POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6391, 7 August 1882, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

[Br Telegraph.l

(from our own correspondent.)

Wellington, August 6th. When the telegraph-office closed early in the small hours on Saturday morning various ConBolidation Bills were going slowly but steadily through Committee. The Fisheries Bill was the measure being dealt with. Several discussions took place on the new clauses suggested by the Commissioners, and various suggestions were made. For instance, Mr J. W. Thomson suggested the addition |of a proviso that persons licensed to fish might " follow their fish" along a stream even on to private property without being liable to be treated as trespassers, and that where possible a width sufficient for a pathway should be reserved alongside each stream in order to facilitate fishing. The former suggestion was objected to as unduly infringing on the rights of property. The latter was thought desirable, but was not embodied in the bill. Mr Moss condemned the enactments against presumed poachers, and moved that the subsection containing them should be struck out.' This was negatived on the voices. Mr Moss then moved an addition, making only persons who "knowingly and wilfully destroyed fish by dynamite," &c. liable to penalties, but this was negatived by 25 votes to 10. The penalty for putting deleterious matter into a stream was reduced from two years to one. After several motions in favour of other terms, one member (stood out for two months' penalty instead of two years, and there was a hard struggle to have six months inserted; but at last Mr Dick, with a good deal of astuteness,, contrived to settle the matter by offering as a compromise, just when everybody was utterly weary, to insert one year instead of two, which was agreed to. There was, however, much "tall talk" about game laws and tyranny and English oppression. Thefe was also a fight over the question whether certain provisions of the bUI should be retrospective, but this was affirmed on the voices, the demand for a division being waived after the bell had been rung and the doors locked. The next Consolidation Bill taken was the Lunatics Bill (a batch of 10 bills having been committed in a hurry, so as to be able to go on after 12.30 a.m.), which at first seemed likely to make good progress. It happened, however, that the Commission, in addition to consolidating the existing laws, have inserted various new clauses which they deemed necessary to provide for defects in the laws now in force. Unfortunately these proved to bo highly debateable, and elicited wide differences of opinion. Mr Couolly took exception at some length to certain provisions for initiating proceedings de lunatico; and various important points were raised by Messrs Fish, Tumbull, and other members. Mr Barron then protested most strongly against proceeding at that hour of the morning with such a Weighty measure, when hardly more than a dozen members were present — although about a score were within call in the library and at Bellamy's in case of a " count" or a division. .Several members, however, urged that they should get on with the work, and a motion to report progress was neeatived. A discussion arose on a new clause referring to the power of committing for lunacy. At this stage Mr Fish again objected to going forward with a bill so seriously affecting the liberty of the subject. He pointed out that it was just 2 a.m., and only a bare quorum was present, It was most improper to go on under such circumstances, and if it were attempted he would resist any further progress boing made, and should obstruct if necessary. Colonel Trimble protested against threats of this kind. Being asked, the Chairman ruled Mr Fish out of order. Mr Fish withdrew his threat, but said he should feel it his duty to resist the bill word by word if it were pressed on. Colonel Trimble contended that this was reiterating the threat in another form, but Mr Fish disclaimed any intention of offering offence, and the Chairman held that Mr Fi»h',. retraction must be accepted. The Colonial Secretary asked whether the Committee would go on with some other bills if progress was reported on this one. This, however, did not meet with approval. Mr Barron objected, pointinij out that members had already been at work for 12 hours, and were too much fatigued to go on. After some further discussion, progress was reported on the motion of Mr Conolly, and the Auckland University College Bill was" committed. Another effort was made to roport Jirogress. The Auckland members stuck out, fearing they might lose the bill if they did not keep fast hold of the present opportunity. Then followed some "stonewalling." Mr Fish made a warm speech on education, and declared his disfiproval of secondary education being assisted, c was answered by the Auckland members, who stated that as Otago and Canterbury had large reserves for this object it was only fair that Auckland should be placed on a similar footing. A division then took place on the motion that progress be reported, which was negatived by 25 to 10. The bill was then proceeded with, but a stubborn resistance was still made to any further progress at such an untimely hour. Mr AUwright protested against tho action of the Government in forcing through a bill of this kind in a thin House so far on in the morning. A good deal of irritation was displayed, and Mr Allwright moved that the Chairman leave the chair. Major Atkinson explained that Ministers did not expect so much time to be occupied by the preceding bills, nor did they anticipate any opposition to this measure. Mr Hui'sthouse strongly opposed the bill, and several others spoke against it.

- By this_ time preparations were being made for "a night of it," opossum rugs, &c. being brought in, and other arrangements made for personal comfort. The galleries were empty (except for one or two in the Press gallery), and the House presented a doleful and deserted aspect. Mr Fish made another Btrong speech, declaring himself in favour of colonising all education reserves as common property for the promotion of primary education. He said he knew this frank avowal, if reported, might cost him his seat in the future, but he did not care, and would speak his mind at ail risks. Mr Fergus advocated the principle of the bill. A division being taken on the motion to leave the chair, it wa's negatived by 25 to 9. Sir Maurice O'Rorke spoke in favour of the bill, explaining that no landed endowment could be obtained in Auckland, where the extent of available land was very small compared with Otago and Canterbury. Mr Munro urged the postponement of .the bill, on the ground of the extreme lateness of the hour. Mr Fish said the opponents of the bill should have objected to it 'on the second reading. It was unmanly to attack it in Committee. Mr Hursthouse objected to money grants for education being voted to Auckland, where the land had been sold at nominal prices, or even given away recklessly, instead of being wisely used, as in Nelson, where it had been * bo husbanded as to form valuable educational endowments. At last Ministers gave way, and Mr Dick moved that progress be reported, which was agreed to. The Imbecile Passengers Bill, Inspection of Machinery Bill, and Companies Bill were read a third time and passed, and ultimately the House rose shortly before 4 a.m.

. It is understood that the Loan Bills will be takon on Monday evening, but a special Cabinet will be held in the morning to decide. Mr Chamberlin, on Wednesday next, is to move in the Upper House—"That in the opinion of tjiu Council it is desirable that the customs tariff be revised and amended in the direction of further and greater encouragement to local industries than exists at the present time."

On Tuesday next Mr Nurse is to ask if the Government will make inquiries and take into consideration the propriety of painting certain beacons on the coast of New Zealand with luminous paint.

Mr Dodson is to ask the Government on Wednesday next—"Whether, having in view the fears entertained by a considerable section of the community that very serious evils frequently arise from vaccination (which view is also held by eminent medical authorities in Europe and America), they will during the recess cause inquiries to be made, to enable them to form an opinion as to the desirability of introducing a bUI during the next session to repeal the present compulsory Vaccination Act."