PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 778, 9 October 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

PARLIAMENT.

Welli:..:. !..•• . •.-' - Jn the Legislative Council to-Ua\. The reports of the Local Bill? <'ommitteo on the Campbelltown, lucr, oration of Otago University, and Christchurch Racecourse Reserve Bili.-. were brought up, and the measures ordered for their second reading next .lay. The debate on the second rending of the Electoral Bill was then resumed i.v The Hon. Mr. Hart, who uh-:-.i*eiv criticised the Bill. He urged tho Council to pauso before changing the law on the Bubiect. The Hon. George Buckley way much disappointed with the detail:; of the measures. He opposed the double vote for Maoris, and should support the principle of voting for one member only. He should vote for tho second reading, but hoped the Bill would be materially amended. The Hon. Mr. Hall thought the Bill ■would not make a great transfer of political power. Ho utterly scouted the necessity of every man having a vote, but thought that all were entitled to good government and fair taxation. He would voto for tho second reading, but the Bill must be-amended. Tho Hon. Mr. Menziea followed in the :uuiio tenor as Mr. Hall. The Hon. Mr. Wi Take thought that Maoris should have a double vote, unless the number of Maori members in the House of Representatives were increased to 20. , , The Hon. G. R. Johnston opposed the Bill, thinking it was not called for at present. At the evening sitting, • The debate on the Elepteral Bill was resumed by the Hon. Mr. Reynolds, who supported the measure. The Hon. Mr. Lahmann also supported, and the Hon. Mr. Miller followed, speaking strongly against the Bill. Tho Hon. F. A. Buckley spoke strongly in support of it condemning the speech of Dr. Pollen against the Bill in no measured terms.

In tho House of Representatives on Monday night. After discharging tho Companies Bill, a discussion arose as to whether any action taken by the House on Friday evening after half-past tjvo was legal or other- ' wise, it being contrary to standing orders to sit after 5.30 without an adjournment. The Speaker reserved his decision until to-morrow.

On a motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr. Stevens spoko to his notice of motion at some length, which is as follows: "That it is expedient the House should be informed in what manner and under what authority the administration of hospitals and other charitable institutions will be conducted, ponding the neit meeting of Parliament."

The Treasurer said the Government proposed to deal with this question in a .lelinito manntr, and that it proposed to deal with these institutions mainly on the voluntary principle. There were twentytwo hospitals at. present, which were controlled by Municipal and other bodies, and eleven that were supported from contributions from the Consolidated Fund. If tho hospitals of the Colony could be managed on the voluntary principle, it would bo a better plan to adopt. The (iovornment were not in possession <>i Mutlicient information at the present tunc to determine definitely what course should bo adopted, but it felt ui.spo.scu_ to consider whether the appointment of a Commission should bo made to obtain the necessary information. Mr. Rolleston states his conviction that the voluntary principle would be found inoperative, as it was breaking down in those places where it was in vogue. After several other speakers addressed the House on the subject, Mr. Stevens proposed that his notice should be withdrawn, which was done. The House then went into Committee of Supply, but, on the motion of the Native Minister that the evening should be given to private members' business, progress was reported, and leave giwn to sit- again. Considerable discussion ensued over tinproposed committal of the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill. A division was taken as to whether the House should go into Committee on the Bill, with the following result : Ayes, ,'i-l : noes, 19.

Dr. Hodgkinson moved the insertion of i a new clause, the object, of which was j retrospective and to legalise children born I in the past under alleged disability \ arising from the present condition of our i marriage laws. Considerable discussion J ensuedTas to the effect of the retrospective \ measure in computing the rights of property. On the motion of the Native minister progress was reported and leave given to sit again, in order that several bills might he considered, as no business could be taken after 12.00. After leave was itiven for these bills to be considered, the discussion on the second reading of the new clause was resumed. A division w.as called for on its second reading, the ayes being 20, noes 22. The insertion of the new clause was thus negatived and the bill was ordered to bo reported to the House without amendment. The following is the text of the projected clause :—" All marriages which heretofore nitty have been or which hereafter may be contracted either in the colony of New Zealand or-any place outside the boundaries of the colony between any person and his deceased wife's sister shall bo deemed to be and are hereby j declared valid marriages, and shall have | been legally completed according to the I law in force for the timo." ' j The remainder of the sitting was spent; in committee) on the private bills, the House not rising till shortly before 3. In the Houbc to-day the following Bills wore read a first time -.—Gold-mining Act, 1877, Amondment (Mr. Row, second reatling to-morrow) ; Public Works Act, 1876, Amendment Bill (Mr. Macandrew, tjecond reading Friday) ; Ashhurton High School Bill (Mr. Wason, second reading Wednesday week); South Canterbury Secondary Education Reserves Bill (Mr. Wakefield, second reading to-morrow voek). The Beer Duty Bill was discharged. The Tiinaru Post and Telegraph Site Bill passed without amendment. In moving the second reading of the Repeals Bill, the Attorney-General said the Bill was framed to enable persons to understand what Acts were actually repealed. The schedule had been carefully revised. The Bill was read a second time.

The Attorney-General, in moving the lending of the Friendly Societies Act -\i.; .iidment Bill, said the second section j ..'nosed to save Friendly Societies the (. use of publishing amended rules in tlj- i.tiiz-tte. Branch societies would be riv.-T'iii.v'l and facilities provided for regis; iv i'.n. Mr. Mi-rn.ih.l said he was assured the Act v..M;ld suit !)'■ laken advantage of until ; :->viM-u w:.n made for approving t.he i-iii- > .■'.,■! •■'.CI t-> !>y societies meeting in coir.. riMi,. .

Mr. !";■ lies'--n suggested a conference of delegai- . -i' t'ing the recess. Mr. lin.'.ir, while admitting that red tape operau-u injuriously, said a strict system of scrutiny should be observed in the interest of members, especially in regard to some Societies which desired to avoid an examination into their accounts. Major Atkinson knew great discontent existed among Societies, and it would be better to abolish the regulations relating to Societies than to subject them to the present system. The Attorney-General, in reply, said the Government proposed to constitute separate funds for the cost of management and sick benefit societies fund. If that were not done, a premium would be offered to insolvent societies. The Government disapproved of societies being allowed to" register unless thoy could prove their Holvency. The Government had received letters from the. Manchester Unity. 1.0.0. F., urging the passing of this provision. The second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the committal fixed for Thursday. Mr. Stout moved the second reading of the Public Reserves Sale Bill"; and in reply to Mr. Bowcn, said the proceeds would go to the consolidated fund. The second reading was agreed to after a long discussion. On" the motion for the second reading of the Sheep Bill, moved by the AttorneyGeneral. Mr. Seymour suggested that it be referred to the Waste Lands Committee. Dr. Hodgkinson moved that the Bill be read that day six months. Mr. Turnbull supported, and Mr. Ormond opposed the Bill. Mr. Russell supported a general Bill for the whole Colony. The defect in the Bill was that there was no provision whereby one portion of a Provincial District might be attached to another Provincial District.

Dr. Hodgkinson's amendment was negatived on a division by 50 to 20. The Bill was then read a second time. Mr. Seymour moved that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee, to report in a week. The Attorney-General said that last session the Sheep Bill Committee took eighty-two days to bring up a report. 'Mr. Teschemaker supported the Blil as moderate and elastic in its provisions. The House divided on Mr. Seymour's amendment, which was negatived by 40 to 26, and the Bill was ordered to be committed on Friday. The Waste Lands Committee having recommended that the Timaru Harbor Bill be passed, the Bill was ordered to be committed to-morrow.

A report on police pay recommended that the pay should be increased, and that, long-service pay should be given on a graduated scale according to service.