PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2608, 16 August 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

FJX)M 0 UR SPECIAL REPORTS]}

(BY STAR SPECIAL WILRK)

WELLINGTON, thia^ AA * DISPOSITION TO TALK The Government! supporters disn] av great disposition to talk, arid the wL * experience considerable difficulty"aftSte^ ming up the reservoir of talk whieh;^?' casionally break all round. Mr Rees i * night, was evidently prepared % on Af. Ins great efforts, and just before the Hon» adjourned, he and Mr Seymour G6or_ c h_\ determined to force a division against Ifr Whitaker's Representation Bill, butth^ were dissuaded by Mr Swanson and som older and calmer Ministerialists who can sider that the measures of a politician nf Mr Whitaker's experience are deserviheof serious consideration. ° }

MR FOX AGAIN. Mr Fox, whose motion respecting-the Government advertising had been-talked out on the previous evening, owing to the unrestrainable garrulity of Ministerial sun porters now had another opportunity of replying. Before he commenced Mr j.-O Brown, sitting near the Government benches, created much amusement, by r e « questing Mr Fox to curtail.his remarks" Mr Fox, in a chaffing reply, which keptthe House in good humour, expressed hispro, found regret at the absence of Ministers' which, he said, would spare their blushes' This caused Mr Stout to -mile sardonically' Mr Fox remarked eu passant that the Atttomey - General never did blush and -went on to roast Mr BroW laying stress on the fact that he had been 23 years in Parliament, and had, during 'the whole of that time, occupied the position _f leader of either the House or Opposition. He sarcastically thanked Mr Brown for hig fatherly advice, amidst " Hear, hears" from that active Government whip, audthenwent on to say that if be (Mr Fox) required ad. vice he. would apply to some old leader who had borne thcjieat and burden of. ; politics like the Speaker to some one who was a gentleman, to some one -who was educated, etc (whereat Mr Brown's " Hear, hears"

subsided). Mr Fox also lashed out upon Mr Fisher, who kept jumping up to reply, and ultimately the motion was carried. '.!

PRESSING ON BUSINESS.

The proceedings in the House last night were not lively. The House settled down to prosy hard work of passing bills throujjfi Committee, and, as might be expected, there was a compaiatively mean atten. dance, only of the most indefatigable power. In less than an hour five bills were disposed of in one shape or other, and by one o'clock this morning sixteen bills! had either been read a second _ time, committed, passed, or postponed.

HIGH-SOUNDING TITLES,

The proceedings were for the most part of a tame character ; but in Committee on the Interpretation Bill Mr Swanson again raised the Question of the loug array of Governors' titles, aud the useless expense entailed by the repetition of such rigmaroles in gazettes. Mr Swanson made one of his characteristic speeches on the subject, which appeared to seriously ruffle .the Conservative feelings of honorable members^ who regard these gazette notices with same veneration ns orthodox scripture.

Mr Barton, referring to the title, "Crown Law Officer," said the tune would come when every clerk in the Government buildings would adopt a some grandiloquent name, such as "the Very Reverend the Secretary of Immigra. ... tion," " the Most Reverend the Chief Clerk in the Treasury," " His Holiness the Chief Postmaster," and " His Excellency the i Solicitor-General." He objected to the , titles given by the bill to the Solicitors 11 General. People abroad seeing his titles would imagine he was some eminent legal M authority like Mr Whitaker. . The person f -who occupied the po-ition of Solicitor-., a General was a most estimable citizen He - ; believed, and people would suppose from, his high Government office he occupied a equally high position at the bar, the fact being that he was only a young member of the bar, who had never dis-, tinguished himself. ' ,;', Mr Barff at another stage suddenly awoke; from a dose induced by the soporific-nature of the atmosphere, aud in stentorian tones proclaimed that for the last half-hour, he had not been able to hear a single" word, a aud he thought the only plau of obtaining any idea of the utterance of some members t would be to move that their words be taken down. , •' '" "' '■ •

Mr Stout said that in order to; do away with Governors titles in the Gazette a new, '' ■Act would have to be passed every, yearfc; The title of Crown Law Officer was given" by Sir Julius Vogel because people outside the colony thought there should be..such -im\ authority to giyo any opinion. -. : :-7;a"_-» Mr Barton : Of course, to make them believe he was a high legal authority;they gave him a high sounding title, whereas he may be some clerk in that wooden building. The title, Crown Law Officer, was useleas while they had an Attorney-General hi ; ,the House, whose position .would be ah incentive to the best men io compete. '■'pLLAAAt one o'clock the division belrwasiuag,/ s aud members trooped from the lobbies yawning, but the "fresh accession ;'-;to, memteiS' '■'■• showed outside. There was: an hopeless* minority when the House again met,'arid _* division v.-as- uot, pressed. Still Mr Rees_ and some members' legislative appetitesj| were apparently thoroughly whetted^for^a".; work, and they called out, " Take, another,; bill." Mr Stout, however, moved; the.ad-* jourument at ten minutes past one. a?.•' a* The following- bills were dealt wit-V*' Read a second time—Oamaru Waterworks Bill; Disqualification Act Amendment Bill.* Passed—Disqualification Act Amendment/;*? Nelson Harbour, Southland Boys'- and \ Girls' High School Act Amendment, the i Waitaki High School, Ellesmere and For-' sytb Reclamation and Akaroa : Railway Trust, Interpretation Bill. QUESTIONS. "' -a -y-A In the House yesterday, in reply to Mr J. E. Brown, Mr Macandrew said the sleepers and fencing wire on the Western^ district railway were sold on the recommendation of the Engineer-in-Chief and'; Inspector because too light. They realised £9.000, and it would cost £12.000 to replace, a the required materials. a a." ~A.A. On the question of holidays to rail\\av,officials, Mr Macandrew said that some olthe officials were allowed the" hohdays,but the engine-drivers and and others^ received overtime in lieu. The system-., could not be changed. '■'-'■ * 'a--'"^,"" A return was promised of penalties.--' incurred by contractors. . ..•,-. '-AL ' In reply to Mr Ormond, Mr Stout m&f that Associations desirous of taking upland. : should apply to the Government. c ~ '-■ At the request of Mr Fox, the letter.fromRewi, already published, commenting upon _ his speech on the Address iv Reply, wf slf^ on the table. Also papers relative toi.tnf. :.Waitara meeting. "■:■': RENT OF NATIVE LANDS. ./. ■; Mr Sheehan stated, in reply to !*£ , Russell, that provision would be made.in; ; , the Native Lauds Bill for payment "j%? ■■ to two representatives appointed, by w1?- •■ grantees. ' * • PA YMENT OF MEMBERS. ----_ Mr Woolcock'a motion, asking; the-W-.,-^ . vcriimeut to biiug down a bill this, session.*, providing for payment of members, ,!%?/■ opposed by Mr Stout, who said the Govern,...lent might deal with the matter W^ session, and the-.previous question, .'M'^...' by Mi DeLdtour, was carried, shelving,^ 3 motion. ''-' ■ ■'-'■"- "L. V 'PL jAt^Lsi -AwtTrS^.' TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY AH-^u -' WATTLE 13ARK. '.';;-"> '■ ;Mr "Moss's.motion- for a nf Bfe^ :Ciiurag- ■': cultivation of ' wattle. hax* . « ■;.-- carried. ,Also, a motion, by Mr%|J& a geological and topograplncal siir^^ -tout observing tlmt'Prolesspr^cW^ -crvices.would,--- employed. ■MfiW<*&&£ West Coast, Nelson and Westland, *a»#

Dr Hector and. Mr Cox., were proceedingwith other parts of the colony. DEAF AND DUMB. Mr Rolleston's motion for a sum to be placed on the estimates for an institution for the deaf, dumb, and blind was agreed to. GOLD DUTY. When the House met at half-past seven, Mr George re-opened the ball with a sen- , sible speech in moving the second reading of a bill to abolish the duty on gold. " He speaks with self-possession, and, with experience, will make a useful member. .He prudently abstains from the loquacity which so frequently mars the early career of young politicians. Mr Gisborne followed, repeating many of the old-stock arguments iv support of the Bill. Mr Stout denied that the gold duty was a tax, but thought the matter should be left in the hands of County Councils, whose revenue it would affect. Mr Maudcrs followed, showing how the heathen Chinese resorts to ways that are dark to evade the gold duty, exporting gold in coffins. He advocated a reduction of the duty. Mr Reeves, who declared his constituency one of the most important and intelligent in the colony, amidst much laughter, eulogised the energetic and bold manner iv which Mr George had brought forward his Bill. He did not believe Mr George had been actuated by a thirst for popularity. i[An hon. member: "Never".] Mr Reeves would not support the Bill unless some mode was shown of substituting other revenue.

Mr J. C. Brown, who said he had never given an election pledge, thought the Bill should not be condemned before it got into committee.

Mr Pyke, speaking from notes, delivered his first oration this session, showing that previous reductions had only resulted in a a proportionate falling oft' in the price of gold given by the banks so that the miners

reaped nothing. He made the novel announcement that he had once been young like Mr George, who, he said, would get his political high teeth before he had been long in Parliament. He contended that if the tax were removed representatives of County Councils would come down annually to the House with au ad {misericordiuni appeal for compensatory expenditure. His constituents were perfectly apathetic about the question. "Mr Barff twitted Mr Pyke on his conversion to the advocacy of the wool-groAving interests and his apostacy from the abolition of the gold duty question. He raised a laugh by referring to the member for Wakatipu. He laid claim to as much popularity as ought to satisfy the soul of any reasonable man, patted his constituents on tho back for their political activity, and declared that out of every 100 ninety of them were in favour of abolishing the gold duty. He strongly supported the Bill.

Mr Woolcock thought the Government would set their face against and their foot upon " any attempt to reduce the duty." He went on to speak of " manufactors" and "manufactories," aud repeating several times "Therefore. I hoid it to be the dooty of the Government to oppose reduction of the dooty."

Mr Rowe, in a very energetic speech, frequently emphasising Lis remarks by vigorous thumps on a binder of printed bills, denied that there was any clamour from the miners for abolition of gold duties, which elicited loud " no, noes," and " yes, yes" from goldliields' member,- He concluded by moving that the Bill be read that day six months

Mr Saunders, a stout-built gentleman, below tbe middle height, with somewhat bovine caste of countenance but intelligent head, grey beard, slightly bald, and who speaks with; his bauds in his breeches' pockets, made a sensible speech agaiust the BUI.

. Mr De Latour, who is rapidly making bis mark in tbe House, said it bad been the curse of mining aud industry that some representatives of goldfields' districts bad endeavoured to tax it. It was upon individuals who held no freehold interests. Roads were at present being made from taxation from miners to increase the value of Crowu lauds. He supported the second reading of the Bill. Mr Whitaker stated that miners were exempted under an arrangement made by himself from rating under the Rating Act, as compensation for payment of the gold duty. He supported the shelving of the Bill, and when the Hill went to division it was thrown out by 25 to 24.

WOMAN'S RIGHTS.

The debate on Dr Wallis' woman's rights' motion was then resumed, Mr Dignan, who was in possession of the chair, waiving his right of speaking. Mr Feldwick, with a view of settling the business, moved the previous question, when there was a rush of members from Bellamy's. On the bell being rung, and hon. members appeared while trooping through the lobbies to regard the matter with much levity, notwithstanding the fact that ladies in the gallery desisted from the sham of crocheting and hemming pockethandkerchiefs, and square pieces of linen, aud awaited the result in breathless suspense, the question was shelved by 44 to 8, Dr. Wailis looking grave. THE PREMIER AND IMPERIAL GO-

. . VERNMENT. .".:."' A batch of correspondeuce laid on the table "ives certain correspondence which has passed between Sir George Grey and the Governor relating to the Berlin Congres. On the 2nd of August Sir George Frey telegraphed direct to Earl Beacons-eld, asking if telegraphic information relative lo the C6_gt-BS'should iiot be sent to the colonies for the Legislature to frame addresses on.— On the 7th, the Governor enclosed to the Premier a reply received from the Secretary of State to * the effect that having already received gratifying addresses from various colonies, the Government presumed that the result of the Conference must be known, and that there was therefore no necessity for the official telegram suggested. A series of letters then passed between Sir George Grey and the Governor, in which the •Premier urged that "it would be better for Her Majesty's Government communicate direct to the Governor for the information of the New Zealand Parliament the results of the Congress. He feels that he is doing his duty in pointing out that when a colony has for along period ot time, constantly apprehended the serious consequences which might be entailed on it by war, which it had not brought about, and could by no efforts of its own prevent or influence; when, also, during all this time it was prepared cheerfully to submit to great sacrifices to aid the Empire in the anticipated war, it would {he well if the Home Government, sympathising with the anxieties of its colony, should inform it by a telegraph message to the governor the moment ■'peace was assured. The Marquis of Nbrmanby replied that "The question as to the Governors views is/not whether the result of the Congress shall be communicated to the colony, which no doubt would be done in the ordinary way by'desbatch, but whether it is necessary that official communication should be made by telegraph. Could it bo shown that such a communication were necessary to allay alarm, or to prevent unnecessary cx Pcn^: tare in the colony, no doubt it would oe ■desirable that such a course should oe adopted, but the public are perfectly aware, through the public journals, that a treaty of peace with Russia has been made, and all apprehension as to war has thereby oeen iclieved. Neither is there at present anj expenditure.of money taking place which could be stopped. Communication by telegraph, invaluable as is it in cases of emergency,: is very expensive, and consequently, has to be conned within very narrow limits. Sir George Grey, iv answer,, stated they had no official intimation on winch the Legislature could frame an address. He said v l c Empire of many races had been for months, stirred' by a common anxiety, winch might, almost within the same hour, have been calmed and made joyous by a message that peace had heen secured. Parfcicipation,m, sehtimeiits of this nature insensibly ,-_.nK? mennnto one people. Only two te egraphic ffisfeages (one eastward tnA the other vv-*&'

ward) need have-been-despatched by the Imperial Government. Sir George Grey cannot believe that the "inconsiderable expense of such messages could have prevented British statesmen from couveying a few gracious words, such as the Queen would have wished to utter, to the many peoples and races who had incurred large expenditure in anticipation of war, ',and who were prepared to make great sacrifices if war should break out,! _he omission was, in Sir George Grey's opiuiou, to be attributed rather to forgetfulhess by statesmen overburdened with great affairs; forgetfulness of Avhich he still believes it to have been the duty of the other servants of .the Crown to have reminded them by advice tendered in a becoming manner." The Governor, in reply, failed to fall in with this view, and the matter ended in permission being given to lay the correspondence before Parliament. -

CONGRATULATION S,

Sir George Grey ha 3 received a long letter from Mr Firth, congratulating him on the success of his native policy, and. approving of the new tariff. Several letters have also been received from leading merchants of Christchurch and other provinces approving.