PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 355, 12 December 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

On Monday, in the Council,

The Native Affairs Committee reported on a petition re the Kinross case, .that the Council ought to allow its', officers to api pear as witnesses in any future -trial, or itself institute proceedings . against Mr Kinross

This report was objected to by some hon members, who asserted that it, condemned Mr Kinross unheard.

There was upon this a discussion lasting over an hour, in which twelve members took part, after which the debate was adjourned on a division by 22 votes to 10.

In the Lower House, the Revision of Statutes Bill was read a second time.

The adjourned debate on the confiscated lands, and the Maori Prisoners Bill was resumed.

Mr Turn bull opposed the Bill, and spoke strongly against the Maori prisoners being kept in prison for such a length of time without being brought to trial. *:'

A long debate ensued, in the course of which the Bill was opposed, among others, by Major Te Wheoro, Tainui, and Sir Geo, Grey, and supported by Mr Sheehan, who said he considered that the policy enunciated in it was* the policy of the late* Government, and one which was absolutely necessary if they desired to prevent a Native war. : . f ; , The Hon J. Bryce replying, .said it was the opinion of the Government that it would be a most dangerous thing to release the prisoners under existing circumstariaes. The late Government held a similar opinion.

The motion for the second reading was then put, and on division was carried— Ayes, 57 ; Noes, 12.

The House then went into Committee on the Bill.

The Bill passed through Committee without material alteration.

The Property Assessment Bill in Com-, mittee passed up to clause, ,21. The only

material alteration made was in reference to agricultural implements actually in use, which were added to the exemption clause.

On Tuesdajfe a question by /f The Hon tha'| the following -Was the proposed by G6•verarnent hey would pass before the ibldse of thfaejlitfn, the following Bills :— jple! Tobacco ManufacRevision of Statutes, Property "Societies -Act and Electoral Acts Repeal. other Bills set down would depend t>n the,time of the House. If time permitted he hoped to get "-through the., and Contracts-Bill, Bublfc Jteservefslle 'Bill, and Regulation of Elections Bill. They saw no hope of proceeding with the Hospital and Charitable Aid* Bill: The other Bills on the order paper would be dropped, including the Representation Bill, Electoral Petitions Bill, Gaming and Lotteries Bill, 1 and Alienation o^Maoii-Lands»Bill. If I members would condense their speeches as ' much as possible Government hoped to be tin a;position t6 halve tne House prorogued not later'that Tuesday: The £evision r pfLStatute& Bill passed through' third time; and passed*. • - > ! : • . The Debtors and .Creditors Act, 1876, Amendment Bill was reported with amendment, read a thiid time, and passed. The Special Powers and Contracts Bill and the Land, Tax Act, Collection Bill were read a second time. ';. ;'''/ .■ | At the evening sittingy the" Public' Works Bill, 1879} was introduced and r,ead a first time.

-After the Public Works-statement had been pad, T/* :: Mr Macandrew said that the Minister for Public Works was to be complimented upon %nd : basinpssfike he hadjust mader He to find the-polrcyas'originalryinitiated'was to be carried out in its entirety. , The Bill was ordered to be read a second time;on Thursday. ::. " ' The House then went into Committee on the Property Assessment Bill. A variety of amendments were proposed, having for their object the exemption of different articles from -the tax, but they were all negatived. The following were ihe amendments made in the Property Assessment Bill. The clause relating to the tax on shipping was struck out. >AU property is to be valued at the price it would bring at auction for cash. The Governor is'empowered'by an Order in Council to suspend the operation of-the Land Tax Act. Major Atkinson promised, before the third reading, to state the amount of the tax proposed to be imposed. ■:.'.! : . 'I ',' ~ The remaining clauses of the Bill were passed through committee without any substantial alteration.

iA- long lliscussipn toqk place on the Otago Harbor Board Endowment Bill, which-was ultimately read a second time, and referred to the Waste Land Committee.

Mast of the'remaining business waa of a semi-private nature. ■The Land Claims Arbitration Bill, for second reading, was thrown out on the voices. The adjourned debate on the second reading of the Elective Legislative Council Bill was brought on. The House divided, when the ayes were 24 and the noes 35. The Bill was therefore thrown out. On the motion for going into committee on the Prevention of Corruption Bill, a division took place, the being 28 and the noes 29. The Bill was Iconseqpently thrown out, >; :. ; *. f ? I f i-L The Municipal Corporations Act 1876 Amendment Bill was also thrown out on the mdtion for its committal.