PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 991, 30 July 1872, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

July 24 The Sharebrokers Bill was passed. The Drawbacks Bill was read a second time. The debate on the second reading of the Life Assuranee Bill was postponed. Mr Gillies obtained leave to intro. dace a.Bill to abolish imprisonment for debt. The Government stated that they had a Bill to the same effect prepared. Mr Creighton introduced a Permissive Bill. Mr Gillies moved that the Government be requested to bring down, at as early a date as possible, the measure promised last session for the purpose of dealing comprehensively with the whole subject of Provincial institutions and to define the functions of Provincial Councils. In doing so he referred to the events of last session, which culminated in a promise to bring down such a measure this session. He was surprised that there were no indications of fulfilling that promise in the opening speech. Such a measure was absolutely necessary, and it was also necessary that the powers of the General Government should be defined, since it. was found that four Dew ministers, some with fresh titles, were appointed without the House being consulted, when a member of the Ministry also retained the office of Superintendent, and when new officers such as the Under-Secretary for Goldfields were appointed without the consent of. the House. No one familiar with finance could fail to see that before next session some of the Provinces would be obliged to seek assistance from the General Government to diecharge their functions. General Government action and legislation had so crippled the Provinces that it was a subject of grave anxiety as to how they could exist. Some in the North Island were at the last gasp, and only the existence of the Land Fund enabled those in the South Island to discharge their functions. Unless prompt steps were taken, some of the Provinces would be strangled by want of means. If a bill were brought in to render existing institutions more efficient, he would warmly support it, but if it .proposed further to cripple them, or evaded conferring powers of local administaation on all parts of the Colony he would oppose i;.

Mr Vogel, after a brief reference to the Ministerial appointments, which he denied to be of an unusual character, hut which could be better discussed on a distinct issue, said he fully admitted having promised such a Bill as Mr Gillies asked for, nor had the Government overlooked the promise, but, after most mature corisideration, they had arrived at the conclusion that under present circumstances it was not necessary or desirable to introduce such a Bill. After reviewing the circumstances which had led to the promise being made, he Baid the Superintendent and their Executives had, during tho past year, worked much more harmoniously with the Government in carrying out their policy. The Provinces had also shown a desire on their own part to reduce, their scale of expenses, and one at least, Canterbury, had proposed extensive changes in the system of administration. There was, therefore, now no pressing necessity for the Government to force a change, and they deemed it better to allow proposals for any change to emanate from .the provinces themselves. Furthermore, the outlying districts were now contented, and no longer clamoring for interference from without. To define the powers of the Provinces, and to transfer the bulk of legislative powers to the Assembly would necessitate the Parliament sitting nearly all the year. Individually, he did not think that the termination of the legislative powers of Provinces was approaching, but that perhaps the time would come for the division of the Colony into two provinces, with larger legislative powers. This was only his individual opinion. After a ■careful consideration 'of the whole subject, the. Government intended to introduce a bill to enable the Provinces to legislate freely on certain subjects. Regarding their powers to deal fully with these at present, doubts had been raised. Amongst these subjects were the scale of Road Boards, appeals for rating, impounding and fencing, trespass, <&c. The Bill would remove any difficulty regarding the establishment of courti of judicature and tbe necessary legislation on such subjects. The Government were also preparing, but it was doubtful if it would be ready this session, a bill to consolidate the law relating to Road Boards, on a similar principle to the Municipal Act, and, like it, it would be divided into parts, the adoption of which would be optional in each case. He denied that the Provinces had been really financially crippled by the action of the Colonial Government, although their revenue had been apparently diminished by the Colony paying the interest and sinking fund direct. On Mr Sheehan's motion, the debate was adjourned to Wednesday.