ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 61, 10 September 1881, Page 2

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

In tho Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, the Harbours Act, 1873, Amendment Bill was read a second time. Tho Chatham Islands Bill and a number of local measures were read a third time and passed. The Gold Duty Bill and Protection of Crops Bill were received from tho Lower House and ren 1 a first time. The Pensions Bill, Adoption of Children Bill, and Lic9naing Bill, concerning all of which there are disagree* ments between tho two Houses, were ordered to be considered on Monday. In addition to a quantity of routino busincß3, the Masterton and Grcytown Lands Management Aot, 1871, Amondtnent Bill, tho Prisons Act Amendment Bill, Po3t Office Bill, and Dog Registration Bill, were read a second timo. The amendments of the Lower House in the Crown Lands Bill were agreed to. Tho amendments mido by the Lower Honso in the Parliamentary Privileges Bill were not agreed to, and Messrs. Wnitaker, J. Johnston, and Waterhouse were appointed managers. The Council adjourned at 9.5. . After the usual formal business had boon disposed ot by the House yesterday, Mr. Pyke asked the Premier whether the Government would introduce a bill to reduce tho salary of future Governors of New Zealand. The Premier said he could not give a decided answer at once, but the matter would bo considered during the reee3s. Mr. Giaborno said ho desired to rai-jo two points in conneclion with the departure of tho Governor. 1 he first was that by the Constitution Acb tho General Assemby was constituted aa consisting of tho Governor, the Legislative Council and House of Representatives. It waa also provided that the General Assembly — that was tho three Estates named— should meet for business at a place to be appointed by proclamation. Now Wellington was the place so named, and tho first point, therefore, wa<J whether the absence from Wellington of me of tha Estates did not terminate the sitting of the General Aspombly. The second point was that the letters patent constituting the office of Governor of New Zealand provided that in the event of death, incapacity, or departure of the Governor, the dormant commission of the Chief Justice should come into operation, and remain in force until her Majesty'a pleasnre was otherwise signified. Tho word departure was evidently not synonymous with temporary absence. Other clauses provided for temporary absenoe not exceeding one month with leave, and during such temporary absence the dormant commission waa not to come into force, but the Governor was to appoint a Deputy or Lieutenant- » Governor with such powers a3 were nec««sary. In the present case, the Governor's absence would exceed a month, and therefore the provisions as to temporary absence did not apply, but if once the Chief Justice's dormant commission came into force, he would hold office until the signification of the Queen's pleasure. Mr. Pyke pointed out the extreme inconvenience of the Governor leaving during the sitting of Parliament, as very grave issues might arise.

Either wo had a Governor too many or a Justice too much, and therefore a paving might be effected by doing withont one or the other. He had been informed that since tho advent of the Governor to this colony ho had expended a Bam of iJ4OOO for printing documents for Fiji and tho Western Pacific. He mentioned this to show that if documents had been prepared to such an extent by his Excellency and his secretaries tho Governor conld have spared very littlo time for the concerns of New Zealand. He complained that while we took ten per cent, off the small salaries of Civil Servants, the salary of tho Governor was left untouched. Sir George Grey said he hid had great experience with Governors, and he thought it was only right to say the Chief Jostico was an excellent Governor. Sir William Fox argued that it was necessary for the Governor to be absent, and that it was not absolutely necessary for him to bo present dnring tho sitting of Parliament. Mr. Macandrew said the attention of the Government having been called to the matter, it ought to be allowed to drop. It was well known that the gentlemen on the Government Benches were tho real Governors of the colony. The Premier said he did not think there was muoh in the points raised by Mr. Gisborne. All the circumstances connected with the Governor's departure had been carefully considered by Ministers, who hod consented to his ExceUeney going away. The Govern' ment did not thing any particular inconvenience would be caused thereby. His Excellency would have been perfectly willling to defer his departure if it had been desired. He (tho Premier) could not say that tho particular points raised by tho hon. gentleman had been considered by the Attorney-General, but the Government would take them into consideration, and, if necessary, would communicate them by telegraph to the Governor. He held that there ~sre precedents for tho absence of the Governor as on the present occasion. He did not agree with Mr. Pyko's remarks. He might, however, mention what he would not otherwise have done, that his Excellency hod intimated to him that if the 10 per cent, reduction was to be enforced this year, he wished it to be applied to his own salary also. Tho matter then dropped. Mr. Bunny drew attention to the return recently laid on the table connected with the cost of the several Royal Commissions. He pointed out that large Bums were paid away, and no particulars were given of the manner in which the money was spent, nor was the cost of reporting 1 given. As the return had been ordered to be printed he wished to have all the particulars printed. Major Atkinson promised to have this done. The following bills were read a second time s — Special Powers and Contracts, Public Health Amendment, Town Districts, Railway Authorisation, Thermal Springs, Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration. The following bills were read a third time and passed :— Public Domains, Rabbit Nuisance and Timaru Water-race Reserves. In the evening, the House wont into committee on the Railways Construction Bill. Clauses 11 and 12 (providing for security from companies) which the Premier proposed to omit, were retained, the former on the voices, and the latter on a division by 30 to 20. In clause 5, the date of debentures payable was filed at 25 years, and in the next clause the interest was fixed at G per cent, instead of 7 per cent. The amendments and new clauses, brought down by the Government (tho substance of which has already been pn Wished in the Post) wereinSerted in the bill. Annmber of additions were proposed to the schedule of lines to be constructed, bnt all were negatived. At half-past 2 am. Mr. Seddon moved the addition of the words, " Greymonth and Hokitika Railway." Mr. Seymour rather testily cried out, " Oh, if there's going to be any more of this, I must " [here he altered his tone and added] "leave the chair for a time." He then rose from the chair, and Mr. Seddon saying, "Oh, all right," walked in the direction of the lobby. When he got to the main entrance, the Chairman resumed the chair, and called to Mr. Seddon, "Tho hon. member may prooood with his amendment." Mr. Seddon slowly came back, looked at the clock, and remarked in tones of irony, " Short half -hour this." The Chairman — " You may proceed." Mr. Seddon said the Chairman had left the chair, and came back at the dictum of the Premier. The Chairman — " Order, or I shall order you to sit down, sir." Mr. Seddon sat down. The Chairman — " Go on with your amendment." Mr. Seddon — "I shall, when I have time." He remained standing for about half a minnta silent. The Chairman Baid he could not bo insulted that way. Mr. Shrimski hore defended Mr. Seddon, remarking that the Chairman had distinctly left the chair, and when Mr. Seddon was going out had resumed it again. After complaining further against the action of the Chairman, Mr. Seddon moved his amendment, and called for a division upon it. When tho division was being taken, Mr. Pyke drew attention to the fact that Mr. Seddon was paired with Mr. Rolleston, and had krowingly insisted upon voting. The Chairman said the matter could not be discussed. Business was being again proceeded with, when Mr. Pyke rose and Baid — I draw your attention, sir, to a breach of order : the hon. member for Hokitika called me a liar. Mr. Seddon — The hon. member said I wasn't a man of honour. Mr. Pyke was again about to speak, when the Chairman said he conld not take notice of a private conversation. Mr. Pyke — Then, sir, I shall know how to answer that in the lobby. This closed what promised to be a neat little " scene." The sohedules having been passed, the bill was reported to the House, and the Premier moved that the amendments be agreed to. Mr. Thomson took exception to olause 15, giving tho Governor power to enter into contracts for the construction of the Wellington-Maaawatu line and other lines mentioned in the schedule. He moved that this clause be disagreed with. At 3.20 Mr. Murray moved the adjournment of the Houso. He and other members objected to so important a bill being rushed through in one night. Tho Premier said the late period of the session necessitated the passing of the bill through without delay. Mr. Montgomery said he would give his vote for the adjournment as a record of his protest atthe way business was being conducted. The motion for adjournment was lost, and the amendments in the bill were agreed to. On the question for the third reading, Mr. Shrimski moved that tho bill be read a third time that day six months. Mr. Thomson raised the question of the vacant Ministerial ohair, and urged members not to leave Wellington till they knew who was to fill it. Mr. Driver, in his maiden speeoh of the session, believed the House would regret that this bill should be placed on tho statute-book, and he believed the Government only brought it down to please certain pa,rties in the House. He did not think the bill would be of the slightest use. Mr. Shrimski's amendment was lost, and tho bill read & third time and passed. The House rose at 4.30 a.m.