PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2307, 29 May 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

(United Press Association.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Tho House met at 2,30 p.m.

Roplyingto questions, it was stated that no roport had boen received that tho " Tahuraito-Woodville section of railway would be comploted within contract time, but if it was found that such was not the case, steps would bo taken that the Government 'recognised the desirability of oonatruotine: the short pieco required to bring the lino to Woodville. That the salaries of Lunatio Asylum attendants could not be increased, toe attendants received rations as well as salaries.

Sir Julius Vogol moved for leave to bring in a Bill to borrow one million and a-half for the construction of railways. The House went into committee on the Native Reserves Title Grant Empowering Bill, which whs passed with a verbal amendment in committee. On Justices of the Peace Act 1882 Amendment Bill. Mr Htirsthouse objected to a olause providing that the chairman of Road Boards are to be Justices ex officio. Mr Tele Baid that as far as hia experience of Chairmen of Road Boards went, no one could bo litter to Bit as Justices, Mr Samuel protested against the proposal. He mo'vsd that "Chairmen of Road Boards" be struck out. A long discussion eiisued several members opposing the proposal to appoint Chairmen of Road Boards as Justices.

The amendment being put, the words "Chairmen of Road Boards" wero retained by 42 to 34. Mr FuJtoD moved that Chairmen of School Committees be elected Justices. Mr Guineas moved that Chairmen of Licensing Committees be aho Justices, Mr Wakefield moved a further amendment that overy elector in the Colony should bo JusMcob of the Poacc.

Mr O'Callaghan protested against tho subject being turned into ridicule.

Mr Wakefield said he had no idea of ridiculing the subject. He contundod that electors in body wero quite as much entitled to the oice of Justices of the Peace as many who were appointed by tho prosont Government.

After further discussion, Mr Samuel moved that progroKß be reported, but the motion, was loßt.

MrFulton's amondmont for insortinj " Chairmen of School Committees" wa then put and lost by 47 to 24.

Tho House rose at 5.30.

Tho Committee appointed to consider tho Pacific Islands question reported yesterday that they had passed the following resolutions:—"That it iB desirable an arrangement should be concluded befcweeu England, Franco, Germany, and the United Status neither to occupy or annox any island or islands in the Western Pacific, If possible, recognition of this cflnvon,tion by other ports should be obtained.'' That, 'following the analogy of the mixed Cnmniissiciii fot- t)ie suppression of tlio slave trade,' w'h'ioh sat for 'many years at .the Cape of' Good Hope, such niix'cd Commission for tho Pacific might b.b existing of the Commissioners appointed by tlje counteracting Pnwei'B, the said Commission to have all powers conferred by an Imperial Act on the High Commissioner? for the Pacific, whilst tlio united Governments would exorcise over tho Pacific tlio powers which are by tho same Act conferred upon Her Majesty iu Council," Sir Georgu Groy gavo nntiqe to inoyo that the House concur in -tho..roport that the approximate report-on the Maori census shows a decline since last census, of 2641. North,island 39,287, South 2,045, total 41,3332. The population in 1881 was-North 41,912, South 2QGI, total 43,973. The figures,are not quite com; plete as the Hawke's.Bay returns are not all in, and Ohathamialands, which last census had a populailon of 126, are hot inelvded.

The Native Minister, in laying the report nn the table, saidthe returns had been completed with the utmost care, and wore much more accurate than jo any previous census. During the discussion of the Justices of the Peace Bill Mr Fitzherbert said he know a Justice of the Peace who lost a case in Court through a witness not turn-' ing up. The next week he sat on the bench and had the witness brought before him, and fined him £3 for contempt of Court. Also in the Hutt District he knew Another who could, not read or write and when the constable applied to him and swore an ordinary information he took tho document upside down and finally aatd he. wold wnfw with the Minister of Juittca on tie BtfkM.