HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 137, 18 June 1885, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, this day. Foe the Bret time within my recollection, the House yesterday, before the adjournment, disposed of all the business set down, on the Order Paper for that day. 'Without counting questions, the motions were disposed of with little or no discussion, and four bills were advanced a stage, the last Order of tho Day being disposed of by 5.5, when the Houso adjourned till today (Thursday) at 2.30.

Petitions. Messrs Fulton and Barros presented petitions from residents cf Otago praying Parliament to prohibit the gelling or serving of liqour to children under 10, and that the law relating to tho Sunday liquor traffic may be mado simple and clear. Mr Ross presented a petition from several Dunedin Christadelphians praying exemption from military eorvice. They claim that during tho American War the Christadelphians in Confederate States obtained exemption, and affirm that the current policy and laws of New Zealand are such as to prevent thorn yielding that obedience to the Word of God that they deem absolutely necessary to their future well-being.

Mr Hamlin presented a petition from Mokau Jones, asking relief, ho having been completely ruined by the native land legislation of the Government, tho Native Land Alienation Restriction Act, 1884, having had tho effect of completely confiscating bis titlo to a leasehold and interest acquired by the petitioner. He takes credit to himBelf for opening the Mokau to Europeans, at great personal risk and loss to himself. Mr Tolk presented a petition from W. W. Warnock, licensee of tho Eden Vine Hotel, Auckland, against which the Licensing Bench of Arch Hill district admitted they had nothing to say. Nevertheless, in granting a license for this year, theCommissionersannouncedfromtheßench that they wished to give notice that next yoar, if elected, they would grant no license, but would close every houeo in the district. The petitioner therefore was loft to the mercy of a amall number of people on the ratepayers' roll, and asks redress by the granting of powor to all residents to vote at tho election.

Mr Downik Stewart presonted a petition from the Dunedin Presbytery in favour of Biblo-roading in schools.

Now Bills.

Tho following Bills were read a first timo:—The Employment of Females and Others Act, 1881, Amendment Bill (Mr Dargaville); The Miners' Right Fee Reduction Bill (Mr Guinness); Tho Coroners' Juries Abolition Bill (Mr Guinness); Mr Stout introduced his Representation Amondment Act, and Mr Bradshaw his Eight Hours Bill.

Notices. Mr Hurst, who on Tuesday asked the Minister of Works a series of questions rogarding railways, is on the war-path again. To-day he moves for returns showing cost of maintenance of the Governor's residence sinra 1879, travelling allowance drawn by Ministers and attendants since 1870, of the authorisations that have been granted to notninitiated immigrants in each provincial district since the circular suspending the same was issued, setting forth tje reasons which induced their exceptional treatmont, for the total numbor of applications, and whether tho Government purpose resuming immigration on this or any other systom. He also asks tho following questions :—lf tho Governmont whips were authorised to frank telegrams last session, and if so, if tho Govornmont contomplato continuing the authority f If tho Govornmont havo determined where they intond to hold tho next Annual National Exhibition?

Questions. Tlio Governmont, in answer to questions, stated that owing to the largo number of bills the Government had prepared for this session, it would be impossible for them to deal with the question of preventing restrictions on the alienation of land, but porhapa next session they might bo able to do co. It had boen found that a difficulty had arison which would provent the Order-in-Council recont.ly gazotted being givon offect to. The Government therefore proposed suspending the Order and substitut ing a new one. in reply to Mr Huret, tho Minister of Works said that since last session there had beon two alterations in the grain rates. With regard to tho first one, it was not estimated there would be much, if any, loss to tho revenue. As to the second alteration, there would be a certain amount of loss to the revenue, but that loss entirely depended on the amount of grain the railways would havo to carry.

Tho Waste Lands Committee. As I montioned tho other day would bo tho caso when the motion for tho appoint mont of the Waste Lands Committee came on, Sir Geo, Grey proposed the olimination of the words "and billB," and urged that measures affecting waste lands of the Crown should not be relegated to a committee appointed by the Government who had the power to alter or delay bills. Such bills should bo discussed in the House publicly, and ho only asked the Government to do what wa3 best, and what was done with all other bills. Mr Ballance said that no possible harm could accrue from the Committee continuing to oxercieo their functions and maintaining tho old custom. The amendment mot witn scant support, and was negatived on the voices. Mr Ballanco's Visit to Farihaka.

With respect to the Native Minister's visit to Parihaka, Major Atkinson inquired without notice whether the shoithand writer's notes of the interviews with the Maori chiefs would be placed before the mombors; also the notes of the Minister's interviews with Te Whiti,

Mr Ballahcjs replied that as to the first part of the question the re quest would be complied with, but at the interview with Te Whiti only himself and an interpreter were present, so no notes woro taken. Ho was willing, however, to record hia improssionß of what occurred, but must explain that he could not understand exactly the meaning of tho words used in a considerable portion of the interview. So far as the iuterview was concerned, it was on tho whole satisfactory, and ho believed thoro was no intontion whatever of disturbing tbo peace of tho colony or of tho settlers in tho district in the Blightosfc degree. Ho had expected, when the Addrees-inßeply was debated, that the hon. member leading the Opposition would have repeated what he stated at Hawera and New Plymouth, and given him an opportunity of explaining ; but probably he would have another opportunity of discussing tho question and explaining, as far as possible, the true poßition of the case. Major Atkinson professed that his constituents had desired that certain impressions respecting the interview with Te Whiti should be explained, and suggested that a report from the interpreter should be made, biitMrßallance veiy rightly refused to place his servant in so invidious a position, and the matter dropped.

Congratulations to Now South Wales.

Sir Gfio. Grey, in moving hia motion re the New South Wales contingent, said that the movemont taken by the Australian colonies had tended very greatly towards the consolidation of the Empire, besides giving them confidence in themselves. For the hrat time -they appeared to have awakened to a knowledge of their own strength, and had also taught the enemies of Great Britain that if they engaged in an unjust war Britain would be assisted by the resources of a very large portion of the world. He explained that his reason for proposing an address to the Queen on the subject was that no reference to the New South Wales offers of assistance wero made in the Governor's Speech, and gaid that Her Majesty was specially deserving of the tribute i.f respect proposed to bo paid her, for she had undoubtedly, from the first, taken a vast interest in her colonial dependencies. Mr Stout, in seconding the motion, remarked that when notice of it was given no doubt it was thought the Government had been consulted before the matter was brought forward, because he felt sure the House would see what might be termed the charm of such an address lay in its bein<r unanimously adopted by all sides. (Hear). It would be a great misfortune if such an address were negatived or not received heartily by the House. The Government had intended, after the disposal of the Address-in-Reply, to have proposed some motion analogous to that now under discussion, and seeing the position held in the House by the member for Auckland City East, should have consulted him before bringing.it on. There was no feeling on the part of Government with reference to the course he had taken because they recognised the position he occupied in the colony, and indeed in the Empire, and perhaps a motion of this kind would come better from him than from any

other member in the House. (Hear.) He referred to the action of tho Government after the first intelligence waa received of General Gordon's death. As Boon as an opportunity was afforded to membors of the Government to discuss this question (when tho news was Bret rO' eived they wero in different parts of the colony), they found tie offers from other colonies had not been accepted, or rather would not bo accepted before the autumn campaign. Seeing that Parliament would meet bofore the autumn, they felt it to be their duty to submit a matter of such importance for their consideration before taking action. (Applause). Now South Wales was in a difforent position, being thoroughly equipped and prepared in defence measures. While congratulating New South Wales on their prompt offers, he felt sure all the colonies WJuld be found prepared in time of danger to stand side by side with each other and help the Mother Country. He said that when a Russian war seemed at least inevitable, the Government were prepared, after making sufficient provision for our own defences, to recommend Parliament to send colonial troops, if wanted, to aid tho Mother Country. This was on record. He trusted the motion would be unanimously adopted, thereby showing that New Zealand was actuated by the same desire as other colonies, and would as loyally and devotedly help England when in danger as any other part of the Empire. (Applause). Major Atkinson expressed hisentire concurrence with tho address proposed to bo submitted to Her Majesty. The action of New South Wales had tended, as was eloquently put by the mover, to cement those bonds which he hoped to see drawn still tighter with Great Britain. Sir JuLins Vogel threw out a suggestion which his colleague had forgotten, that the resolution should be sent to the Governor of New South Wales embodying tho terms of the address. Mr Fisher, in an eloquent speech, added a quota to the congratulations that had been offered.

Sir Georcie Grey thought he was free from blame in having brought forward the motion, and said it was prompted by a aaeming omission in the Governor's Speech, If tho address was adopted ho would move in the direotion suggested by Sir Julius Vogel. The address was then adopted, and a resolution in accordance with Sir Julius Vogei's suggestion was passed. Mr Macanbkew asked if the adoption of the address implied acquiescence with the Soudan War. He, for one, held strong opinions concerning that war. Mr Tcrnjiull pointed out that Sir Geo. Grey, in proposing the resolution, carefully stated that this colony would aid the Home Government in any just war. It was that limitation alone that induced him to keep silence on the present occasion. A suggestion by Mr Beeiham that a copy of the address should also be sent to Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland, fell to tho ground.

Bills. The Canterbury and Otago Marriages Bill Administration Act Amendment Bill, Mercantile Law Amendment Act, Patents Act Amendment Bill, were read a second time, the principle of each being explained by Mr Stout. A synopsis of those has already been published in the Stab. Before the reading of the Patents Act Amendment Bill was assented to, Mr Peacock said he thought it quite sufficient if the protection spoken of in the bill extended only to the time of the Exhibition, and not for twelve months, as proposed by tho bill. He proposed, in Committee, to movo an amendmont in that direction. Mr Fulton's Chairmanship. In the Waste Lands Committee, the names of Messrs Lake, Whyte, and O'Callaghan havo been substituted for Messrs Mitchclson, Pyko, and Major Steward. Tho omission of tho lattor is understood to be at his own request, and Mr Fulton's reelection is considered certain.

The House adjourned at ten minutes past five p.m.