PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 158, 24 July 1889, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS

(From our own Correspondent),

(By Telegraph.) Wellington, July 23. Government Expenditure. A return which was presented to the House to day shows that the expenditure of the Governor's establishment. Ministers

salaries and allowances, and .Departments

expenses for the year 188S-9 was only * ; £1,913,313, as against. £2,079,327 in 1887-8, * ' iM&I the f reductions under the different \l hidings, were as follows: — Governor's "establishment £903 ; Ministerial salaries, &0., £2,750 ; Legislative vote £22,381 ; Departmental expenditure £129,778. MKDIOAL PRACTITIONERS BILL. The "adjourned debate on this Bill was resumed in the Upper House this afternoon, and passed' its second reading by 17 to 15. The Hon (J. McLean presented a petition from 160 medical men in the oolony in favor of the measure, among the signatories being 18 from Auokland, 20 from Wellington, 14 from Christchuroh, 7 from Nelson, 9 from

New. Plymouth, 6 from Timarn, and the balance from Dunedin, where the majority of ihe medical students had signed. The JB&a. Mx Stevens, who was in charge of the 'Bill, said it had not come aa a surprise to the medical man, as Dt De Zouohe, of Dunedin, who had taken an active interest in it, had sent a copy of the Bill to every medical practitioner whose name appeared upon the register of the colony. The Hon. Mr Walker, who had formerly opposed the Bill, intimated that in view of the petitions received he withdrew nis opposition, but Messrs Mantell and Peacock spoke againab it. — Mr Stevens in reply stated that the Government had only taken action in the matter in consequence of the pressure of what seemed to be the general desire o£ the profession. {Several hon members intimated their intention of endeavoring to considerably •mend the Bill in Committee.

The Vacant Poetfolio. Ths Premier informed Mr J. C. Brown this afternoon that on account of the reduction of the numerical strength of the House, the Government had decided to try the experiment of reduoing the number of Ministers, Whether the present number will continue had not been definitely determined. As to Mr Brown 's suggestion that a Minister of Agriculture ahouid be appointed, the Minister of Lands had practically filled that -office. , The Government had taken considerable interest in the encouragement of the farming and dairy industries, and would continue to do so.

The Donbdin Exhibition. New Bouta Wales is to be represented. The following satisfactory cablegram, which has just been received by 8;r H. Atkinson from Sir H. JParkea, Premier of JN.b.YV., has been placed at my disposal: — "This Government have deoided to be represented at the Dunedin Exhibition, especially in Minerals, which will he very fine, in wool? and wines, in the flora oX the colony! aud in photography, What •pace can be afforded ? " „,.... DISBXTSSD ELECTIONS. Singularly enough, shuugh there is ample provision. for the keeping of votiug papera used in the of local bodies, the iaw does notreqipreihac nomination papers should be preserved; 'Disputes had occurred on the ground of informality in nominations, but when the papers were required to be produced, they were not f ortn comingi and it wa a found ttutttieraw 19^ nothing to prevent their JJMrnotion. Mr She^a therefore Bngge ß t e d j» to«aay that the law Bbouia *7. amended bo aa to provide that all nominfj**° n papers should be forwarded with the "allot papers to the nearest Besident Magis*r**©» arid, in case of a disputed election, be after the enquiry. At the same time he advised that power should be given to Government schoolmasters to take declarations on the ground for an election enquiry. — The Colonial Secretary said that both matters required attention, and the Government would consider whether it was worth while to introduce a Bill specially to deal with them. Cbminal Evidence Bill, This private measure, waioh waa introduced into the Lower Houae by Mr Hutchi«on and pasaed through its final stages there last week, has been taken ohargo of by Dr Pollen in tl>.: Couaoil. la opposing is the Hod. Mr Wjjsou ezpxeaaed bis opinion thas it was going too far in the direction of the Continental practice of allowing: the cross examination of. prisoners. Spaaking of aocut^cd persons giving evidence, he said it waa hara'ly likely that any man on trial would hesita^ to perjure himself, while bis wife would i?o the Bame, in faot it would be monstrous if she did not.— The Attorney General wa3 favorably inclined to the Bill, but be agreed with Mr Wilson that measures of thia importance should only be introduced by the Government and not by private members, and that th^ former should take tbe responsibility for th«m. He thought that the consequence from tlte operation of tbe Bill would be ratber in the* direction of meeting the ends of justice. The Bill passed the aecOad reading- on the voices. Jottings. Quite a flood of positions WvSra this afternoon presented in favor of the Medical Praotitionera Bill, from medical men in various parts ol the Colony. — The Govurncacnt havo undertaken to consider the propriety of granting to looal bodies power to prohibit tbe sowing or planting of gorse upou country road boandaries, This matter was brought under the JPremier's notioo by Mr S, Maokenzie, at tbe request of tbe Glutha County Connoil. — Tbe Welliogton and Manawatu . Company's Drainage Empowering Bill has passed its second reading in tbe Lower House.— -Mr W. P. Beeves saya that it seems probable that the Premier is conducting the public business at the will of the qonntry party. A more humiliating position was never oeeapfed by Ministers since Constitutional Government was known. — The Evening Post s*ys thai Ministers will be guilty of a monstrous abuse of patrouage if they appoint Mf O'Connor as Assistant Auditor-General. Ift favora the appointment of Mr Gavin, Seo~ ratary to theTruaenrer. — The Publio Petitions Committee in reportiog upon a petition for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act, state that as a Bill dealing with the subject matter of tbe petition is now before the Hoase, they hare no -reeommeuda:ion to. snake. — The Bankruptcy Act Amendment Bill, which was alluded to in tbe Governor's epeeob, has been prepared, but as it needs very careful revision, tbe Minister of Justice does not expect; to bu ready to introduce it until the end of next week.— The Defence Minister says that every facility will be afforded the members of Eifla Clubs when travelling on the railways to aad from ebooting competitions, and in other directions.—An Imprest Supply Bill for £200,000 has been, passed through all its stages. — Toe Committee to whom the Ward- Christie correspondence is referred, before summoning witnesses, hava deoided to obtain Hia Honor's notes and copies of any evidence in poises* sion of the Conrl, alßo any information the Deputy Assignee as Timarn may have. fiEPiESBNTATION BtLL. The debate was continued at to-night' sitting by Mr Humphreys, who, on rising to make bis maiden speech, explained that he came to Wellington a month ago determined to support tbe Government, and yet on the occasion of his first important vote ne (must oppose their measure. The town members, Jhe thought, would be justified in going to any Jength in opposing the wrong wfaioh it was nought to plaue on them.

Sir .oeorgs Grey followed, and said the Bill jjropoeqd to deprive a large number of people <ot representation, and to place a very large .amount of .voting power in the hands of the threat landholders. He compared the oon«dition of the inhabitants of the oitiea with that of the agricolturista to show that either , • 'la&d its disadvantages, ' and there was no ' ■;./:' WSIOB wby any cliatiustion should b» made

between them. Town and country should be bound together in one common bond of union, so that they would work together for the welfare of the colony, and people who sought to set up differences between them were enemies of their fellow men. Mr Bruce claimed that the present Bill was an attempt to place the town and country representation on an equitable basis. While not altogether approving of the Bill, aa it fr«7o ft icrye amount of power tj the large borongbe, he woiiid vote for the eeoondread* t war.

> Mr Meateati) ot'jsoled to the Bill because H gftvo cha country quota to a number of lar^e boroughi, which wub quite indeH<iusiblo on priucipie. He altogether cbjected to the treating of Napitr, Nolsjd, fcad liivercargill la^the euice way as country districts. Mr Peiceval w.ss the next, upeaker, and he taunted the Government with having com* ' plou-ly altered their own opinions siuce 1887, whoa they all voted agiunst an increase of Btie quota from 18 to 25 percent. One effeot at ttie Bill way to disoount manhood suffrage, and another would be tJ endanger the coutiunanca o£ the policy oi Protection, To attain these objects was, he believed, the purposo oi the cauatrv •raombera and tbe pnee of thur support. Mr Murohunb did hoc tbink thao the couutrydisi riots would gaiu tnuoii advantage under me Bui, Rtg.r. ing iho proposal to aiai'muouisQ Wellington, ue aid nos tLiak tuat it would lose H it were placed ou the same foociog as Washiugton, the capital of the United tttattß. Mr D. iScewarb said ihe Bill had been conceivoa iv hiq and brought forth in iniquiLy, Tno only provision no favored was the amalgamation of the cuy coustituencies, Mr Batlauce iollowed. aud also spoke iv direot oppositiun to the Bill. Their posiiioa lv rtjspoou to ihiu nmaßure showed the utter folly of the Gtoveruwieut in doing ihat whioh iv iiia opuiiou the couutry never intended shoulfi be done, tho reduction of tde number oi: w< uioerd. Lvotn 91 io 70. The small to wna would gaiu to some extent, by the Biil, but ma xur«l dißtnoui would guiu uojuing. Tuo object of bue Guveru taunt, Bltonld be to show to the town and oouniry tuao thtir iatcresta wore ideuGioal, and oortaiaiy nor. to tareattn ibti towns wivU ihe poßSioihty of an inortaso il the deduction io 33|- per oeta. la oonsiueion ha txpreß^ed his flrm conviotiun that !hree-fourttin of tae ruembtru of the Hoaeo tvure desirous of returning to the original lumber, and he therefore asked them to ba rua to their opinions and repeal the roduoing i.ot. (Oneera.) Mr Fisher aeauribed the' Bill as panic egißlaiiou inti'oduoed to serve ulterior ends. Ui the electoral Bills trough & down by iho jresfcnt (iovomment wera of a Consarvative eudenoy, and ou t'.xo first opportunity he vouia reverao the vote he gave in 1887 for Uu reduction of the number oi numuers, iv irder mat tnosu paople wao were now to bo . lisi'raachieed inighb receive proper reprtseuauon.

Mr Goldie adversely criticised the measure from all stand points, taking exception especially to the proposed amalgamation of the city electorates.

At 11-45 Dr Fitohett appealed to the Government to take the adjournment, but the Colonial Secretary refused, and the motion for the adjournment of the debate was negatived by 47 to 17.

Mr Withy then took up the running, speaking against the Bill.

Mr Haikatifas rose af lor midnight, and made n snort speech in support ot the Bill, claiming that tbe oity members had brougat no real urgument agaiusti it. navin™ roviewea tue speMhes of the other m6mb cr B B h e arg aed in favor of ihe allowan 0B to couutry me mbe rB, aud concluded by Btating that he h oaere d me «overu ment for haying uAa^ ed _ thetn , i selves to oircumstanoes.— He sat down to the ucoompanimano of a round of applause. Mr Barron moved aa an amend meat, "That tbe present Parliament having already passed an Act reducing the number of members subjtiob to the existing quota, it is undesirable to disturb the decision tben arrived at without further reference to the oonutituenoies." This was debated till two o'clock, when the Premier, turning a deaf hear to »11 entreaties for an adjournment, showed an evident determination to allow the town members 10 exhaust themselves, bacanse, he aaid the£ had broken faith by stonawulling in the afternoon. The galleries wore then cleared of all strangers on Mr Muourisliurs motion, in order to rolieve the Hansard reporters, and Mr Fish talked on till 3.30, when Mr Barroa's amendment was negatived by 31 to 12, and the second reading was carriud. The House then rosa till this evening. [Press Association.] Wellington, July 24. At a few minutes past 2 a.m. Mr Steward reported that the ohief of the Mansard staff had informed him that the reporters oould not report tbe proceedings in full, and Mr Pish applied to the Premier, under the circumstances, to adjourn the debate. The Premier deolined, on the ground that there had been stonewalling. • After some discussion Mr MoArthur moved that strangers be ordered to withdraw from the galleries. Carried by 34 to 19.

At 3*20 Mr Barron s amendment was negatived by 34 to 12, and the seoond reading was then carried by 33 to 12.

The Premier moved that the Bill be committed on the next sitting day. This was carried by 32 to 12, and the House rose at 4 a.m. till 7*30 p.m. There were 13 pairs on the division. The Speaker refuses to allow the division list to be given out, as the publio were exoluded. [From our own Correspondent.] July 24. Ministerial Defections, Although several town members, who formerly supported the Government, have expressed their preparedness to vote for a no-oonfidenoe motion, few have formally signified their severance of allegiance. Mr Fish wrote to tbe Premier last night, intimating that, while prepared to support most of their measures, he would be compelled, in oon sequence of their attitude over the Representation question, to vote against them if a direct issue ware tabled. Mr Witby personally informed the Premier that he musb go into active opposition, as he objected to being kicked from pillar to post, while Mr Goldie made a somewhat similar

fiatement to the Ministerial whips. 3M Alen has communioatei his decision to th Oabinct in writing. He informs m» tba his allegiance was shaken last session when ihey proared on the House thci; Protectionist; polioy, and it has been made n< firmer by the diockßur.sß in thla year's eßtimates, which to his mind show tho begiu. niag of a return to ex'ravagnnce, but the ■Representation Bill, in the faoa of the measure they pass»d iti 1887 reduoing tho number of {numbers without increasing the quota, is to his mind a departure from iheir Policy and a departure ou which he oannofi follow them into the lobbies. Hence they muse not count on him as a Government Bupporter. — Mr T. Thompson, another staunch Ministerialist, will in future be a free lance. Mr Barron has also oomf'-^e'v broken away from the Government, auu w v.M support a no»confidenc* motion.

At a meeting of the city and suburban members hold this forenoon, a resolution was arrived at and signed by all present to the effect that oa constitutional grounds i 6 was desirable that they should übo all legitimate and constitutional means to delay the passage of the Bspresentaiion Bil), in order that (he constituencies may have on opportuaiDy of understanding the measure. This, of coarse, moans a determination to eronewull at every atage, aaasasagg— ■■■ ■.■■■. ■■.. 11 -». r ,-,.. M ., !g58g!g8a!!g