PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 406, 16 August 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(BY telkohaph.) I WIttLTNUTON, AllgUSt lu In the House of Representatives yes day afternoon, Mr. He'd, in replyini Mr. Burns, said the Government ' aware of there being a large atnout arrears of rents due for rims in 0i The Commissioner of Waste Lands power to enforce payment, siml woul* instructed to protect the revenue. Mr. Ormond said a statement sin be prepared showing the relative co.' the railway carriages delivered in Colony from England as compared ' that of those manufactured by Mi< Fiudlay and Co., Dunedin, for the 0t Provincial Government. After some other matters had been posed of, Mr. Stout moved, "That in opinion of this House the Govern l ' l the Colony should be elected by the pe< of the Colony." He made a lenj speech in support of the motion, andi a feeling was growing up in other cold in favour of adopting a similar course,

Mr. Tole seconded the resolution, and remarked that the present system was a iry- ; re matter of fashion which could well be changed. Mr. Bowen characterised the motion as a subject only fit to be discussed by a debating society, and protested against the time of the House being wasted in discussing the motion. Mr. Hodgkinson supported the motion in a very warm speech, in the course of which lie referred to Mr. lieid as having deserted his principles, and alluded to the Governor as a partizan. The Speaker, on being appealed to by the Premier, ruled that the latter remark ■was out of jrder. Mr. Reid warmly defended himself, and said he joined the Government because he thought he could do some good to the part of the Colony which he represented. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment for dinner. At the evening sitting, Mr. Rees brought up, as a matter of privilege, the address presented by the Wellington bar, including four members of the House, to Judges, in relation to Mr. Barton's petition now pending. The Speaker replied that the matter •was not one of privilege. Mr. Rees gave notice of motion regretting what had been done. In Committee, an address was agreed to, asking the Government to place LSOO on the Estimates in aid of public libraries, in older to give LI for LI to libraries under the Public Libraries Act, and 10s. for every LI raised by subscription to other libraries. Major Atkinson said that the question was whether the money could be found. The Auckland Provincial Council Library Bill was read a second time. Mr. Taiaroa resumed the Local Option Bill debate, and supported the Bill. Mr. Button warmly supported the Bill, and said that he thought evtry mother should have an exira vote, under the Bill, for each child. The matter was so urgent that no considerations should cause the postponement of dealing with it. Mr. Rowe supported the principles, but not the Bill, which was too far in advance of public opinion. Sir George Grey supported the Bill, but thought that the publicans were entitled to couipensanon. Mr. Watson opposed the Bill altogether. Dr. Hodgkinson would support the second, but not the third reading, unless the details were greatly altered. Mr. Macandrew thought that nothing would effectually remedy the evil but total prohibition of the importation or manufacture of alcoholic liquor. Publicans -veiv entitled to compensation. Mr. T' .Ie opposed the Bill. Mr. Montgomery held it arbitrary and tuu requiring great amendment. Com- '(\ us;, i; -a-mid be due if any of the exi.s; ■ r. lt :ses v. ere closed by a vote of a 'v.rity. -W-\ supported the principle of ■' « Biii, l.ut had changed his opinion about compensation, and now held that it could be fully claimed. Messrs. Jojce and Reynolds opposed the Bill, and Mr. Ballanee condemned it as not susceptible of improvement in Committee. Compensation would undoubtedly be due. Mr. Stout spoke warmly in favour of the Bill, but said that it might be improved. He held that claims for compensation would be utterly unjustifiable, and said that lie would rather see the Bill abandoned than that claims should be admitted. Mr. Hislop moved the adjournment of the debate to Wednesday. The House adjourned at 11.5 p.m.