Parliament.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVI, Issue 832, 27 June 1890, Page 3

Parliament.

The fourth session of the tenth Par T lianrent was opened by His Excellency the Governor on Thursday afternoon. Thirteen members of the Upper House 43 of the Lower House were present, and' all the Ministers were inattendance. The weather being threat■ening. there was not so large at attendance of the public as usual ; a large majority, were ladies. His Excellency -was attended by Mr Walroud, Private Secretary, Dr Bachone, French Consul, Mr Castendyke, German Consul, Mr Toxward, Danish Consul, and Colonel Butts. '. The usual ceremonies of firing =a salute and a guai'd o£ honour were, -observed, and a band was in attend- . =ance. The members of the House of Representatives having been summoned to attend in the Legislative Council | Chamber, his Excellency read the •opening speech. He explained that since last session he had visited various parts of the colony, and had been highly gratified with his reception, and greatly pleased with the abundance of .the resources of the colony, the beauty x>fits scenery, and the enterprise and industry of its inhabitants. He next referred to the; success of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition and the very successful demonstrations which were held in. Wellington and Auckland for the purpose of celebrating the completion of the 50bh year of the existence of New Zealand as a part of the empire. He was .greatly impressed with the marvellous progress the Colony had made, the large proportion of happy and healthy -children' who were prominently put forward to join in these celebrations and with the orderly behavuvior of the great crowds of people. He congratulated them on the evidences which during last year were afforded of the substantial progress made in : the circumstances of the Colony. He intimated that the provision made during last session for carrying on the public services had proved more than sufficient. It was, he said, satisfactory to note that where there had been an increase of revenue, it has been in items which showed that a further advance had boon made in productive pursuits ; while tho stationary condition of other items •show 3 that there had been no departure from the temperate habits of the people. The volume of exports had still further increased ; and while the value of some — notably flax — had unfortunately declined, that of others remained fairly satisfactorily. He explained that the waste lauds of the Crown had during the past year been settled at a satisfactory rate of progress. He also referred to the report by General Edwards upon the condition and efficiency of the Colonial forces, and intimated the Ministers would submit a scheme which they believed, if carried out, would provide for the defence of the Colony against any attacks which is likely in •case of war to be made upon it. The address concluded as follows : — Gentlemen of the House of Representatives : Tho estimates of revenue and expenditure will be placed before yon. The estimates of expenditure have been prepared with a due regard for economy. The increased demand for schoolhouses and other public buildings has been considered, and, in the opinion of my Advisers, it will be necessary for at least two years to make exceptional provision for these purposes. They believe that such expenditure should be provided for outof revenue, and the vote for these purposes will be found in the estimates. Hon. Gentlemen op thk Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives : During the year propositions were submitted by the Government of New South Wales for holding a conference of delegates from the various colonies of Australasia in order, to consider the question of creating one Federal Government. Recognising the magnitude of fche subjects which were to be discussed, and the importance of cultivating close and friendly relations with the other colonies, I consented to accredit the Hon. ■ Captain Russell and the Hon. Sir J. Hall to attend on behalf of this Colony. The 'meeting took place in Melbourne during the month of February, when: matters .of the greatest moment were discussed. The report of the proceedings will be laid before you, and. you will be asked to ratify the arrangement entered into for the appointment of delegates to attend a meetin» of representatives of the colonies to be held this year. Proposals were some time since submitted by the Imperial Government to my 'Ministers inviting this Colony to enter into an arrangement by which the. rate: of. postage to Europe would be reduced to 2£d per letter. My Advisers were: unable; to agree to these proposals, inasmuch as they would have entailed alierioiasToss of revenue unless changes were made in the mail systems, which they could not without your sanction effect You will .be asked to discuss the matter, and to agree to a proposi-tion-which,- if adopted, will, without causing a burden to the revenue, greatly reduce the cost of postage to the ITnited Kingdom and other countries. ....j Returns will be .laid before you from you will learn that there has been-, during the -year a large increase in: all branches of traffic upon the rail-

ways, affording another evidence of a steady advance in the productive power of the Colony. - , There are now ready for your con sideration bills for consolidating and amending the law regulating to the qualification and registration of electors, and providing for the issue of electoral rights ; dealing with the civil service 5 amending the law with regard to hospitals and charitable aid ; amending the Counties Act ; altering and consolidating the law of bankruptcy ; and providing for local government on the West Coast of the South Island,, as well as other bills dealing with matters of public interest. These bills will shortly be placed before you. During the recess a commission was appointed for the purpose of considering how far the evil which has been termed 'sweating' had affected New Zealand. The thanks of the country are cine to the members composing this commission for the ability, industry, and care with which they conducted their inquiries and treated the matters which were preferred to them. The Government, although gratified to learn from their report that ( sweating ' ..had not fully taken root, agree with the commissioners that an amendment of the law is needssary. Therefore, bills dealing with the matters referred to in the report and other subjects will be submitted for your consideration. I commend all these matters to your careful attention. I assure you of my earnest desire to co-operato with you in endeavoring to further the interests of the Colony, and I pray that all your deliberations may, by the blessing of God, assist in promoting the well being of its inhabitants. In the House of Representatives— On the House resuming after members had attended in the Legislative Council chamber to hoar the Governor's speech, Mr Bryce, member for Waipa, and Mr Hislop, member for Oamaru, took the oath and their scats. The Speaker referred to the resignation of Major Campbell, as clerk of Parliament, which post he had held for 35 years, and paid a high compliment to him for the manner in which he had carried out his duties. Mr Taylor (Sydenham) gave notice to move, that the property tax is inimical to the be.st interests of tho people and that it retarded the settlement of the land. Mr Tanner gave notice that he would next clay move an fVddress-in-reply to the Governor's Speech. Replying to Mr Taylor, Hon. Captain Russell said he had given instructions to the various Crown Lands Commissioners to push on their inquiries into the claims of old soldiers and volunteers as quickly as possible. Hon. Mr Mitchelson moved the adjournment of the House at 3 p.m. Sir G. Grey contended that it was the duty of the Government to at once ad vise the Governor to dissolve the present Parliament and to assure his Excellency that full supplies would be granted in order to carry on public business till tho meeting of a new parliament, which might be in about six weeks' time. He moved as an amendment — ' That this House forthwith resolve itself into committee for the purpose of drawing up a petition to the. Governor praying him to dissolve Parliament and to cause writs to be issued for the election of a new parliament. The Speaker ruled that an amendment of that kind could not be made on a motion for adjourning the House. Adjournment carried.

FRIDAY, J UNE 20. Tn the Legislative Council — Messages were received from the Governor referring to the deaths of Hons. Messrs Lahmann and Campbell and the resignation of Hon. Mr Waterhouse. Leave of 'absence was granted during the session to Hons. Messrs Oliver and Fraser. The Attorney-general gave notice to introduce several bills, and Hon. Mr Stevens gave notice that Dr Grace would move the Address-in-reply. In the House of Representatives — Notices were given to introduce several bills, among them one to define the hours of labor within the Colony ; to repeal the Contagious Diseases Act, :1869 j to amend the law relating to divorce. Hon. Sir H. A Atkinson moved that the Speaker convey to Major Campbell, on his retirement from office of clerk of the House, its acknowledgment to his valuable services during the 35 years he h.ad held office. Mr Ballance cordially seconded the motion, and Hon. Sir John Hall concurred in what had been said by the previous Speakers, adding that he had hoped that some more distinguished mark would have been conferred on Major Campbell. j Motion agreed to. Mr Tanner moved the Address-in-reply, and regretted that ill-health prevented hin? from speaking to tho motion. Mr Ross seconded the motion. Mr Ballance moved the adjournment of the debate till 7 ..30 p.m., which was agreed to. At the evening sitting, : Mr Ballance resumed the debate on the Address-in-reply. He referred first to the Premier's illness, which might probably compel him to relin-

quish office at no distant date. If such should prove to be the case he desired to express the feeling of regret which was shared by the whole of the Opposition, and he sincerely hoped that after a short rest the Premier would again be able to. take his place amongst them fully restored to health. He deplored the absence in the Governor's Speech of all reference to the great question of labor which was now agitating { lie whole world. Touching the settlement of the land, heiconsidered that was one of the greatest questions that could engage their attention. They were told that the Colony now possessed choice of tenure, but the present Minister for Lands had I done his utmost to render the village settlement scheme odious in the eyes lof the people. He condemned the land administration of the Government, for although the Minister had parted with large quantities of land he was year by year putting a smaller number of settlers on it. He (Mr Ballance) thought the fact of such a large exodus having occurred from our population was due to the people being unable to obtain land for settlement, and the manner in which land administration was at present conducted was likely to lead to dummyism such as they had never heard of before. As to the acquisition of Native lands, ho admitted it was desirable to acquire those lands, but the Government had used a vote of L 29,000 given for this purpose for the benefit of speculators and not for the benefit of the public at large. Alluding to Major-general Edwards' report on the defences, he said he was not a high Imperial officer giving a professional .opiuion, but simply a tout for one of the Governments of Australia. There were some remarkable appointments made during the recess, which were not mentioned in the Speech. He contended that Mr Edwards could not take his seat on the bench until his salary had been fixed, which could not be done until a special Act had been passed Parliament. Colonel Trimble's appointment to the Native lands court would have to be legalised by Act, and his salary had, in consequence, been paid out of unauthorised expenditure. There was a universal desire expressed last session for a dissolution, and he thought the Government now regretted that they had not adopted that course. Heregretted that they were to waste their time this session doing nothing, and lie thought even now tho Government ougrht to go to the country on their policy and obtain an expression of opinion on it. Mr Hislop, in reply, denied that there was any necessity in the speech for allusion to the organisation of labor. He said Mr Ballance had no right to assume to himself all the virtues with respect to the settlement of lands, and it was no particular credit to him (Mr Ballance) to put 1200 people on land in one year at an expenditure of L 65,000. Mr Hislop contended that the settlement of tb.3 land had nothing to do with the number of the people who left the colony. They would be able to prove by figures that the administration of the Minister of Lands was infinitely more successful than that of late Ministers. As to Mr Ballance's remarks about the purchase of Native lands at Rotorua, he wished to say that the Government had made a very good bargain by that transaction. The Government had considered the appointment of a Supreme Court judge a very sacred matter, and not one to be undertaken lightly. Col. Trimble's appointment had given groat satisfaction. He contended that sufficient matters were mentioned in the Governor's speech to occupy the House profitably this session, and he denied that they were either trumpery or unimportant, as had been alleged. He considered the administration of the Government compared most favorably with that of their predecessors. Sir George Grey condemned the proposal that a dying Parliament should continue for another 12 months, and thought- that the Governor should be urged to grant a dissolution without further loss of time. He intended proposing an amendment at the proper time to the third paragraph in the Governor's speech, praying his Excellency to dissolve Parliament without delay and to cause writs, to be issued for the election of a new Parliament. Mr Taylor, in a speech of great length, protested against an important debate like the present one being forced through in the manner proposed by the Government. Mr Steward moved the adjournment of the debate on the ground that many members who had not yet arrived were anxious to take part in it. Hon. Mr Mitc'helson said tho Government had intended to finish the debate that night if possible, and he could not see what good could be attained by an adjournment. The motion was agreed to, and the House rose at 10,15 p.m. till Tuesday next.

■ ■ TUESDAY JUNE 24. Tn the Legislative' Council — : - T>lte'Addr&i£4iWi?@\f was moved by the Hon. Dr Grace, seconded by the Hon. W. S. Peter, and criticised by the Hon. Sir G. S. Whifcmore. The usual sessional committees hay- j ing been appointed, the following bills were introduced and read a first time : — The Trustees Acb Amendment Bill ;.

Arbitration Act Amendment Bill ; Mercantile Agents Act Amendment Bill ; Childrens Protection Act Amend ment Bill j Public Bodies Bill ; Corrupt Practices Act Amendment Bill. In the House of Representatives — • A largo number of very important questions were asked and answered. The following bills were introduced : —Bill to provide for the early closing of shops and limiting employes' hours of labor ; bill to amend the Employment of Females and others Act Amendment; bill for the representation of seamen ; bill to' amend the River Boards Act ; Native Land Administration Bill; bill to amend 'The Representation Act 1887 Amendment Act 1889'; Bible-in-Schools Bill; Auckland Hospital Reserves Bill ; Counties Act Amendment Bill ; Volunteer Drill Sheds and »Land Trustees Validation Bill. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed and continued throughout the morning and evening sittings. The debate was a very dreary one, and no point worthy of notice was brought out. The whole debate was regarded by all parties as a mere waste of time. At 1 o'clock the Address-in-Reply was put and carried on the voices. Sir G. Grey then moved his amendment, praying the Governor to grant a dissolution, and spoke at length in support of it. Mr Moss supported the amendment, which was lost on a division by 39 to 19. The House rose at 1.30.