PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 10 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(by telegraph.) Wellington, August 9. In the House of Representatives today, Mr. Pitt gave notice that he would ask if the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill had been submitted to the law officers of the Crown, and if so what opinion they gave relative to the effect it, would have upon property already vesting in heirs under the law at present in operation. Mr. Pylce gave notice of the following motion : That this House is of opinion that the report of the Royal Commission on railways, in so far that it deals with lines which have never been submitted to or sanctioned by the House, was unnecessary ai]d unpalled for. That in so far as it condemns a railway line, the construction of which has after due consideration and careful enquiry been sanctioned by this House, the said report has not sufficient foundation and should be Regarded as a mere expression of individual opinion hastily formed, without any special knowledge or experience on the subject. That it would therefore be unwise and highly detrimental to the best interests of the Colony for the Government to shape its public works policy upon the opinions and recommendations embodied in the said report. The report of the Public Accounts Committee was tabled. Re payment of LBOO in the Waka Maori case, it was decided that the amount shpuld. be charged to unauthorised expenditure.

SirG. Grey moved that the report be taken into consideration to-morrow. He argued that this was only fair to the members of Government in office when the payment was made. Mr. Hall hoped the report would not be taken into consideratian at this late period of the session. The report could verv well remain over until next session.

Sir G. Grey replied that he had been placed so to speak upon his trial, and thai; by a vary "unfairly constituted committee, and he thought it only fair to him and his colleagues that the report be discussed.

The motion that the report be considered to-morrow was put and lost. Sir G. Grey then gave notice that on going into Committee of Supply he would move that his report be considered. Mr. Hall announced that he had received a .communication frqm the Governor stating that he had received an offer from Her Majesty's Government asking him to undertake the Governorship of the Cape Colony. The offer had been made in such terms as had induced him to accept it. Her Majesty's Government was anxious that his Excellency should leave New Zealand at the end of this or the beginning of next month. He was sure the announcement would be received by the House, as it was by the general public, with regret, Sir Arthur Gordon, the present Governor- of Fiji, would succeed Sir Hercules Robinson as Governor of New Zealand. Major Atkinson moved that this House will to-morrow resolve itself into Committee to consider the following resolutions : —(1) That this House approves of the proposal made by Government for the remuneration of the agents in London under the New Zealand Consolidated Stock Act, 1877," such remuneration being one-twelfth of one per cent, upon the amount of stock inscribed in accordance with the provisions of the Act, provided that the amount to be received by any one of the agents during the year shall not exceed L2OOO. (2) That such remuneration should not apply to the inscription of such debentures of the five million loan of 1879 as may be effected on the terras and within the time prescribed in the prospectus for said loan, but that this House will approve of reasonable payments being made to any of the agents for services connected with such inscription of debentures of the five million loan that may have to be performed by them prior to Ist April, 1881. The motion was carried. Mr. Hall moved that unless otherwise ordered this House do sit on Fridays and Mondays, at 11 a.m., during the remainder of the session ; that on these days select committees have leave to sit during the sitting of the House. In accordance with a promise he macje last week, he would now state to the House the business proposed to be gone on with, and that wh)ch they proposed should be dropped. Hitherto the progress of business had not been as satisfactory as they eould have wished. He was not prepared to say what was the reason of it arose from the peculiar state of parties, or the tendency of members to talk at great length. The period of the session had now arrived when in order to secure the passing of the Bills which were absolutely indispensable they must make up their poinds to sacrifice the less important measures. Government had very carefully considered the question, and had separated the Bills on the paper into four classes. The fourth class included the Town District, Fisheries, Education Reserves Amendment, Public Entertainments | Prohibition, Cemeteries, * New Zea-

land University Reserves* Canterbury Rivers Act Amendment, .Auctioneers, Fire and Marine Insurance Companies, Gaming and Hawkers and Pedlars,-and the Peace Preservation Bills. These twelve Bills would have to be victims, and it would be his painful duty to move in due course that they be discharged from the order paper. It was proposed to deal with the following at the morning sittings:—The Counties Act Amendment, High School Reserves, Joint Stock Companies Act, 1860, Amendment, Dogs Registration, Brands and Branding, Fencing, Impounding, Thames Water Supply Transfer, and the Rabbit Nuisance Bills. One or two of these were already almost through, and there would not be much difference of opinion about them. As to the others in the class, if there was any serious opposition, Government would be compelled to postpone them. The next class of Bills which the Government called desirable Bills included some of the Native Bills, the Licensing Bill, Representation Bill, Regulation of Local Elections Bill, the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill. The course taken with these would depend upon what was done with the next class. The Licensing Bill he looked upon as a very useful measure, but he could make no promises regarding it. With regard to the Representation Bill, he had heard many members expressing an opinion that it was undesirable to proceed with it this session. For many reasons, he thought it very desirable that that Bill should be pressed on this session. Government were anxious that this should be done, but it would depend entirely on the House whether it passed or not. He would take the earliest opportunity of moving the second reading, and then it would be seen whether it would be necessary to drop it. Upon this would depend the passing of the Regulations of Elections and Corrupt Practices Bills, as, if the Representation Bill was not passed this session, then the other two would have to be postponed till next session. With regard to the native Bills, which included the following—Native Lands Court Bill, Native Land frauds Prevention Bill, Native Succession Bill, Native Land Sales Bill, Native Land Contracts Act Validation Bill, Native Land Stamp Duties Bill, Waikato Confiscated Land Bill, Miscellaneous Native Claims Bill, Native Reservesßill —the Government could scarcely hope that the whole would become law tin's session. The Native Lands Court Bill had met with great favor, and doubtless would pass into law, and it was hoped the Native Succession and Confiscated Land Bills would also pass. As to the Native Land Sales Bill, it would be considered when Sir G. Grey placed his amendments about placing the lands under trustees upon the supplemantary order paper. The next class comprised Bills which were absolutely essential to the financial measures for placing the finances of the country upon a sound footing. These must be dealt with this session. They were the Property Assessment Act Amendment Bill, Beer Duty Bill, Deceased Persons Estates Duties Bill, Public Works Bill and Ration Act 1876 Bill. Members, he thought, would admit that Government had made considerable sacrifice, and he hoped they would be met by a sacrifice on the part of members. He would, therefore, propose the motion standing jji his name. Mr. Macandrew ss,icl that the want of progress alluded to was in a great measure due to the want of system on the part of Government in the manner in which they had brought on the business, and not to any over-indulgence in talk by hon. members. The motion was then put and carried. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr. Shrimski called attention to the "small amount of public money which had been spent in his district as compared with other districts of less importance. Timaru had LIO,IOO ; Invercargill, L 345 8; Waimate, L 301 0; and Oamam only L 317 for public buildings. He had waited on the Minister for Public Works in reference to the inadequate railway station accommodation, and he promised that the "matter would be attended to, but this was not done. Mr* Ireland called attention to the promise made by Mr. Oliver re extension of the Wnipa'hi railway line. Mr. Oliver said thai if the residents of the district were still agreeable to advance the monev, the Government would be prepared to make arrangements for the extension. Mr. Jones also spoke of the injustice done to Oamaru. Mr. Hamlin directed attention to the injustice proposed $9 be to his district. Mr. P-yke said that it was a notorious fact that unless members voted with the Government they could get the Government to do nothing for their districts. Mr. Hursthouse differed with the remarks made by the last speaker. He had voted with the Government for years, and yet he found that his district was treated\ in the most cavalier manner, Mr. Oliver Replied, his remarks being interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr. Moss moved : " That in order to enable the Legislature to make provision for the re-establishment of the svstem of local government suited to the circumstances of the Colony, and founded upon the well-ascertained wishes and opinions of the people, it is expedient that a conference of delegates, to be chosen by registered electors of several; provincial districts, should be held prior to next session of Parliament, suoh conference to consist of thirteen members, two of whom shall be chosen by the provincial districts of Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago, and one from each of the other provincial districts. | That a respectful address be presented to the Governor, asking that he may be pleased to take the necessary steps to give effect to the foregoing resolution." He said the difficulties of their situation as regards finance arose in a great measure from the mixing of local and general finance. Then they fouud general discontent prevailing all round: These facts all tended to show that they were not attending properly to the business of the country. Mr. Macandrcsw was very aorry no response had been made by Government. He would suggest that the motion be pressed to a division at once. Sir George Grey complained that,, through the session, the utmost deadness and indifference had been shown by Government to the business before the House. What they required was to set about improving local institutions. The first step to be taken was to define the functions of the Central Government, and likewise the duties of local bodies.

Mr. Richardson alluded to the report of the Civil Service Commission re South Island railway management. The report recommended the dismissal of the South Island Commissioner, He thought the House had a right to know from Government what they propose doing in reference to that recommendation. He thought that the Government should inform them when and how it intended to effect reforms, so as to put railways on a proper commercial basis. A uniform rate of freight was absurd when cost of traffic differed so greatly. • Hethought many works properly chargeable to current revenue were charged to construction, and proper economy would never -be exerised while capital was drawn on for maintenance. He regretted that reports of yarious. officers in charge of sections' were not attached to the statement, as used to be the case. These would have been specially valuable this year, as in face of the evidence before the Royal Commission, it was impossible to attach much weight to many of the Commissioners' statements. They

had a sample of the latter in the figures given by him regarding the respective colt of Christchurch and Dunedin stations. He condemned the system of duplicate workshops in Dunedin and Christchurch as involving great waste of money. He then reviewed a number of anomalies in the rates of pay, etc., as given in the estimates. He-organisation was wanted, but over reductions might be the reverse of advantageous. Mr. Stewart referred to the Civil Service Commission, and contended that the charges made against the South Island Railway Commissioner were most unfair, and betrayed the partiality of a judge. Then again Mr. Blair had been charged with untruthfulness, whereas everyone who knew Mr. Blair knew that he was a man incapable of untruthfulness. Mr. Seddon argued that it was very necessary tbat more consideration should be given to the goldfields in the Public Works Estimates. Mr. Saunders was most anxious all long to have the report discussed. On the previous occasion when he introduced the subject, he gave every opportunity for having the matter discussed, but not a single word was said on the subject. He could only come to the conclusion that Mr. Stewart had not had his retainer for the defence. He would say, in reference to the member for Port Chalmers, that despite the fact that he had imputed improper motives to him as Chairman of the Commission, he had to remind the House that that hon. gentleman had dipped his hand in the public purse.