '.-''' The House rose at 5 to enable this to be done, '•' On the House resuming, Mr Moss brought up a report rescinding the one which had riot been received, and which the Committee had expunged from their minutes. Tho first report was reaffirmed. ■ - 1 ' Mr Barroh said this like the first report was carried by tbreo Ministers and two of their, followers against the four independent members, of the Committee. '"'*' Mr Montgomery regretted the Com : mittee had become, a party one and thought it should ' Mr J. Buchanak did not think committee was legally constituted, find appealed to the Speaker on the point. The Speaker ruled that tho.dommittee was properly constituted, but expressed an opinion that it would be better if the members were elected sessionally. '■■■■&■ . The report was ordered'to lie on the table. The Hon Major Atkihbon moved the second reading of the 'Public Revenues Bill. It propofißil to extend power to continue the aprropriations for three, instead of two, months after the .close of the financial Lyear, and to authorise a fixed deposit of trust funds, Mr Montgomery strongly opposed

the extension of the period,.dating' which money could be.spent'aftei? the financial year without'Parlionient being called together.' ■'■■■■

• Sir 0. Obey also opposed, the Bill and a second reading was agreed to. A Jong, discussion took place in committee on the Public Revenues Bill.

Proposals wer ( e jmade to limit the 1 amount to be;d&|pslted any' one- year to 1100,0001# strike out the olause extending the power of spending to the 30th June, but all were lost by. large majorities, and the Bill was reported without substantial amendment, aud after speeches protesting against, it from Sir G. Grey, and Messrs Montgomery and J. Buchanan it was read a third time and passed, ./' The Property.Tax Bill,"Company's Act Amendment Bill, Land Boards' Empowering Bill, and Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill,: were passed through all their stages. Rea-. sons for disagreeing to amendment by Council in several Bills wero agreed to. _ The Legislative Council Reconstruction Bill was laid on the table, and the House rose at 12.30 till 11 to-day. THURSDAY. The House met at 11 o'clock this morning. v : Replying to a question put by Mr Bracken Mr Johnston said the.Government saw no reason why .ministers of religion should travel free |r^e,'train : ' to Seacliff Liiriatio Asylurfcfor tko purpose of visiting patients. '•\ \v Replying' to Mr Holmes'. Mr Connoiw sa id it would be unadvisable to employ the Solicitor-General to conduot and defend in Wellington 1 aotions in which the Government was interested, as it would necessitate the maintaining the staff of a lawyer's office. The duties of the solicitor were to advise the Government on any point of law which might arise, and those were numerous. Replying to Mr Duncan, the Hon Mr Johnston said the .Government would not pay railway employees wages for the time they were employed as jurors on au inquest case. The Government would not supply platolayers with shovels, nor yet gra.it them the three public holidays usually allowed public servants, Replying to Mr Daniel, the Hon, Mr Johnston said the laying of heavy rails hetween Makarewa and Thornbury was proceeding. Tho Government could not at present interfere with the existing postal arrangements at Lake Wanaka.

Replying to Mr Hamlin, Mr RoiifesTos said tho subject of placing lights in beacons at Manakau head would be enquired iuto. Replying to'Mr Kelly, Mr Dick said Bowern's pamphlet on the manufacture of cheese, butter and bacon, would be distributed over the colony amongst thoso interested in the subject,

Replying to Mr White, tho Hon. Mr Johnston said the Government would see what could be done for unemployed petitioning for work. The Government were not aware workmen from the Addington railway shops had been engaged repairing tho-Gatalonia. Prisoners from Lyttelton and Aldington had been employed at those shops doing certain work, but the amount was very trifling. Replying to Mr Steward, Mr Johnston said the Government could not consent to the expiess train stopnine at Waitaki North.

To satisfy objections made by the auditor, the Hon. Major Atkinson moved that the fares of members and their wives residing more than three miles from the seat of Government, be defrayed by the Government for attendance at Parliament. The House divided, ayes 29, noes 15. The House went into a Committee of Ways and Means, whon the usual resolution preparatory to the Appropriation Bill was adopted. On being reportpd to tlje Hqujje, and the motion to introduce the Appropriation • Bijl being made, Mr Smjth, cpinp|aiJiied.'qj W Rrjyato fflemhers M inet witft at the 'hands of the Government. ' The Hon Major Atkinton replied in effoot that members had three days per week for their private business in addition to tho two days specially Bet apart for them. They had liberally availed themselves of the order paper for questions, motions, and for bringing forward their grievances, on going into Committee of Supply. Monopolising as they did so much time, it would be impossible to go on with the Government business at all unless some restriction was made. Sir George Grey in a long speech impugned the general of tho Government and moved ment that mittee of Ways and n ot agreed to until a copy of tfefgpment between the Government andthe Bank of New Zealand is laid on the table. [Left Sitting.]