PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2650, 6 July 1889, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL(IIY TKI.KIUt.U'U.— L'HKSS ASSOCIATION.) I'IUDAY. Tutt Council met at2.:>o. Hon. Ml- Wuhawaha presented a petition horn a number uf natives, praying Lti.-it C, R. Fonvood, mi absconding debtor, .should be prosecuted. The Fire and Marine Insurance Company's Bill was committed and reported with verbal amendments. The Council rose at 3.45 till Tuesday, HOUSE 0? REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. The evidence taken by the Commission appointed to enquire into the taking of laud at Point J was presented. .Mr Mitche'son moved that the papers be laid on the table. Sir George Grey moved as an amendment that the papers be printed. .Mr Ballanco said if the charges made by Sir (I. Grey were true the papers should be printed. Sir 11. Atkinson said pers mally he was quite indifferent to the p.ipuis being printed but the statement made by Sir U. Grey was inaccurate, and he thought the printing of the papers would lie a useless expenditure. The amendment was lost by 43 to 17, and the papers were laid on the table. Replying to questions the Ministers said they were, making provisions for assisting members of divided families to join Iheir relations in the colony ; that they proposed to bring down a Bill to amend the Slaughter House Act ; that they proposed to introduce a J .ill dealing with Civil Service reorganisation, and relieving allowancesto civil .-ervants ; the Government could not see their way to increase the minimum letter weight; to one oz. within the colony, or permit newspapers to pass free through tho post ; the Government weroconsidering a proposition to ask the House to meet earlier in the afternoon and evening, sitting then till eleven o'clock, thus obviating late sittings. The following Hills wero introduced:—Mr Duncan: A BUI to further amend "the Dog Registration Act 1N80." Mr Marchant : The Bush Firing Bill. Mr Tanner: Bible in Schools Bill. Mr Itarkiicss ; Nulson Foreshore Reserves Bill. Sit' H. A. Atkinson moved the second reading of tho l'ost Ollice Bill providing for the issue of post-cards for transmission to foreign countries and empowering the issue of postal notes payable at any postoliice. Agreed to. The Minister of Justice, moved the second reading of the Patents, Designs and Tr.ide Murks' Bill. Agieed to. Sir K. Atkinson moved the .ecoiul reading of the Otago Central Railway I*>i 11. lie said the House had, by large majorities, declared that the line should be constructed at the expens ; of the land benefitted by it, which tho Bill now proposed. If the line was carried on to Eweburn it would give a very considerable return for the £200,000 of the total expenditure, while some 20,000 persons would be benefitted. Mr B illance supported the Bill. Mr Pyko accepted the Bill as bettor than nothing, but it did not go far enough and did not oven tap the district in which he was intere-tel. If carried to Eu-burn, however, he felt satisfied the line would push its own way further. Mr John Mackenzie supported tho Bill. Dr. Hodgkinson protested against it passing. Tho debate was interrupted by the .130 adjournment, Tho House resumed at 7.30. Mr H islop moved the second reading of the Representation Bill. I t had been said the present time was opportune for making a change in the direction of Proportional Representation, but no time was like the present for laying tin; foundation of au electoral system on right principles. The Bill provides the colony shall be divided into lour districts, the number of members being assigned to each district according to population. These districts would be subdivided. Nominations of candidates were to be sent to the returning ollicers of the divisions, and each candidate to be nominated by ten electors. The Bill also provided for one vt to for one man. The Bill would dostioy localism. The Bill had been referred to by its opponents as being too complicated, but there was no difHculty in working tho system. Mr Ballance said the appropriateness of the system to tho condition of tho colony had not been shown and it would take an average man years to understand the system ; and to mako a choice of a large number of candidates that would be necessary was a huge task for the working man in these days of eight hmnv. The colony was not ready for such a change for the next century, and he recommended the Colonial Secretary to withdraw the measure. Mr O'Connor would support the measure ; the best men would not be relegated to priho denied that the system was difficult to vate life as had recently been the case and understand. Mr W. P. Reeves thought Clause o, limiting tho House to seventy members, the most important clause in the Bill. Although Government is understood to have nailed their colours to mast on this point, in October, ISS4, the Premier had stated he was in favour of a large House ; a little over two years after that he introduced a Bill to reduce the members. The country had not had an opportunity of considering the system. lit Verral opposed the measuie. Mr Fisher moved, as an amendment, that the Bill be read a second time this day ■six months. The Piemier moved that tho debate be now adjourned till Tuesday. Agreed to. The debute on the second reading of the Otago Central Railway Bill was resumed by Dr. Hodgkinson, who condemned the line, which would increase the debt of the colony. Mr I), Stewart said the present Bill was an instalment of justice to Otago. Mr Moss had always supported the railway, but said this was a most objectionable measure. The debate was adjourned, and the House rose at 10.00.