PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2498, 14 July 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [I)V TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] FRIDAY. The Speaker took his seat at 2.30. Thu Select Committee appointed to report on the working of the totalisator recommended that licenses should only be issued to such clubs as complied with the rules of the metropolitan clubs. Hon. Mr Stevens moved the second reading uf tho Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Bill. Hon. Mr Reynolds moved as an amendment that the Bill be read that day Bix months. After some discussion, the second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill was referred to the Waste Lauds Committee. The Council rose at 4.00 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY. 'The House met at 2.30 p.m. A message was received from the Legislative Council that the Customs Duties Bill has passed that chamber. Mr Beetham drew attention to the item electric appliances and machinery having been omitted from the free list as ordered by the House. Hon. Mr Mitchelson said lie would call the attention of the Premier to the fact and, if necessary, a message from the Governor would be brought down to rectify the error. The duty on bacon and hams was stated to be 2d ad valorem instead of per pound. Replying to questions, it was stated that Customhouse officers had entered the premises of R. Shannon, of Wellington, bookseller, and removed a largo number of books in consequence of tlio books being re-prints of English works imported from tiau.Francisco.

That the French convicts had been brought from Auckland on the claim of the French Consul made under treaty rights.

The Hon. Mr Mitchelson moved without notice that a committee to consider the four Native Bills be appointed, consisting of Sir H. Atkinson, Messrs Ballance, Carroll, Sir (J. Grey, Graham, Hislop, Hutchinson, Kelly, Moss, Ormond,. Samuel, Wbjfte, l J arata, Taiwhanga, Taipua. and the. uiovM. Sir G. Grey hoped no members intereit/d in native lands would serve on the comtnittee. ...

Hon, Mr Mitchelson said his attention had just been drawn to the fact that tyvo membors of the proposed committee were interested in native lands, but both wore members of the native affairs committee, and he felt sure they would not allow private considerations to influence them. Mr Fraser suggested tho names of those two gentlemen be erased, and others substituted. ( •

Mr Thompson (Marsden), said that in that caso the native members should not be on the committee.

Mr Samuel hoped the House would not lower itself by making such a dictatorial inspection of the committee. % The motion was then put and carried.

The Tramways Act Amendment Bill was reported from committee, read a third time and'passed. The Mining Act Amendment Bill was committed on a division by 47 to 10. Clause 3: Mr Uuiness moved to subaH«

tuto Lsuid Board fur Commissioner of Crown Land*. J,.,st bv 3-1 to IS. Clause 11, referring to court before winch claims for couipensiition are to be heard : Mr Guinness moved to strike out Mint portion of tlie clause which provided that a jiulru or resident niaKistrale should sit alnno with an assessor. Hon. Mr Richnrdsim said if this were struck out ho would abandon the Bill. Considerable discussion ensued, which was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. Tho House resumed at 7.30. Mr Guinness resumed the discussion on Clause 11, and was supposed by several other members in the objection to the abolition of assessors in Compensation Courts. Sir G. Grey at some length, urged that Resident Magistrate's should not sit unaided. The amendment was lost by 11 to 31. Mr Pratt: moved a proviso allowing appeal fronvihe dceisioi. of magistrates. Ayos. ; noes, Hi. The clause parsed as printer], and tho remainder of the Dill was agreed to without amendment, and Hie Bill read a third time , 11..n. Mr MiHielson moved the second reading of the Native Lands Frauds Pre-veuti-.n Act Amendment Bill, which he briefly explained. Agreed to without debate. He moved the second reading of the Maori Real Kstate Management Bill, a reenactment of the old Act repeated in ISSO. Agreed to. Hon. Mr Mitchelson moved the second reading of the Native Land Court Act Amendment Bill. One clause enables the Government to secure land by way of compensation for advances made on purchases which could not be completed. Mr Carroll thought this unfair. If Government officers had made mistakes, tho Government ought to suffer. Sir (■}. Grey took exception to clauses 2 and 3, which asked them to make good an unknown number of claims. A number of criminal offences might be condoned under this Bill, and he denounced it as a most extraordinary proceeding. Mr Taipna thought it a great reproach that the law regarding native lands had to he amended every year. The Statute of Limitations should apply to advances by Government as to other transactions. It was not the natives who had asked for this money, but land agents who bad followed them about. Hon. Mr Hislop said Sir G. Crey did not understand the Bill. There was no such intention, as he had ase.iibed to validate illegal conveyance, and lie entered minutely into the legal bearings of the clauses to show this was so. No relief whatever would be gi\en to persons who had nut complied with the law in their dealings with Maori land. Mr Hutchinson considered Mr Hislop had not quite fathomed tho depth of the law on the subject. He agreed with Sir G. Grey as to the elfect of Clauses 2 and 3 reading, then in conjunction with previous legislation. MrTaiwlianga said ho would oppose all Government Bills unless they allowed his two Bills to pass. Also, he would not bo content till all tho Native Land Courts weie abolished. Hon. Mr Mitchelson in reply, said the Government were quite prepared to have Clauses 2 and 3 made perfectly clear. The motion was then agreed to. Tho Middle Island Half-caste Grants Bill was read a second time. Hon. Mr lhMop moved the second reading of the Fencing Act Amendment Bill, stating if an agreement could not become to regarding the schedule, ho would not press it. Agreed to. (Left sitting.)