PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 390, 28 July 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(by TELEGRAPH, FROM THE press agency. ) Wellington, July 27. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. In replying to questions, the Government said they would not deal this session with the law l-elating to lunatics, but next session a comprehensive measure would be introduced ; nor did they intend taking any steps to provide a Deaf and Dumb Asylum. The question of dealing with the Crown lands was under their consideration. The engagement with Sir Julius Vogel terminates 12 months after he readied England, which was in

December. A return was promised of the value of the unsatisfied land scrip in the Colony. Nothing would be done towards the defence of the Colony until the arrival of Sir W. Jervoise and Colonel Scratchley. The survey of the railway between Grahamstoivn and Waikato was nearly completed. The Imprest Supply Bill of L 250,000 w r as passed. The second reading of the Mines Bill elicited some opposition, but it was carried by 45 against IS. The rest of the sitting was occupied in discussing the Charitable Institutions Bill, the main principle of which is that the Government contributes, out of the consolidated revenue, the same amount as that raised locally. Mr. Rolleston strongly condemned the Bill as leaving provision for charity a voluntary thing, instead of being national. The debate was interrupted at 5.30.

Mr. Rees obtained leave to introduce a Bill to validate certain actions of the Highway Boards, and in respect to which a decision adverse to the Boards was recently given by Judge Gillies. Without such measure they would be unable to exist. July 28. On the House re-assembling at 7.30 p.m. last night, the debate on the Charitable Institutions Bill was resumed. A number of speakers condemned the Bill on the grounds that it was unjust in principle in casting the support of charitable institutions upon private benevolence ; that the machinery provided by the Bill would never achieve the object in view ; that the work should be undertaken by the State, and if the revenue would not bear it then, an. income and land tax must be imposed. The speakers who opposed the Bill were Dr. Wallis, Messrs. Stevens (who moved that the Bill be read that day six months), Kelly, Rees, Travers, Wakefield, Lusk, Shrimski, and Fisher. The members the second reading were—the Premier, Messrs. Gisborne, Ballance, Lumsden, Murray-Aynesley, Woolcock, Burns, and Rowe. They urged that the principle of the Bill was sound, and had worked well in Otago and other parts of the Colony, besides several other colonies; that it would stimulate benevolence and selfreliance amongst the people ; that the system of providing for these institutions by central authority was fraught with fatal consequences ; and that a poor law was most demoralising. At 12.15 the Government resisted an adjournment of the debate, and gained their point by 31 against 25. After a couple more members had spoken, the House adjourned at 12.45, the Government not opposing.