PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8288, 21 June 1890, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

[BY telegraph.— PßESS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday. The Council met at half-past two p.m. MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR. Messages were received from the Governor referring to the deaths of .Messrs. Lahraann and Campbell, and the resignation of Mr. Waterhouse. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted during the session to Messrs. Oliver and Fraser. NOTICE OK BILLS. The Attorn- jsy-Genkkaj> gave notice to introduce several Bills. THE AL> I > ESS ■ I - REPLY. Mr. Stevens gave notice that Dr. Grace would move the Address-in-Reply.^ The Council rose at three p.m. till Tuesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday. The House met at half-past two p.m. NEW BILLS. Notice was given to introduce several Bills, among them one to define the hours of labour within the colony ; to repeal the Contagious Diseases Act, 1869 ;Jbo amend the law relating to divorce. MAJOR OAMVBKLL. Sir H. Atkinson moved that the Speaker convey to Major Campbell, on his retirement from the ollice of Clerk of the House, its acknowledgment of his valuable services during the thirty-live years he held office. Mr. Ballanck cordially seconded the motion, and Sir J. Hall concurred in what had been said by the previous speakers, adding that he hoped, indeed, some more distinguished mark could have been conferred on Major Campbell. The motion was agreed to. THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr. Tanner moved the Address-in- ! Reply, but regretted that ill-health prevented him from speaking to the motion. Mr. Ross seconded the motion. Mr. Ballanck moved the adjournment of the debate till half-past seven o'clock, which was agreed to, and the House rose at twenty-five minutes past three p.m. The House resumed at half-oast seven. Mr, Ballance resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. He referred first to the Premier's illness, which might probably compel him to relinquish ollice at no distant date. If such should prove to be the case, he desired to express his feeling of regret, which was shared by the whole of the Opposition, and he sincerely hoped that after a short rest the Premier' Mould again be able to take his place amongst them fully restored in health. He deplored the absence in the Governor's .Speech of all reference to the great question of labour which was now agitating the whole world. Touching on the settlement of the land he considered that it was one of the greatest questions that could engage their attention. They were told that the colony now possessed a choice of tenure, but the present Minister for Lands had clone his utmost to

lender the village settlement scheme odious in the eyes of the people. He condemned the land administration of the Government, for although the Minister had parted with large quantities of land, he was year by year placing a smaller number of .settlers on it. He (Mr. Eallance) thought the fact of such a large exodus having occurred in our population was due to people being unable to obtain land for settlement, and the manner in which the land administration was at present conducted was likely to lead to dummy ism, such as they had never heard of before. As to the acquisition of native lands, he admitted it was desirable to acquire those lands, but the Government had used the vote of £20,000 given for the purpose for the benefit of speculators, and not for the benefit of the public at large. Allu ling to Major-General Edwards' report on defence, ho said he was not a high Imperial officer giving a professional opinion, but. simply a tout for one of the Governments of Australia. There were some remarkable appointments made during the recess, which were not mentioned in the speech. He contended that Mr. Justice Edwards could not fake his seat on the Bunch till his salary had been fixed, which could not be done until a special Act was passed by Parliament. Colonel Trimble's appointment to the Native Land Court would have to bo legalised by Act, and his salary had in consequence been paid out of unauthorised expenditure. There was a universal desire expressed last session for a dissolution, and lie thought the Government now regretted they had not adopted that course. He reiterated that they were to waste their time this session doing nothing, and he thought even now the Government ought to go to the country on their policy, and obtain an expression of opinion on it. Mr. Hisi.or, in reply, denied that there was any necessity in the speech for an allusion to the organisation of labour. He said Mr. Ballanco had no right to assume to himself all the virtues with respect to settlement of the land, and it was no particular credit to him (Mr. Eallance) to put 1200 people on land in one year at an expenditure of £65,000. Mr. Hislop contended that the settlement of the land had nothing to do with the number of people who had left the. colony. They would be able to prove by figures that the administration of the Minister of Lands was infinitely more successful than that of the late Minister. As to Mr. Ballanco's remarks about the purchase of native lands at Kotorua, he wished to say that the Government had made a very good bargain by that transaction. The Government had considered the appointment, of a Supreme Court. Judge a very sacred matter, and not one to be undertaken lightly. Colonel Trimble's appointment had given great satisfaction. He contended that sufficient matters were mentioned in the Governor's speech to occupy the House profitably this session, and lie denied that they were either trumpery or unimportant, as had been alleged. 'He considered the administration of the Government compared most favourably with that of their predecessors. Sir G. GItKY condemned the proposal that a dying Parliament should continue for another twelve months, and thought the Governor should be urged to grant a dissolution without further loss of time. He intended proposing an amendment at the proper time to the third paragraph in the Governor's speech, praying His. Excellency to dissolve Parliament without delay, and so cause writs to bo issued for the election of a now Parliament. Mr. Taylor, in a speech of great length, protested against an important debate like the present'one being forced through in the manner proposed by the Government. Mr. Stewart moved the adjournment of the. debate on the ground that many members who had not yet arrived were anxious to take part in it. The lion. Mr. MITCHKLSON said the Government had intended to finish the debate that night if possible, and he failed to see what, good could be attained by an adjournment. The motion was agreed to, and the House rose at a quarter-past ten p.m. till Tuesday next.