TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3910, 28 August 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

WEDNf-SDAY, 26TH AUGUST.

la the House of Representatives, Mr Murray proceeded to move, "That in the opinion of the House the nomination of tenants of the Crown to seats in the Legislative Council is highly abjection able, and inconsistent with the independence of Parliament."

The hon. member was reflecting seriously upon the motives actuating members of the other branch of the Legislature, when he was interrupted by the Speaker. Mr Atkinson asked if the motion was proper and in order.

The Speaker said he would have ptruck the motion off the Order Paper had not his brother Speaker said that he had no objection to see it discussed if the House wished. He considered it exceedingly impertinent on the part of any member of that House to limit by motion the prerogative of the Crown. But he left it to the Government to exprtss its wishes in regard to the motion. Sir Donald M'Lean considered the motion in very.bad taste, and if the honourable mover had reflected for a moment he would not have acted so as to bring about an altercation between the two branches of the Legislature in forcing his arguments by attributing personal motivis. He trusted the honourable member would withdraw the motion, which ought never to have been put upon the Paper.

Mr Murray defended the resolution, and only regretted it did not emanate from the Government. He was afraid their leanings were too much toward the tenants of the Crown. He declined to withdraw the motion.

Mr Reid supported the motion warmly, as one upon which the House should express an. opinion.

Mr Fox said there were other ways of dealing with all these constitutional questions without being guilty of a piece of loolish impertinence and unnecessary insult to the other House. If there was an objection to any particular class of members of the other House, why not bring down a Bill disqualifying them 2

Mr T. L. Shepherd supported the principle of the motion, though it was awkwardly drawn up. Out of 45 members in the other House there were 14 tenants of the Crown who were consistent opponents of all liberal land laws. He was confident that the policy of the country could never be a success until the land was allowed to be settled upon by the people. Mr J. L. Gillies hoped the motion would Le pressed, to a division, as he agreed with.

all that had fallen from the two preceding Otago members. Nine men out of ten in Ofcago would support any such proposal. Mr Sheehan thought he would not vote for the motion. He deprecated the ruling of the Speaker, which wonld, infacfc, burke the discussion in the House upon a question of that nature. Still, he hoped the honourable member would withdraw the motion. The question would very fitly be discussed next session, with other considerable changes. Mr Mervyn and Mr Tribe hoped the motion would be withdrawn. Mr O'Conor thought the motion had a good intention, but was misleading, though he sympathised greatly with the object in view. He must oppose the motion. The question was so important that the country would insist upon its ventilation soon. Mr Thomson proposed that the debate would be adjourned. At the request of honourable members, the motion was withdrawn. Thursday, 27th August. In the Legislative Council, Mr Buckley moved that the Railways Bill should be read a second time that day six months. After a long debate the Bill was thrown out. Mr Mantell's motion that the Ward Chapman correspondence should be remitted to the custody of the Speaker, the Government to have access to it if they think necessary, was carried. On the Wellington Land Payment Bill. Mr Pollen carried a clause to the effect that : particulars of all transactions under the Act should be published in the Gazette before Crown, grants were issued. The following Bills were thrown out on the second reading .-—The GoMfields Act Amendment Bill, and the Clyde Waterworks Burrowing Bill. The following Bills were passed :—Canterbury Marriage Bill, New Zealand Extradition Bill, Excise Duties 8.11, Native Lands Amendment 8.11, Volunteer Act Amendment Bill, Wellington Lands Bill, Payments Walsh and other Pensioners Bill, Wilson Gray Pension Bill, Invercargill Gas Loan Bill, Harbour Board Act Amendment Bill, Taranaki Waste Lands Bill, Angus River Foreshore Bill, Poverty Bay Lands Titles Outl.\ ing Districts Bill, Sales of Spirits Bill, Lewis's Retiring Allowances Bill. In the House of Representatives, Mr Richardson said, in reply to Mr J. C. Brown, that the Government would inquire into the recommendation made by the residents of Tuapeka regarding the Blue Spur, Gabriel's Gully, so as to be enabled to bring down proposals on the matter next session. Mr Fox asked whether the Government intended to give effect to the recommenda tion contained in the interim report of the Ward-Chapman Committee for an interchanging of Judicial Circuits ? The Premier thought it a desirable thing to do, and had no doubt that changes would be made after this. Mr O'Neill asked whether during the recess the Government would cause inquiries to be made relating to the working of the Royal Mint in Melbourne, and report at the commencement of next session ? The Premier promised to endeavour to procure all information on the subject calculated to be useful to New Zealand. He had no doubt the Victorian Government would readily furnish the information asked for. Mr Murray asked if the Government would do anything to obtain cheapness, simplicity, and uniformity in the patent laws throughout the Coloaies ? The Premier did not think New Zealand could have much influence in determining what was really an Imperial question. Mr Murray asked the Government what course they proposed to take to induce the Imperial Government to take measures to protect and "encourage British commerce in Polynesia; or, without involving any pecuniary liability on the Imperial Government, i to permit New Zealand alone, or in conjunc- i tion with one or more of the. Australian Colonies, to deal with the question. The Premier said that the New Zealand Government had done all that rested with them at the present time. He did not think the other Australian Colonies looked upon the Polynesian trade with the same interest as New Zealand. He would assure the honourable member that the Government would continue to carefully watcb. the question in future, so as to be prepared to act in conjunctioa.witn the Australian Colonies or otherwise.

la reply to Mr Reader Wood, the Premier said he did not know -whether the prorogation would take place on Saturday or Monday. Even if postponed till Monday there would be sufficient members to form a House. The Appropriation Act was passed through all its stages. The Premier made a statement regarding the Itailw&j-s Bill, and regretted exceedingly that the Bill had been thrown out in the other House. He regretted that Otago would have to go away from the Assembly, almost the only Province which had not been recognised specially by the Assembly. Wh'le regretting that anything should be done to prevent the purchase of these lines and the construction of branch lines, he could not see any legitimate course by which to remedy the matter this session. All he could say was that the Government were prepared to proceed with the valuation of the railways, to be purchased at a given date, and submit similar proposals to the Assembly next session. They proposed to leave out the objectionable clauses, so as not to prejudice the Bill, as they understood there would be no objection to the Bill if thtse clauses were left out. Other portions of the Bill were of very great importance. Mr Reid was sorry to hear what the Premier had said, and thought the Government ought to be prepared to go a little further, m order to enable Otago to carry out her branch railways. It was absolutely necessary for the success of the great policy that Otago should be afforded some oppor tuuity of proceeding with these works during the prestnt year. If they choose to sell their lands at a sacrifice, they could easily construct the works ; but, in the interest of the Colony, they were adverse to such a course. He proposed to move a resolution, in effect the same as the clauses in the Railways Bill, referring to the purchase of railways in Canterbury and Otago, so as to enable the Government to proceed as if the Bill had been passed, and the House pledging itself to indemnify the Government for any action taken in the matter during the recess.

Mr Macandrew entirely concurred with what fell from the previous speaker, and regretted exceedingly that the Government would not stand or fall by the Bill as a whole, and throw upon the shoulders of the Council the responsibility of throwing out such an important measure. Nothing could be more unfair or unjust than the way in which the South Island was being treated in this matter. There could not be a greater damper upon the efforts of Otago and Canterbury to carry out the Public Works policy.

Mr Richardson said if there had been the faintest hope of getting the Bill passed in its present shape, they would have used every effort. He knew if the Bill went up again in the same shape, a still larger majority would be against it. Mr Bradshaw said that Otago was placed in such a difficulty by this Bill being thrown out, that her only way out of it was in selling large blocks of land at a sacrifice.

Mr Montgomery also greatly regretted that the Government could not see their wav to send the Bill back. Should the resolution of the honourable member for Taieri not be cariied, he would move that the House, believing that the policy of purchasing -Pro-, vincial lines of railway belonging at present to Ofcago and Canterbury, as stated in the Treasurer's Statement, is sound in principle, and should be carried out, Government is i therefore requested to negotiate the purchase of those lines during the recess, and bring the matter before Parliament next session. Mr J. Ij. Gillies hoped the Government wouli reconsider their decision, as they were about to drive Ofcago into selling land which it was desired to settle the people upon. On the recommendation, of the Speaker, the Bill was amended by the Government, and passed through committee. Mr Iteid then proceeded to put his motion. Mr Richardson thought the resolution of the lion, member for Akaroa much preferable. Messrs. Macandrew and Creighton again urged the Government to adhere to the engagement they had made with Otago. The Premier said he could not accept the resolution. If they did so, they might as well do away with the other House altogether. However inconvenient it might be ! to have the purchasing clause in the Kailway Bill thrown out, to act upon the resolution would be a most unconstitutional proceeding.

Mr Macandrew said if anything eouM justify the insinuations thrown ouc as to

bona fides of the Government in the matter it was the course now proposed. The Premier treated all such insinuations with contempt. He had gone out of his way to secure the passing of this Bill, and did not consider this an opportunity to read the other branch of the Legislature a lesson. He would endeavour to carry the Bill through next session by some more legitimate manner. He had no objection to act upon the resolution of the honourable member for Akaroa.

Mr Reid did not like to remind the Premier of the very different tone he assumed last year when speaking of the other House. Etiquette between the two Houses was very good, but the importance of this matter to Ofcago was of infinitely more account. The Premier pointed out that if the Government acted upon the resolution, it would make the members of the Governmeut personally liable. He was willing enough to give the other House an opportunity of reconsidering their decision, but they could not scad that Bill up again. It was perfectly impossible that the Government could assent to any proposal to spend money in an illegitimate manner.

Mr Creighton asked if it would not be possible for the Government to make some advances to Otago, as they had done to Nelson and Auckland. Otherwise Ofcago must inflict a public calamity upon the whole Colony by being obliged to sell her best lands in order to keep faith with the contractors she had employed. The Premier said in order to test the matter again he was prepared to bring down a Hill at the evening sitting, proposing to give authority to pay £60,000 on account of -the purchase of the railway in question, Mr Curtis wanted the Premier to include in the Bill the Nelson Loan Bill, which was alf o thrown out.

This raised a rather sharp discussion. The Premier deprecated the request, hut promised to bring down a separate Bill for the purpose.