NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4400, 21 September 1871, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, JUSTICES PBOTECTION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The report of a committee of the whole on this bill was adopted, and it was read a third time and passed.

CONVICTS FORFEITUKES BILL. This bill was committed, reported to the House without amendment, read a third time, and passed.

VACCINATION BILL. The report on this bill was agreed to, and it was read a third time and passed.

HIGHWAY BOARDS BILL. Mr. Gisbobne moved the second reading of this bill, and explained its scope in detail. He said it was altogether a bill to put Highway Boards in a more effective and better position than they were in at present. Mr. Buckland thought the measure was not sufficiently comprehensive. The bill thrown out a few years ago was a good one, but contained the vicious principle of anticipating probable requirements. If they could get a copy of the Adelaide Act bearing on the subject it. would considerably simplify the matter. Mr. McLeod agreed with all thinkers on the subject that the inhabitants of rural districts were the best judges of what was required in their neighbourhood, and in this light he looked upon the bill as a geod measure. The hon. member gave a recital of the systems of government in Canada and many of the American States. He thought the bad results apprehended by the natives from the working of the bill did not exist at all. The Ngapuhis, and other numerous tribes, would have a considerable voice in these Hoad Boards merely on account of their numbers, if for no other reason, and he would do his best to advise those natives to accept the Act, although he did not suppose that the Government would ever make any attempt to inflict an unjust tax upon them. He would reiterate his opinion that all taxation should come through the Customs. In Nova Scotia the revenue was so collected ; onethird being appropriated for roads, onethird for education, and so on. With regard to what had been said about the Maoris not paying for road rates he thought the charge was an unjust one. The Ngapuhis paid between £40,000 and £50,000 per annum into the revenue, and what did they get in return? Absolutely next to nothing. The amount the districts north of Auckland got was— for Mangonui, £27 ; and for the Bay of Islands, nothing at all ; while an amount of £700 was paid to one board in Auckland— the Parnell Board. The hon. member explained the disadvantages under which the Bay of Islands suffered, and claimed that the General Government should give them more consideration than they had received from the Provincial Government ; in fact, he hoped te see the Provincial Governments abolished altogether. He thought the bill a very good substitute for them, and would do all he could to pass it through the House. Mr, Gillies thought the honourable member was like the bird that fouled its own nest. The hon. member was a member of the Provincial Council himself when the votes were apportioned. (Mr. McLeod : I always opposed them.) He would support the bill, not because it was perfect, but because he believed it was a good one. He cautioned the hon. member, Mr. Thomson, not to support the bill under the impression that it conferred powers on the Provincial Councils : on the contrary, it took away certain of their powers. With regard to the natives in the Bay of Islands, the hon. member for that district should have told the House that they most williagly paid their share towards the making of roads ; he had never had any difficulty in getting them to do that. The bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed that day week.

COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. Mr. Vogel then moved the House into Committee of Supply, and having delivered the financial statement lie moved that the chairman should at that stage report progresa, and ask leave to sit again. Mr. Stafford pointed out that the hon. gentleman had pursued a very unusual course in resuming his seat without proposing aome resolution to the House, A discussion upon Parliamentary form ensued, and ultimately, in order to place a motion before the House. Mr. Vogel proposed the first item on the estimates — £2,556, for public domains and buildings. Mr. Hall rose to ask. the hon. gentleman for some information upon a point which ho had not made quite clear, and which was one of considerable imporcanco to the provinces. Ho had announced that changes m the payment to provinces weic to be made. What date did the Government propose that these changes should commence from ? Mr. Vogel : The whole of the financial propositions will date fiom 30th June last. The question that the Chairman do report progress was then put ami agreed to. Mr. Vogel then announced that the Government would bn prepared to take the discussion on the statement on Tuesday next.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13. PETITIONS. Mr. Fox and Mr. Ciakk each presented two petitions in favour of the passing of a Permissive Bill for the prevention of drunkenness and crime.

MONEY OItDTCR TELEGRAMS. Mr. Haughton asked the Colouial Treasurer whether his attention had been called to the desirability of reducing the cost of transmission of money 01 der telegrams ? Mr. Vogkl said it was the intention of the Government to reduce the charge. The results of the system were so satisfactory that they felt quite satisfied in making the suggested reduction.

■FIRST READINGS. The following bills were read a first timo : — An Act to provide for the enforcement of claims against the Crown in New Zealand, which was ordered to be read a second time on Friday ; a bill to encourage improvements by advances of public money, which was ordered to be read a second time on Tliui sday week ; a bill for the further amendment and consolidation of the law relating to goldfielda, which was referred to the GoMfiekli Committee ; a bill to repeal the Bay of Islands Settlement Act, 1870; and to make other provisions in lieu thereof, which was ordered to be read a second time next Thursday.

LUNATIC ASYLTTMB. Mr. Andrew moved the appointment of a select committee to inquire into and report upon the expediency of establishing a general asylum for the reception and treatment of persons of unsound mind from all parts of New Zealand ; or of making any further arrangement by which greater unifoimity and usefulness may be secured in such institutions in different parts of the country. Such committee to consist of Messrs. Steward, Parker, Harrison, Curtis, Carrington, Header Wood, and the mover; with power to call for persons and papers, and to confer with a committee of the Legislative Council ; three to form a quorum, and to report that day three weeks. A lengthy, interesting, and instructive debate ensued upon the motion, which orr limited space precludes us from publishing. The motion was agreed to.

INTESTATE, ESTATES. . Mr. Bfkny moved the second reading of -this bill, which provides that the property of intestate persons should be divisible among all the members of a family, inataad of going -wholly to the next of kin, The bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14. PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE. Mr. T. Kelly brought up the report of the Petitions Committee on the, petition of William Rogers, of Maketu, praying for relief in consequence of having had his I arm shattered through hia gun accidentally exploding while on patrol duty in the

Bay of Plenty. The committee recommended that the case was deserving of consideration, and recommended a pension of one shilling per day. Also, the report of the committee on the petition of 187 Catholics of the Wellington province, praying that the Catholic body may receive from the general fund a certain proportion for the support bf their denominational schools : the committee reported that as there was a bill' before the House dealing with the subject, th^y did not deem it necessary to offer any opinion upon the matter of the petition. Other petitions, to which were appended a similar recommendation, were read to the House ; they were from certain R-oman Catholics of Canterbury, from 103 Roman Catholic inhabitants of Alexandra and Waikouaiti, from 124 Roman Catholic inhabitants of Westport and Addisons Flat, from 110 Roman Catholic inhabitants of - Southland, from 80 Roman Catholic inhabi- "| tants of Stafford ( Waimea), from 279 Roman Catholic inhabitants of Cbarlesten and < Brighton (province of Nelson). Also the report of the committee on the petitions of 254 persons in Turakina and JRangitikei, in favour of a Permissive Bill, for the suppression of drunkenness and crime ; from 32 female inhabitants and 62 electors and other inhabitants of Port Albert, Auckland ; 1,006 inhabitants of Wellington : the committee recommended the introduction of a measure for the better regulation of the sale of spirituous liquors.

me. mac Andrew's resolutions. Mr. Macandrew moved the resolutions standing in his name for constitutional changes, and which we have already published. He addressed the House at great length. He said that at present 138 persons were employed, at the cost of £22,374 annually, in legislative and executive work in the Middle Island. These he proposed to replace by one legislative and executive,consisting of 46 persons, who could do the work at a cost of between £3,000 and £4,000 The saving by this, and by having one head for all instead of in each province, would represent the interest upon half a million of money, which he would borrow to make a main line of .loramunication by railroad and water, from Waikatip (Otage) to Oobden (Nelson), in all 300 miles, of which 55 would be by water. His proposals would enable the Middle Island to have land laws, and would promote the welfare of the colony in various ways. Hereafter, when the population was doubled, a county system established, and lands sold, one government for the whole colony, at Wellington, would be possible. The first duty of the Middle Island Council would be to initiate the county system. The Council could also administer and construct railways and public works more economically than the colony. His resolutions granted virtual insular separation, without impairing the colony. The first Council should meet at Christchurch, and should afterwards be peripatetic, but settle where the seat of Government should be. He would withdraw resolution eleven. In conclusion, he dwelt on the saerifico of 'sentiment and ambition which he was making in bringing these proposals forward. Mr. Hatjghton seconded the resolutions. Mr. Fox announced that the Government could not support the resolutions, as they were entirely antagonistic to the policy of the Government, as developed in the financial statement of the Colonial Treasurer, and to the measures which were passed by the House last year. Mr. Hall quite agreed with the mover of the resolutions that we were suffering from too much government. We spent too much money upon it and too much time, neither of which we could spare, but he did not think the remedy proposed by the hou. gentleman the right one ; it was worse than the present disease. What we wanted was one government for the whole colony, varied by local bodies for the administration of local affairs. The hon. gentleman did not propose that ; he proposed that we should have three governments for the colony, with local bodies for administering local affairs. The hon. member proposed to retain the provincial form of government, but his resolutions maintained a mysterious silence upon the subject of North Island government. Mr. Batiigate supported the resolutions in a very able speech. Mr. Fitzherbert looked upon the attempt to pass the lesolutions as an attempt to perpetuate an order of things which wa^ about to pass away by common consent. Mr. Richardson* spoke in opposition, and pioposed the adjournment of the debate for a fortnight. Mr. Keid, Mr.HAUGHTOX, andMr.CALDER spoke in favour of the adjournment, which was agreed to.

THE EDUCATION BILL. Mr. Fox marie liis reply on this bill, buc our space will noS permit its appearance m our present issue. 'Che bill was read a second lime, and ordered to bo committed oa Fiiday week.

THIRD HEADINGS. The Evidence Fin-tin r Amendment Bill, and the Bakers and Millers Bill, were read a third time and passed. DISIUSFD CATTLE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The House went into committee on this bill, and after a lengthened debate, and many amendments, the bill was reported to the House.

GBAND JURIES. The debate on thia question was resumed and closed. A division being colled for, the resnlt was as follows -.— Ayes, 24 ; noes, 34. The motion for tho aboliton of grand juries was therefore negatived.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15. PUBLIC PETITIONS COiIkITTEE. Mr. T. Kelly brought up the report of the Petitions Committee on the petition of Tupanga, of Auckland, complaining of European interference with the foreshore at the Thames. The committee reported that the matter set forth was settled by the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi. Also, the report of the committee upon the petition of 255 labouring men and others of the city of Dunedin, praying tho House to pass a measure regulating the periods of payment of workmen by contractors. The committee recommended the petition to the favoiu-able consideration of the House.

SAVINGS P.ANK. Mr. T. L. Shepherd moved that a bill be introduced to compel the annual jmMication, by the Government and private banks in the colouy of New Zealand, of the names of depositors and ,the amount of their deposits the principal or interest of which has not been claimed for a period of three yeais prior to such publication ; such bill to apply to unclaimed deposits and interest prior to the passing of such bill. Mr. Bvtiigate thought the hon. member should postpone the debate until a subsequent debate, in which the whole system of public accounts would be brought under notice. He thought the banks had no right to continue the practice referred to by the bon. member. He thought if a person died in the manner described by the hon. member, the whole of the money should go to the Crown, and not be appropriated by a private individual. By our laws, if a person picked up a five-pound note, having some knowledge to whom it belonged, and did not return it, he was liable to be prosecuted ; and why should these institutions be permitted to appropriate unclaimed deposits ? Mr. Vogel hoped the hon. member would withdraw his motion on the assurance that inquiry would be made into the matter. Mr. McLeod thought the Ministry might go a little further i» the matter. The sooner the banks were subject to some such inquiry the better. He looked upon it as a serious matter. Mr. G-. McLean thought Mr. Bathgate, who had some experience of banking matters, should have given them some instances. In his experience he did not know any such cases. He thought they wei c not bound to accept the statements of anonymous writers. He thought the motion was of no use whatever. Mr, Stafford thought in c»ae3 of running accounts where persons were drowned such funds might remain in the possession of the banks for ever. He knew of a caee in which a sum of money had been lying for 23 years in one of banks, and, had it not been for

an acculi'iitit would neverhave been calledfor. la aim uer case, in which a sum of money had been paid into a bank for the purpose of erecting a monument, a similar nircumstance bad occurred, and had it not been for his recollection of the circumstances neither of those accounts would ever have been heard of. Mr Wood saw no necessity for interference in the matter at all. Mr. MuRKAy, Mr. W. Pbacock, and Mr. Swansov spoke in favour of the motion, the latter gentleman stating that for the protection of diggers and seamen such a provision was highly necessary. 'J he motion was then withdrawn.

MAORI REPRESENTATION. Kara.ttia.na. Tak.imo.vna moved, "That, in the opinion of this House, it is desirable — 1. That the native race should be represented id the other branch of the Legislature. 2. J hat a Maori should be appointed a member of the Executive Council of the colony, to advise with the Minister for Native Affairs. 3. That the Maori Representation Act should be amended, and the number of Maori members increased to 12, giving three Maori representatives to each of the present Maori electoral districts ; and that Europeans aa well aa Maoris should have the privilege of voting at elections of Maori members of the House of Representatives." The hon. member delivered a lengthy address, which concluded as follows : I say, let us be equal in this House. Do not let us be excluded from anything that may be done in this House. I am not able to enter into the subject at any great length. This is what I have to say on the present occasion. The first part of the motion was then agreed to, and the remainder negatived.