PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8681, 25 September 1891, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— association.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. I Thursday. The Council met at half-past two p.m. AUCKLAND ELECTRIC LIGHTING KILL. The managers of the Conference on the Auckland Electric Lighting Bill reported that the amendments of the Council had been agreed to by the Conference. ■ the HAMERTON tension bill. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading, of the Hamerton Pension Bill. - Mr. McLean remarked that he was opposed to pensions generally, but in the case of Mr. Harnerton he thought the full pension to which that gentleman was really entitled should have been included in the Bill instead of a compromise having been arrived at. Sir George Wiiitmore took the same view of the case as the previous lion, member. The second reading was agreed to. and the Bill committed, reported, and passed through its final stages. PROGRESS OF MEASURES. The Educational Endowments and Exchange Reserves Bill was read a second time, and eventually passed through its final stages. The Hospital Trustees Bill which affected the Hokitika Hospital was read a second time and passed its remaiuiug stages. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Public Works Appropriation Bill. The motion was agreed to on the voices without debate. The Bill was considered, reported, read a third time and passed. The Council at five p.m. adjourned to halfpast seven p.m. The Council resumed at half-past seven. The Native Land Court Bill was read a second time, committed, and reported without amendment, and put through its final stajres. The Council at eleven p.m. adjourned till half-past ten a.m. next day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday. The House met at eleven a.m. THE appropriation bill.

Replying to Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Ballance said that at this late period of the session the Government were not prepared to press the last clause in the Public Works Appropriation''Bill providing that moneys appropriated for railways may be expended under the control of the Minister for Public Works. AGRICULTURAL BUREAUX. Several members called attention to the urgent necessity that existed for the establishment of bureaux of agriculture in the colony, and impressed upon the Minister of Lands the desirableness of taking some steps in that direction during the recess. The Hou. J. McKenzie said he had been seeking information on this subject from other countries, and whon he had gathered sufficient he would make up his mind what course to take, and would probably ask the House to assist him with a money grant. He was also doing his utmost to entourage the dairy industry and fruit culture, and if he could find an expert for the latter industry he would be willing to appoint him. NOXIOUS WEEDS. Mr. T. .Mackenzie brought up the report of the Noxious Weeds Committee. They find that the statements made by landowners in all parts of the colony that lands aie being rapidly over-run by noxious weeds and shrubs are amply borne out by facts. The matter is one that requires urgent and careful attention, and the committee recommend that the Government should next session introduce necessary legislation to deal with the question. As to phylloxera, they suggest (I) That blight proof stock vines of the most reliable varieties should be introduced into the colony; ('2) that before the vines are generally distributed they should be subjected to strict quarantine in order to ensure that germs of disease do not exist. The report was ordered to lie on the table. APPROPRIATION BILLS. The Public Works Appropriation Bill was committed. Clause 11, to which Mr. Rolleston took objection when the House met, was struck out, and the Bill was reported, read a third time and passed. The Appropriation Bill passed through committee with verbal amendments the third reading being set down for the afternoon, HOSPITAL TRUSTEES, The Hospital Trustees' Bill, to provide for the appointment of Commissioners in case of the resignation of the whole of the trustees of any institution, was put through its final stages. At one o'clock the House adjourned till half-past two. The House resumed at half-past two p.m. NATIVE LAND COURT BILL. On the motion that the Native Land Court Bill be committed, Sir George Gkev opposed its committal at some length, and said it was almost impossible to believe that a Bill containing such monstrous changes in law should be pressed forward at such a late stage of the session.

Mr. Hutchison (Waitotara) said if the Native Minister was not prepared to accept considerable amendments in the Bill the debate on it would probably 'occupy several days. He thought Mr. Cadman might well agree to the amendment that the Native Land Courts should simply inquire into certain cases but without giving the Conrts power to settle those.cases, only to report to Parliament next session.

Mr. Cabman was prepared to agree to that suggestion, and to provide that courts should simply enquire into certain cases and report to Parliament. He was not prepared, however, to accept any other amendments. Mr. ROLLt.STON said the whole of the circumstances of the case were such as to suggest some temporary measure being passed in order that no injustice might be done to a large number of people. He thought it very undesirable that power should be given under this Bill to Native Land Courts to settle cases in such way, probably, as would cause great injustice to Europeans who might be concerned. , As to Mr. Cadtuan's proposal that Native Land Court Judges should enquire into certain cases, and then have their report torn to pieces by members of Parliament, it was simply a travesty of justice. Mr. Rees regretted that the Government* | had not brought down legislation on the basis of the report of the Native Land Commission, of which he was a member, but the next best thing to his mind was for the Government to adopt Mr. Hutchison's suggestion, and allow the Courts to enquire into special eases, and report to Parliament. Mr. Fish said this Bill was of too important a character to be dealt with this session, and the Government were greatly to blame for keeping it back till the last day of the session. 'He objected also to the extraordinary power proposed to be given by the Bill jto the Native Land Court judges. Captain Russhi.l said the House had very little idea of the black cloud of injustice that hung over the progress of the colony owing to defective titles in native land, He spoke with absolute impartiality, as he did not now possess a single native title, but he had known men who had embarked large capital in native lauds, but who, owing to the merest technicality had some flaw in their titles that caused them great injustice. He hoped now that one or two simple clauses would be passed at any rate, so as to remedy the present state of things, and to relieve many deserving settlers from absolute hardship. Messrs. Wilson, Carroll, and Kelly also spoke on the Bill. Mr. Cadman defended the. Government from the charge of not bringing in the Bill before the present time, and said lie had brought in a Native Land Bill six weeks ago, which he believed was approved by the country, but the Bill was killed for this session by certain members and the native members themselves. Ho intended, however, to bring this Bill forward again next session, and to put his views fully before the House. .With respect to the promise he had made as to Native Land Court Judges enquiring into titles, ho had also t 0 point out that if reports of the Judges jvere to be reviewed by Parliament, it might prevent people from having any enquiry made at all into their cases. Ho would ask- the House, however, to pass a suspension clause, so that no litigation could take place before next session. The motion that the Bill bo committed was agreed to. Clause 2, Act to be read with the Native Land Court Acts. Mr. Caiman gave notice instead of a new clause in the direction of suspending all transactions in native lands till next year, He said if that were agreed to ho should drop all other clauses of the Bill. Considerable discussion ensued, and clauses 2 and 3 were struck out. Clause 4, Court empowered to hear and determine certain cases in dispute between the Maoris and Europeans. Mr. Hutchison (Waitotara) moved to strike out the first paragraph, relating to the investigation of incomplete titles and disputes between natives and Europeans. The amendment was carried by '28 to 19. Mr. Cadman said that lie took the decision just arrived at by the committee as an indication that the bill was to be stopped, and they might just as well proceed to consider the suspension clause of which lie had given notice.

Mr. Carroll objected to the Ministers proposition, and thought they should proceed with the Bill a 9 it now stood. Clause 4 was finally struck out, and all the clauses up to 13. Clause 14, trusts and claims against tho Government. Mr. Rees and Mr. Carroll hoped the committee would retain this clause, but it was struck out by 28 to 14. . Clause 15, parts of Horowhcnua inalienable, elicited some discussion, but was eventually retained on tlio voices. - The remaining clauses were struck out. Mr. Cau.man then moved his new clause suspending all transactions in native lands till after tlie end of next session. Mr. Hutchison (Waitotara) moved an addition to the clause to the effect that the validity of any award under the West Coast Settlement Act, ISB7, should also be suspended. Mr. Cadman opposed the addition, which was lost on the voices. Mr. Cadman's new clause was then added to the Bill, which was read a third time and passed. The House rose at a quarter past five. The House resumed at half-past seven. OLD SOLDIERS' LAND CLAIMS. Mr. Seddon brought lip the report of the conference on the Naval and Military Settlers Bill, and said there was no chance of an agreement being arrived at with the Legislative Council on the amendments they had made in the Bill. Therefore, he was reluctantly compelled to move, " That the House no longer insists on its amendments in the Bill." The • principal amendment made by the Council was that they refused power to holders of scrip to transfer their certificates. Mr. Rees protested against the action of the Upper House all through the session, and expressed the hope that before next session such weight of public opinion would be brought to bear on the Council that they would have respect for the will of the people. Air. Buckland contended that the Bill had been killed ii\ the Lower House, because of the absurd provisions which Mr. Scddon had insisted on putting into it. Mr. Mackenzie (Chitha) was of opinion that the Council had saved the colony this session from a curse that would have fallen upon it if the absurd fads of the present Government had been given effect to. Mr. Mills (Wuimea, Picton) complained of the action of the Upper House in rejecting so many Bills, and said they had not acted in a spirit of fairness. Mr. Fisher denied that the Upper House had killed this Bill. On the contrary, it was the Defence Minister who had killed it.

Mr. Thompson (Marsden) hoped that during the recess the Government would not be induced by a section of their tupportcrs to make reckless appointments to the Council.

Mr. Sf.ddon said whatever action the Government took in that direction, they would accept responsibility for it. He denied that he had slaughtered the Bill, and pointed out that the Bill provided before it left the House that scrip could be transferred. In striking out those words, lie contended the Council had been guilty of repudiation. There would have to be another Bill next session to deal with claims which had come in since the present Bill was prepared. The motion was agreed to. REVIEW OF THE SESSION.

On the motion that the Appropriation Bill be read a third time, Mr. Rolleston said he should refer to the events of the session as brietly as possible, and he hoped nothing he had to say would lead to a feeling of soreness. They had met this year with a substantial surplus, and there was a hope that they might have some good government, and not fads of all kinds forced upon them. The Ministry had commenced the session with a large majority at their backs, but he ventured to say they had maintained that majority only in the lobbies. The result of the session, however, was a great disappointment to the House and to the country. The Governor's Speech had begun with congratulations on the financial position of the colony, and it would have occurred to reasonable men to exercise mature judgment before changing the policy of taxation. The previous policy was steadily working to the advantage of the country. As to the Land Bill, it had been brought in as a great liberal measure, but there was 110 liberal tendency in the Bill at all, nor did it go in the direction of promoting settlement. He did not think the Council had done wrong in killing the Bill. Touching on the civil service, he said the Estimates showed that the present Government had played havoc with the salaries of the civil servants, and that reductions had not only been put back this year, but that in many eases salaries were largely increased.*"" ."The Government seemed to lie utterly incapable of recognising that the civil servants were servants of the public, not of the Ministry of the day. The speech from the throne had indicated that a bold reform was to be,made in taxation. It was bold indeed, and also rash, and there would be intense disappointment on the part of those who had looked for a single tax as advocated by " Ministers 011 election platforms. lie believed the Government taxation proposals had already done a large amount of injury to the colony. The Post-master-General had posed as a second Rowland Hill, and he had sacrificed a large amount of revenue which the colony would require before very long. The bold policy of the Government would shortly work its own evil way with the working men, who would soon experience the misery of it. He condemned the work of the Public Trust Commission, and said there was no sense of propriety in the way that Commission had carried out its labour. A promise had been given that the Bankruptcy Bill _ and the Libel Bill would be gone on with this session. The whole efforts of the Government had been to introduce class legislation, and to climb on the shoulders of the working men, but he was convinced the working men of the colony would have the sense to see the empty nature of the professions of the Government. After referring to the covert attacks which had been made on the Railway Commissioners by the Minister for Public Works, Mr. Rolleston went on to remark on the utter incapacity shown by Ministers to lead the House during "the session. Take, for example, their action on the Female Suffrage Bill. They had led their followers up to a crucial point on that Bill, which they called a great Liberal measure, and then dropped them. He condemned the action of the Government over the Payment of Members Bill, and spoke disapprovingly of the proceedings which had characterised the election of chairman of committees a few days ago. It seemed to him that the course taken every day' in the House was such as to make the very name of Liberalism be received with a sort of sneer, and to stink in the nostrils of the people. What was the Government's idea of justice ? Why to starve a Judge of the Supreme Court into submission, and to trample the warrant of the Crown under their feet. And they called that Liberalism ! As to the vile charge made against a member of the House (Mr. Richardson), the Government had actually denied the right of inquiry into the accusation, by moving the previous question, which he thought was a most contemptible action. The Government had appointed as AgentGeneral a political tyro as the successor to the man who had so ably filled that office. In conclusion, he said the time was not far distant when the people of the colony would look for rulers who would not be actuated by such motives as those which actuated the present Government. Mr. Thompson (Bruce) spoke at some length in opposition to the policy of the Government, and said it appeared to him that that policy was all in the direction of further borrowing. Air. George Hutchison adversely criticised the taxation policy and land policy of the Government, and agreed with the leader of the Opposition, that it was time for Ministers to abandon their mask and to consider the serious position of the country. The Hon. W. P. Reeves said the peculiar bitterness with which Mr. Hutchison had attacked the Government this session did him little credit. In the course of a vigorous defence of the action of the Government during the session, lie resented the imputation made that the Government were striving to promote class legislation, and said that 011 the contrary, they wanted to abolish classes. The Government had gained strength during the session, and their party was more compact than at the beginning of the session.

Mr. Fish gave the Government credit for introducing-some questions into the House this session that the people wanted ; notably a change in the incidence of taxation and the amendment of the land laws, but lie could not give them any credit for carrying out their professions of retrenchment and economy. As to the threat made of making further appointments to the Council, he said if the Government appointed men of a certain class to that Chamber, it would bring them into more contempt than anything they had yet done. Mr. E. M. Smith hoped the Government would select suitable men to put into the Upper House so as to secure the balance of power in that chamber. _ Mr. Rees was very pleased at the legislation of this session, but thought the Government had attempted too much. He regretted the Ministry had not given way on the Electoral Bill and the Land Bill, so as to secure improvement in the existing law. Mr. Richardson declared the Government had no -desire to pass their Land Bill, and that accounted for their action in dropping it. He contended the Government haiinade no reductions anywhere in their estd mates. Ic was his firm conviction that next year the Government would ask for a loan of a million and a-half. The I'jumiiiit did not excrcisc his right of reply, and the third reading of the Bill was agreed to.

On tlio motion that the Bill so pass, Mr. Rolleston referred to remarks made by Air. Seddon a short time previously, to the cffeot that the Opposition had used obstructive tactics. Ho denied that absolutely, and said there had never been a more patriotic Opposition than the present one.

[Left sitting, two a.m.]