FRIDAY, JULY 4.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVII, Issue 834, 11 July 1890, Page 3

FRIDAY, JULY 4.

In the Legislative Council — The following bills were road a. first.time:—Coroners' Inquests Bill, Thames Harbor Board Bill, and Dentists' Act Amendment Bill. The Mercantile Agent's Bill was committed and reported without amendments. In the House of Representatives — Several new bills were introduced and read a first time. . , The Supreme Court Act Amendment Bill, which provides for the appointriient of an additional Judge, was introduced by a message from the' 'Governor. Mr Secldonmoved that "a respectful reply be forwarded' to his Excellency informing.him that the circumstances of the Colony and the administration of justice did not warrant the Colony in going to the expense of appointing a si xth j v dge. He spoke strongly agairist Mr; Edwards' appointment. . Hon. paptain Russell suggested that • the: amendnoient should be withdrawn

and that the bill should be allowed to be brought in when a full discussion could be taken on the second reading in . tha usual way. Hon. Mr Ballance thought the Government should agree to have this question adjourned, as its discussion even at this stage would take up considerable time. The appointment of 1 : ai>extra judge wasvyholly unnecessary in the present condition of the Colony,, and he warned the Government that if the discussion was not adjourned theOpposition would be compelled to oppose it 1 at every stage. • Hon. Mr Hislop asserted that.Mr Edwards' appointment was perfectly legal and he challenged any hon. member to prove to the contrary.' ' ■ ■'■ Hon. Mr, Ballance Said; the" bill made provision for Mr, Edwards' salary and ho w therefore- could it be legal f He urged the Government' to agree tp.re-': port progress at the present stdge. „. Messrs Fitchett- and Fish, supported the potion for postponement . an 4 -the, latter moved that progress be reported. Hon. Mr Hislop said. every member of the legal profession in- this, part of the country knew that the appointment of an extra judge was necessary and, the Government was .losing money by the work going- on- as it had been. ■ ■ Hon. Mr Mitchelson agreed to report progress, and hoped that when the "Ml 1" came before them again it would be discussed "in a reasonable manlier, and not in a party spirit. ; Sir George Grey said this was the. first time an effort had been made to place a judge upon the bench for whom no salary had been provided. There should be no adjournment and the matter should be decided at once. A crime had been committed against the whole British race, ah& he, for one, would resent that crime being committed without the consent of the House. : Mr Scobie Mackenzie believed MiEd wards' appointment was wrong; however, he advised Mr Ballance not to adopt too high a moral tone in regard to the administration of justice,' and reminded that hon. gentleman that he had at one' time made a proposal in this direction as radically vicious and pernicious that nothing had been heard like it since the time of the Stuarts : that was that every decision of a Supreme Court judge should be subject to the revision of a parliamentary committee. Hon. Mr Ballance denied Mr Mackenzie's statement. Captain Russell, in reply to Mr Fish, disclaimed having sprung 'any- surprise on the House in the introduction of the bill, as in 99 cases out of 100 there was no debate whatever on the "first reading of a measure. As to Mr Edward's appointment the Government were of opinion that he was absolntely a judge, and when tho second reading of the bill came on they would be quite prepared to prove that he was legally and constitutionally appointed. Sir George Grey believed the whole transaction was a wrong ono, and thought Mr Edwards should retire from the bench. Mr Bruce said it appeared to him that the appointment was perfectly just and defensible, and he could not understand what political move the Government could have had in. making it. Mr Fisher wanted to know why, if the appointment was a legal one, the bill had been introduced at all 1 Mr Bryce deplored the fact that the leader of the Opposition displayed such a hostile attitude when speaking on this appointment. ; The Government had not made any explanation as. to the circumstances of the case, but the reason of that was solely because it was unusual to debate a bill on its first reading. Mr Seddon characterised the whole thing as a job which he hoped members behind the Government would not sanction. Hon. Mr Ballance said the position he .had "'taken up was that the fullest information should be supplied to members on this question. Mr Bruce admitted there was a peculiarity in the present case. He knew nothing of the intentions of the Government with respect to it, but it seemed to him reasonable that as an impeachment had been made against the Government they had taken the first opportunity of bringing forward a bill in order that they might be able more fully to meet the charges made against them. The motion for reporting progress was then put and carried. Hon.. Mr Hislop moved — .'That: allegations having been made that dummyism had takon place in regard to tlie selection of land in the Canterbury, district, that ifc be an instruction to the waste lands committee to inquire into and report whether such dummyism exists ancl r what remedy should be taken to prevent it.' Mr M'ELenzie (Waihemo) moved— { That other places be inserted, in the motion as well as Canterbury' — and the motion, with this addition, wasagreed to. . . Mr Yerrall resumed the debate on. the Financial Statement, speaking : against the Government's policy. „ Mr 'Beetham thought the . Premier deserved great credit for the Financial Statement, although he was; sorry that he | could not agree, with the whole of it. i The Statement, however, 7 showed 5 a thorough grasp of „the position, and lie -thought it would" have grea£ weight

at Home and be very eagerly received. He could not see why the House should not perform good work, or whyit should be regarded as moribund. ; Mr Grimmond and Dr Hodgkinson having spoken, the debate was adjourned, on the motion of Mr Saunders, .and,. the/House rose at 12.15 a.m.