Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 140, 7 October 1896, Page 2

Parliamentary Notes.

IN HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [By Telegraph.] (From our Hpecial Correspondent.) Wellington, This day. Horowhenua held possession of the Council for the entire sitting yesterday afternoon. In the first place a reply was read from Mr J. C. Martin, Chairman of the Horowhenua Commission, to the charges made by Sir W. Buller, adhering to the statement of the finding of the Commissioners. Then the Hon Mr Macgregor moved that Major Kemp be heard at the bar of the House.

The predecent sought to be established was objected to by the Minister of Education, but was was supported by the Hon Mr Bowen, who hoped they would have no more Bills interfering with titles of property. He urged that the precedents the of English Parliament were undoubted—that when a man was tried for his life or property he had a right to be heard in his defence. On being put to the vote the motion was carried by 18 to 18, and the bar having been put up Major Kemp appeared with Mr Iladfield, who interpreted, and after thanking the Council for agreeing to hear him, asked to be allowed to read his statement. This took an hour. It was understood that the statement had been prepared by Sir W. Buller who was an interested spectator of the proceedings. Be this the case or not, it could not be gainsaid that Major Kemp made out a good case, and he was attentively listened to. One strong point he made was that the Bill was a precedent to any unscruplous Governments in future to confiscate land without any trial. He complained that though he had been in Wellington throughout the whole session Government had declined to give him a hearing before the Native Committee, and he asked that the question whether he was a trustee or not should be decided by the Supreme Court, and that his land should not be confiscated. As to the statement put forward by the Minister of Lands that Block 14 was the property of the tribe it was a peculiar thing, Major Kemp pointed out, that if it was their property they did not go the Supreme Court during the past ten years. By some oversight Major Kemp escaped cross - examination which usually follows speeches at the bar and the Speaker ruled he could not be recalled.

On the report of the Copyright Telegrams Committee being presented to tlio House, Mr Collins objected that the Committee had exceeded their Order of Beference in inquiring into the management of private concerns, such as the Press Association was. The Premier suggested that the matter should be adjourned till the following day, so that members could read the report. Government would give an opportunity of discussing the matter, for they recognised the whole question should be taken into consideration, especially as the colony was losing a sum of £26,000 on press telegrams. Dr. Newman asked the Premier yesterday afternoon whether the Banking Bill was to be brought down this session, and if so when. The Premier gave an unsatisfactory reply that it all depended on circumstances, but when subsequently seen by a number of Government supporters and pressed on the point he admitted that a Banking Bill would be brought in. It is conjecturad that it would be in the direction of making provision for interest on the half million preferential shares, the appointment of additional directors, and it will extend the powers of the Colonial Bank liquidators.

The Asiatic Restriction Bill has been reserved by the Governor for Her Majesty's assent. After formal business was disposed of the House went into Committee of Supply for the consideration of the Public Works Estimates. The motion by Mr Earnshaw for the excision of the item £350 in the Immigration Department for passages for separated families, &c., was negatived by 44 to 16. The vote of £'14,250, comprising the departmental class of the items, provoked an hour's discussion, the criticism being mainly directed to the case of Campbell, an Inspector of the Department, who had been retrenched after many years' service. Eventually the Minister of Public Works promised to look into the case, and the vote passed unaltered, The votes for the various railway lines, particularly that for the Blen-heim-Awatere line, evoked considerable discussion ; but no alteration was made in any of the items up till the dinner adjournment. On the estimates, £25,000 for the Midland Railway, Sir Robert Stout moved to reduce the vote by £IO,OOO. After a lengthy discussion the amendment was negatived by 87 to 20.

The vote for £2OOO for the Lawrence-Roxburgh line, was struck out on the motion of the senior member for Wellington. The Premier last evening told some twenty-five members who waited on him to know if it were not possible for business to be completed so that they could leave for their on Friday night next, that provided they applied themselves in assisting the Government in passing some six or eight Bill he said he no reason why the request should not be complied with.

One member enquired whether it was intended to bring in any Banking Legislation and an affirmative reply having been given, those present significantly remarked it was useless to think further of leaving ; they would remain till that point bad been settled. It is thought by some of those present that the Premier may profit by the attitude of tb,e deputation, and

that after all no Banking legislation may eventuate. The Bills which the Premier intends to proceed with are the following:— Native Reserve Act Amendment Bill, Native Land Laws Amendment Bill, Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Tobacco Excise Duties Bill, Government Railways Department Classification Bill, Mining Act Amendment Bill.