General Assembly.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 213, 9 August 1878, Page 3

General Assembly.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1. The Government promised, on the- motion of Mr Se.iton, to lay before the House all correspondence that passed "with the Dunedin, Ocean Beach, and Peninsula Railway Company relative to the construction of that railway. In reply to Mr Stevens, The Premier said that nfter the Financial Statement was made the Government would intimate the course they intended to pursue regarding the management of hospitals and other charitable institutions. Mr Stevens asked whether fees for the inspection of 'public maps are charged at the Land Offices afriChristehurch or elsewhere ? and, if so, hy what authority such charges are made, and whether the Government will take steps to put an end to the practice ? Mr Stout said it was customary to charge a small fee to those who inspected record maps in quest of information. They found that if this were not done the maps would fioon 'be destroyed. Any charge made was wilder, the authority of the Minister of Lands. Mr Hursthouse asked whether tke flying survey promised last session of the j railway from Nelson to Motueka had been j made ? and, if so, r will the Government lay the surveyor's report before the House 1 j Mr Maeandrew hoped to be able in a j few days to place on the table the result j of what had been done in the matter. Replying to other questions, the Government said they had no intention of introducing this session a Land Drainage Bill or a Bill for the Regulation of Coal-mines. Mr Barton gave notice to move — '' That the large powers with which the police are entrusted should be watched. That serious charges having been made against the police of Wellington by a member, and the charges having been strongly commented on by the Press of the Colony, and that these charges not having hoen properly investigated, the Government should take steps without delay to have them investigated. " The Address to His Excellency was presented to him at 3.30. Mr HuUon moved for a return of all officers whose services had been dispensed with since the Ist December, 1875, with the salaries attached to their offices, compensation paid, and also the names of any officers appointed since that date, and the nature of the appointments and amounts of salary. The motion was agreed to. A number of Bills were introduced and read a first time, including the Licensing Bill, Electoral Bill, and Bills for the prevention of corrupt practices at Elections, and for the punishment of fraudulent debtors. Mr R/iirsthouso moved that a copy of the police report referring to the 'attempt to destroy the triumphal arch erected at New Plymouth on the occasion of the Premier's visit there during the month of February, together with all correspondence relative to the said report, be laid before the Hoii3C. He wished to emphatically deny that he vi r as in any way concerned in the attempt to tear down the arch. Indeed he absented himself intentionally. He complained that his name had connected with the arch business, and he had therefore been branded in all the papers of the Colony. Ho applied to the police when he found that his name was said to be down in their books, but they gave him no satisfaction, although it waa well known thr.t access had boon afforded to the book to journalistic parties at the expense of the country. Mr Sheehan gave his version of the affair. He denied that lie had ever furnished the police report to any journalist, or even allowed him copy it ; but after the offence, he had been waited upon by several people, who asked him could he not do something to stoj> the prosecution, on account of the respectability of those concerned, and he promised to inquire into the matter to see if he could possibly do so. He admitted that hardship had been inflicted upon Mr Hursthouse, because he believed he was not one of the participators, but such incidents were of frequent occurrence. He thought it was a mistake for people to feel too thinskinned over such things. He would, however, lay on the table what was asked for. Mr Bo wen thought it was to be regretted that the Native Minister had not reprimanded the policeman for such gross carelessness as to enter the name of a gentleman well-known but not present at the j time. Mr Barton called attention to a suspicious phrase of Mr Hursthouse in stat- ! ing that he "took care" to be absent, j From this it would appear that the hon. J gentleman had neglected to act as a good citizen by going and informing the police of what was contemplated. He opposed the policeman being reprimanded. Messrs Douglas andHutton thought the police had exceeded their duty, and had been evidently animated by a desire to curry favour with the powers that be that led them to act as political spies. Mr Stout said it would be a monstrous stretch of authority to reprimand the police when they had no evidence to show that they had acted wrongly. The hon. member said, on behalf of the Government, if it were promised that a civil action would not be raised, an inquiry would yet be made. Major Atkinson said it appeared to him that the whole action of the Government and police looked like a political movo. It was well known, and could not be denied, that the journalist who travelled in the Hinemoa with the Premier had been shown the report by the police, and of course was justified in making use of it. This was what compromised the police, and gave them the appearance of acting from political motives. When several of those whose names were put in the report applied to the police to show them the report, as some one else had been shown it, they were refused, and then they asked the police to publicly prosecute them. This was not done either. The same request was made to the Minister of Justice, but the answer was that reports of that kind could not be open to the inspection of the public. The motion was agreed to. Mr Barton moved for a return showing the number of officers and warders employed respectively in all the gaols of the

Colony, with their respective terms of service, salaries, hours of duty, average number cf prisoners annually received into each prison ; also, a return of promotion within two years of officers and warders from inferior to superior positions in the service. Agreed to. Mr Bowen moved for a select committee to inquire into the state of the gaols in the Colony, and the improvements necessary to enforce proper classification and discipline. The Premier thought the importance of the question opened up justified a Royal Commission , as likely to bo more efficient than a select committee. The Government, however, had no objection to what was asked for. The motion was agreed to. Mr Murray moved for a committee to report on the claims of Joshua Goodf ellow upon the Government contract on the Tokoniairiro and Lawrence railway. Mr Kelly arid Mr Richardson opposed the appointment of a committee aa unnecessary. It would establish a dangerous precedent. Mr Maeandrew said he and hia colleagues inquired into the matter, and came i to the conclusion that Mr Goodfellow was i entitled to something, but how much that i should be he would prefer being settled by a committee. A division was called for by Mr Kelly, the result being in favour of the motion by 23 against 21. The Trades Union Bill went through committee without material alteration. FRIDAY, AUGUST 2. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Address in Reply was presented to his Excellency. The Brands Registration Bill waa passed with a few amendments. The Government agreed to furnish a report showing the amount paid as compensation for sheep and cattle destroyed on the railways since 1870. Several returns were asked for and promised, and the Council adjourned till Tuesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Dr Wallis gave- notice to ask on Wednesday next whether the law in the Colony, as in England, permitted a man to sell his wife, or to maltreat her, and to what exteut 1 Ten days' leave of absence was granted to Mr Pj ; ke. Mr Balkmce, replying to Mr Johnston, laid on the table a letter showing the amount of salary drawn by each Minister since taking office, and the amount beyond actual salary, by way of house allowance or travelling and othev expenses ; also the amount paid to each Minister in occupation of Ministerial Tcsiclences for rent. In reply to. Mr Wakofiold, Sir Stout said the Government did not intend to introduce this session any measure to deal with public domains and gardens throughout the Colony. Replying to Mr Wakefield, Mr TvLicandrew said the Government had boon considering the subject of subdividing and throwing open for settlement reserves adjacent to railways, and a Bill dealing with the question was in preparation. Replying to Mr G-ibbs, Mr Fisher said the Government would have no objection to extend the telegraph from Motuoka to Coliingwood, provided those who required it would give a guarantee. Replying to Mr Reeves, Mr Stout said the Government would consider the question of appointing a local AssistantCommissioner of Waste Lands for the Nelson South-west Goldfields. A resolution that Supply be granted to her Majesty was brought on, and the second reading fixed for Tuesday. Mr Stout moved the second reading of the Civil Service Act Amendment Bill, which was agreed to, and ordered to be committed next Friday. A Select Committee, to whom all petitions shall be first reviewed before going before the Public Petitions Committee, was agreed to. Mr Fitzroy moved for a return showing the co3t of fclie working and maintenance of the Hinemoa from the Ist of December, 1877, to the 30th of June, 1878 ; also, a return giving the names of those persons, other than his Excellency and staff and Ministers, who during the aforesaid period travelled in the Hinemoa at the expense of the Colony. The Premier said the Government would have pleasure in laying before the House the return asked for, but it would be made to include all Government steamers since 1870 to the present date. | TUESDAY, AUGUST 6. I LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Council, the Hon. T. Johnston moved that the Governor be requested to present to the Council the Ministerial recommendation to appoint new members to Council, together with ?any memorandum thereon from his Excellency. Colonel Whitmore characterised the motion as unprecedented, but said he would not oppose it. Agreed to. Colonel Whitmore obtained leave to introduce a Bill to regulate the incorporation of members of literary institutions, and to provide for fthe establishment and maintenance of public libraries. The Sale of Goods and Drugs Amendment Bill passed. The Imprest Supply Bill was passed through all its stages. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Dr Wallis gave notice to move for the introduction of a Bill conferring the same i political privileges on women as on men. Mr Curtis gave notice of his resolutions for reforming the Legislative Council. Mr Woolcock gave notice to ask whether it wa3 the intention of the Government to redistribute the representation according to population, as shadowed forth in the speeches of the Premier. Mr Reeves gave notice to ask whether the Government intend to introduce a Bill this session to prohibit the introduction of Chinese. Mr Richardson asked whether the Government secured land included in the Hot Springs at Rotomahana and Rotorua for the benefit of the jrablic. Mr Sheehan said the Government are taking steps to acquire for the benefit of the public the lands referred to. Mr Thomson asked whether the Government intended this session to introduce a

Bill relating to endowment of Counties and '.Road Boards. Mr Stout said the Government did not intend to introduce any such Bill. If all local bodies were endowed, as they wanted, there would be no land left for Government to sell. Replying to Mr Wakefield, Mr Macandrew said the Government were taking steps to have uniform rates of freight on grain levied throughout the whole of the railway lines running north and south from Lyttelton. Replying to Mr Cutten, Mr Stout said the Government would causo to be introduced in another place a Bill to amend the Counties Act. In Committee of Supply, Mr Ballance I brought down the Imprest Supply Bill for I L 250,000. The Bill was advanced through all its stages, and passed. Mr Stout moved the second reading of the "Reprinting Statutes Bill, the object of which is to separato the statutes in force from those which have been rendered in operative. Mr O'Borke paid a high tribute to the measure introduced by the AttorneyGeneral as being ono of great importance and value. Mr Barton thought the Government ought not to stop short of anything less ■than making the statutes intelligible. He was going to say that he had grown grey in trying to interpret New Zealand statutes ; but he had absolutely lost his hair altogether in trying to understand the laws of the Colony. The hon. gentleman went on to point out how badly the laws of the Colony had been drawn up, especially those with regard to land dealing, which appeared to him to be altogether unintelligible, unless, perhaps, to a few civil servants. He attributed the disgraceful state of our laws to gthe want of lawyers in the House •to guide members in the delicate work of law-making. Mr Joyce was of opinion that they never would 'get simply drawn and satis factory laws, so long as lawyers took part in framing them. After further discussion, Mr Stout' ridiculed the idea of thinking that persons who knew nothing of lav/ were better qualified to act as law reformers than lawyers, who had themselves to the study of law. As for j consolidation of statutes, he considered that perfectly impossible to cany out at j present, The cost of reprinting the sta- I tutos he did not consider would be so j heavy as seemed to be anticipated. He did not believe in any clean-sweep reforms — all reforms must grow. The Bill was then read a second time. The Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment, "Bill was read a second time. The Fraudulent Debtors Bill, in Com- ! miitoo, led to considerable discussion, especially over clause 5, providi?jg for a I penalty for absconding with property, j At the evening sitting,