OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 143, 18 June 1891, Page 7

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The second session of the eleventh Parlia. meut of New Zealand was opened at Wellington on Thursday, the 11th instant, by the Governor. Forty five members of tho House were present. The ceremony was witnessed by a large attendance of the public. The debate on the motion to present an Address-in-Reply to the Governor's speech collapsed. Mr Maguire, on rising to move the resolution, was well received, and made a very fair speech. Mr Buick, the talented young labour member, to whom was allotted the seconding of the motion, made an admirable speech full of eloquence and abounding in sound sentiments.

Hon. Mr Bryce moved the adjournment of the debate, which having been losb, the Opposition declined to continue the debate, and the motion to present an address-in-reply to the Governor's speech was carried.

The first skirmish of the session arose upon a motion of tho Premier to record a report and certificate of the judges upon Mr Allen's disqualification for Te Aroha seat upon the journals of the House. Mr Ballance proposed to do this on the following day, but the Speaker ruled that it must be done forthwith. Mr Bryce thereupon made an able appeal on behalf of Mr Allen, and urged that further action should not be taken pending the consideration of the petition now being signed by the Te Aroha electors, setting out Mr Allen's innocence of any attempt to break the law. The matter was formally disposed of by the Premier moving that the writ be issued for fche return of a member for tho electoral district of Te Aroha, and this was agreed to.

The papers relating to Judge Edwards' case have been sent to England through the Crown Solicitor. The Government say that so far as employing counsel to appear before the Privy Council in support of their appeal, steps are taken by the AgentGeneral.

It would appear from the despatches laid before the House that the Governor approves of the stand taken by New Zealand in regard to federation with Australia. In a cable to Lord Knutsford he saya he has not been able to find any indication of a desire on the part of New Zealand to join in the proposals made by Sir H. Parkes. He is disposed to believe that even in Australia federation will not bo accomplished within a very short time, and that in any case further consolidation and discussion will be required to grapple with the existing difficulty. The proposal to break down the wall of protection set up in Australia and New Zealand against each other, which now costs £144,000 on New Zealand exports and £18,000 on Australian, he says, is not sufficient to tempt the colony into federation ; but the prospect of consolidating: New Zealand and Australian debts, and the conversion into a Commonwealth, even at greatly reduced rates of interest, would have a much better chance of smoothing , away the difficulties which New Zealand statesmen see. The Government propose to tax totalisators, which at present are nob revenue producers. The proposed reduction of the New Zealand letter postage to one penny comes into operation on July Ist, if the Bill has then passed both Houses, and if not it will be deferred till August.- No difficulty is anticipated in obtaining consent to the proposal. The direct steam service has been renewed under the same arrangement as at present for the same period as the new 'Frisco contract. Messrs Hutchison, Fish, and Fisher are now regarded as having practically declared themselves in opposition to the Government;. An exhaustive report has been presented by Messrs Kees and Carroll, the Native Land Laws Commission. It deals with the evil efl'ects of the existing system of dealing with native lands. The remedy proposed is that the Native .Land Board should be a corporated body, and should be composed of six members, three appointed by Governor and three elected by the whole tribeal Committees of the North Island. In this board should be vested all the Maori reserves of the North Island with the sole power of leasing: Maori tribal lands under direction from the native committees of the various blocks, anrf with full power to act in all things for the welfare of tho Maori people. The Board should also be authorised to compromise with the Government and private persons in claims made to Maori lands not held severally, and only when assented to by three - fourths of the natives affected in the administration of the lands not held in several. The Commissioners suggest return to open and tribal dealings. The desirability of granting an adequate

area of land, on sole condition of beneficial occupation, to every man who is willing to work, with a view to reduce the number of unemployed, was urged upon the House by Mr Fisher.

"Mr Jackson Palmer has been informed by the Hon. Mr Seddon, in reply to a question in the House, that on the 31st March last the unexpended balance of the North Island main trunk railway loan was £356,107. Under the North Island Main Trunk Railway Act, 18S6, Amendment Act, 1889, a portion of the funds available for this line was allocated for the purchase of native lands within the railway area of this allocation, a sum of £83,821 waa available. This formed part of the total unexpended balance, so that £292,276 was now available for the construction of the railway, and roads giving access thereto. The total expenditure on account of tho acquisition of land to the 31st March last was £136,454. The expenditure of money otherwise was as follows :—Departmental surveys, £12,572 ; railway construction, £394,942; roads giving access to railway, £48,137; purchase of native land, £136,454 ; charges and expenses of raising loan, £51,788. Notice was given by Hon. \V. R. Reeves of the intention of the Government to reintroduce the Labour Bills of the previous session.

Mr Fisher is asking for a return of all 3umß expended on the surveys of the North Island Main Trunk Railway.

Mr Fisher moves to have the Government banking account distributed amongst the banking institutions of the colony, and that the various banks be invited to submit tenders.

There were, in December last, 1,497 registered insane persons in the colony, being an increase over the preceding year of 36 inmates. Amongst the most urge nt asylum requirements is the expenditure of £1,000 to secure sufficient ventilation 'or the Auckland institution.