PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3869, 25 July 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY, JULY 24. The Speaker took the chair at 2.80, IMPORTING LIQUORS. Mr McGuire gave notice of his intention to introduce a Bill to prevent the importation of intoxicating liquors into this colony. LAND BULL AMENDMENT. Dr Newman tabled a motion that when the Land Bill is in Committee be would move an amendmentrtby which land covered with vahijs trees be leased for short*perioaßwtf timber cutting purposes only, and that the Land Boards take steps to preserve such lands. EDUCATION. The Minister of Education informed Mr J. Kelly that he did not intend to amend the Eduoation Act this session by substituting the working for the strict average. PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Replying to Mr Mills, the Minister of Eduoation said there were no fundi available for subsidising public libraiies; and he was afraid nothing could be done this yeai. They might, however, be able to do something in a few years. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE LIGHTING; The Minister for Public Works, in reply to Mr Buick, said enguiriM would be made after the session into the lighting of the Government Print-; ing Office, and some improvement doubtless would be made, PAYMENT OF MEMBERS BILL. The Payment of Members Bill was introduced and read a first time, LAND BILL. Mr Fisher resumed the debate on the second reading of this Bill. He did not, he said, Bee any great merit in the "one man, one run,' jgfcfciple. They were gradually the principle, untu" soon have one man, one watoh; one man, one Buit of clothes ; one man, one wife(laughter)—one man, one every&g. He dissented from the proposal to take away from the lease holder the power to gain his freehold. The system of land nationalisation was a late—he hoped too late—a Bystem which had been refused and repudiated in every country under the sun, and it was well-known that it was the proposal of Sir Robert Stout, and he objected to that principle being promulgated by a man who had parted with, sold, and given away more freehold in the national eßtate than any other person in the colony. He it was who had parted with the Midland Railway Company's reser* vation, which had placed a monopoly of a most unexampled and grievous character in the hands of this one Company. . He adversely criticised the land policy oi Sir Robert Stout, his speeches, and actions general*""!! doing so with the object, he said, of showing what kind of man it was who was responsible for drafting the chief portion of this drastic Bill. Mr Hogg complimented Mr Fißher on his fulfilment of a promise to make the Government expiate an affront they had at one time put upon him. (Laughter). He should support the Bill, which he considered on the

whole a vast improvement in the land laws of the colony. Dr Newman supported the -Bin, although some parts of it were disappointing. ~ "• Mr Kapa thought the Bill should he confined to Europeans only, and not apply to Native Lands. Mr Bees would like a clearer exposition of the views of the Ministry in the Bill. ' , . Mr O'Conor defended Sir Robert " Stout. ~ , Mr G. Hutchison, who he represented a typical settlement district (Waitotara) moved his amendment as follows :—"That the proposal to create a State tenantry bj ©ranting leases from the Crown in perpetuity without the option of purchase is a change opposed to the ■*best interests of the Colony." " Mr Pinkerton, speaking of Mr Fisher's remarks, said he could not understand an hon. member making such remarks in Sir Robert Stout's fIDSPTIfiP Mr Fisher: Does the hon. member mean to implv that I am afraid of Sir Robert Stout? I would meet forty Sir Robert Stouts. (Laughter). I have made those remarks over and and over again in his-presence. Mr T. McKenzie said if the land of New Zealand were nationalised tom/dSHp the tenants would be subiect caprice of any Minister in their rents would be increased andtneir position would become one of absolute misery. Sir George Grey would assist in every way to make the Bill as perfect as possible. Messrs Fish and Mills supported the Bill, whilst Messrs Buckland, Duthie, and Thompson opposed it. Mr Valentine continued the debate He opposed the Bill at some length, and said he did not believe there would ever be a satisfactory solution of the land question until not one acre remained in the hands of the State. At 2.30 Mr Valentine concluded »* his remarks. Mr Fish then proposed that strangers be excluded from the precincts of the building, saying that it was simply a stonewall that was being carried on. A division was taken, when the motion was carried bv 33 to 13.

Stifling the OppositionTile Souse Counted Out. [By Telegraph.] (United Press Association.) Wellington, Saturday. After the galleries had been cleared the debate was kept going, Mr Valentine speaking until 8*45 a.m. He was then followed by Messrs Buchanan, Fergus, and Shera in the order named. Towards fi/e o'clock Mr Moore moved that the debate be adjourned which was lost by 15 to 20. Then Mr Fergus moved the adjournment of the House, but tbis was also negatived. At 5'30 the main question was put and the amendment lost by 29 to 10. Mr fish next moved that strangers be readmitted, which was carried by 33 to 8. The Bill was then read a second time and referred to the Waste Lands Committee. Some discussion enßued on the motion that the House adjourn, during which Mr Eolleston remarked that it was evident from the tactics of the Government that they wanted to Stifle the Opposition, but tne GoyernniMt on the other hand contended' that the Opposition were obstructing business. Shortly after six o'clock a number of members left the chamber, and the House was counted out.