PARLIAMENT.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VI, Issue 1011, 19 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE op REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Guardians, Trustee, and Executors Company’s Bill was read a second time. Leave of absence for a week was granted to Mr MTlwraith. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions ministers said— It was not intended this sessiou to introduce a Bill dealing {with Sunday trading. They would take steps to assist in destroying the kea birds, which were proving destructive to lambs. Could not establish a separate post office at Fortrose. Would not incur the expense of altering the present site of the goods shed at Hundreds Road, Otautau railway. Would not propose to establish a general penny post, as it would involve a loss of L 20.000 a year. Would, if possible, consolidate the law of river conservation. NEW BILLS. The following new Bills were"introduced and read a first time :—Mount Ida Water Race Trust Amendment (DeLatour), Mataura Reserves Vesting and Empowering (Capt. McKenzie, Invercargill Reserves Exchange (Feldwick), Sheep Act Amendment (Pearson). On the motion of Mr C. J. JOHNSTON a Select Committee was- appointed to enquire whether prison labor can advantageously be employed in manufacturing New Zealand flax for export. On the motion of Mr PYRE a Select Committee was appointed to consider, enquire into, and report on all petitions alleging grievances resulting from the existing system of education, HOSPITALS. MR SUTTON moved that, in the ■)inion of this House, it is necessary that permanent provision be made for the erection and maintenance of hospitals. That provision be made for the election of local Boards of Governors, who shall have the entire control of the hospital and hospital buildings, and shall be empowered to invest any funds which may be placed at their disposal for the benefit of their local trust. That the Board shall be entirely independent of Government control, except as regards medical inspection. That the necessary funds for its building or maintenance be provided locally. That Government be requested to bring in a Bill this session in accordance with the resolutions. He said that Hawke’s Bay was quite prepared to accept the responsibility if other larger and richer places would do the same. It was a most important question, and one urgently requiring to be dealt with. Mr FISH agreed with the portion of the resolution as to institutions being under local control, but he did not at all agree that the whole cost of erection and maintenance should be borne locally. Mr BARRON moved the omission of all words after the word “hospital," 30 that words requiring one million acres of land to be set apart for the endowment of these institutions as proposed in the Bill introduced in 18S0 by Mr Stevens. Mr SUTTON objected that this would leave the question of local control unsettled. " Mr TURNBULL supported the amendment. Mr ROLLESTON altogether objected to a land endowment. It would be much better to vote a fixed sum annually from the laud or general revenues. He could not consent to earmark a large block of land to be removed from the control of Government. Mr FITZGERALD opposed both resolution and amendment, but strongly urged the necessity for a uniform and better system of administration. Mr MACANDREW supported the amendment. Mr TRIMBLE opposed both the resolution and amendment. Mr PYKE opposed both, but insisted on some general system of uniform application being necessary, if the State was to interfere at all; Instead of giving further endowments of any kind he would like to see all endowments resumed by the State. Mr DICK could not agree to resume all endowments. Some were very well managed. He could not support the amendment, but agreed that these institutions should be locally administered. He had to some extent sympathy with the resolution, but still could not support it. Mr H. THOMSON admitted that in Christchurch one half the people receiving charitable aid were not really entitled to it. He hoped both motion and amendment would be withdrawn. The House adjourned to. 7.30.

EVENING SITTING.

The House-resumed at 7.30. Mr IVESS moved the second reading of the Election Petitions Act Amendment Bill.

Mr SMITH thought the Bill should go further, and he narrated what had occurred in his own case last election to show the abuses possible under the present system. Mr DICK did not oppose the second reading, but Government should have been consulted about clause 4, making the country responsible for the laches of returning officers. Major HARRIS and Mr SHEEHAN supported the Bill, which was,read a second time.

Sir G. GREY moved the second reading of the Constitution Act Amendment Repeal Bill. As the subject had been fully discussed on the motion for introduction, he would not make any remarks at this stage. Major ATKINSON failed altogether to see the object of the Bill. It simply proposed to repeal an Imperial Act which enabled the Assembly to amend the Constitution Act in certain respects. The House had no power to pass such a Bill, and its sole object was to decrease, not increase, the powers of the Assembly. Colonel TRIMBLE thought Sir G. Grey was trifling with the House, and moved that the Bill be read that day six months. Mr SHEPPARD had voted for leave to introduce the Bill, but could not support the Bill itself. Clearly the House had no power to pass such a Bill. Sir G. GREY, speaking to the amendment, said the question was one of the most important ever b -ought before the .Bouse, He maintdned the House had full power to send such a Bill Home to the Imperial Government for* its assent. The Bili was to increase, not limit, the powers of the Assembly. He claimed for the Assembly the power to pass a Bill to repeal any Imperial. Act irjur:ou3 to the peace, order, and good government of New Zealand and 3end it' Home fc r assent. Major ATKINSON quoted authorities to show there was no powrr to pass such a measure as the present cue. j Mr TOLE moved the adjournment ox the j debate. j Sir G. GREY then combatted Major | Atkinson’s interpretation of the authori- j ties quoted, j Mr MOSS supported the Bill, as i: passed j

it would refer the question of the powers of this Legislature to the Imperial Government. Mr CONOLLY argued at length against the possession of the powers claimed by Sir G. Grey. For this Legislature to pass this Bill would make us the laughingstock of England. We might as well pass one to dispose of the Queen. The motion for adjournment was negatived on the voices. The House divided on the question that the Bill be now read a second time—Ayes, 26 ; noes, 49. Bill ordered to be read that day six months. VACCINATION REPEAL. Mr BODSON, in a long speech, moved the second reading of the Vaccination Abolition Bill. Mr M. W. GREEN strongly supported it, Mr POSTLETHWAITE warmly supported the Bill. Mr FISH opposed the Bill, Because a section of the community objected to the law it was no reason in favor of the Bill. He believed vaccination secured the greatest good to the greatest number, Mr PYKE cordially supported the Bill, having in his own family experienced the evil effects of vaccination, witli impure lymph. ' ;: f Mr GEORGE opposed the Bill, He would prefer seeing vaccination aud revaccination more strictly enforced. Mr O’CALLAGHAN opposed the Bill. All the arguments used only showed the necessity for care in obtaining pure lymph. Mr HUTCHISON opposed the Bill. The question was one of public- safety, not of individual feeling or even hardship. Mr LEVESTAM opposed the Bill. He would rather see vaccination more stringently enforced. Mr JOYCE and Colonel TRIMBLE opposed the Bill. Mr DICK opposed the Bill, and strongly supported the necessity of stringently enforcing vaccination. He recognised fully the necessity of securing a supply of pur lymph. The House divided on the second reading ; Ayes, S ; Noes, 43. The Bill was thrown out. ' Mr DARGAVILLE moved the second reading of the Religious, Charitable, and Education Trust Boards Incorporation Bill, The Bill was read a second time. The House rose,at 12.40 p.m.