WEDNESDAY,SEPT. 18.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 220, 27 September 1878, Page 3

WEDNESD AY, SEPT. 18.

7-r In the Legislative Council, — :'.-■.'-""-""' The amendments proposed by his Excelin the Civil .Service Acts AmendV^ment'Bill were agreed to, and clause 8 i-v-.jwall .now read: t( No person who was a "'Provincial officer on the coming into operation of the Abolition of Provinces I * Act, 1875, and transferred to the Civil Service on the coining into operation of 1 the Abolition of Provinces Act last men- ; tioned, shall be entitled to any retiring under the Civil Service Act, 1866, or any of the Acts repealed by such v Act." ■■-■■;■ '■:_: .The Council then proceeded in Com- ; imiittee with the Repeals Bill and other r .measures of no great importance. • y In the House of Representatives, — ";;■ -2vThe: '-Hon.* J. Maeandrew, in reply to :i Mr Henry, said the. Government would : 'survey a line of railway between "Westport r and Reef ton during the recess. k In reply to Mr Bowen, he said the p: Government would procure a pattern of b carriages from America and elsewhere | with the view of increasing the comfort t- of the public, provided the cost would not t jbe ' too much. tf _Mr Sutton asked the Minister of Jus- [""' tice — 1. Whether he is aware that a person v who has not been appointed R.M. or J.P. L is now presiding at the R.M.s Court, ? Wairoa, Hawke's Bay? 2. Under what I Act has the same person committed a f\ prisoner to Napier Gaol, sentenced by him I to imprisonment for four weeks 1 I The Hon. J. Sheehan said he had taken |: steps to get the information asked, but I had not yet received it. A short time ago I he might say they had appointed a R.3VI. I for the express purpose of attesting Maori I deeds, but not to perform judicial functions, and if he had gone beyond his tether it would be so much the worse for him.. He would, however, have the in- ; formation probably that evening. In reply to Mr Fox, the Hon. J. Sheehan agreed to lay ail papers on the table relating to the Wanganui distilling - case. I Mr Barff moved— "That this House to§l morrow resolve itself into Committee of | the. whole to consider the following resolute tion: — 'That for the purpose of the W- Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, H Amendment Act, 1877, it is desirable B that gold duty be considered as rates and | subsidised from the Consolidated Fund I accordingly." | Mr Ballance opposed the motion , which , I on a division, was negatived by 45 against £.16. | Mr Pyke moved — " That this House I -will, on the 25th of September, resolve I itself into a Committee of the whole to | consider an address to his Excellency I praying that a sum of money may be I placed on the Supplementary Estimates I for increasing the rate of pay of the police jT force of the Middle Island of New Zea- | land upon the following scale : — Third | class constables, 6d per day ; second and I first class constables, Is per day ; seri geants, Is 6d per day ; sergeant-majors, fc2s6dperday." I The Hon. J. Sheehan pointed out that | the police were paid Sundays and wet and | dry days; as well as having quarters and | medical attendance, while the labouring I man was dependent xipon the weather. If fan increase in pay were to be made, it g- ought to be general and made to apply to I the North as well as the South Island. IHe had no objection however that the | matter should be referred to the Gaol | Committee, before which evidence could | he taken and the whole question examined | thoroughly. | The question was adjourned. I Mr Curtis proceeded to move the follow- | ing resolutions, with a view to amending | the constitution of the Legislative Coun|cil: — 1. That so much of section 33 of | the Constitution Act as gives power to the |. Governor to nominate members of the | ; Legislative Council be repealed. 2. That I the number of members constituting the | Legislative Council be fixed at one-half |,that of the House of Representatives. 3. | That whenever vacancies shall occur, by | death, resignation, or otherwise, whereby I the number of members is brought below ! the number fixed. by the second resolution, I such vacancies shall be filled from time to | time by persons elected by ballot of the I House of Representatives. 4. .That when | any Bill passed by the House of RepreI aentatives has been rejected by the Legisirlative Council in two successive sessions, |it shall be competent for the House to I require that the Council and House shall | at together, for the further consideration |of . ( such Bill ; and if a majority of two- | thirds of the united body shall vote in I favour of the Bill, the same shall be subg mifcted to the Governor for his assent on | behalf of the Crown. 5. That similar proI visions shall be made for the case of a Bill I passed by the Legislative Council, and re- | jected in two successive sessions by the | House of Representatives. 6. That the | Government be requested to prepare and |; introduce during the present session a Bill | in accordance with the foregoing resolu- | tions. . .-. " 4 . , | Dr Hodgkinson seconded the motion tpro forma. . . fV The Hon. R. Stout said before such a |Tadical change was made there ought to |be some dissatisfaction with the Constitu|iion, and the mover admitted there was |ffone. To proceed with such a question | flow would merely be to invite collision iwith the other House. So long as they I had a bicameral' system, it ought to be | constitutional as at presents He entirely | opposed an elective chamber, which I Would, only prove, a curse to the Colony. I Being a private members' night he would B| Dot take up the time of the House, and ■jt>rould move the previous question. M|; Dr Wallace suggested the motion be M|*ithdrawn. Mr Pyke thought nothing could be ■1 more detrimental to the interests of the ■pJolony than to have a second elected to deal with ! money Bills on an ■pquality with the Lower House, the only Mfjssue of which must be a dead-lock. He Hl'frould vote for the previous qnestion. M||: After some further discussion the motion MlVWas negatived on the voices. Hjte The adjourned debate on the Triennial ■Parliaments Bill was resumed. t Only few members, ; and , they their remarks exceedingly brief, in to enable as much private business Hip c transacted as possible." '"'■■'•**; j^^^The amendment, that. >the, Bill be. read day six months/ was' carried.