PARLIAMENTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7162, 30 October 1884, Page 5

PARLIAMENTRY NEWS.

[by telegraph.—special correspondent.] - Wellington, Wednesday. THE ISLAND OF WAIHEKE. Mb. W, F. Bucklisd asked the Government to-day, " Whether they will, daring the reces3, cause inquiries to be made as to the desirability and cost of connecting the important island or Waiheke by telephone with the mainland, and also, whether they will ascertain the coat of erecting a suitable wharf in the Coromandel Passage." Sir J. Vogel, in reply, said be hardly thought that the cost was justified at present. Important as the Island of Waiheke might be, it was hardly worth while now going to the expenditure of placing it in telephonic communication with the mainland. With regard to the wharf, that was a matter which ought more probably to have been referred to the Minister for Public Workc; but he had hie colleague's authority to say that whilst he would give this matter consideration, he did not see aoy immediate necessity for the work. EARLY HOURS. The Standing Orders Coaimittee brought up a report to-day recommending, amongst other thinge, that the House should meet at ten a.m., and adjourn at five p.m., an hour being allowed for dinner between one and two. This proposal was greeted with rnineled expressions of approval and surprise. The committee also recommend that no discussion be permitted on the motion that the House go into committee to consider a Bill. Mr. Stout said that the present was rather a late period of the session to discuss alteration of the standing orders. Tho matter was not of pressing importance, and he suggested that the disciission be postponed till next session. In reply to a question, Mr. Stout said he could not, without considering the matter, state whether the Government would give facilities ar. any particular time for the consideration of the recommendations. Mr. Macandrew then gave notice that he would move the adoption of the recommendation on Wednesday next. BEE KEEPING. Mr. Hamlin asked the Government to-day if they wiil take the necebsary steps for protenting the bee-keeping industries of the colony by placing an iicportad valorem duty upon all honey imported into New Zealand ; and, further, by allowing nil apiarian appliances and bee-keepers' sundries to be admitted into the colony free of Customs duty. Mr. Stout, in reply, eaid that in the following colonies there was an import duty on honey :. Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia. in New South Wales and South Australia there was no duty. In this colony the appliauces for preparing honey were admitted free. There was a duty on bives which could be made in the colony, aud he did not see why they should be imported. LIGHTS AT MANUKATJ HEADS. Mr. Hamlin has given notice to ask the Government if they will accede to the application of the Union Company to place guicliug lights at the Manukau Heads ? TELEGRAPH FROM MANGONUI. Mr. Ho.bba has given notice" to ask the Commissioner ot Telegraphs whether the Government will authorise the extension of the telegraph line from Mangonni (toward the lighthouse on Caps Maria) to Kaipara or Awanui ? TIMBER FLOATING BILL. The Timber Floating Bill was resd a second time in the House this afternoon without discussion. AUCKLAND PETITIONS. The Waste Lands Committee report that they have no recommendation to make on petitions of Simon Ryau aud William Haitiday, who pray for graat3 of lands for military services, Mr. Hobbs presented a petition yesterday from John Wheeler King, of Auckland Lunatic Asylum, for consideration for paat services. Mr. Lake presented a petition from Roman Catholics of Kibikihi aud Waipa against the present education system.

THfc BEETROOT SUGAR DEBATE. S:r Jnlius Vogel, in moving the second reading of the Beetroot Sugar Bill to-night, made rather a long speech, in which he embodied information from different parts of the colony. He quoted largely from a paper read before the Auckland Institute by Mr. J. •■». Pond, which recommended the centre of the Waikato district aa specially suitable for the growth of beetroot. !iir Julius also made acknowledgments to Mr. W. S. Graham, of Auckland, for valuable information supplied by that gentleman, acd read a letter he h&d received from Mr. Tanner, of H'awke'a Bay, showing the success of the growth of beetroot in that district. Favourable reports were also received from the Rangitikei district. The success of experiments by Mr. Justice Gillies in connection with the growth of sorghum and production of sugar from that plant were also shown. Ho referred to an extract from a paper read in Auckland by Mr. Justice Gillies to show that sorghum may be made the medium of most profitable production in this colony. The figures given by Sir Julius showed a much larger percentage of sugar from beetroot grown in this country than that in beetroot grown in France, Belgium, Austria, and other countries in Europe. Colonel Trimble opposed the Bill, advocating the cheapening of sugar by reduction of dut3% giving facilities thus for the manufacture of jams. He thounht the various industries should be let alone to fight their own battles. Mr. Gillies, member for Bruce, who, it may be remarked, is a brother of Mr. justice Gillies, strongly supported the Bill. He thought members should hail the measure with delight. Mr. Gillies read an extract from an article which recently appeared in the New Zealand Hkrald, stating the success of the industry in Belgium.

[BY TELEGBAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, "Wednesday. CLAIM OF KGATITOA.. A somewhat important decision has been come to by the Native Affairs Committee of the Legislative Council on the pstitiun of Atanateri Rerangi and others, claimants of several Bm<tll ielands at the entrance of Pelorous Sound ; Cook's Straits. The petitioners belong to the tribe of Ngatitoa, who, with the Ngatiawa, were, at the time of the first European settlement, in possession (among other territory) of the lands of the southernsboresof Cook's Straits, aud in Blind Bay and Massacre Bay. Iu the deods conveying the land to the Crown it appears that; the cession only referred to our lands in the Middle Island (Wai Pounamu), and, while specifying trees, lakes, waters, rocks, etc., made no specific mention of the adjacent small islands, while distinct evidence was given before the committee by Sir George Grey, who drew np the Ngatitoa deed, that it was expressly agreed on both aides that the islands should not be included in tbe cession. The committee therefore report that they consider the allegations of the petitioners proved, and recoinmcd that the Government should confirm the title of tbe Ngatitoa to the islands Paragara, Kakapo, iNukuaetaia, and ilohigarara by Crown grant. The same committee, has referred to the Governmeut for consideration the petition of Ihoia Tainui, complaining that Mr. Alexander McDonald, who has been for many years acting as Commissioner of Native Reserves among the South Iclaud natives, and whose oalary, it is allirmed, is paid out o£ the rents ot native reserved, has been appointed a Judge of the Native Laud Court, and praying that ho may be returned to his former duties. PETITIONS FROM ROMAN CATHOLICS. With reference to the petitions from Roman Catholics, praying for capitation grants for their tchools, the Public Petitions Committee ot the Legislative Council report that the number of petitions ia 5G containing 9S7S signatures. THE DISTRICT RAILWAYS RESOLU-TiO-N. The Government having considerably modified the District Railways resolution brought io down this atternoun, tho result being that io evoked a most interesting debate 011 the technical and constitutional points involved. The discussion, in fayt, was far above the average, and tho qncsiiou was argued with an amount of logic and acumen, which would have done credit to any Legislative Assembly. The motion submitted by Sir J. Vogel was in the preliminary etage, which ia usually allowed to go without any debate, like the firat reading of a Bill." The amended resolution was only circulated among members just as Sir Julius made the motion, and Sir George Grey submitted that, allowing the amendment to be submitted for the original resolution, the

House ocght to have some opportunity of considering te effects. The Premier then said if the House would not extend this courtesy to the Government, Sir J. Vogel would formally submit the original resolution, and he (Mr. Stout) would move the modified form as an atutiidment. Mr. Bryce said it was not a question ot courtesy, as when the original resolution. was put on the paper he made up his mind to raise a point of order, and he wished time to consider the amendment to Bee if the point of order applied to that also. Thereupon Sir J. Vogel sarcastically suggested that if the hon. gentleman had prepared a speech on.the eubject, which he was unwilling should be lost, it ought to be taken as delivered, and printed in Hansard. This roused Mr. Bryce, who, after Sir G. Grey had announced his intention to oppose the amendment, again took the floor of the House, and warmly declared that it would be sometime before he should again appeal to the Colonial Treasurer's sense of justice, because he could see that hon. gentleman was so eager to utter a sneer at a political opponent that such an argument would fall on unwilling ears. He then proceeded to raise his point of order, which he argued in terms so luminous and well expressed as to fully sustain the ' reputation he has acquired of being one of the most clear-headed thinkers in the House. He relied on a dictum in May's Parliamentary Practice, to the effect that no question or Bill is to be offered to Parliament which is substantially the same as one on which their judgment has been expressed during the session. The Speaker, who had evidently had an intimation that the point was lo be raised, said he had given it his most careful consideration, and ruled against Mr. Bryce, holding that although the Government could not bring in a second Bill dealing with the subject, yet, after a Bill had besn rejected, it was competent for them to bring down a motion dealing with the subject. The technical point "of order having thus been decided, Mr. Rolleston raised the constitutional point that the subject of the resolution was to set aside the design of the other House by a side wind, and to authorise a contract which the other branch* of the Legislature had said ought not to be entered into. Further than this, he pointed out that there was a third branch of the Legislature, and he urged that then if the resolution were carried unless it was also carried in the Upper House the Governor would not be justified in entering into a contract which as the matter stood at present was at variance with the decision of tho Legislative Council. Ruling on this constitutional point the Speaker decided that it would be unconstitutional to propose to spend public money by a resolution of the Lower House alone, and on that ground he should have ruled against the motion as it originally stood. .He understood, however, that the Government in the present amendment proposed to remove all questions of an unconstitutional character, and therefore he should be disposed to allow it. Sir J. Vogel in reply deprecated Mr. Rollestou's reference to the Governor. He then went on to say that the Bill was thrown out by theLegisiative Council because it was incapable of amendment and he suggested that the modified form of the resolution might be in accordance with the desire of the Legislative Council. It was then agreed to allow the motion to formally pass, with the understanding that the qnestion at issue was to be fought out to-morrow, when a substantive resolution comes up for consideration. Thus ended an exceedingly able debate, in which numbers of authorities were quoted on both sides, although it appeared difficult to produce one exactly on all fours with the present case. Mr. IJownie Stewart quoted from au American writer to show that a Bill could be brought down after a motion dealing with the same question bad been passed, but no one seemed able to s>how a case in which it was held that after a Bill had been rejected by the Upper House a motion could be brought down in the Lower House to effect the saino object without reference to the Upper Chamber. It will be seen that tho Government have very largely modified the original proposition. The amended form, however, will be warmly opposed. The general objection is still urged that this is an unconstitutional attempt to over-ride by a sidewind the decision of the Upper Honse. It is true that the amended resolution states that the agreements are fo~be subject to_ the ratification of Parliament, but the Government,-~ib is said, distinctly informed their supporters yesterday that they did not intend to insert a clause rendering the agreements void if ■such ratification were not obtained. Apart from this it is pointed out that the last clause would lender it practically impossible to ratify the agreement. If the companies are to be debarred from their present legal rights to take proceedings against ratepayers,. it would be impossible for Parliament, after these companies had in consequence, perhaps, been compelled to finance to raise the money which they would have acquired from the rates, to refuse to ratify the agreements without, at any rate, paying substantial compensation. The question, in fact, is surrounded with difficulties, and the way in which it is finallly dealt with is sure to be watched with much curiosity, apart from the substantial interests involved. SUNDAY WORK AND NEWSPAPERS. I understand that some trepidation has been caused in morning newspaper offices by the Snnaey trading clauses of the Police Offenders Bill, and the refusal of the House to exempt newspaper employes from its operation, lam nob eure whether I have referred to the matter before, but if not I may state that I am assured by legal members of the House that this will not prevent newspapers from being set up in the usual way on Sunday nights, as the clause only applies to persons carrying on their trade or calling openly within view of the public. There seems little doubt, however, that it would prevent publishing offices of newspapers from being kept open for the sale of papers, and probably also for the receipt of advertisements.