PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 858, 10 August 1888, Page 24

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST S. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. MR COMMISSIONER CROWE.

Mr Waterhouse asked the AttorneyGeneral whether tho , Alexander Crowe, whose name appears in the Naval and Military Settlers Bill ub entitled to a grant of land, is the same person as the Alexander Crowe whose claim wae examined into and rejected by Colonel Haulfcain’s Commission of 1S82; and whether he is the Major Crowe who was one of the two Commissioners appointed in 1886 to examine into and report upon the claims of naval and military settlers. The Attorney-General read a paper signed by Mr Gudgeon, Commissioner of Police, which was in ftho affirmative, and giving reasons for the opinion ho gave. Mr Water-house objected to Government servants writing memos embodying their opinions to bo read in tho Council. MINING ACT AMENDMENT BILL, This measure was further considered in committee. The Bill was reported with amendments, and the third reading made an order for the next day. LAND ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. The Bill was recommitted for the purpose of amending clauses 9 and 10. The amendments wore immaterial, and were agreed to. The Bill was reported with amendments, and the third reading fixed for next day. FAIR RENT OF LAND BILL. Dr Pollen resumed tho debate on the motion for tho second reading of the Bill, and in the course of his remarks said that tho proposed measure was in his opinion only' eclipsed in its tyranny by the Sumptuary Laws of Queen Anne. Ho moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months Sir George Whitmore opposed the Bill, which he regarded as a most vicious measure so far as it referred to the relations as between landlord and tenant. The dinner recess took place at 5 p.m. EVENING SITTING. Captain Bail, lie, in the absence of the Speaker, took the chair at 7.30 p.m. The debate on the second reading of the Fair Rent Bill was continued, and after a long discussion the amendment of Dr Pollen was agreed to, the Bill being lost by 22 to 5. The following is the division list : Ayes, 5. —Messrs Hart, McLean, Stevens, Wilson, and Sir F. Whitaker. Noes, 22.—Messrs Acland, Barnicoat, Buckley, Dignau, Grace, Martin, Millar, Oliver, Peter, Pharazyn, Pollen, Richmond, Shephard, Shrimski, SwansoD, Taiaroa, Walker, Wahawaha, Waterhouse, Wigley, Williams, and Sir G. Whitmore. The Council adjourned at 9 o’clock to the following day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST S.

After our report closed on Wednesday morning the House continued sitting. The Public Buildings votes were passed. A long discussion took place on the vote, Working Railways Department, £690,000. Mr Walker moved to reduce it by £IO,OOO, as an indication that expenditure should bo reduced. The Minister explained that the reason the vote was not proposed with reductions was that the Government expected to have the Railway Board instituted before long.—Mr J. McKenzie moved to reduce the vote by £250, as an indication that the General Manager should be dispensed with. It would pay the Colony, he "said, to give this officer a salary to leave the railways alone.—The Minister defended the General Manager, and said the present management was far more efficient and economical than it had ever been in the past.—The Premier said he had inquired into nearly all the complaints against Mr Maxwell, but never found an instance in which that gentleman was wrong. The arguments used were against the system, not against the Manager at alt.—After a long discussion, Mr MoKenzie’s amendment was lost by 32 to 21.—The Premier expressed a hope that the Estimates would be jrassed, and pledged his word that if the Board were not constituted, an oarly opportunity should be given the House to consider the vote, with a view to making reductions. After a discussion an amendment, moved by Mr McKenzie, to the effect that the salary of the General Manager bo left out of consideration, and the balance. of the vote bo reduced by £IO,OOO, was carried on the voices.—The Premier said lie would understand from that that salaries generally were to bo reduced, including that of the General Manager. The vote, as reduced, was passed. Progress wa3 reported, and at 5.40 a.tn. the House adjourned till 7.30 tho same evening. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. The Premier, answering Mr Walker, said the Public Works Statement would not be made until the Native Bills bad been disposed of. He would at the beginning of next week be prepared to make a statement as to what business should bo gone on with. NATIVE BILLS. The Premier, in answer to Sir George Grey, said he had agreed with Natives to postpone these Bills till next day, and would in the meantime circulate the Bill proposed by the Natives. Sir George Grey urged that certain Natives who wished to bo heard at the bar of the House should be so heard. The Premier said he would agree to that provided no time was wasted. Mr Seddon asked how many of these Native chiefs there were. The Premier : About forty. Mr Seddon asked how long it would take, then ?

The Premier understood that only one or two would speak. Mr Fish thought it ridiculous that Natives should be heard in this way when.they had representatives in the House. There was too much of this confounded Native question.

Tho Speaker requested Mr Fish to withdraw those words.

Mr Fish did so, remarking that there ought to be a code of objectionable words for the benefit of members. Tne Speaker said he could not allow such a reflection ou the chair, and Mr Fish withdrew that remark also.

Mr Taiwhanga intimated that he intended to stonevpall these Bills.

[Later on the Speaker suggested that Buoh a threat to the House should be withdrawn, but Mr Taiwhanga shook his head and said “ No.”] A discussion ensued as to the advisableness of allowing the Natives to be heard at the bar of the House. Mr Ormond said it would be little use one or two Natives giving their individual opinions ; itr would be better for them to unite and have their opiuions expressed by the Native members, than whom no better representatives could be obtained.

Mr Ballanck said that although there were a large number of influential chiefs in Wellington,. there were a number of districts that were not represented by those chiofs. At the same time he thought it would be perfectly reasonable to hear the Natives at the bar of the House.

After further discussion the following Bills were committed and progress reported upon them—Native Laud Frauds Prevention Bill anil Maori Real Estate Management. The comr&ittals of the Native Land Bill and Native Land Court Bill were postponed till next day. CUSTOM'-j DUTIES CONSOLIDATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Commissioner of Customs moved the second reading of this Bill, which was agrsed to. The Bill was subsequently agreed to in committee and passed through all its stages. PROCLAMATIONS VALIDATION BILL. This Bill was read a second time on the motion of the Colonial Secretary. The Bill was subsequently passed through all its stages. ROSS COMPENSATION BILL. The Minister for Public Works moved the second reading of this Bill, the object of which, he explained to be to enable compensation to be given for land taken for a road. —Carried The Bill was subsequently passed through all its stages. MACKENZIE LAND BILL. The Minister for Public Works moved tho second reading of this Bill.—Carried. The Bill was subsequently passed through all its stages. interpretation bill. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of this Bill, which is purely a technical measure. Subsequently the Bill was committed, and progress reported. CORONERS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Colonial Secretary moved the commitfcal of this Bill. At the suggestion of the Speaker, however, the Bill was postponed till next day, Mr Guinness having raised a point of order that it. was an Appropriation Bill, allowing mileage to bo paid to coroners, and should have originated in the House instead of in tho Legislative Council. LAND TRANFER ACT AMENDMENT BILL. On the motion ofjthe Minister of Lands, this Bill was read a second time. The Bill was agreed to in committee, and progress reported. RIVER BOARDS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The second reading of this Bill was agreed to on the motion of the Minister of Lands. The Bill was committed and agreed to. A motion by Mr Pyke to recommit the Bill was lost by 27 to 23, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. qPOST* OFFICE (FOREIGN PARCELS) BILL. This Bill was read a second time on the motion of the Postmaster-General. The Bill was subsequently passed through all its stages. ■ district courts act amendment bill. This Bill was read a second time on the motion of the Colonial Secretary. Sub sequently the Bill was passed through all its stages. SHEEP ACT AMENDMENT BILL, This Bill was agreed to in committee, and passed through all its stages, NATIVE CONTRACTS AND PROMISES BILL. This Bill, having been agreed to in committee, was referred to the Native Affairs Committee. TOBACCO ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was read a second time on the motion of the Commissioner of Customs, and subsequently passed through all stages. The House rose at 10.45,