PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 124, 29 May 1886, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY.

(bY TELEGRAPH —PARLIAMENTS REPORTER.)

HOUSE OPBKPR' SBNTATIVES.

Wellington, Friday afternoon. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Questions.

Replying to questions,

The Government believed they would bo able to effect a saving in the Civil Sorvice and Departmental expenditure this year, but prefer that discussion ot the method be deferred till the House is in Committee of Supply. They would endeavour to arrange for more frequent delivery of letters at Ponaonby, but there were already fourteen lottercarriers in Auckland district. In that connection the Minister might say that the exteneion of the.ay stem of delayed telegrams had been a great success, and in conjunction with their large staff of telegraph messengers, ho hoped they would bo able to arrange for etill mare frequent letter delivery in large centres. The disparity between asylum and gaol warders was accounted for by ihe fact that the asylum warders received rations and the others did not. The proposed establishment of a School of Forestry at Whanagrei had not been overlooked, and a report on the subject was being prepared, and would be presented at an early date. Bills. The new bill drafted for tho reform of the Civil Service was introduced by Mr Stout and read a first time. The bill to provide for the protection of fresh-water fish was withdrawn by Mr Garrick.

The House then proceeded to the consideration of the Native Reserves Titles Grants Empowering Bill in Committee. Mr Bbyck took exception to the discretionary power given to the Native Minister to issue grants, when it appeared from the preamble that the names of the persons entitled to such grants were ascertained. Mr Ballance said all bills contained such discretionary power, but consented to the clause being amended so as to read that the grants be issued to persons whose names have been ascertained. The bill got through committee without further amendment.

The Justices of Peace Amendment Bill gave rice to considerable discussion in Committee. Messrs Hursthocse and Samuels objected to Chairmen of Road Boards being placed on the commission of the peace, expressing the opinion that they were quite unfitted for the position. Mr Tole defended the Road Bourd Chairmen from the insinuations of liability to corruption made by Mr Samuels. Mr FtrtTON considered that if they went so far as waa proposed, they might also make Chairmen of School Committees ex-officio Justices of the Peace. Several other members urged that while many Road Board Chairmen were qualified to sit on the Commission of the Peace, othors were not, and that even if appointed, jurisdiction should only be allowed over by-law cases. Mr Rollkston feared that the number of magistrates would be unduly increased by this bill, and Mr Hobbs, believing that men were frequently appointed justices from political motives, said it would be better to leave the appointment with the ratepayers. Mr HuRSTHOURe said he would make the Minister of Justice and some of his colleagues blush if he were to mention some of the appointments made by the present Government. Mr Stout considered that the bill would have the effect of raising the status of Road Board Chairmen. Sir G*orgk Grey urged that all justices should be elective, and submitted a series of resolutions to effect that object. Mr W. F. Buckland gave it as his experience that mayors of boroughs were generally brewers or something of that kind. Mr Mauakthuk showed that there were 97 road board? in Auckland, and 150 in the whole remainder of the colony. Mr Tole expr t - 'ni hu willingness to postpone the_ conaidtiiation of this clause, and accept Sir G. Grey's amendment for elective justices if the House were favourable, but the House refused to postpone the clause. Mr O'Connor thought the Minister of Justice should have discretionary power. To avoid unpleasantness Captain Rueeell Baid if they were to havo elective justices at all, he did not ceo why they should be restricted to property-owners. He wae surprised that artisans should not have a voice in a measure coming from so liberal a Government. The motion to report progross was lost, and the clause amended by the addition of the words, "And every Chairman appointed after the passing of thin Act." The amendment omitting Road Board Chairmen from the operation of this Act was lo?t by 44 to 34. A proposal by Mr Fulton, that the principle should bo extended to Chairmen of School Committees, was rejected by 47 to 24. Mr Guinness moved that Chairmon of Liconniug Committeea be made oxoflicio justices, and Mr Wakekibld caused some merriment by proposing ns a further amendment that ovory eloctor of the colony bo ijue facto a Justice of tho Peace. Mr Wakefield «aid when tho franchise waa oxtondod to women, he hoped to see them admitted to the commission of tho peace also. Mr Hobiis hoped they were not to havo puffs or cigarettes in the House. Tho amendments woro still being discussed when the House adjourned, and tho consideration of the bill was resumed at 7.30 p.m. Tho amendments in the matter of extension of tho commission of the peace to chairman of Licensing Committees, members of Education Boards, members of Ri/er Boards, chairmen of Charitable Boards, and members of the Legislature were succes sively negatived, but it was agreed on the voices that members of County Councils in whose districts there are no road boards should be justices. Sir Georok Grey suggested that the discussion might be stopped by an amendment which he moved, providing that) it shall be lawful to elect Justices of the Peace in the manner hereafter described. [Here follow his elective clauses.J Mr Stout advooated tho system of elective justico9 ; and Mr Tolk, in reply to a question, said Sir George Grey's clauses would supersede tbo clause which they had been so long discussing, and would, he believed, produce a bettor set of justices than that clause. Sir Geohoe Grey's amendment was then carried by 46 to 33. Mr Wakefield had no doubt but eventually all electors would be made Justices of the Peace, but he would withdraw his present amendment in that direction. It was agreed, on the motion of Major Atkinson, that tho rota should consist of justices within three, and not five miles, of the Courthouse. Barristers and solicitors, members of Parliament and Civil servants were exempted from service, and progress was reported.

Solo of Liquor to Children,

A now bill preparod by Mr Vraseb with the object of preventing the sale of intoxicating liquor to children was introduced and read a first, time.

Mr Vaile's Scheme,

It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Richardson, "That a Committee be appointed to roport upon the petition of 700 rosideats of the Auckland district on a system proposed by Mr Samuel Vaile for tha future management of New Zealand railway, such Committee to report within threo weeks ; the Committee to consist of Major Atkinson, Messrs Gore, Hatch, Macandrew, Mitchelson, O'Connor, Ormond, J. B, Whyte, and tho mover."

Charitable Trusts,

The second reading of the Charitable Trusts Extension Bill was agreed to on the VOICOB.

Municipal Corporations,

The House went into Committee on the Municipal Corporations Bill, and on the motion of Mr Dodson it was agreed that not lees than 300 people shall reside in a district before it can be proclaimed a borough.

The following notices of motions have been given at the Council Chambers :~By Cr. Crowther :—" That the Town Clerk bo requested to report to tho Council at its next meeting the number of patients that have been detained in the Lock Hospital during the last twelve months, and the average time of such detentions." By the Mayor: " That the Engineer prepare plans and estimates for the best means by train of conveying dead bodies from the station to the varioua denominational burial grounds." By the Mayor : " That the Council forward a cablegram of congratulation to Her Most Gracious Majesty on the attainment of the jubilee year s of her reign as followß : To Her Most Gracious Majesty the IQueen. Your most loyal and devoted subjects residing in the city of Auckland, Now Zealand, desire to tender their most respectful congratulations on _ tho auspicious attainment of the jubilee year of your reign, and hope that you will be long spared to your devoted subjects throughout the British Empire."