PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10108, 5 August 1893, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Peb Press Association.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, August 4. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. BELLING liquor to children. The Intoxicating Liquors Supply to Children Bill was received from the House and read a first time. ADVERTISING. The Colonial Secretary, replying to the Hon C. C. Bowen, said that whilst the gross receipts for farming out the backs of postage receipts, and telegraph forms for advertising purposes was JBBOO per annum, tho net receipts amounted to £525, He regretted that there were no data by which the Department could state what portion of thia amount wao contributed respectively by postage stamps and telegraph forms. OTAGO HARBOUR BOARD. On the motion for tiie committal of the Otago Harbour Board Empowering Bill, The Hoa S. E. Shbimski moved, as an amendment, that tho Bill be referred to a Select Committee. The amendment was agreed to by 28 to 8. BILLS PASSED. The Cheviot County Bill and Ward Conservation of Rights Bill wont through Committee, were reported without amendment, and passed their final stages. The Council adjourned till Tuesday next. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SITTING. Tho House met at 3,30. PRIVILEGE. Mr Taylor brought up a question of privilege. He said he had received a telegram from the Secretary of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association of Christchurch, aa follows Disgusted with your conduct and disregard or your pledgee ia voting for Stout’s Bill, and you have lost all chance of ever being returned again.” The Speaker ruled that this was not a breach of privilege. It might have been so if tho telegram had been received prior to Mr Taylor recording his vote on the Bill. QUESTIONS.

Replying to Mr Taylor, why.some of the Volunteer Companies in and around Christchurch have received capitation allowance and soma have not.

The Hoa It. J. Seddon card that capitatiou allowance was based on the number of parades, fee , that Companies attended. He had been as liberal ss poss ible in this respect, ami bad gone furtfaer.r than the regulations permitted, having granted capitation allowance as much as twentyfive per cent below what tho regulations required. Replying to Mr Duncan, } flhe Hoa W. P. Reeves f enicl if any fresh agoats of the Labour Bureau at country police ftaoions w-ro considered accessary ihey would be appointed, '.there wore already 200 agents of the Burvau, and IGG of there were outside tho cities.

Replying to Mr "Wright, The Hon R. J. Seddon said the House would be afforded aa opportunity of discussing Colonel Pox’s report, and the intentions of the Government wit a respect to country corps would then bo eluted.

Replying to Mr Rolleaton, The Hon W. P. Reeves said the Government would be glad to consider the advisablenesa of providing by enactment that Chairmen of County Councils should ba, ax officio. Justices of the Peace for their term of office, in the samp way as Mayors of Boroughs. Replving to Mr Fish, Tho Hon E. J. Seddon said tho Government was not aware that there was any truth whatever in the report that appeared in the Havjera, and Normanbij Star to tho effect that men working' on Government co-operative works were some of them making los to .£1 per day, and that men had left 9s per day to go on those works. Replying to Mr Buchanan, The Hon J. M’Kenzie said tho Government did not purpose to amend the tariff by removing tee duty ou timber-dressing or planing machinery. Replying to Mr Mitcbelson, Tho Hon J. M’Kbnzie said tho AgentGeneral may have purchased seven hue- , deed lantern slides of New Zealand subjects, under the general authority reposed in him, but the Government had no information on the subject. Replying to Mr Wright, The Hon Vv . P. Reeves said the Government proposed to distribute a sum of money this year amongst the Education Boards of the Colony, and it would be for the Boards to say how it should he expended. Replying to Mr Shera, The Hon E. J. Seddon said he thought! there was no necessity to strengthen the police force along the North Island main truck railway to suppress sly grog selling. He had already discharged a man from the co-oaerative works who had been indulging in sly grog selling. MINING act. The Hon K. J, Seddon moved the second reading of the Mining Act Amendment Bill. Ho said the Biii was brought in to remedy certain defects ia the existing law. He thought all would admit that the time had arrived when more assistance should be given towards tho development and prospecting of tho lower levels of Thames, Kcafton and Otago. Under the present law there was no power to do thia, although they wore six and seven years behind other Colonies ia thia respect. Largo turns of money wore expended in other Colonies to assist Companies in Ballarat, Castleiaaine and other places, and no less than £BOOO had been expended by the Victorian Government in one year with this object, whilst large sums wero also expended by Now South Wales in the same direction. Ail that the present Bill proposed to do was to advance one-fourth of the total amount that may ho expended by any prospecting Association or Company, and tho advance must be made out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, which, ho thought, was a good safeguard. If something were not dona towards prospecting tho lower levels of the Thames, they would sea that large numbers of the population would leave that district, and the mining industoj' would languish. Clause 5 was a nuitttr o t urgaacy, and provided that a tula to any epsjsftil claim or licensed holding should invalid because of its being Sistfevefed by roads, rivers or water-courses, &c. Mr Rolleston said this was tho most extraordinary Bill that had come before them, and it was one of a moat objectionable character. It was evidently an electioneering trick, and must have been brought down to prevent the Electoral Bill being reached. Ha saw no reason whatever for passing a Bill of this kind, subsidising private enterprise, before they had the Public Works Statement before them. Thera wao no urgency whatever in thia case, and ho thought, the House would refuse to pass a Bill of this kind. The Government was going to make itself a huge pawnshop for tho benefit of certain, goldfield constituencies. The clause that Mr Seddon stated was & matter of urgency was a most dangerous one, and introduced retrospective legislation. The Bill, ho thought, should go through very careful scrutiny, not only by tho Goldfields Committee "but by tho House generally, and he resented the proposal to expend the money of tho taxpayers in such a profligate manner.

Mr Wkight considered that the Bill was a very dangerous one, and that under it the Minister for Mines would he able to advance £4OOO on the security of machinery, plant and mines. However, the Bill was to go before the Goldfields Commitcoa, and no doubt it would receive careful consideration, Mr Tatlois said if the Government was going to spend thousands of pounds in developing- the gold-mining industry, other induct.ries would also claim consideration. He denied that there was any urgency at all iu the mutter.

Mr Euckland thought tho urgency in tho Biii had arisen very suddenly. The urgency was, no doubt, due to the recent election in the Thames, and tho Government was anxious to show the new member for that district what it was goi;.y to do for it. Ho objected altogether ty the power purposed to be given to thq Government by thia Si 1 !? He objected

very strongly t» the principle contained in the Bill of riiising money all over the Colony for prospecting purposes. Mr O. H. Mlls was astonished at the Opposition objicting to this Bill. As a member repreamting a mining constituency, he complimented the Minister for Mines on bringing in a Bill of this kind, which had been required for some time. The mining industry had not received the attention it sfcould have done, and some rich deposits night be found by this Bill Ho should supjort tho Bill in the general interest of the mining industry. The Hon J M’Kenzib was not at all astonished at Mr Rolleston objecting to this Bill, aa ho objected to all Bills emanating from tho Government. The Government, liowevar, had the responsibility ia this natter. Section 5 affected the rights o£ many people who held land under lasses )rom tho Crown, and who, after having «pent thousands of pounds upon their properties, would probably come upon the Government for compensation if their claims were jumped.

Mr Rolleston asked whether the Governmant would pass that clause and drop the other portbna of the Bill ? Mr Allen understood that Clause 5 was urgent, and if the Minister for Lands’ contention was correct, no doubt there was some reason for that clause. As regarded the other part of the Biii, however, there could be no urgency whatever, and he hoped that Mr So Heston’s suggestion would be adopted. He denied Mr Mills’ assertion that the Government did nothing for the mining interest, and said it did a good deal for it. If there was a necessity for assisting prospecting, why not come down to Parliament and ask it to vote the money, instead of giving so much power to tho Minister ? Clause 5 might be imperaative, but the other clauses were not. Mr Hogg was glad that the Bill was going before the Goldfields Committee, as it was a measure that required very careful scrutiny.

Mr M’Lkan said tho only objection he had to the Bill was that it did not go far enough. He t-lso regretted that the Bill had been brought down so hurriedly that it could not receive fuller consideration. Ho held that the Minister for Mines gave very little assistance to the golamiaing industry, whilst in Victoria last year the Government had spent £61,950 for goldmining, coalmining and diamond drilling; and this year, although the revenue had decreased by newly a million, it proposed to spend £04,156, Other Colonies also spent far more ia thia direction than Now Zealand.

Mr E. M. Smith strongly supported the Bill, and hoped it would receive the attention of tho Goldfields Committee. Colonel Feaseb thought if the Government wished to assist tho Thames goldfields it would have to do so in a more comprehensive manner than was proposed by the'Bill. He felt sura that tho Thames peonio would not take advantage of the Bill as it stood.

Mr Valentine would support this Bill, if it were only for the interest of miners and not for that of tho Colony at largo. He held that there was a necessity for tree Bill, and ha himself had applied to the Minister for assistance to a mining company in bis constituency who were poor men and could not afford to prospect themselves.

Mr Richardson thought if the Minister could see his way to put what he considered the urgent part of tho measure in a separate Biii, there would nob be much opposition to it; but he believed there would be considerable objection to the Bill as brought down by the Minister for Mines.

Mr C. Hutchison said Mr Seddon spoke of tho urgency of the Bill, but there was another Bill oa the paper (tho Electoral Bill) which was also urgent, and every minute spent over the present Bill was so much delay in giving women the franchise. Ho objected to tho present Bill, as it provided that the Colony should be a sharer ia speculation. As Mr Rolleatoc’s suggestion was not adopted, it was clearly the object of tire Minister So geo the leading portion of the Bill through. The Hon R. J. Seddon said he considered Clauce 5 so urgent that he would ba prepared in Committee to strike out the clauses relating to advances, aud pass the latter portion of the Bill through all its stages. He then moved that the House go into Committee on the Bill. Mr Eolle ton said the Premier promised to refer the Bill co the Goldfields Committee, and he hoped that would be done.

Mr Guinness said that the Premier referred to the whole Bill,

The motion for committal was carried by 27 to 22. The House rose at 5.30. EVENING SITTING, The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. - The House went into Committee on the Mining Aot Amendment Bill. Clauses 3, 3 and 4, authorising advances for the development of lower levels, were struck out oa Mr Seddon's motion. Clause 6, claims not deemed invalid by reason of disseverance by river, &c., or watercourse, elicited a lengthy discussion, but was finally -passed with a slight amendment. The remaining clauses were struck out, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. ELECTORAL BILL. The Electoral BUI waa further considered in Committee. Clause 13, claim for transfer to another district, or change of residence. Mr Fish moved that the term for which a person may reside in a new district before he can transfer his name to the electoral roll should be, three months instead of one month. A lengthy discussion ensued, and Mr Fish finally withdrew the amendment. Mr Mackenzie (Clathu) then moved the same amendment-, which was lost by 33 to 18, and the clause passed without alteration. Clause 20, formation of new roll. A lengthy debate ensued on the question of purging the rolls and the issue of electoral rights as {suggested by Sir R. Stout. The c'ause was finally passed without amendment.

Clause 54, roil to be open for inspection.

Mr Buceanan moved that the e cctoral roll should bo open for inspection every day daring office hours, instead of two days only. Agreed to. Clausa £9, seamen and commercial travellers to make declaration and claim for election right. Mr J. Kelly moved to include shearers in this clause.

Mr Fish opposed the amendment. Mr E. Thompson said if this amendment were carried, he should ba prepared to move that ail buahmen be included. The Hoa R. J. Seddon asked tho Committee not to agree to the amendment, sa they would have to include co-operative men and ethers.

Mr J. Kelly said during the last election hundreds of shearers were unable to vote owing to the election being held when they could not attend to register their votes.

Mr Kelly’s amendment to insert shearers was lost b / 26 to 17.

Mr Keily then moved to strike out the words “commercial travellers” from the clause.

Mr Fish hoped that those words would aot hs struck out. The commercial travellers were aa intelligent body of men, and they bad as much right to vote as seamen.

Mr Tanner supported the amendment. Mr E, M. SiiiTU aske-d the House not to make ihreif a laughing stock by undoing what: it did i»?t session.

Mr Caenckoss would vote for the amendment, us be considered shearers had as much right to tho franchise, and they had refused it to them. Me knew that tue commercial travellers wore an intelligent body of men, but they should not make a distinction between them and other classes.

i The Hon K. J. Seddon said a good 1 case had bean made out for the commercial j travellers, many ct whom had property, j and who were "differently situated from ! cbearovv Last year the franchise _ bad V....-U given to them almost unanimously. Mr Eai-.nshaiv said it waa quite refreshj tog to I.abf the Premier defending I -orogeny, Tsoy were told at tho beginning

of the session that the policy of the present Government was to be the same as that of the late Government, which had included shearers in the Bill. The more they saw of this session the more they were convinced that there was a pseudo-liberalism in tho House. The Hon R. J. Seddon warned the Committee that it would be endangering the passage of the Bill in the Council if it inserted the amendment.

Mr Mackenzie (Clutha) said the Premier was raising a bogey iu this matter. Why, the Upper House waa not the same this year as it was last year, since the Government had put twelve apostles into it. Mr Seddon posed to bo a Liberal, and yet. he wished to give electoral rights to commercial travellers because they possessed property, whilst he refused them to shearers who had no property. There were thousands of shearer* who would not be able to exercise their votes if the elections ware held in November.

Mr Earhshaw said ha had. no wish to mierecreßent the Premier, but a Liberal Government should bo genuine in _ this matter,, and give shearers, electoral rights as well as travellers. He felt strongly the necessity for passing the Electoral Bill and the female franchise, but they would see later on whether the Government was sincere in its desire to pass the female franchise.

Mr Fish deprecated the attack made on tho Premier by the member for the Peninsula. That lion gentleman, if he had his way, would sweep away all property, and he (Mr Pish) commended tho Premier for the stand he had taken over this matter. The Hon R. J. Seddon pointed out that their late chief promised commercial travellers electoral rights, and it was inserted in last year’s Bill. He was simply carrying out the policy of the late Governmpm: in this respect. Mr Pinkerton supported the amendment.

Mr Caehcross recognised that the Premier was doing his best to pass a good Bill, but in lliie instance ho thouvbi ho was raising a bogey when, he said tlv-y should nob make certain amendments in the Bill for fear of the Upper House rejecting it. Sir R. Stout hoped the Committee would come to a decision in this matter. Ha was in favour of both shearers and commercial travellers having votes, but he should vote for the amendment, in order that tho Bill might bo recommitted, and commercial travellers and shearers inserted.

Mr Tanner referred to the inconsistency of human nature, and said members who professed ro support the Bill were propos* iug amendments which wracked it last year. Mr Rolleston said it was the Premier wlio wrecked the Bill last year. The Hen R. J. Seddon resented that remark, and said that it was those members in the Upper House belonging to Mr Eolleston’s party who wrecked the Bill. Mr Kelly’s amendment was lost by 28 to 20, and “ commercial travellers” retained in the Bill. Clause 95, deposit by candidates. Sir R. Stout said he had always opposed this clause, and he should vote against it now. Clausa retained by 35 to 9. [Left sitting at 2 a.m.]