PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 107, 7 May 1887, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE Ol' REPRESENTATIVES. YX&TEBDAY. Ai"ii.BMOoir Sitting. QUESTIONS. Mr. W. J. STEWARD asked the Minister o Justice wliothor, as regards penalties for id fraction of municipal by-laws, and sue! m'nor breaches of the law as are not of i criminal character, ho has considered thi c cpedicr.cy of adopting tho system followec i i nomo parts of France and Switzr-rland, & n''owing stK'h penalties to bo paid withoul t'ju necoHfcity of attendance at Court ? Tho MINISTER of JUSTICE said he had considered the B.ystem which obtained in Geneva and other pitrts of Switzerland. He believed the adoption of «noh a Bcheme would bo advantageous, and, if possible, would propose some such scheme thifscuion. Mr. PEARSON asked the Ministor for Pnblio Works if ho is awaro that in North Canterbury, for distances evon exceeding forty miles, road-waggons aro convoying goods at a rate cousidorably nndor tho tariff at present ohargod by tho railway ? The MINISTER of PUBLIC WORKS (•aid the Govornmont hod made every effort to compete with the waggon traffic, but without avail. Mr. FULTON asked the PostmasterGeneral whether ho will givo instructions that in future lottera and telegrams shall bo delivered as addressed, instead of being loft at some place more convenient to tho lettercarriers ? Tho POSTSIASTER-GENERAL said it would be a Tory danporons thing to lay down a hard and fast rule in' a matter of the kind. Ho was, however, obliged to tho hon. member for bringing it under his notice. Hon. Mr. ROLLESTON asked tho Native Minister whether, after tho nomination pf Air. Macdonald as ' arbitrator on behalf of 'Mrs. Frasor., tho Native Minister namod the Surveyor-General or any other officer of tho Land Department to act for tho Government: and whether it was at the instance of Colonel Frasor or of any one acting for h ! m that Mr. G. S. . Coopor was afterwards nominated ? The NATIVE MINISTER road tho following memo from the Undersecretary :— '"The Hon. the Native Minister — I havo recommended as arbitrators tbo Chiof Judgo of the Land Court and Mr. Undor-Socrotary Cooper. You dirocted that Mr. MoKerrow should be substituted for Mr. Macdooald. Mr. MoKerrow demnrrod. as ho had already doalt with tho case on Mr. Poroy Smith's report, but said ho would of course act if the Government desired. Ultimately, Mr. Maodonald was named for Mrs. Frasor, and Mr. Cooper for tho Government, as stated in tho memorandum of submission — T. W. Lewis." He (Mr. Ballancoi waa not awaro that Colonol Fraser made any roprosoutation to tho Department ; ho cortainly mado none to him (Mr. Ballance) respecting Mr. Coopor. Mr. ORMOND asked tho Miniitor for Pub'io Works when ho will movo tho pro]>o;itrt promised in the Governor's Speech for roform iv railway management 'i Mr. RICHARDSON said he would deal very lengthily with tho matter in his Publio Works statemont, and woulil bring down a measure to givo effect to the proposals. Mr. HAMLIN oakod tho Minister for Public Works when he purposes revising Die railway tariff , so that all 'agricultural prodace may be 'carried on the railway at one Vato? Tho MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS repliod that it wan impossible for himHolf, or anyono olso, to framo a tariff which would suit evoryono. Ho did not understand tho moaning of tho question o-i it waj on tho Ordor Paper, nor did ho from tho remarks mado in asking tho question. Ho roforiod tho hon. gentleman to tho tariff of tho 4th October, 1886, where he would find tho rates ohurged for all kinds of agricultural prodrfoo, and if ho was not then satisfied he could put another question on tho. Order Papar. The system under which the'present tariff had been arranged was one whioh'he' believed 'sravo very general satisfaction to those onga?ed iv trading in all sorts of agricultural yrodnce. In reply, to Mr. IVESS, The MINISTER FOR DEFENCE said the senior sergeants were' allowod to conduct prosecutions as a. mattor of privilogo, and this led to promotion. It was not thought necessary, thorofore, to pay' them at a higher rate than sergeants doing street duty. ' , Mr. BEETUAM osked tho PoßtmasterGonoral if it is tho intontion of tho Government to establish telephonic communication with Maurioovillo and Mangamahoo at an early date ? ' ' The POSTMASTER-GENKRAI. said that until the railway required tho wiic it was useless to go to the cost, and he could not see his way to establish tho commuuication asked for. Mr. SEDDON askod tho PREMIER whether, with a view of supplying information to the public, and as f. matter of public oonvenionco, ho will oanso to be displayed in tho various post officos tho doctoral rolls for tho elootoral district in which such post office is situate ; also, that at each suoh post offico the olootoral rolls be kept for salt) to the publio ? The POSTMASTER-GENERAL, in reply, slid if tho department in charge of electoral matters askod tho Postmastor-General to exhibit or sell those rolls at the post officos, thero would be no objection. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills wero read a first time : — Tho'Employers Liability Act Ainondment Bill (Hon. Sir R. Stout) ; a Bill to onable the Christchuroh Drainage Board to veil or exohango certain Reserves (Mr. Uarriok) ; a Bill to amend " The Interpretation Act, 1878" (Hon Mr. Tole) ; tho Westland and Nelson Auctioneers Bill (Mr. Guinness). LOCAL AUTHORITIES JODILEB EXPENDITURE BILL. Sir JULIUS VOGEL moved the second reading of this Bill. The event was an exceptional one, and therefore warranted oxoeptirnal treatment. The settlement of the question was urgent, as local authorities should be informed as soon as iraasiblo as to whether they could or oould |not ozpond money upon the Jubilee. When the Bill went into committee, lie would movo 'that tho money should bo devoted to objects " in tho colony " 'instead of as proposed in tho Bill '.'ln or out of the colony. Although the Quoen speoially wishod tho Jubiloo to bo celobratea by the Imperial Institute, ho did not think tbero was any objection to local recognition of the event. He moved tho second reading of tho Bill, leaving it to the Committee. Major ATKINSON said he should feel it bis duty to vote against tho Bill, though he sympathised with the object the- Government had in yipw. The local bodies wero not in a position to devote funds' to the commemoration of the Jubilee. The Bill would work unevenly, too, as'somo bodies would feel bound, out of a feeling of loyalty, to voto a considerable snm ; others wool only givo a little, while others again would give nothing at all. Ho hoped the Government would allow the debate to bo adjourned, and then quietly drop the Bill. Mr. SUTTER hoped tho majority of the Houao would refuse to lot the Bill pass. Anything that was done to celebrate the Jubilee should be dono by voluntary subscriptions. There wob hardly a local body in New Zealand that was not in finanoial difficulties and they were now discharging workmen from their service, whilo half tho bodies were applying to tho Colonial Treasurer for loans. Mr. COWAN hoped opposition to tho Bill would not be set down as want of loyalty. He felt bound to opposo tho Bill, as local bodies were not in a position now to bear any additional burden upon thoir funds. Mr. GORE was understood to support the second reading. Mr. BRUCE would vote for & second reading if forced to a division. If the Bill was thrown out it would imply that the House had no confidence in the local bodies. They, he felt sure, would give suoh funds only as they could spare. He did not believo the local bodies would spend any money on the object bo long as they had overdrafts or uncompleted works. Mr. MONK opposed tho Bill, as it implied that local bodies ought to spend money on the Jubilee celebration, whereas they had no money to spare. Thoso bodios whioh did not feel inclined to plunge themselves deeper into debt, would, perhaps, feel that they would have a stigma passed upon if they did not vote something for the commemoration of the Jubilee. After some further discussion, Sir JULIUS YOGEL said it was apparent that the House was against .tho measure, and as a Bill of tho kind should bo Unanimously adopted if at all, ho would ask leavo to have it discharged from tho order paper. This was agreed to. TBS WARD CONSERVATION OP RIOHTS BILL. This Bill was passod through Committee without amendment, was read a third time, and passed. JIIGH SCHOOLS REBERVEB ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was committed, and the following new olauso added:— All buildings used for any school whioh is a high school within the meanipg of the said Act, together with the 'lands attached thereto not exceeding four acres in tho case of any one such school, shall be deemed not to be ratoablo property under the Rating Act, 187i>. The jßilLwatf reported as amended. WELLINGTON HNIVERSITT COLLKUE BILL. Sir R. BTQUT moved tho second reading of tho Bill. He regretted that bo many years had elapsed without such a college as was now proposed Ihaving been established in Wellington. Such institutions were required for tho poor and not for the rich, us the rioh people could Bond their children to England orolsewhero. More than half the students at the University in Dunedin were the sons of poor people. ' By tho establishment of a University College here, higher education would bo raised and the youth of the placo would bo raised. Auckland got; J24000 a year direofc for its University, , and Christchuroh' and Dunedin had several endowments. The sum proposed for.Wellington was small— only J31500 a' year-ilratf ho had provided that the staff of the Colonial Museum should give their services during six months ia the year. Second reading agreed to withont debate. INFANTS GUARDIANSHIP AND CONTRACTS BILL. Mr. TOLE moved the second reading of this Bill (a summary of whioh has already been published in the Evening Post). Second reading agreed to. KERMADKC ISLANDS BILL. Sir ROBERT STOUT moved tho socond reading of this Bill, which had already boon passed by the Legislative Council. It was to give effect to the rocont annexation of the Kermadeo Islands. Second reading agreed to. ■ ' t ' THB FINANCIAL STATEMENT. ' The PREMIER/replying to .Major Atkineon, said he would bo able to say on Tuesday when the Financial Statement would be brought down. The House then rose for the dinner adjournment. Evening Sitting. bmpotment op pbmales bill. *" This Bill was considered in Committee, •lightly amended, reported, read a third time, and passed.

REGULATIONS 01' ELECTIONS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Tho PREMIER, in moving the second eading of this Bill, said it was to make a ■>etter provision for taking tho poll. One nain provision was to have the ballot paper" -out to the bead office, mixed up, and then •ounted, to prevent persons in small districts knowing who voted. Another priuciimil provision wa« to make the ballot absolutely secret. The new sybtem prevented the returning officer from knowing how a 'jerfon voted. Every ballot paper had a onnterfoil. Supposing' there were 2COO names on the roll, the returning officer would' have a similar number of ballot papers numbered from 1 to 2<K)O. On the counterfoil was a number, and on the back of the ballot papor was the number, and when a person asked for a ballot papor his number would not be on the ballot paper but on tbc counterfoil. It was then easy to prevent double voting, and the system provided a better means of catching a personator than by the present mean?. Mr. HURSTHOUSE said the Premier Lad made out no good reason why the existing law should bo changed. The mixing up of tho papers meant that in many districts it would take many weeks before the result of tho poll could be declared. At presont the numbers on tho voting papers were never looked at except to dotoct personation. Tho present law worked very wnll indeed. Ho hoped the hon. gentleman would considerably amend the Bill or withdraw it altogether. Mr. W. F. BUCKLAND objected to the Bill. Under the proposed system many people would not go to the poll because thoy Qoufd not know the result of the poll the night of tho day they voted. An election would be a kind of frozen election— there would be no life in it. There were other ways of falsifying vr tes than by personation, and these were not provided against. No real advantago would bo gained by tho Bill. He moved that it bo read that day six months. Mr. FULTON thought our laws should bo interfered with as little as possible. The Bill would give littlo more security, if any, than at present He had heard no complaints about the working of tho existing system. Mr. FISHER did not believo thpre had boon any demand for a change in the law. Ho regretted the Promior had given an improssion that tho ballot was not secret ; it wag a tota'ly erroneous impression. Mr. KEbtf£ said his experience was that there was very little secrecy at all. Tho delay in making up tho returns would givo great dissatisfaction. Mr. FBASER (Thames) caw many disadvantages in tho Bill. Tho ballot as conducted now was as secret as possible, and the delay which would bo incurred under the Bill would bo very sorious. Mr. FITZHERBERT opposod tho Bill. Mr. LEVESTAM took exception to several provisions in the Bill, but would vote for tho Bocond reading. Major ATKINSON beliovod tho Bill suggestod a better method than tho prosent one of dealing with elections*. Ho deprecated hasty dealing with tho measure, especially as there wero somo other roforms which might woll bo introduced into it. Ho did not like elections all being held on one day, and ho thought tho qualification ought to bo altered. Tho Victorian mothod of issuing HOOIIBO3 to voters commendod itsolf to him as a preventive against personation. He moved tho adjournment of tho debato to givo further time for consideration of the measure. Mr. BUCKLAND withdrew his amoudm The PKEMIER oxplained that the Bill had been introduced in consoqnouce of numorous qomplainta that had reached him from outlying districts. The dobato was thon adjourned till Tuesday next. naval and military settlers 1 and volunteers' land claims bill.' Mr. BALLANCE moved tho second reading of this Bill, which was to give effect to thef recommendations of the Old Soldiers' Claims Commission. Tho second reading was not opposed, but several mcrabors exprossod dissatisfaction at tho omission of certain claims. Major ATKINSON said he knew of claims which the oolony would have to recognise which had been rejected by the Commission. There wore some in his own district which he thought ought to have boon recognised. Mr. BALLANCE, in reply, said every claim had been carefully gono into. If mombers would givo tho namos of claimants whose claims they thought should not have been rojeoted he would givo the specific reasons' which Tiad guided the Commission in their decision. The Bill was road a second time. ELECTORAL ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was considered in committee On clause 2, relating to the it^ne of writs, Tho PREMIER stated that he in'ondedintroducing a olause to provide for electoral rights or thrco years. Major ATKINSON suggested that tho best way to purge tho rolls would be to Btriko off the names from the roll after an election of all those who did not voto. The clause was passed with on unimportant amendment. On olatise 6, "Polling at elections to be open until 7 p.m.," Mr. G. F. EICHAEDSON movod to restrict the operation of the clause to municipalities. Sir. D. REID moved that the extension of hours of polling should bo confined to oity electorates. Major ATKINSON movod that progress bo roDortod, as the clause was one of importance, and tho hour was now late. Tho motion was carried, and tho Honso rose at 1.5 a.m.