HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 25, 16 June 1886, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

testerday. Aitbbnoon Sitting. A QTUftTION OP PBIVIIiEOK, Sir JULIUS VOGEL said bo wished to rofor to a soandalous paragraph which had appeared in the Christchurch Fross of 7th ' Juno. The reason he did not bring thematter under the notico of the House boforo was that tho paragraph also referred to the hon. membor for Wajkouaiti (Mr. -J. C. Bucklaiid), who had been absent and had only returned that day. The paragraph ■was nndor tho heading, " Political Intolligenoe. — From our ' own Correspondent, Wellington." It was as follows: — " Various little anecdotes aro in circulation as to the means used to seoure a majority for tho Government. It is said' that Sir - Julius Vogol sent for Mr. J. C. Buckland, who was regarded as, one of the ' doubt f uls ,' and, after Bbmo fencing, told him pltunp and plain that if he would only. vote for Government in the coming division ho might ask for 'what he' ljked afterwards for'his constituency ; " but -Mr. Bnoklaild, instead of rising to tho bait, indignantly turned on his heel and bounced out of the room, slamming the door after Mm', and pledged himself to ' voto against a, Government that could thus Endeavour ,to influence votos. I givo tho story for what it ig worth. It sooms to' be on good authority," To his mind this paragraph threw 'out a charge of an infamous offenoe against a person occupying a position suon as his. It seemed to him 'that the oharaoter of a public man in that Honso was the property of the House, and if the House thought fit to take any action in the matter, ho would aid thorn.'' all he could in bringing to justice- ■ the persons who published,; tho statement, . and the misoreant who was the author of it. If the . House did ' not think it' do- ' suable to do-So, he would fts' soon' as the session was over take proceedings— criminal or oivil as he was advised— unless an ample apology waa made, and the name of tho ■ , writer given up. He hod left it to the hon. member for Waikouaiti ' to moke what ' •tateme'nt ho liked. 'He- (Sir Julius) had not spoken to that hon. member on tho sub- - jeet. The paper in' which the paragraph ' had appeared had published a contradiction which that< hon. gontleman had sent, but • without any 'apology or expression of regret. ' Mr. J. C. BUCKLAND said he had sent » • lettetto the Christchurbh Press contradicting the report, but only a portion of tho letter was published. .He Xfouligive the- '' Treaanror any- assistance, he could iri'hring- . ing the'lihollflt to justice (Applauso.) Mr. SEDDON thought it would be for the leader of. the Houo' to move in a> matter of this kind. 'He would ask the leader of tho' House if he wonld take steps ; if not he (Mr.' Seddon) would do so himself. The PREMIER said ho did not do so as it might he taken as the persecution of a poli- - tioal opponent. ■ He preferred not to move" in the matter. Mr. SEDDON moved that in the opinion •f this House a gross breach of privilege has been committed, and that the publisher of the paper be called upon by the House to .give up, the name of the writer, and that the 1 ' matter be enquired into. ' Major ATKINSON Baidhefelt as strongly •a any one did the general colonial degrada- " tion whioh waa bronght abont by the pnblication of paragraphs of this sort; but all ' jrablio men were subjeot to Huoh attaoks, and

he thought thoy .would beat consult the dignity of the Houso by taking no notico of tho matter. Tho Government had wisely not taken any action in tho matter, becauHß their i>osition was a delicate ono, and ho wonld suggest that tho Treasurer should rovert to the remedy ho had in law. He wishod, however, to express his utter detestation of such paragraphs. He would move that tho debate be adjourned for a couple of days. Sir JULIUS VOGEL said the charge was as serious as any that could well be made against any Minister. Tho matter was now under the coffiripanco of the Houso, and it was for them to consider, whether it was desirable to renounce their right to deal with such matters. Mr. DAEGAVILLE hoped the House would not adjourn tho debate. It wonld bo better for the Houho to affirm tho rowlution of tho lion, member for Kumara, and leave the matter at that stajre. His own impression waa that a gross broach of privilege had been committed. Mr. FERGUS did not boo what would be the good of passing: the resolution at the present time. It would be better to wait for a eouplo of days till members had time to consider tho prragraph. He hoped tho House would not deal with this matter on the npur of tho moment. The Treasurer would have his sympathy if his fair fame was slandered. Mr. HOLMES said it was very consoling no doubt to hon. members to see the position taken up by tho<nomber for Egmont and others, and to hear them say they expressed tho tenderest regard for tho Treasurer. Ho reminded tho^ member for 'Eiftnont of his action in T877, when tho Attorney-^cnoral in his Government was attacked by a scurrilous newspaper-writer. He (the speaker) hoped that after the denial of the Treasurer and the member for Waikouaite no fnrther action would bo taken. Mr. MONTGOMERY said that in his opinion if the House declared that a breach of privilogo had been committed it should follow tho matter up in the usual way. He thought tfiat a breach of privilege had been committod, but that the proper course would have been for the Treasurer to havo taken liiri own remedy. Mr. MOSS said that accusations of this kind wero often made. He had soon it .stated that this Parliament would ho known as the Drunken Parliament. This hon. members know to bo so absurd that they took no action, and this charge should be treated with tho same contempt as the other assortion had boen. It was equally absurd to say that any hon. mombor waß influenced by the vote he gave on a party question by a desiro to got works for his district. (Laughtor.) Mr. ROLLESTON expressed the opinion that this was a storm in a teapot. This was only ono of tho ludicrous stories that came from tho gallery, and was not a leading article. Ho assured the Houso that no member had boen subjected to more offence than ho had. The PREMIER asked tho Houso to consent to tho adjournment of tho debate for a few days. Mr. TURNBULL thought tho denial of tho lion, mombor for Waikouaiti was sufficioiit to satisfy the House. Mr. FITZHEUBEIIT thought it was a gross slandor to tho Honso, and he was sorry to sco that tho quostion was mado a party ono. It was vory paltry to do so. Mr. W. F. BUCKLAND saidif the motion was not withdrawn ho would vote for tho amendment, as it would givo thorn an opportunity of bringing up a wholo batch of libels against mombers. Ho bad 20 or 30 to bring up on hit own account all infinitely wor3o than tflo libol against tho Treasurer. Mr. SAMUEL said that to tako action in this matter would be merely to bring somo mendacious ponny-a-liner into prominence — a thing which such writers ofton desired. Mr. BRYCE said tho slander had beon condemnod in as strong terms from his side of tho Honso* as tho other. If tho resolution was carried tho Houro would bavo to go further, and thoy would subsequently regret having taken notion in tbo matter. Mr. SEDDEN said ho would consent to tho adjournment of tho debate. Ho thought tho best way was to crcludo such writers from the callory, and ho wbuld tako steps to brinjj this about. Mr. FISHER said thoro woro two proeodents for action. Thoro was tho procodent of an lion, gontloman who, whon slandered, asked tho Houso to leave it to himself to deal with, and anothor precedent whero tho Houso decided to tako a broach of privilege into tho Supremo Court, which landed the colony in heavy costs. He thought tho matter should not bo prossed any further. Tho motion for adjournment till Thursday was agrcod to. QUESTIONS. Mr. GUINNESS asked the PostmasterGeneral whether tho Government, whon calling for tenders for tho supply of telograDb poles throughout tho colony, will provide for tho uso of silver pine. Tho PREMIER said ho was undor the impression that tho cost of enrriago would be too great, but ho would inquiro into tho matter. Mr. M' ARTHUR asked- tho Minister for Public Works (1) whether the sum of .£IOO,OOO allocated in the^Tinancial Statemont to tho Napier-Palmerston line, will bo sufficient to complete that railway to its junction with tho Foxton-New Plymouth Railway at Palmerston; and if not, how much moro will bo required. (2) Whether the Government propose to oomplete the junction of the East and West Coast Railway system of tho North Island throngh the Gorgo within tho noxt two yoars. Tho MINISTER replied that £100,000 would not bo sufficient to complete tho railway from Taboraite to Palmorston. Ho wonld, on a future occasion, inform tho House how much more wonld be required. It would take more than two years to complete the East and West Coast linos through tho Gorge. • Mr. FERGUS asked t\it> PostmasterGeneral whether ho will give instructions to onsure the issue of postal notes at the small outside post offices ? i The POSTMASTER-GENERAL said tho matter was undor consideration. Tho system would bo extended if Government woro ablo to do so. Mr. MOSS aakod the Government if thoy will take into consideration the necessity of levying higher duties on articles whioh our ironfoumlors and enginoors arc able to produco well and'oheaply in New Zealand, but for which thoy cannot find a sale so long as it is the interest of those who oontrol tho Home market to compel the uso of articles imported from othor countries P Tho PREMIER congratulated the hon; mombor- on his change of front sinoe last year. Last year the Government proposed to deal with duties on many of the articles mado from iron, but tho tariff' was not agreed to. If the hon. member now wishod to more in the matter ho might dp so. Mr. MOSS subsequently gave notice of motion on the mflneet. In reply to Mr. Graco, The PREMIER said ho had wirod to the Mayor of Taurnnga suggesting the appointment of a Committee to consider what was best to be done for tho relief of stock in that district. In reply to Mr. Ormond, The PREMIER said ho would take steps to obtain the views of the Inspectors of Shoop regarding provision for stock. OWHA.OKO A.ND KAIHANAYTA NATIVE LANDS BILL. Mr. BALLANCE moved that this Bill be disoharged from the Order Paper, in order that it might bo referred to a Select Committee. Agreod to. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL. This Bill was further considered in Committee. '¦ . ' In clause 63 "Number of votesof burgoss," ' The PREMIER moved to strike out subseotion 1, viz., "If his rateable property, whether in one or moro tenements, is valued on tho valuation roll at less than j65C| he shall hare ono vote." Tho Committee was interrupted by the dinner hour adjournment. Evening Sitting, municipal corporations bill. In clause 68, providing for the nnmber of votes of burgesses, Sir GEO. GREY moved the excision of the clause with a view to inserting'words to the offect that ovory person of the age of 21 years and upward in every borough shall havo one vote and no moro. Sir .GEORGE GREY'S amendment was lost on a division by 72 to 11. The PREMIER'S amendment to strike out sub-section 1 was then put. The amendment was lost by 59 to 23. Clause 123, providing that the burgesses shall eleot auditors, was, after discussion, strnok out by 41 to 32. Tho clause providing a penalty for unlawfully acting as oounoillor was altered to make any off endor taking a contract liable to repay the whole amonnt of tho oontraot to tho Borough funds.' ' Clause 141, allowing rates to be raised to tho extent of fifteen pence in the £, was opposed by several members, inoluding Sir Julius Yogel, and supported by others, including Major Atkinson. The olause was agreed to by_3s to 34. , Sir JULIUS VOGEL suggested that the Premier adjourn fnrther ,'oonsidoration of the Bill, owing to the narrow majority, i ' Tho PREMIER did not fall ra with the suggestion. ' Several now .clauses were added without discussion or objection. Mr. HATCH moved that the Auditor and Controllor-General be the Auditor nnder the Aot. ', . . ' - Mr. GARRICK, as an amendment, moved that two auditors should be elected by the burgesses, one to retire each year. This was negatived. Mr. Hatch's clanso was thon added to the Bill. • > ¦ . 'T . Tho Bill was after some farther amend-, ments reported with amendments. ""' j COUNTIES BILL. .¦ • I ; This Bill was next committed, and after several olanses were passed, progress was reported. ¦ The House rose shortly after 1 a.m.