PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 21 June 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Press Association)

Wellington, June 20 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Speaker took his seat at 2.30. CONDOLENCE. On the moti m of the Attorney-General, it was agreed that an address be presented to His Excc-llency requesting him to forward to the Secretary of State for I the Colonies for transmission to the 1 Dowager Empress Victoria and the Prime Minister of Germany, tho sorrowful regret the Council feel at the death of the late Emperor, and expressing sympathy with tho Dowager Empress. ADJOURNED. Mr Miller’s motion asking for a return showing tho amount derivable from property tax collected from owners of land who possess only £IOO, and the amount derivable from the imposition of a tax on all incomes exceeding £l5O, was adjourned until to-morrow. LAND TRANSFER ACT. The Land Transfer Act was further considered in committee and reported wtih amendments. CRIMINAL CODE BILL. The Criminal Code Bill is to be recommitted to-morrow. The Council rose at 3.45. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. WESTPORT AND GRETMOUTH II ARDOR BOARDS. Mr Seddon complained that all papers connected with the removal of members of the Westport and Greyraouth Harbor Boards had not been laid on the table as ordered by the House. The Hon Mr Fisher said that all papers referring to this matter had b°en laid on the table, with the exception of some confidential correspondence between the Emrineer-in-Chief and Government.

Mr Reeves, member for Inangahua, moved the adjournment of the House, and in doing so censured Government foi their action. Mr Seddon c intended that theHou.se should be put in full possession of the facts connected with this matter. The Hon Mr Mitchejson justified the action of Government, and stated that when the proper time arrrived he would not shrink from tho position he had taken up in advising Government to remove the members of those Harbor Boards. Mr Guinness spoke at some length on the question, and said that Parliament

should have leen consulted before .the members of the Greymouth Harbor Bjkjd were removed from thoir offices witrout any notice being given by Government for such removal. He hoped the Minister for Public Works would not shelter himself behind a report that was not allowed to see the light of day. After further d’seussion the motion for adjournment was lost. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence for two weeks waa granted to Mr Pearson, on account of illness ; to Sir Julius Vogel for a month ; and to Mr Allen for ouo week, on account of urgent private business. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that the only information in possessvßi of Government with respect to theGoairwas that it had been floated at L 97 15s. "jib usual charge for floating it was pro cent., but full information would nor bo available for some time to come; That Neva stearine caudles were considered best by the manager of the Kumara sludge channel for works over which he had supervision; that the question of appointing a Supreme Court Judge was still under consideration ; that Mr M'Callum had been temporarily appointed to travel and lecture on butter and other dairy interests at L 6 per week, exclusive of travelling expenses-; that Government had tried to get the Chinese Conferenco postponed till Mr Oliver’s arrival in Sydney, but the request was refused.—A lengthy discussion took place on tho question asking the reasons which induced Government to circumscribe the boundaries of part of Thames. The reply was that Government considered the extension of the limit of the Harbor Board’s jurisdiction up the river was unjust to settlers who were not benofitted by it.—That it was not intended to complete the Mana.watu Gorge line for summer traffic this year; the lino was hung up, like others, till it was decided what amount of money should be spent this year, and it was intended that the expend’turo on the line should last over 3 years, tiU 1891 ; that it was not intended to extend the small grazing system of laud settlement; steps would be taken to carry into effect Genl. Schaw’a recommendation as to rifle clubs, and tlr:ro wore now 24 rifle clubs in the Colony; that steps would be taken to prevent sly-grog selling as much as possible ; that Government had no immediate intention of stopping the importation of stoata and weasels ; that the ques ion of limiting districts from which jurors can be summoned would be considered during the recess ; that justices who let their properties for immoral purposes would ho deprived of their commission of the peace. The House rose at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. MINING COMPANIES ACT AMENDMENT. The Mining Companies Act Amendment was read a second time with little discussion. CONDOLENCE. Mr Hislop, in tho absence of the Premier, moved without notice a resolution expressive of regret at the death of the Emperor of Germany, and of condolence with tho dowager Empress Victoria, one copy to be sent to the latter, and one to the Prime Minister of Germany. He alluded briefly to the character and ability of the dead monarch, who, as soldier, statesman and patriot, had shewn hia heroism and many good qualities. Mr Lance, in seconding tho resolution, referred to the eagerness with which tho sad tale of the Emperor’s last momenta had been read daily, and to the propriety of people even in this distant part of her mother’s territory testifying their sympathy with the widowed Empress. The motion was then put and carried. IN COMMITTEE.

Tne House went into committee on tho Laud for Settlement Bill, clause 3—Tho Governor may purohaso or take land for settlement. Mr Richardson, in answer to a question, said he was opposed to the bill altogether, and to test the feeling of tho House, he should move that the sub-section allowing private land to be resumed by *he Governor be struck out. A lengthy discussion followed. Mr Seddon thought the Bill would havo to he abandoned if tho amendment was carried. Air Hislop supported the Bill. Mr Reeves (St. Alban’s) would like to see a comprehensive measure brought down for the resumption of all great estates, but could not look on such a half-hearted measure with favor. Messrs Stewart and Fitchett spoke A terms of praise of the provisions of tha Bill.

Some members complained that tho whole principle of the Bill was being •lebated over again. Sir George Grey replied to tho objections in a speech similiar to previous ones on the jame subject. Mr Turnbull said tho Bill would bo totally useless, as next session tho Treasurer would, without doubt, have to come down with a Progressive Land Tax. Moreover, the Waste Lauds Committee bad struck out clauses providing means for obtaining money. Mr Tniwhanga wanted to have the bill referred to tho Native Affairs Committee. Mr Perched advised Sir George Grey to bn content for the present with taking power to purchase land, and not to jeopardise tho bill by insisting on sub section 2 providing for taking any private land so long as compensation was granted. Mr Samuel earnestly deprecated unsettling the tenure of land by legislation such as thi>, and moved that tho chairman leave the chair. Mr Scobie Mackenzie also spoke against the bill, and pointed out the anomalies W which would arise from enforcing provisions. ▼ A lengthy discussion went on for soma I t'me.

Sir George Grey intimated his willingness to allow valuators to be appointed previous to resuming the land, and also to give up subsection 2.

Mr Samuel still vigorously opposed proceeding with the measures, and was accused of wishing to si one wa l l the Limitation of Votes Bill, which was lower down on the order paper, but this he strongly resented.

Mr Kerr moved 'to report Progress : lost by 31 to 19. 1 Sub-section 2 struck on the voices. Mr Samuel withdrew his amendment for Chairman leaving the chair. The proviso wak agreed to YVtt Parlia- { ment must approve of the purchase-of, any ' * land. Clause/ 4 -local authorities may m apply for'land to be acquired under the- M act—was struck out by 18 to 16. Clause 5 was amended.

In accordance with the motion of Mr J idersou, progress was reported by 16 to 15, and the House adjourned at 12.45.