PARLIAMENT,

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2972, 1 August 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT,

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

THURSDAY. Tub Council met at 2.30 p.m. Tlib Shop Hours, Truck, Inability Act Amendment, and Adulteration of' Food Prevention Bills were received from the Lower House and read a lirst time. The Trustees Dill was re-committed and reported with verbal amendments. The North Dunedin Cemetery Extension Bill was thrown out on tho second rending, by !) to 11. FRIDAY. The Council met at 2.80 p.m. The Bnilc of Now Zealand Hill, Employer's Liability Bill, and the Adulteration Prevention Hill were rend a second time ; the Trustees' Bill wis read a third time, mid tho Police Offences Bill was further considered in committee and reported with amendments. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY. The House met at 2 30 p.m. Replying to questions, Ministers stated that lli". Railway Commissioners were not awir« that the railway employees had received an intimatiou that unless they left the Railway Servants' Society there was no chance of their being promoted ; that steps would bo taken to stop the destruction and export of oysters at tho Bay of Islands ; that the Government did not consider business had progressed sufficiently to justify them in bringing down the Public Works Statement as yet ; that the Government were considering tho expediency of opening an intercolonial cable, and if it could bo arranged it wo.ild make a great reduction in the cost of cable messages ; that fines collected from telegraphists for mistakes in transmitting telegrams were put aside for the special purpose of assisting officers who were in financial difficulties, and whose ca-es were such a» warranted assistance. Replying to Mr Bryee, Mr Reeves said tho Government had not vet decided who was to fill the vacancy in the Agent-Generalship in London. Mr Fisher moved the adjournment of the House, and said it was a vefy unusual proceeding that tho House and country had not been informed who wa3 to be appointed to this important position. Mr Bryee said ho was not satisfied with the Minister's reply. His opinion was that the Government should take the House into its confidence, and ask for its counsel on such an important question. Mr Reeves ngreed that this was a question that affected the character and reputation of tho colony, and lis assured the House that the Government would do nothing derogatory to the reputation of tho colony in making the appointment. Mr Fisher replied that a certain section of the House were determined to know more about this appointment before the House was prorogued. Ttio House rose at half-past five. The Houso resumed at lulf-past seven. Mr Brycesiid he wished to refer to tho attitude assumed by the Government towards the Opposition—an attitude which he oonsidered unfair and unjust, and par-

(i iil.uiv nbn'ixi inj. lie (|iiu'.''l fiurn : recent issue nf the Lyitlotnn Times and |Vm.-lin Stir, t.-.rphs whx'i Im<l l»s,m s.Mit, tn tln'-e p i p«;i s I»y ih-ir W'llmgtnn fvit rc^l i'in' 1 i T . co'iiuno.! rg M :-.li tin) nbHtnid.ii'll '.viii.'h had Iji •ii coining of late from tli" siti 'ii b»iii'h.'s. He went on say ho Ind mids full [H(«iiii--s i ,t,- Urn iicjT.ion "f th" >))i|v>.-i" inn "ii Fii lay night last,, win 11 they Wei'.! -aid to Inwi ' II"walled the Land Bill, and h" hud a-cr-t,illl'"! tlli'V' 1 wa- Untiling "11 that evnillg ill the shape of obstruction oil tin' p.ilt oi Mm (>|,|it.i..ii. Willi ri f'renee to tlio staieiinn 1 . in tlie new-paper* t : i:it the Up- ] -i.: ■iti 011 whip- tl.nj s'.ittvl i'l tfl" I,obt'ieS tint thi! Opposition would no'. allow tJio Government to Uau-"Ct am' business this s'-.-sion, n\cvpt the Kstioia'es, ho characterised it in a slight on their reputation as ]>i>]itir;iiinn, mill hi' must therefore uit-e it a direct ilimial. Tin: lion. gnntloinaii also <;■ in')eiuii• ' 1 tho action ol the Government in counting nut thi> Moniimi Saturday just as a member nf tin; Opposition was rising to refute certain .-tntements which liad linen mad a on the Government side of t!in Mou-u. Mr Buckland complained tint ho had been grossly misrepresented in cnnnectii n with the part he took in Friday night's nffntr. Mr Valentino, in explaining tl'o P'rt ''8 took on Friday night, said the, Ijind Hill was attempted to be thrnst down their throats by tho Minister of Lin Is,_ who had a large majority at his back, 'ihi) Opposition had no desire to stonewall, but they did claim that freedom of speech which would enable them to fteely vi'tKiljfe their opinions on the measures brought down by the Government. Mr \V. 0. Smith-said Mr Buckland distinctly mentioned to him on Stturday morning that the Government would only bo allowed to piss the Estimate*, and that the Labour Hills and Lind Bill would have to pro this se--ion. Mr Buckland rose and declared that Mr Smith had put a wrong construction on his remarks. After some further discussion the matter was dropped. Mr George Hutchison moved the second reading nf the Gaming and Lotteries Bi"l to suppress improper pastimes, and to regulate the use '>f lotteries. Captain Rnss.'ll thought the House owed the member for W.iitotar.i a debt of gratitude for introducing this Bill, as the Act in force in the colony at pre-cut was in some respects extremely absurd, and in uthers a dead letter. The motion for tlio second reading was carried. The House went into coinmittoo on the Legislative Council Appointments CancelIn ti hi Bill. Sir John Hall gavo a long list of appointments made by previous Governments as showing that more than one Government had tried to obtain an undue proportion o£ I power in tho Legislative Council, and ho was inclined to move that certain names ba added to those contained hi tho Bill. Ciptain Rus-ell moved that all the names in the Bill be struck out. Ho objected to this society humbug. Lit them carry on their busine-s like sensible men, and not go on playing like a lot of .schoolboys. Mr Seddon agreed with the last spoaker that very little would come of this measure. Mr Brvce suggested tint a way of getting rid of tho measure would be to report progress and ask leave to sit again, knowing full well that nothing more would bo heard of it this session. Several members took exception to this course of action, but Mr K".es said he was willing that progress should be reported on the measure after a vote had been taken on Captain Russell's amendment. Mr Scnbie Mackenzie said the Bill would degrado Parliament, anil he was certain if it got to the third leading its progre-s would be arrested. Sir George Grey was not satisfied that the Bill should be. withdrawn. It was their duty now to carry the liill, and if the Legislative, Council rejected it they should put a sufficient number of new councillnis into that chamber to carry it. Capt. Russell's amendment was lost by 28 to 19. The following was the d;ii.-i"ii list For Captain Russ'll's anu'vioi o' l (111) : Bryce, Buchanan, Buekland, Dui.hie, Hall, Hamlin, H.irkne<s, Lawrv, Micken/.ie, M. .T. S., Mackenzie, T., Moore, Nmvman, Rhodes, Richardson, Ri!lest"ii. Russell, Swan, Thomson, J. \V. Valentine. Against the amendment (2S) : Bnick, Cairncro:<s, Dawson, Dai.eui, Fish, Fisher, Eraser, Grey, Hall-Jones. Hogg, Houston, Hutchison, G. and W., Joyce, Kelly, J., Kelly, W., Mackintosh, Meredith, Mills, C. H., Pinkerton, Rees. S Hinders, Shera, Smith, li. M., Smith, W. C., Tanner, Taylor, Tiiotnp-on, T. I'airs For: Wilson, Blake, Wright, Mills, J, Against: O'Conor, McDonald, Reeves, R. H,, Palmer. Mr R'es moved to report progress, which was agreed to, and the Bill w;i: ordered 1) be considered again that day fortnight. Tho House rose at 12.10 p.m. FRIDAY. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to que-tions, it was stated that the Government recognised the absolute necessity of a change being in ide ill tho licensing luws, but there was no chalice of legislating this ses-ion, the Government, however, would taku every stepii to prevent Sunday trading in liquor; that tho Railway Commissioners had informed tho Government that they could not agieo to passenger tickets being sold at post olhces or other public offices, nor could they agree to the request to issue annual second-class railway tickets ; and that it was inteuded '.o exempt Savings Banks from taxation under the Land and Income Assessment Bill. Objection was taken by sovernl meinbors tc Mr Reeves' motion that tho House meet o.i Monday night next for the discussion of tho resolution dealing with Australian federation, but the motion was carried by 3(S to 17. Several of those who voted for it howover, stated that if a pr >posal were brought forward to .-it mi every Monday for the rest a' the sf'ssioii tliev would not support it. A motion by Mr R-evea that in future Government business tike precedence on Thursday night also prm-oked a long discussion, Sir George Grey in particular offering very strong objections, but it wus agreed to by 3S to 17. Several member; called attention to tho faulty ventilation and draughts in tlio chamber, and hoped the Government would attend to the matter without delay. Mr Seddon undertook to engage an architect to report on the state of the chamber. The Auctioneer's Bill was read a third Lime and passed. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The Hoils'! resumed at 7.30 p.m. Hon. John McKeuzie moved tho second reading of the Selectors Lands Re-valuu tion Continuance and Amendment Bill. After some discussion, the motion was agreed to, and tho Bill referred to the Waste Lands Committee. Mr Cad man, in moving the second reading of the Counties Act Amendment Bill, said the most radical change in the Bill was the introduction of tho one-man-one-vote principle at county elections. Tlio measure also provides that county councils may agree with tire brigades for providiug necessary plant and extra labour for extinguishing fires, and for tho payment to such brigade out of the general fund of such remuneration as the Council thinks fit. Mr Thompson (Marsden) thought the Bill a very dangerous one. If tho one-man-one-vote principle were agreed to, it would de-troy local government altogether. He would do his utmost to prevent the Bill passing in it j present shape. Mr Bryce felt assured that a measure of this kind would produce a must uncomfortable feeling in tho country districts. The one-mau-one-vote system would not bo a success in connection with county elections, as it was essentially a sound principle that more representation in county matters should be given to men who held a large amount »f property than to ineu who possessed a small amount. Mr Seddon said his opinion was that as long as the present law continued tlio whole of the revenue would bo expended in the vicinity of largo proportion, and not for the benefit of tho district generally. The Government had paid considerable attention to the question, and had come to tho conclusion that so long as the present system prevailed settlement of the country would not progress properly. A number of other members, whilo agreeing with tho one-tnan-one-vote principle when applied to parliamentary elections, could not support the proposal to extend it to county elections. The majority of those who spoke agreed that iu Buino respects the Bill was an admirable une ; but some went so far as to say they would sooner seo it thrown out than allow the one-man-one-vote principle to be embodied in it. (Left sitting.)