PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 993, 6 August 1872, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

July 27. Id the House, the Life Assurance Bill passed through Committee without substantial alteration. The Maori Eepresentation Renewal Bill was introduced, and read a first time. Mr,O'Neill's motion for the appointment of a Committee to consider the question of establishing a miat in New Zealand, was carried. Mr Reader Wood was appointed Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, vice the Hon John Hall. _ Mr Steward introduced tho Marriage with Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, which waj read a first time.

The House have appointed a Select Committee to consider the advisability of establishing a branch mint.

Tho motion on the redaction of gold duty was adjourned until Wednesday. Several members called attention to the Agent-General's neglect of Irelaud as a field to get immigrants from. The Greymouth Harbor Works Validation Act has been postponed until Thursday. July 29. In tho House, in reply to Mr Steward, the Government said that they did not deem it advisable to introduce any amendment in the law atfecting newspapers or libel. July 30. The House went in committee on the Public Health Bill. Mr Reader Wood has given notice of a motion expressing the regret of the House at the Government not carrying out the resolution of last session relative to calling the meeting of Parliament at Dunediu. In the Council, to-day, Mr 11. J. Miller took his seat t?s a member of the Ministry. July 31. In the House, Mr Creighton moved the second reading of the Licensing and Permissive Bill. Major .Richardson presented a petition from the Primate of New Zealand, the Dean of Christchurch, a number of clergymen and laity, in favor of the Permissive Bill. Mr Clarke seconded Mr Creighton's motion.

Keteni urged the forbidding of the introduction of all spirits to the colony or making the trade free to all. Mr Gisborne opposed the Permissive clauses of the bill, and urged that compensation should be given to those who were affected by them. Mr Johnston opposed the bill as antagonistic to the real interests of sobriety and morality. Mr Gillies supported the bill, though not a teetotaller, because he believed that it would make innkeepers keep better houses and better liquors. Mr Seymour urged that the licensing of public houses would be best dealt with by the Provincial Councils. Messrs Andrews, Bunny, M'Glashan, Tribe, Buckland, Jackson, and Collins spoke against the Bill. Mr Steward said he would support the bill if largely modified. Mr Vogel believed that the persistent agitation of a few had invested the question with a fictitious importance, and that its advocates greatly lacked charity. The bill itself proposes the immoral policy of confiscation. It might in some places be used to shut up legitimato public houses with the view of starting sly-grog shops. Those signed the documents for shutting up public houses should, as a test of their siucoi-ity, bo marie to pay compensation to those whose proporty they injured, lie believed, however, that more strictness should be exercised in granting licenses. Messrs Bathgate, Richardson, Murray, O'Conor, M'Gillivray, Pearce, and Hunter supported the second reading. Mr Swanson said that the bill was a wanton interference with the powers of the Provincial legislatures.

Messrs Reynolds and Mucandrew opposed the bill on similar grounds. Mr Macandrew moved that the bill be read a second timo that day six months.

Mr White opposed the bill. Mr Sheehan also opposed the bill, but offered to support a measure to prevent the introduction of any liquor into, or its manufacture in the colony. Mr Fox made a very long and eloquent speech in favor of the bill. On a division the second reading was carried by 2S to 2G. Several of those who spoke against the permissive clauses voted for the second reading of the bill with the view of excising those clauses in committee. August 1. In reply to Mr Harrison, Mr Vogel stated that the G-overnment did not intend to provide for the paying of a portion of the salaries of the Resident Magistrates in the County Westland and in the Nelson South-west Groldfields out of the consolidated fund. In the last session, the Government gave to the Provinces and to the County in the shape of capitation, all the money that could be spared from Colonial Revenue, and they did not intend to disturb the balance by any new arrangement on the subject this year. Mr Harrison has given notice of a resolution that these salaries should be voted by the House, and that the officers be directly responsible to the General Government. On the motion of Mr White, it was ordered that all correspondence bo produced in reference to the General Government having recently impounded a large amount of the goldfields •revenue of Westland. The debate was resumed on Mr Sheehan's motion, to make the Attor-ney-Generalship a political officer. Mr l<'ox announced that, on further consideration, the Ministry could not support the proposal. Individually, his opinion in favor of the proposal remained unchanged, but he would abstain from voting on it. Messrs Gillies and Brandon supported the motion. Messrs Johnstone and Stafford opposed it. The motion was negatived on the voices. Mr Gillies has given notice of a motion that no Bills of merely a local aud not of colonial importance, be

considered by the House, and that Provincial Legislatures have authority conferred on them to deal exhaustively with all such subjects. Mr Shepherd's motion expressing regret at Ormond's circular as to the introduction of Chinese was negatived after a brief debate. Mr Ormond explained that the circular was only issued to obtain information on a point suggested by Mr Brogden.

Parata's motion in favor of the return of confiscated lands to the natives was negatived. The Public Health, Assurance Companies, and Public Trust Office Bills Avere considered in committee to-day In reply to a question by Mr Reader Wood, Mr Ormond stated that Mr Brogden had submitted proposals to form a company in London for the construction of New Zealand railways, and that the papers on the subject would bo printed. Mr Sheehan moved a resolution in favor of the office of Attorney-General being made Ministerial, to be held by a member of the House of Representatives.

Mr Shepherd (Otago) opposed. Pox and Gisborne" explained the position of the present AttorneyGeneral as holding the Patent Office, and that he was only removable on an address from both Houses.' They would support the proposal if the resolution were allowed, affirming that the office should be held by a responsible Minister sitting in either House, and requesting the Government to endeavour to give effect to the arrangement as soon as possible. They would then endeavour to ascertain if the Attorney General was'disposed to retire, and, if. so, on what terms.

Reynolds and Fitzherbert strongly opposed any alteration of the present system. Bathgate introduced a -National Banking and Currency Bill. August 2. Last night was chiefly spent in committee on various bills. Mr Fitzherbert's Wanganui Bridge and Wharf Bill was opposed on the second reading, by Messrs Brandon, Reynolds, and Vogel. Mr Fitzherbert spoke upwards of two hours in reply. On a division the bill was.-thrown out by 35 to 14. To-day, in reply to a question of Mr O'Conor, Government stated it would introduce a bill for placing all the West Coast Goldfields under one uniform government. Mr Curtis immediately gave notice of motion to the effect that any alteration of boundaries of provinces, or foundation of new provinces, or introduction of new forms of government, were undesirable, except in some system generally applicable throughout the colony. Mr Steward moved the second reading of Marriage with Deceased Wife's Sister Bill. Mr O'Neill moved that it be read that day six months, on tho ground that such a bill would lacerate the moral purity of the colony. Messrs Thompson and M'Gillivray opposed the bill as legalising an unscriptural practice, and as not being demanded by an expression of public opinion.

Mr Stafford also opposed it on the latter ground. The second reading was carried on division by 25 to 21. The Public Health Bill, Drawbacks Bill, Life Assurance Companies Bill, all passed the House. In the Legislative Council, on the second reading of the G-overnineut Bill for giving Provincial Councils power to legislate on certain objects, Mr Waterhouse moved the following amendment : —" That existing deficiencies in legislative powers of Provincial Councils can be best supplied by the enactment of an Empowering Ordinance, containingprovisions of general application, leaving it to Provincial Councils to adapt their legislation to the varying requirements of different parts of the colony." The Actuary's report under section 3 of the Civil Service Act, 1871, estimates the . present value of accrued interest of civil servants, under the pension provisions of previous Acts, at £285,000.

In the Upper House, the Government, in answer to the Hon. Mr Sewell, said that no communication had been received from the Postmaster-General of Great Britain, on the subject of the establishment of a mail between the Colonies of Victoria and New Zealand and Britain, by way of San Francisco. On the motion of the Hon. Mr Holmes, a return of all contracts and engagements entered into for railways and tramways under the Public Works Act, was agreed to. Augusts. New clauses have been added to the Tramways Bill, empowering Superintendents to act in the absence of the local authorities ; and to grant land for the construction of tramways, making the local rates liable, and exempting the general or provincial revenue from liability. \ The Superintendent of Wellington produced official documents proving that the land sold to Col. Fielding for 15s. an acre was worth 20s; and he further stated that Mr Vogel had concluded the bargain hastily, and without consulting the Provincial authorities, and now refused to pay over the proceeds to the Province. It is reported that Mr Vogel, by way of retaliation upon the Wellington Provincial authorities, intends taking steps to secure the removal of the seat of Government to Christchurch, and will place £50,000 on the estimates for the purpose.