PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2509, 9 August 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY. Thk Legislative Council sat at 2.30. The Lund Act Amendment Bill was recommitted and reported with amendments. The adjourned debate on the Fair Rent Bill was continued by the Hon. Dr. Pollen, who moved it be read this day six months. The debate was interrupted by the dinner adjournment. At 7.30 after lengthy debate on Fair Rent Bill, the Council divivded on the question "That the words proposed to be omitted stand stand part of the question," ayes, 5 ; noes, 22. The Council rose at 9. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY. After 2 a.m. the following business was transacted :— Class 12, Public Buildings and Domains, £27,150. Passed. Class 11, working railways, £090,000. Mr Fish drew the attention of the Government to the action of the stationmaster at Mosgiel in interfering in the last general election. Hon. Mr Mitahelson said the matter had not been brought under his notice. In reply to a question, Hon. Mr Mitcheteon said the railway estimates had not buen reduced because the Government hoped to see a Board constituted shortly, whose business it would be to deal with the matter. Mr J. McKenzie strongly condemned Mr Maxwell's management, and moved to reduce his salary by £250> Hon. Mr Mitchelson defended Mr Maxwell, saying the feeling against him was on purely personal grounds. Mr O'Connor also took Mr Maxwell's part. The Premier said he had received complaints against the railway manager, which aeemsd well grounded, but in every instance he found Mr Maxwell in the right. Mr Duncan supported Mr Mackenzie's views, and after a lengthy debate, lasting till 5.15 a.m. the committee divided on the amendment, which was lost by 32 to 21. The Premier said the Government would undertake if no Board were appointed to make considerable reduction in the vote, and give the House an opportunity of considering them, he accepted reductions of £10,000 on the total vote on this understanding and the amount then passed. The House rose at 5.40 a.m. till 7.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. Replying to Mr Seddon, the Premier said the Public Works Statement would be delivered after the Native Bills and 'Frisco service were disposed of. The Premier intimated, at the request of a native deputation, ho had consented to postpone the Kative Bills till to-morrow, but no further, Sir G. Grey said there would be no objection to hearing Maoris interested, at the bar of the House, so long as they appointed one or two spokesmen only. Taiwhanga gave a formal notice that he intended to stonewall the Native Bills in committee. Messrs Fish and Samuels opposed the appearance of Maoris at the bar, and Messrs Carroll, Ormond and others supported the proposal. Mr Ballance said the spokesmen ought to be representative of the whole Maori people and not of a section only. In view of the technical nature of the legislation proposed, every consideration should be shown to the natives who would naturally find it very difficult to understand. After some further discussion progress was reported on the Bills after they had been formally taken into Committee. The "Customs Duties Consolidation Act Amendment, Proclamations Validation, Ross Compensation and Mackenzie Land Bills, Interpretation Bill, Land Transfer Act Amendment and Native Contracts and Promises Bills were read a second time without debate, also Post-office Foreign Parcels and District Courts Act Amendment Bills.