PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10596, 10 November 1897, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

.-'*r TELEGRAPH.— PBKSS ASSOCIATION'.! ' . LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tdesday. . The Council met at 2.39 p.m. ■ ; PATENTS AND TRADK MARKS. The Patents Deafen* and Trade Marks Act/ j Amendment Bill was committed and sliphtly amended. , ». • The Council adjourned at 2.45 p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES.'. • * Tuesday. ; v The House met at 2,30 p.m.: '• NATIVE LAND LEGISLATION. ' ; . The Premier moved to set up a committee to which is to be referred the Native Land Laws Amendment Bill. He proposed that it should consist of six Government supporters and four members of the Opposition. Two amendments having for their object the substitution of other names than those proposed by the Premier were defeated on the voices, after a lengthy debate, in the course of which the Opposition speakers claimed that the leader of the Opposition should nominate the Opposition members to all committees.

. The motion as originally proposed was agreed to. QUESTIONS.

Ministers, in reply to questions, stated that it would be difficult to frame legislation to prevent the burning of timber and rubbish in bush districts during the time of the year when bush fires are likely to spread; that' the opinion of counsel of standing would be taken as to the legality or otherwise of the present sale of alcoholic liquors in Bellamy's. At 5.30 p.m. the House adjourned. The House resumed at half-past seven p.m.

THE ESTIMATES. : The House went into Committee of Supply on the General Estimates. Class 2: Colonial Secretary's Department, salary of the member of the Executive Counsel representing the Maori race, £400.

Captain Russell asked under what) enactment) this salary was paid to the Hon. J. Carroll, who no longer represented a native constituency. Mr. Seddok said Mr. Carroll was entitled to be a member of the Executive Council, and there was no evasion of the law in giving him the rank. Sir R. Stout : SChab is wrong. Mr. Seddon, continuing, said that) Mr. Carroll's salary could be appropriated under the head of Permanent Acts, bat there was doubt whether this provision had been repealed by the Disqualification Act of 1887.

Mr. Rolleston referred to Mr. Carroll's lonnection with native land, and said it was ixtremely wrong that the Minister for Native Affairs should be mixed up in native and transactions.

Mr. Seddojj pointed out that Mr. Carroll had no connection with the administration of the Native Department, and his connection with native land was simply that of trustee.

A lengthy debate ensued on the question whether or not seven Ministers could be appointed. Mr. Montgomery contended that there had been an evasion of the law in appropriating the salary for the member of the Executive representing the native race to the Minister, as Mr. Carroll held the portfolio of Commissioner of Stamps. After further debate the votes was agreed .to by 35 to 19. On the vote for the Electoral Department, £4050, a discussion took, place on the claims of the late Mr. Field, printer, Auckland, for breach of contract in connection with the printing of the electoral rolls in 1893. . , The opinion was generally expressed that in equity Mr. Field's claims for compensation were good. ■ ; The Premier intimated that they had been submitted to a Stipendiary Magistrate, who had declared that Mr. Field had no legal claim against the colony. The matter was under discussion when the telegraph office clpsed at eleven p.m.