PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9142, 25 August 1888, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TKLiORAPH.—?BSBS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE"" COUNCIL. t, f , Friday. ~ ' ' The Council met at half-past two p.m. THE NATIVE "BILLS. The Native Affairs 1 Committee ' reported that they had examined the Native Bills, and recommended they be proceeded with. On the motion of Sir F. Whitaker it was agreed to commit them at half-past seven. STANDING ORDERS. Sir F. Whitaker moved "That the Standing Orders . be so far suspended for the remainder of the session, so as to enable Bills to pass through all their stages at on® sitting. " ' - ; . • _ The Council divided. Ayee, 12; noes, 12. The Speaker voted against the motion, which was lost. MISCELLANEOUS. j ' The District Railways Act Amendment Bill, and Special Powers and Contracts Act, 1886, Amendment Bill were read a tirst 11 The amendments made by the Blouse of Representatives in the Fencing Act, 1881, Amendment Bill, and the Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill, were agreed to; also, the amendment proposed by His Excellency the Governor in the Proclamations Validation Bill. . The following Bills were committed and passed ; —Crown and Native Lands Rating Act Repeal Bill, Local Bodies Audit Bill, and Government Life Insurance Bill. Progress was reported on the Rating Acts Amendment Bill, and the Council adjourned at 4.45 till evening. The Legislative Council again met at 7.30. The New Plymouth Harbour Bill was read a first time. The Council went into Committee on the four Native Land Bills brought up by the Native Affairs Committee, who recommended they should be allowed to proceed with amendments. In the first Bill clause 5, relating to removal of restrictions was struck out, as recommended by the Native Affairs Committee. The new clause giving the Governor power to remove restrictions on alienation was agreed to. A new clause was added to the effect that the Act shall not apply to any lands under the management or control of the Public Trustee. The Bill was then reported with amendments. The Native Land Court Act, 18S6, Amendment Bill, was next committed, and gave rise to a long discussion. Clause 8, referring to Crown claims, was struck out, as recommended by the Native Affairs Committee, and a new clause was added referring to land or shares in land deemed to be transferable The Native Affairs Committee recommended excision of clause 28, referring to " re-hearing." Mr.Williams hoped the clause would be retained. Mr. Swakson moved progress be reported. " . " The Council divided : Ayes, 5 : noes, 14. After a lengthy dicussion, the clause was struck out as suggested, by 14 to four. A new clause, dealing with licensed interpreters," which provides that all licenses up to the 31st December should be cancelled, and that only persons of approved moral character, and having a thorough knowledge of the Maori language should be appointed. [Left sitting. ]

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday. The House met at 12.30 p. m. the mining act. Sir H. Atkinson . said as a conference between the two Houses on the Mining Act Amendment Bill was still sitting, he should move that the House should adjourn till two p.m. Agreed to. THE MOKAtr JONES CASE. Replying to Mr. Hutchison, The Premier said the Government had not yet had time to consider the report on Joshua Jones' Mokau case. The House adjourned till two o'clock. On resuming, Mr. Hutchison proceeded 1 to speak on the Jones case, alleging that the report of the Commissioners on that, case was not of a very definite character, The Speaker ruled him out of order on the ground that tie present sitting was expressly set apart for local Bills. local bills. - The New Plymouth Hospital Bill and Epsom and Mount Eden Recreation Reserve Bill passed through Committee, were read a third time, and passed. / An amendment 'by Mr. Fish, that the latter Bill be read a third time three months hence was lost by 36 to 11. Mr. Fisher moved the second reading of the Wellington School of Design Bill, to provide for the establishment of a School of Design, and other educational purposes in Wellington. Messrs. Samuel, Goldie, and Mackenzie (Clutha) opposed the Bill. Dr. Newman, and Messrs. Verrall and Wilson supported it. The motion was agreed to. The Nelson Hospital and Asylum Reserves Bill, Whangarei Drill-shed Bill, Wellington Asylum and Orphanage Reserves Bis, Otago Dock Land Bill, Wellington Corporation and College Land Exchange i Bill, Clyde Domain and Recreation Ground Grant Bill, Auckland Hospital Reserves Act Amendment Bill were each read a second time. A lengthy discussion ensued on the committal of the Wellington School of Design Bill, Mr. Samuel strongly opposing primary education reserve** being disposed of in this way. Messrs. .Barron and Allen supported the Bill; and committal was agreed to. Mr. Samuel again protested against the Bill.!•' ■' •

After some further debate, Mr. Thompson (Marsden) moved That progress be reported," as it was evident that the Bill would be blocked, and so prevent- all the other local Bills from coming on. i .

Carried by 29 to 26. . The Bills mentioned above were then committed, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at half-past five p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Local Bodies Audit Bill was read a second time, but on the motion' to pass it through remaining stages, Mr. Walker objected, as the House knew nothing about it, and further consideration was postponed. Mr. G. F. Richardson reported that an agreement had been come to with the Council on the Mining Act Amendmen Bill. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr. Walkkb said he thought, sifter the few months' experience of Government finance, it would be found no better than that of the last ten years ; and it was, perhaps, unfortunate that the absorbing question of tariff had prevented the usual criticism at the proper time. He ventured to say the honest attempt of the last Government to place the finances on a sounder footing, had not received that recognition which it ought, and now the present Government posed as the sole champions of economy. He quoted a return in support of his contention that , the Stout-Vogel Government had made an excellent beginning in the •way of retrenchment, and. he twitted the Premier with his unwillingness to furnish details of the £233,000 which he claimed to have saved last year. Speaking generally, he was of opinion we had gone too far in borrowing, ' and the money had not been spent sufficiently on reproductive works— an evil which was being perpetuated by the Government, who recognised, ( apparently, no law but that of expediency. The general policy of the Government was of a negative characterbeing merely one of retrenchment — they did nothing to help on the great natural industries of mining, &c. Dr. Newman criticised the methods of raising loans, and objected to the heavy charge for discount, brokerage, &c. He considered votes were very carelessly placed on the Estimates, and; the. money badly allocated, especially for roads. ..., , ij Colonel Fraser said the Thames district had nothing to thank the Government for. Their port had been closed,' their property confiscated, and their .railway, which Mr. Mitehelaon had promised should be gone on with, allowed to be stopped.'' Ministers who had done these things were not ashamed to sit on the benches. 'f ' ' Mr. Mkntkatq gave it a3 his opinion that the policy of the Government had been as greAt a failure as Yogel's. ; i ' He condemned the manner in which members obtained votes for their; districts, and the pressure brought to bear on Ministers in that respect. ■ '* * ' 1 Mr. Fekoos remarked that Mr. Menteafch had executed .another somersault, and ho doubt would, dO it again before long. He defended the Government from' the attack on it by Dr. Newman and Mr. Men tea th,

especially with *"sfarenoe to < the defence vote, which was principally required to meet the liabilities Incurred by the last Government. ' t • . ' Mr. GoLDiE said the Statement altogether departed from the proposals laid down in the last Statement, enforcing his statement by quotations relating to the Auckland railWays. He wanted to Lsow why the Government had broken away from their promises, and ventured to say were it nob for the late period of the session, the House would resent this behaviour. The Premier remarked upon the statements of the pretended friends of the last Government. Mr. Walker resented this term, and also the charge of intriguing for a seat in the Ministry which the Premier had levelled at him on a former occasion. Sir H. Atkinson warmly retorted, and accused Mr. Walker of being- quite unfit for the leadership of the Opposition, and not knowing how even to help to maintain order in the House. He declined to enter into arguments on the subject of the late Government, though challenged to do so, except to say that he nad undertaken to save £300,000 on their Estimates, and actually had saved £233,000. He accused Mr. Men tenth of suppressing facts for the purpose of creating a false impression. He was merely an advocate in ignoring facte, and trying to convince a jury. 'He denied the Publio Works Statement had ever Been altered again and again, as stated by Mr. Seddon, 'and claimed that on the whole every.district had been fairly treated. The House then went into committee. POBLIO WORKS ESTIMATES. Railways: Helensville northwards. Mr. Thompson (Marsden) said he intruded to oppose every vote, because this line had been singled out for exceptionally small expenditure. Mr. Mitchelson said the Government had gone on the principle that. they would only recommend expenditure this year on lines that would be beneficial to the publio> This line would be completed when the colony was in a position to do so. • . . After some further discussion the vote w&9 passed. Woodville to Palmerston, £50,000. - Mr. Thompson moved to reduce it by £6000. Mr. Mitchelson said if this were done no contract could be let for Pahangara Bridge. Lost on the voices. ,