PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 739, 22 August 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, August 21. In the Legislative Council to-day, This afternoon the Trades Union Bill was read a third time and passed. The Interpretation Bill was referred to a Select Committee. The Land Claims Final Settlement Bill ■v - road a second time, and referred to f W.iSfe L -nds Committee. The Waitaki High School Bill was referred to the Local Bills Committee. The Executive Councillors Bill was passed through Committee, with an amendment moved by the Hon. M. Wuterhouse.

The Hon. Mr. Miller moved the second reading of the Oamaru Waterworks Bill. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment.

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. Barton asked, without notice, whether the Government had any intention of forming two provinces, with a Government at Auckland and another at Christchurch, in accordance with a statement made in a leading Wellington print. The Premier said that the rumor was a mere pohtieal canard, without the slightest foundation. The Government hiid always taken the House into its confidence.

Mr. Barton moved for the production of all papers connected with O'Connor's case.

Mr. Sheehan said they would bo laid on thu table.

In repi}' to Mr. Hodgkinson, Mr. Stout said the Government contemplated introducing a Drainage Bill this session, but the measure was so large that the\ r feared that they would not have time to deal with the mutter r .lns session.

Mr. Mac mdrew, replying to Mr. Hodgkinson, said there was no immediate likelihood of a. survey heing made for a line of railway between Queonstown and Cromwell Mr. Fox «&W if the Government had received the information desired respecting the Japanese Commissioners. Mr. Ballance 3 dd a telegram had been sent to Australia with that object, but no reply had been received. In reply to Mr. Richmond, Mr. Sheehan said a provision would be introduced into the Licensing Bill to equalise the licensing fee throughout the colony. Mr. Hamlin asked—(l.) If a rifle association were formed on the basis of the National Rifle Association of England, would the Government consider a proposal to hand over to such association the equipment hitherto used at colonial meetings. (2.) Whether they would place a sum of money on the supplementary estimates in aid of the funds of the association. (3.) Whether they will be prepared to consider a proposal to aid such association by allowing them the use of a Government reserve in some central part of the colony for a few daj T s in each year.

Mr. Sheehan said the Government were prepared to favorably consider the first and third questions. When they saw that the association really meant business would be time enough to talk about subsidies.

Mr. Bastings moved—That the House, at its rising on Thursday, oth September, at 5.30 p.m., adjourn until Tuesday, 9th September, at 7.30 p.m., to enable members to be present at the opening of the Dunedin-Christchurch railway.

The motion was agreed to without discussion.

Mr. Hodgkinson moved That the County of Wallace' being unable to fulfil the duties cast upon it by the Abolition and tiie Counties Acts, L3OOO be p'aci'd on the .S'ipplei;u-nt;>.i'y Estimates u> enable the Oo;<rUy to carry uus certain necessary public works.

Mr. Maoandi'ew said there was no objection to opening up the whole question when the House went into committee on the 28cL.

In reply to Mr. Fox, Mr. Sheehan laid upon the table a further communication from Rewi to himself regarding Mr. Fox's remarks on Native matters, in which Mr. Fox was called an unbelieving man, and recommended to follow the example of Mr. Sheehan and Sir G. Grey. Mr. Sutton said it was quite clear that Rewi was midm- the tutelage of some Government officer. Sir G. Grey -.-xplained that Maoris were entirely uninstructed with regard to the proceedings in that House by the Government. The fact was they took different newspapers, and had them translated by their own interpreters. Mi. Fox moved that His Excellency be requested to lay before the House all correspondence between himself and the

Secretary of {3tate~for the Colonies;which had taken place since last session. V Mr. Stout; said they had no objection to ask His Excellency to lay on the; table all such correspondence and papers as Ministers might advise. The motion was agreed to. Mr. Manders moved that it was expedient railway employes should obtain a week or a fortnight's holiday during the year, the conditions to be arranged by the managers of the railway departments. Mr. Stout hoped the House would negative the motion. It was absurd to expect the House to interfere in a matter of that kind. The motion was negatived. Mr. De Lautour asked if the employment of women in the telegraph offices of the Colony has proved satisfactory, and if the Government will place any statistics before the House on the question. Mr. Fisher said that the whole system had not been satisfactory ; women seldom became efficient operators, though vary well adapted for certain kinds of clerical work. Statistics on the matter would be laid on the table. Mr. Beetham moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the mode of conducting the surveys of the Colony. What he wanted was that prior to survey an engineer shotild lay off the roads. Mr. Stout opposed the motion, as one which no Government ought to submit to. It was almost equivalent to a motion of no confidence.

Messrs. Mui-ray, M'Minn, and Gibbs considered the question ought to be inquired into, it being exceedingly important.

The motion was negatived on the voices. Oji the motion of Mr. Manders, the Government agreed to instruct the Goldfields Committee to ascertain, in so far as they see fit, whether it was not practicable to amend the appendices and regulations of Mines Act, 1877.

August 22. The debate on Mr. Whitaker's Representation Bill was resumed last nightMr. Whitaker said that as the feeling of the House appeared to be against the adoption of his new plan, if the hou. meni'ier for Wallace would withdraw his cin:..;dment, he (Mr. Whitaker) wo\ild •.viohdraw his Bill. By this means he would be enabled to move such amendments as he thought should be made in the Government measure. He had only one object in view—that of having the best possible measure passed into law for placing the question of parliamentary representation on a satisfactory footing, and to attain that object he could assist the Attorney-General as far a3 lay in his power. The amendment and the Bill were withdrawn. The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole to consider au address to the Governor, requesting His Excellency to place upon the estimates a sum to encourage by way of bonus the production of wattle bark into the colony.

The Premier said Government had considered the subject, and would place on the estimates L4OOO for the compilation of a book setting forth all the exotic plants likely to succeed in New Zealand, as they thought this plan would better meet the object aimed at by the hon. member for Parnell than offering a bonus as proposed. Several members concurring in the Premier's view, the proposal was accepted. The Saving's Bank Profit Bill was read a second time.

Mr. Stout, in moving the second reading of the Administration Bill, explained that one of the provisions of the Bill was to place all real property in the same position as personal property, and to be distributed in the same way as personal property in all cases where persons having children died intestate. The Bill contained several other provisions, the operation of which would confer a considerable boon on the people of the colony. The Bill was read a second time.

Mr. Barton's motion regarding the Wellington police was by consent referred to the Gaol Committee to report upon. The House adjourned at midnight.