NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT-
Sir Robert Stout asked whether it was wise for the Government to endeavour to rush bills through without giving members time to consider them. " Are we," he asked, "to legislate or not ? If we are we must be allowed time to consider what we are doing. If I say any more the Premier will say I am moving a want-of-confideuce motion, and will fend the whips round, creating another stampede" Mr Ward admitted the force of Sir Robert Stout's contentions, and agreed to refer the bill to the Law Revision Committee. OVERDRAFTS. Some very weighty words upon the subject of overdrafts incurred by local bodies were made by Mr Bell when the Harbours Act Amendment Bill was discussed. He contended that some provision should be made that no harbour board should owe more to the bank than was owing to it in the way of dues, &c. for its own financial year. He said that there were at present no means of preventing local authorities from piling up overdrafts trom year to year until they eventually became a hopeless drag. Mr Ward, who has the bill in hand, concurred in thee remarks. EDUCATION RESERVES. The Minister for Lands stated this evening that the proposal to abolish all school commissioners and appoint the land board to administer education reserves was a most important one. He had brought in a bill to give effect to this last year, bat it was subjected to so much obstruction and criticism that it could net be carried. He would again bring in a measure dealing with the administration of education reserves so as to hand them over to the land boards. INEBRIATE HOME. Mr Joyce asked what consideration the Government had given in the direction of the
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27. THE RIVAL LEADERS.
In the course of the debate upon the appointment of the Sergoant-at-Arms, Bir R. Stout pointed out that it was the duty of the Liberal party to secure purity of administration no less than to pass Liberal measures, and it is most significant that a Liberal of so many years' standing as the f enior member for Wellington is compelled to ask whether the members of the party were bound to rise in their places and support an illegal step Bimply because the Premier might be pleased to instruct them to do so. Sir R. Stout made no attempt to conceal his hostility to the Premier in this matter, and pointed out that if the Premier desired or invited him to criticise the Government policy he would not fear to do so, but he was not going to be dragged into the lobby and express approval when Co'onel Fraser had been appointed in defiance of law and justice. This debate has made tbe breach between Mr Seddon and Sir R. Stout wider than ever, and judging from the general attitude towards each other of these gentlemen, there can hardly be a doubt that it ia now war to the knife.
THE SECONDER OF THE MOTION.
Early in his speech Sir R. Sboub stated that his motion was so entirely contrary to any design on his part to make it one of censure on the Government that he had no knowledge as to who might be its seconder. How true this was became very apparent, when at the conclusion of his short but very effective speech the knight sat down. The House was absolutely silent, not a murmur of .approval or dissent, almost a dumb surprise it seemed, and then an inquiring glance around for the seconder who, to the surprise of many and assuredly not to the gratification of the Premier, slowly rose in his place in the person of young Hone H<?ke, whom Ministers until now had counted one of their supporters. He spoke in good English and was warmly apphuded.
THE MEMBER FOR RICCARTON.
Mr Russell, member for Riccarton, this evenIng made his maiden speech as to the Legislature, but hit ready volubility and entire selfconfidence made it abundantly clear that lack of words or facility of expression will not be obstacles in his political future. He contrasted the opposing statements of the Leaders of the Opposition during the previous evening with force and effect, and made out a better case for the annexation of Samoa than any that had gone before, while in illustrating the causes of the depression of the' colony he was frank to the verge of brutal frankness as to the character of the operations of many finance companies and the unpatriotic nature of the attitude of a section of the' press of the cojony and many large land proprietors in d< crying the credit of the country and the character of its rulers. There is only ouo way, in the opinion of Mr Russell, of dealing with the unemployed, and that is through the land, and he hopes the time will soon come when the Liberal party will so deal with the land question that the workkss unemployed will disappear. People do not want to purchaso land, said he ; they want to occupy it and use it, not as freeholders bat as tenants, as iv the case of Cheviot. What Canterbury wanted was population, and lo procure that every Canterbury member was prepared to support the Lands for Settlement Bill, compulsory clauses and all. As to the Upper House, if it was fouud that it would not carry Liberal measures, then the clear duty of the Liberal party would be to insist that the Council should be taught to give effect to the wishes of the people. Mr Russell his the courage of his very advanced opinions, and will be a distinct addition to the House if he does not permit himself to preach. THE PATENT OFFICE. According to the report of the registrar the business of the Patent Office is increasing steadily, and the reveuue continues to mount up. In 1893 the revenue was £2150 as against £1825 in 1892, and the excess of receipt* over expenditure for 1893 is £1753 as against £1463 in 1893. The registrar urges that some of Ibis surplus revenue should be sp&nt for the benefit; and encouragement of inventors, and points out that during the past year applications for letters patent have been received for the Grab time under the present act from Holland and India. The museum is nolonger able to accommodate the rapidly increasing Patent Office library, and, consequently, many complaints have been made of inconvenience caused by want of room . The number of applications received has grown from six New Zealand and 15 foreign in 1861 to 460 New Zealand and 236 foreign, in 1889. A new act was introduced in 18S9, and up to the present the increase has continued, aud 951 applications were received in 1893. HASTY LEGISLATION. Sir Robert, Stout raised a very serious warning against hasty and ill-considered legislation when the motion for the second re&di lg of the Prescription Law (Light) Amendment Bill came on. He pointed out that Mr Ward did not seem to be aware of the grave nature of the measure he had in hand. The bill might ruin a manufacturer by closing up his window 3 , tomorrow, whereas Mr Ward seemed to think that its provisions only referred to the future.
establishment of an Inebriate Home. The Minister for Education replied that a statement of the views of the Government would appear when tho annual report upon hospitals and charitable aid is laid upon the table. This would be done at an early date. The rumour that the Government intended to proclaim the Clutha licensing district for the purpose of establishing a home was incorrect. NEW BILLS. The Prescription Law (Light) Amendment Bill provides that no light to light be derived from Crown land or private land, saving as to rights already conferred, where power i« taken by the Government to grant licenses for a period not exceeding 21 years' for such rights. The Harbour Acb Amendment Bill provides that a Harbour Board may borrow by way of overdraft an amount tqutl to the amount of income of the previous financial year. The Electoral Act Amendment Bill contains a serio3 cf amendments in tho principal act, found necessary ia practice by the experience of its defects during the recent elections. Tho Arms Act Repeal Bill rescinds the Arms Act of 1880 3nd all proclamations and Orders-in-C juncil thereunder. The Hawkers and PedJars Bill is a somewhat copious measure of 35 clauses, regulating all business undertaken by peripatetic vendors of goeds of all descriptions. JOTTINGS. With regard to the attempts being made in various dirf cbions to induce the Government, to grant club licenses where hotel licenses have recently been refused I have excellent ress:m3 to believe that the Government will resist all such pressure that may be brought to bear, and that under no circumstances will suoh applications be granted. The Premier's Dibts Recovery Limitation Bill is in the direction of reducing from six to I three years the period during which debts may be recoverable ab law.
The Government will not introduce a Labour Day Bill this session.
The practising of a chemist without diplomas is forbidden in Dr Newman's Pharmacy Bill.
Sir Robert Stout says that the Premier must nob conclude that the House is composed of children. This after Captain Russell had caused amusement by referring to Sir Robert Stout as the Hon. Premier. The knight replied. "Nobyeb." Sir Maurice O'Rorke is understood to be very exacting in all matters affecting the dignity and hoHOur of the Chair. In what these things precisely consist different Speakers have different views. Mr Bent, of Victoria, for instance, directs that all hon. members shall always actually address the Chair. Sir Maurice apparently does not attach any importance to such a detail, for during almost the whole of the Premier's retort upon Sir R. Sboub the broad Seddonian back was alone visible to Mr Speaker. "Upon the statement contained ia a common newspaper," said the Premier in his most studied tone, " the hon. gentleman has assailed the character of a gentleman. Consciously or not, he is now trying to carry out what that journal, the most bitter and the most Conservative paper of the colony, has always sbriven to bring about— the disruption and dismemberment of the Liberal party." Thus the Premier referring to the Christchurch Press.
The Minister for Lands, in answer to Mr Pirani, says he ia not sure whether or not power exists enabling the holder of a perpetual lease, or lease in perpetuity section of large area to subdivide the section when transferring to his relatives. If necessary, however, he will move in the direction indicated.
In answer to Mr Pirani, the Hon. J. G. Ward stated that 75 per cent, of subsidies to local bodies were paid as soon as these bodies had
struck their general rate. As far as possible the departmeat endeavoured to pay the subsidies in the spring or early summer. There was laid on the table this evening a summary of the liabilities of the Government on 3lBt March last, of which the following is a, summary : — Total consolidated fund, £105,018 Is 4d ; public works fund (part 1), £214,742 14s 6d; public works fund (part 2), £28,866 15s 7d ;— grand total, £353,183 11s lOd. The intention of the. Government to amend the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act depends upon the progress of public business. THURSDAY, JUNE 28. The Legislative Council to-day sat only long enough to appoint a committee to prepare a congratulatory address to the Queen on the birth of a son to the Duke of York. The House of Representatives is getting to work in earnest. The Sergeaut-at-Arms question came up again to-day, but a motion to exclude Colonel Eraser, who is fulfilling the duties of the position, from the House waß lost by 45 to 16. An Imprest Supply Bill was passed through all stages, questions were replied to, and a committee appointed to consider the vexed question of patty government, and inquire into the success which has attended the working of the Swiss Constitution. In tho evening the Shops and Shop Assistants, Conciliation and Arbitration, Lunatics Act Amendment, and Conspiracy Law Amendment Bills were all read a second time. PRIVILEGE. Captain RUSSELL rose to a question of ] r' vilege. Ho said they had on Wednesday had a distinct assurance from the Premier that Colonel Fraser had not besn appointed Sergeant-afc-Arms ; that he had naither written to Colonel Fraser nor asked him to come to Wellington ; nor had he paid Colonel Eraser's expenses to Wellington. That being the case, it was perfectly plain that the gentleman who preceded
the Speaker into the House was a complete stranger in 'ho House, and his presence there was a violation of their privileges. It was the duty of the Government to see that a Sergeant-at-Arms w<i-. appointed, bub according to the Premier's statement no such appointment had been made, and that being the case Colonel Fraser had clearly no righb to accompany the Speaker to Government House to present the Address to the Governor. Colonel Fraser was not an officer of the House, and the fact of his sitting in the House was a distinct violation of the House's privileges.
The Hon. Sir M. O'RORKE said that when he became Speaker he asked Colonel Fraser by what authority he acted as Sergeant-at-Arms. Colonel Fraser said he had been requested to act as Sergeant-at-Arms. No appointment had been made, as the last Parliament had taken all authority with respect to these appointments from the Speaker. He felt justified iv admitting Colonel Fraser to the House. He understood Colonel Fraser had been appointed to act merely till a permanent appointment had been made.
Captain RUSSELL said that no doubt that was perfectly true, bub he still maintained that, as Colonel Fraser had not been appointed Sergeant-at-Arms, bis sitting in tho House was a violation of its privileges.
The SPEAKER said Captain Russell would be in order in moving any motion on a matter of privilege. Captain RUSSELL theu moved that Colcnel Fraser's presence in the Chamber was a breach of the privileges of the House. The Hon. R. J. SEDDON said Captain Russell had incorrectly stated what he had said on Wednesday with respeot to this matter. What the Speaker said was absolutely correct, and he had put the situation very fairly. He (Mr Seddon) had promised as soon as Sir R. Stout's
motion was disposed of to bring onaresolution on the subject, and he had informed the Leader of the Opposition to that effect, and asked him not to take any extreme steps in the matter. It appeared to him that the action taken by certain members of the House simply bordered on per* eecution, and it was intended either to injure a private individual or to damage the Government in the eyes of the House and country. He intended to move the following motion on the subject : — " That the appointment of Sergeant-at-Arms be deferred till Ist of December next, and that in the meantime Colonel Eraser perform the necessary duties usually performed by the Sergeant-at-Arms without fee or payment of any kind whatever." Sir R. STOUT said if Colonel Fraser had been appointed to act temporarily he had* a right to sit in the House, but if he had not been appointed he had no right whatever to sit there. The whole question was whether or not any person had been appointed to perform this duty. A lengthy discussion then arose, after which Captain Russell's motion was losb by 45 to 16. PARTY GOVEBMIENT. Me SAUNDBRS moved — "That a select committee be appointed to take into consideration the practical effect of the continuance of what is known as party government in this colony, and especially to advise the House as to how far better results might be expected by the adoption of a constitution similar to that which has been worked since 1848 with such remarkable economy and success by the Republic of Switzerland, the committee to consist of the Colonial Treasurer, Captain Russell, Sir R. Stout, Messrs Pinkerton, Allen, M'Nab, J. W. Kelly, Steward, W. Hutchison, and the mover. — Agreed to. THE FOX COMMISSION : THE ALLEGED REPORT. Shortly after 4 o'clock this afternoon Captain Russell caused some sensation in the House by stating that the Evening Post published
what purported to be the report of the Fox Commission, and asking when the Government iutended to lay the report upon the table of the House. It appeared that the names of two Cabinet Ministers were implicated. The Premier, in reply, stated : " Minister* have not yet read the evidence themselves. Tha reporb waB only received haok from the Governor on Monday morning or Saturday (not Mon* day) night. It was my intention to lay it on the table to-night. There is a difficulty in the way of placing the report on the table to-night. The evidence will have to be copied, for it is nob customary to lay all the original papers on the table. The statement in the Post is misleading, I think." Captain Russell: "Will the evidence be printed." The Hod. Mr Seddon : "Yes." Inasmuch as up till a late hour this evening the Premier had not fulfilled thß promise made by him during the afternoon to lay tbo official report of the Fox Commission upon the table of ths House, I send the summary of tho report which appears in the Poßt. Though tho wording of what appears in that journal may Hot be exactly similar to that of the original document, I have good reason to believe that the effect will be found to be tho same. If so, a reconstruction of the Cabinet can hardly Fail to follow. The statement in tho Post is as follows i — 11 Mr O'Hara Smith reports that the Defence department was in no way concerned in tha publication of the correspondence ; that Mr B. D. Hoben did not obtain the correspondence in the dishonourable manner suggested by certain of the witnesses, and which was stated on Ministerial authority in the Ministerial journal. In the commissioner's opinion the evidence points to the Post having obtained the information on tho morning of April 4, between certain hours during which the papers were in the Custody of either Sir P. A. Buckley or the Hon. Mr Cadman, or in transit between these two Minis* ters in a dosed envelope in charge of a messenger. The commissioner therefore finds that the tendency of the evidence shows that it was obtained from ono of these two Ministers named or from the messenger, and that the evidence indicates more particularly Sir Patrick Buckley or his messenger Sandbrook. Both Sir P. A Buckley and Mr Cadman denied on oath that the information came from them either directly or indirectly." The Post goes on to say :—": — " The evidence upon which this report is based is of great length, and was compiled from an extraordinary variety of sources Id is the most startling revelation as to the condition of the public ser* vice ever compiled* and shows that a service which should be comprised of men having the instincts of gentlemen is honeycombed with Ministerial spies, who watch every movement on the part of their more reputable colleagues, with a view to recounting it to their Ministerial employers, either directly or indirectly. It shows, moreover, that messengers are used to ' shadow ' pressmen, to report to whom they speak, listen (if possible) to their conversation, and to report private conversations to the commissioner. Ministers who have distrusted their servants have not even trusted each other, bub have employed spies .to watch their Ministerial colleagues' ingoings and putcominga. The conversations and private lives of one set of Ministers have been reported to another set. The evidence shows further that detectives have been taken from their proper office in the detection of orime and employed to ' shadow* and watch gentlemen guilty only of the crime of being politically opposed to their Ministerial head. But while this condition of things in the Cabinet and in the public service is shown in such a light by this evidence, the methods adopted by the Royal Commissioner in the collection of it are as singular as are the revelations it contains. All the rules governing evidence were set at naught. The repetition of private conversation was demanded ; witnesses were asked to divulge any confidences which might have been honourably reposed in them ; and the merest hearsay evidence and street-corner tittle-tattle were eagerly secured and as eagerly noted." THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. The Independent and Opposition sections of the House are by no means satisfied, even after the division of yesterday, with the action of the Government in permitting Colonel Fraser to perform the duties of Sergeant-at-Arms. Immediately upon the House assembling Captain Russell rose on a question of privilege, and moved that the presence of Colonel Fraser was a breach of the privileges of the Chamber. Mr Earnshaw seconded. When, in reply, the Premier stated that the hostile attitude of certain members was amounting to persecution, he was greeted with ironical laughter, and the motion which he said he would move tomorrow — "That the appointment of a Ser-geant-at-Arms be deferred till December next, and that in the meantime Colonel Fraser be permitted to perform the duties" — was received with cries of "Oh!" and "Evasion!" He assured the House that Colonel Fraser's salary would not commence until that date, and that he would not receive a penny for the intervening period. Sir Robert Stout said that he would be satisfied if the Premier would only state that he had been appointed temporarily or permanently ; but if he had received no appointment, the colonel had no right in the House. In reply, the Premier simply made a rambling statement signifying nothing. With withering scorn Mr Bell, who followed, termed the Premier's action as a "gross evasion and a trick," and said he was surprised that the language used by Mr Seddon was so entirely and absolutely misleading. The division, which wie announced as 45 to 16, was a foregone conclusion. THE RIVAL LEADERS. In a leader this morning the Times sympathises very much with Sir Robert Stoub m the position in which he was placed yesterday afternoon by the division. He had a perfect right to raise the question about the appointment to the post of Sergeant-at-Arms. The Premier asked him to respect the Government, he asked the Premier to respect the law. On that point the struggle between them on Tuesday turned. The Government had certainly got into difficulties in the matter, as was plain to the most ordinary observer. As soon as it was denied that any appointment had been made in the case of a man actually doing duty, it ' would have been graceful of the Premier to have given the notice of motion, which Sir Robert Stout would have been satisfied with. The slight compromise would have done the Government no harm, there would have been no
unpleasantness, Ministers would have avoided the punishment inflicted on them by Sir Robert, Sir Robert would not have been humiliated by euch a division, and the result would, co far as the Government nominee is concerned, have been the same. HUMILIATED AND ANGRY. It is very difficult to see why Sir Robert Stout should feel humiliated at the result of yesterday's division. If there has been a breach of the law in connection with the Sergeant- atArms — and it is generally admitted by members of all shades of political opinion that a case has | been made out against the Government — it is surely the members who supported the Premier that are humiliated. Many of them admit thiß, and feel very angry that the Government should have made the motion of Sir Robert Stout a party question, by that means practically forcing them to express approval of a breach of the law. APPOINTMENTS TO FRIENDS. It seems, according to the Premier's assertions, that Colonel Fraser ia only" acting temporarily, and is not holding a temporary appointment ; but he refrained from explaining the difference between these two terms. During the discussion yesterday the Premier openly . stated that all other things being equal he would give any appointments at his disposal to his friends, and to-day Mr Bell said that if jColonel Frttser's appointment was an exemplification of this dootrine, such doctrine was to him absolutely disgusting and abhorrent. It was a bribe ,to the country by holding out that anyone who desired to serve his country in any State position must raDge himself in support of the Government and assume the right colour. Mr Bell says his political education is just beginning, and it will have to be considerably extended, for he has hitherto been in the habit of accepting the statements of gentlemtn as conveying the meaning ordinarily attached to the words used. Thte remark was called forth by the Premier's various and varying statements upon the Sergeant-at-Arm3 appointment. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. From all appearances the Premier will meet with very strong opposition in his attempt to place his Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill upon the Statute Book. Mr Willis, the member for Wanganui, though willing to give the Government a general support, is decidedly opposed to this bill, which he contends is essentially a Conservative measure, and one that would press very hardly upon honest working men by depriving them of all means of obtaining credit, while it would act as a shield for dishonest men whether poor or rich. Sir Robert Stout pointed out that if the measure was intended to help the poor it was a mistake, for it would not do so. Ha had long held that the best method of helping the poor in this direction was to legislate to save a certain portion of a man's property from being seized for debt. It is not considered likely that the bill will pass in its present form. SHOP ASSISTANTS. The Shop and Shop Assistants Bill is very similar to that of last session, but it contains some new clauses giving effect to some of the contentions urged during the discussion by' the previous Parliament. The term " shop assistants " is now made to include any member of a shopkeeper's family who works for hire or -maintenance, and includes apprentices and improvers. The 11 local bodies will be allowed to select the weekly half-holiday, and where more than one local body is interested, as in the case of the large centres, the half-holiday is to be decided by a conference. When the motion for the second reading of the bill came up, Mr Bell suggested that the bill should provide for a Saturday half-holiday, allowing local bodies to alter the day in cases where the Saturday would be inconvenient. Mr MitcoeU son thought it was a mistake not to include road boards in the provisions of the measure. Mr Crowther made a sensible speech, urging that the bill should be referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The bill was read a second time. THE RIGHT COLOUR. Mr Duthie put a rather interesting question when he asked whether an appointment has been made as inspector to a similar position in connection with the fire appliances of the various public institution?, and, if co, whether the appointment was a permanent or temporary one. Mr Duthie added that he understood that the person referred to was a relative of the Premier. The Hon. Mr Reeves said he was responsible for the appointment in question The gentleman in question was not a relative of the Premier but only connected with him by marriage. He had* only been engaged as an expert to do a particular job, and had been paid only £22 or £23 — about £1 a day. He had also been appointed to undertake other duties of a similar nature. It was for the House to judge whether the gentleman's connection with the Premier should be an absolute bar to such employment. COMPANIES' ACCOUNTS AUDIT. The Companies' Accouuts Audit Bill, introduced by the Hon. Mr WaTd, provides that the Governor, on an application of a majority in number — representing two-thirds in value — of the shareholders of any limited liability company registered under " The Companies Act 1882," or of a majority in number of the shareholders of any company registered as aforesaid with unlimited liability, or of a majority in number representing one-third in value of the shareholders of auy incorporated mining company carrying on mining operations in the colony registered under the " Mining Companies Act 1886" or any similar act previously in force, may order the accounts of auy such company to be audited by the Audit Office, and the Audit Office shall have the same powers as it has under the provisions of "The Public Revenues Act 1891." THE LIQUOR QUESTION. Sir Robert Stout is not satisfied with the Premier's reply to his question as to who drafted section 21 of "The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act 1893," and why such section was made retrospective, for he subsequently save notice of motion for Wednesday next — '• That a committee, consisting of Messrs Buddo, Collins, W. Hutchison, Maslin, M'Gowan, M'Nab, Pirani, Saunders, Ward, and the mover, be appoiuted to iuquire how section 21 of ' The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act 1893 ' was made retrospective, and what amendment (if any) should be made in that section, and whether such amendment should be made retrospective, with power to call for persons and papers, and to report in three weeke." CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION. The Hon. W. P. Reeves made a strong appeal to the House on behalf of the Industrial Conciliation and. Arbitration Bill upon moving its second reading. He laid special stress upon what he regarded as the futility of voluntary methods, aaying that he would aoonor fee the bill rejected than altered in that direction. In a very fair speech Captain Russell said he agreed with the spirit of tbe bill, and was going to support it. Conciliation •Without arbitration wa3 humbug, still ho was opposed to the bill being read a second time that
night-, inasmuch as members had only seen copies of the bill that afternoon, therefore, ib was quite impossible for members to read much less carefully consider the measure. The debate was only a repetition of the arguments used when the measure was before the previous Parliament. THE FOX COMMISSION. Just before the supper adjournment the Premier said he had an important statement to make. He had been asked in the afternoon whether the Government would lay the report of the Fox Commission on the table, and he replied that he would do so that evening if possible. Since then one of his colleagues, Sir Patrick Buckley, had requested that the report together with the evidence should be laid on the table of both Houses simultaneously tomorrow. Three clerks were busy copying the evidence, and he hoped that the Government would be able to comply with this desire. JOTTINGS. Captain Russell says that when Imperial officers know how one of their number has lately been treated by the New Zealand Government they will refuse to come here. Imperial officers are, he says, straightforward and honourable men. It was stated in discussion to-day that the appointment of a Minister of the Crown as Railway Commissioner would be no greater infringement of the Disqualification Act than the appointment of Colonel Fraser. The reference was to tho rumour that the Premier was to become chairman of the Railway Commissioners. FRIDAY, JUNE 29. In the Legislative Council tc-day the afternoon sitting was taking up mainly in hearing Sir P. Buckley's comments on the Fox Commissioner's report. THE FOX COMMISSION. The Hon. Sir P. BUCKLEY, in presenting the report of the Fox Commission, said it would be seen from the report that very serious accusations had been made against himself, i and that was what he particularly wished to deal with. It was not often one was | placed in the position of putting upon record an accusation against himself, bat stern duty demanded he should, in justice to his colleagues, the Council, and himself, explain his position in reference to the matter. His own connection with the Fox business might best be ascertained by the evidence he gave before the commissioner, in which he had j said, among other things, that he never directly or indirectly gave the information referred to in the commission. — (Hear, hear.) That was his evidence, and he stood by it as being absolutely correct and perfectly true. The unjustifiable reflection cast upon his character as a public man had naturally caused him no little pain. He had borne with it in silence, until now he was in a position to clear himself of the unjust and vile reflections cast upon him. When the commission was appointed he was suffering from acute rheumatism, and it was alleged in hostile newspapers that his departure for the hot lakes was an excuse for not attending to give evidence. That was ab- j solutely incorrect and untrue in fact. He asked the commissioner to take his evidence at any time convenient to him, and assured him he would return to Wellington in order to enable him to do bo ; and he returned accordingly. He was not going to criticise the mode in which the inquiry was conducted, as perhaps it might not be in good taste. He asked the commissioner to allow him to see the evidence previously given, as he was only anxious the matter should be investigated bo the fullest extent, but the commissioner refused his request. He was not aware till the publication of the report that he himself was in the commissioner's eyes accused. He would ask any impartial person on the evidence to say whether there was one scintilla of evidence which would directly or indirectly connect himself or any officor or servant in his department with the publication of that correspondence, and he had no hesitation in saying the answer would be in the negative. The sworn testimony of one of his colleagues and himself was that no such information was given either by him or himself (Sir P. Buckley), which evidence the commissioner seemed to have absolutely ignored. Apart from the accusation made against himself, there was a reflection cast upon the officers of his department which ho seriously resented, for no man had been more faithfully served than he had by those officers. He had a private secretary who was tbe soul of honour. At the head of the Colonial Secretary's department was a gentleman of high standing, and character, and both incapable of committing any underhand or dishonourable act. Of all the other officers in the department he could speak in terms of the highest praise, and he regretted any reflection should be cast for a moment on the department over which he had the honour to preside. In paying that tribute to those officers he was only performing a duty which was incumbent on him, and he felt satisfied that everyone who came iv contact with them would endorse the opinion he farmed of them. As he said, be had suffered and borne with this indignity for a long time, feeling satisfied of his own iinocence, and he did not take any action in the matter, never for a moment supposing such an accusation would be made by the commissioner. There were, fortunately, in that Council some gentlemen who had known him since he had bssn in the colony, aud others whose acquvntance was of shorter duration, who had never doubted any statement he had made to them, and it was reserved for a Royal Commissioner to attack, not only his word, bub his sworn testimony without any justiflcati )Q whatever. At the last moment, a powerful political opponent of the Government, the edtor of the Post (Mr Gillon) had in the most generous manner done justice by making a declaration which he laid on the table. In it Mr Gillon declared that the information did not reach bim in the manner and form, or from aay of the persons accused by the commissioner, and that neither directly nor indirectly were Sir P. Buckley, Mr Cadman, or the messenger c^oerned or implicated in his obtaining the regarding the commandant's letter. (Hoar, hear.) On a perusal of that declaration io would be seen that it entirely exonerated him, his colleagues, and the messenger from any such charge as that made by the commissioner. While he was pleased with the declaration exonerating himself from the foul accusation, he failed to find language to express how much more pleased he was that an old and faithful servant whose position might have b';eu jeopardised by au insinuation for any complicity in the matter, was exonerated. That circumstance gave him extreme pleasure ; for while he could possibly defend himself, it might have been the cause of much more serious consequences to one who would not probably ba able to prove so much. Without desiring to question the good intentions of the Government in appointing the comrnisfiioner, ho twitted the false finding of that gentleman, which was entirely unwarrautcd. The evidence would prove to that or any future Government; tho necessity for care iv the selection of officpr* v-'bo ' had to perform duch high official inqrJvies, frrf
nob to entrust such functions to incompetent officials. The rumours as to splits in the Cabinet had no foundation in fact. He was satisfied that no single one of his colleagues believed for one moment that he would be guilty of such a crime, and he could only say 110 Ministry in New Zealand had worked harder for the welfare of the colony than the present Government. The Hon. Sir G. S. WHITMORB gave notice of motion — "That this Council having had ita attention drawn by the Attorney-general to the report of the Royal Commission on the Fox correspondence, desires to record its opinion that the conclusions of the commissioner are directly opposed to the evidence, and are wholly disproved by the affidavit of Mr E. T. Gillon, and no stigma rests upon Sir F. Buckley, Mr Cadman, or the messenger, whose veracity the commissioner's report appears to impeach." In the House of Representatives to-day the Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill was passed. The Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. THE FOX COMMISSION : THE MYSTERY DEEPER THAN EVER. The attitude of the New Zealand Times in connection with, the report of the Fox Commission is rather remarkable. It upholds the aotion of the ed/tor of the Post, and then proceeds to state that the commission "having reported apparently adversely to certain persons named, whom the editor knows to be quite innocent, he has taken the first opportunity of declaring their position. His remarks in his leading columns will satisfy all right-thinking men, and his declaration by being attached to the report frees the Government from the difficulty presented by the report reflecting on some of its members. The Post has done exactly the right thing in the right way. We understand that a memorandum has been forwarded by Ministers to his Excellency the Governor informing him that their colleagues have been completely exonerated by the editor of the Post. Tae promptitude was due to the Governor and to the Ministers implicated. The Times goes on to show that the facts known to the public contradict point blank the conclusion of the commission that the Post obtained its information on April 4 between certain hours, during which the papers were in the custody of the Hon. Sir Patrick Buckley or the Hon. Mr Cadman or in transit between the two in a closed envelope in charge of a messenger. The Post announced that Colonel Fox had resigned his position several days before any Minister had seen the letter of Colonel Fox to the Premier, and it is matter of common talk in the city that the Post people have openly stated that the contents of the letter were known to them before the 4th of April. Further, we understand it is in evidence bafora the commission that the Post reporter on entering one of the Ministerial offices on the morning of the 4th of April informed its occupant that he knew the letter had arrived, and was aware of the contents. These facts point to a d ff erent conclusion from that arrived at by the commission. Ministers are perfectly right to have advised the Governor that their colleagues have been exonerated f ally. As I indicated last night, the summary of the finding of the Fox Commission which I telegraphed proved* to be a true statement of the case, and there is very little of real importance to add to it. The commissioner expresses the opinion that the only manner in which the information could have been obtained was through the medium of some person having the custody or control of the orginal letters. He did not consider it right to proceed against Messrs Gillon and Hoben, though they did not appear to give evidence in answer to his summons. The report, which is a lengthy document, states that the original letter was received by the Premier at Helensville on March 24, and was forwarded on to Sir P. A. Buckley at Wellington, marked " Confidential," two days later. It reached Wellington on April 2, but was not opened for two days, owing to Sir Patrick Buckley's absence from Wellington. On Sir P. Buckley's return he perused the letter and sent it on to the Colonial Treasurer, who returned it to Sir P. Buckley. The latter then sent it on to Mr Cadman by the messeDger Sanbrook. Mr Cadman was not in the room when the letter was left on his table. The envelope containing the letters mysteriously disappeared from Mr Cadman's room, and Mr Cadman was not aware that ib had evwr been ia his room. The letters were not returned to his room until the afternoon of the 4' h April, and when they reached Mr Cadmau's room a second time they were not contained in the envelope addressed to the " Hon. the Premier," and marked •• Confidential" in in one corner and the " Hon. Mr Cadman" in the other, but in another envelope, addressed in the handwriting of Sir P. A. Buckley, to the •• Hou. Mr Cadman," and marked "Confidential." Mr Cadman was in Cabinet until 5 o'clock, and simply went into his room and got his hat and went to dinner. After dinner he read the c6ntents of the letter in th 6 Evening Post newspaper, and when he returned to his effico that evening he saw the letter on his table, and did no 5 open it at all, but took it into the Cabinet meeting on the morning of the 5 h April unopened. Mr Cadman handed the letter to the Hon. Mr Ward in the Cabinet ruora, unopened, aod Mr Ward passed it on to the Hod. Mr M'KeDZ'e, who opened if. It was th^n seen by the Hon. Mr M'K'Dzie and the Hon. Mr Cadman for the fir-t time, and h-.nd^d to Sir P. A. Buckley, who gave it with another letter to Charles Burgess, the Premier's messenger, telling him to give the letters into Mr Seddon's own hand. Both letters were placed in another envelope by Burgees, who wrote on the outside of the envelope : " Letters from Sir Patrick Buckley, to be given to Mr Seddom himself." On Mr Seddon's return they weie duly delivered to him. The report ends thus :—": — " From a careful analysis of the evidence I am led to believe that the information was given to the Post between the lime when the letters mysteriously disappeared from Mr Cadman's table (that is, about 11 a m.) and the time when they were relaid on Mr Cadman's table in another envelope before 2.30 p.m. on the afternoon of the 4th April, and that during at least a portion of that time the letters were in Sir Patrick Buckley's custody, or under his control. A careful analysis of the sworn evidence will prove that the information could only have been obtained by the Post from the original letter on the 4th of April, and during the time specified." The bulk of the report is quite uniotei opting.
In reply to those findings Mr Gillon, the editor of the Post, made a declaration before a justice of the peace that the conclusion is altc - gether incorrect and contrary to fact ; that the information was not received in the manner or from any of the persons assumed by the commissioner ; and that neither Sir Patrick Buckley, Mr Cadman, or the messenger referred to, were concerned or implicated. The Fox Commission has thus, after all, fizzled out — to this extent at anyrate, that it has not led to the present disruption of the Cabinet, as was confidently anticipated in so many directioua. The f'rsir.p; T"^* •-" ?< n '•'•rr-.1. "~\ -i W>"
absurd drama, as enacted in both Houses today, were carious illustrations of how the unexpected may happen. In the Council Sir Patrick said that the statements as to dissention in the Cabinet had no foundation on fact, and he was satisfied that cd one of his colleagues believed in the charges against himself, and. he added that no Government had worked harder for tbe colony than the present one. Sir George Wbitmore, following with some remarks in support of the other knight, concluded with a notice that he would move that the conclusion of the commissioner was against the evidence, and directly opposed to Mr Gillon's affidavit, and that no stigma in the opinion of the Council rested upon Sir Patrick Buckley, the Hon. Mr Cadman,'or the messenger. , In the Assembly, immediately preceding the ' dinner adjournment, the Premier laid upon the table the voluminous papers comprised in the record of the commission, together with the declaration of the editor of the Post, and on being so, said he would take the opportunity of saying it was most satisfactory, and any doubt that had existed .had been removed. Farther, he desired to say with regard to the Ministry that there had never been a Government that had worked so harmoniously and cordially as the present. Here Dr Newman interjected, " Whom do you, suspect?" "I suspect no one," said the Premier; "but I am very gratified that "my colleagues have been relieved from the stigma that had been cast upon them." CONSPIRACY LAW. The Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill of last session was committed this afternoon, when the various clauses were discussed at considerable length. Mr Hutchison said that 3ome time ago a man had been sentenced to nine months' imprisonment in Australia for speaking disrespectfully of the Queen, whereas he had heard words in the lobby of the House equally objectionable. Mr Earnshaw urged the Labour party to be careful to keep within the limits of law and order. Living as they did under the rule of her Majesty, she was entitled to their respect. He stigmatised tfie remark "Disrespectful to the Queen " as mere " flapdoodle." The bill was taken through committee, read a third time, and passed. THE ORDER PAPER. " The Ministry are endeavouring to force new bills down our throats whether we like it or not," said Mr R. M'Kenzie, the Government member for Buller, this afternoon. This remark was called forth by the absence of the Order Paper when the House met this afternoon, and Mr M'Kenzie added, "They are going too far altogether." Mr Crowther took up a similar stand, and asserted that he was in the fix of having placed before him a most important bill with 54 clauses, many of them of a very serious character. He was anxious to help the Government, and advised them to make a better selection at the beginning of the session. They should commence with the less important measures. Captain Russell also strongly objected to the attempt of the Government to ram down the throats of members measures that they could not possibly be prepared to digest. MR EARNSHAW AND THE GOVERNMENT. The breach which exists between Mr Earnshaw, of Dunedin, and the Ministry is almost as pronounced as that which exists between Sir Robert Stout and the Premier. The estrangement of such a well-known Labour member as Mr E&rnshaw is very significant. In the course of debate yesterday he accused the Minister for Labour of trying to show that be (Mr Earnshaw) did not belong to the Liberal party, and added that Mr Reeves could say what he liked, but he could not prove his assertions. Mr Earnshaw went on to state that no Labour member had so strongly supported the Government in carrying through their Labour measures, and that he had lost hundreds of votes for his advocacy of the Stop Hours Bill. This statement was backed up by more than one "Hear, hear" from his neighbour Sir Robert. Stout. Mr Reeves explained that he did not say that his friend was not a supporter of the party, but that he was not a supporter of the Government ; to which Mr Earnshaw replied that it was true he was not elected as a supporter either of a Stout or a Seddon Government, but he was not going to allow Mr Reeves to twist his words or his position. MAIDEN SPEECHES. The maiden speeches of the new members this session have been interesting in more ways than one, and perhaps in no previous Parliament have the beginners shown more selfconfidence. Last night Mr Morrison, of Dunedin, made his great preliminary effort in the discussion of the question of arbitration and conciliation. Unfortunately for the effect of an apparently carefully prepared speech, however, all the Opposition members who had spoken were favourable to the bill, and when he denounced the opponents of this measure in unmeasured terms the House seemed puzzled. As a matter of fact his carefully elaborated and type-written speech had no point, and simply dealt with*an attitude of hostility which was conspicuously absent. It was evident that he was forced to suppress the contents of several of his sheets, owing to the inconsiderate way in which the Opposition had agreed with the principles of the measure under consideration. An address upon which Mr Morrison had lavished so much time and care certainly deserved a better fate. SATURDAY, JUNE 30. THE FOX COMMISSION. Up till about 3 o'clock on Friday afternoon the great item of interest in the political world was the report of the Fox Commission, speculations being prevalent as to the attitude the House would take up in the matter. From that time the rumours of the banking crisis began to spread with great rapidity, and the Fox Commission report at once dwindled into contemptuous insignificance. The public generally forthwith forgot its very existence, or at all events to care one jot about it. FLORA AND FAUNA. The preservation of the flora and fauna of the colony is a matter of the greatest interest and of the gravest importance. When the Premier was in Auckland he was interviewed by an influential deputation from the Auckland Institute with reference to the setting apart of the Little Barrier as a preserve for New Zealand birds and plants. The Premier then expressed himself as being with the institute in this matter, and therefore the question which appears on the Order Paper dealing with it may be expected to receive very favourable consideration at the hands of the Government. Mr W. Hutchison desires to know what success has attended the expedient of conserving Resolution Island in the'south and Little Barrier Island in the north as places for preserving and increasing the native birds of the colony, and if any recent report on the subject, favourable or otherwise, has been received by the Government ; if there is no recent report, would the Minister cause one to be prepared and submitted to the House ? This question should at any rate remind the Premi9r fchafc action should be taken, and any siicM i-cpwt ?-?, Ph-V; it i->,i!f;-i s?v.jj;l yrf"«-> n>M<, mt -co.- ''.•";■ ,
-* SOLICITOR-GENERAL. Should the Solicitor-general (states tho Post) unfortunately bo unable to resume the duties of his office it is, we learn, the intentioa of the Premier to appoint oue of the legal members o.n. his side of the House to the position temporarily without salary for a period covering 12 months from the date on which party convenience may bo found consistent with the member's resignation. The reversion of several other high offices in the public service is likely to be proposed to other members of the great Liberal party on similar terms. In this way the purity of Parliament will be well safeguarded. SINKING FUNDS. The commissioners of the public debts sinking fund have laid before Parliament their accounts for the year ended 31»t March last. The second instalment towards the redemption of the Lyttelton and Christchurch railway loan. 1860, amounting to £15,300, becomes due on the Ist July next, and will be duly met. The accumulations of sinking fund held by the commissioners on account of the above loan and the Auckland loan of 1863 being more than sufficient to meet the liabilities as they respectively mature, ifchasbeeu considered.anneceaaary that any further payments of sinking fund should be collected from the Treasury on account of these loans. BENEFIT SOCIETIES. The member for Chalmers intends introducing the Employers' Private Benefit Societies Bill, the chief provisions of which are as follow :— Such societies to bo registered, membership to be purely voluntary, employers to subsidise the contributions of members to the extent of 50 par cent , employees upon leaving the aervioe to bd refunded the contributions paid, leas a pro rata share of the expenses, all societies to be dissolved annually, and the funds divided pi-o rata between the employer and employee, according to the amount subscribed by each. NEW BILLS. The Hon. the Postmaster-general has introduced the Designation of Districts Bill, by which he proposes to do away with the duplication of names so common in the colony. This measure will confer power on the Governor-in-Council to give a name to "any place or locality whatsoever" in New Zealand, or to alter existing names, but expressly excepts power to alter the name of the colony. Local bodies are to have the option of suggesting new names for existing towns, counties, or districts which require to have their designation altered. The Auctioneers Act Amendment Bill is intended to deal with "cheap jacks" and travelling showmen who have victimised country people. A person conducting a sale by mentioning a price for one or more articles, and saying "I'll take," or "Who'll give," &c., and then disposing of articles, shall be deemed to bs conducting a sale by auction, and therefore, unless licensed as an auctioneer, liable to the pains and penalties provided in the Auctioneers Act. JOTTINGS. In answer to Mr Reeves, who mentioned how much of the time of Ministers was occupied in consultation, Dr Newman said that referred to a bygone time when Premiers consulted with their colleagues, but it did not refor to a Premier who never consulted them at all. , ° ■ Mr Earnshaw is objecting to the competition of prison labour with local manufacturers. That second-class railway carriage seats should be cushioned' is the opinion of Dr Newman. Mr Carnell is approaching the Minister for Lands on behalf of the sufferers by the Hawke's Bay floods. Mr Allen is moving in the direction of prohibiting the overcrowding of railway oars. The average cost of collecting the customs revenue of the colony is £1 14s 9d for every £100. The' 1 cost at Dunedin and Port Chalmers is £1 13 a 3d per cent. ; Lyttelton and Christchurch, £1 12s 3d ; Wellington, £1 7s 4d ; and Auckland, £1 15s lid. At luvercargill the cost is £2 10s 7d, and at Oamaru £3 12s 8d per cent. MONDAY, JULY 2. MR WARD'S ILLNESS. The Colonial Treasurer is sufferijg from a severe attack of influenza, and his medical ( attendant has ordered complete rest from business for a day or two. Ha is now, however, improving rapidly. He delivered hi 3 clear and convincing speech on tho Banking Bill ' under great difficulties, being very hoarse and generally indisposed. His .illnes3 will delay the Financial Statement. INDICTABLE OFFENCES. The Indictable Offences Summary Jurisdiction Act is a measure to be introduced by the Government in the Legislative Council. Ife gives Justices of the Peace power to deal summarily with all offences committed by' children, except homicide, if the consent of, their parents is received. It also provides that fortune-telling shall be dealt with by the lower court. The bill also consolidates certain' existing legislation. DISCONTENT AT TH.E DICTATORSHIP. , , It is admitted on all sides that ' there is an ever- wideningjundercurrent of discontent among the "great Liberal party," the chief cause being the overbearing and autocratic aeEumptions of the Premier. Membsrs complain that the Mioi3try, without taking them into their con» fidence and putting the wholo facts before them, simply instruct them how to vote, and very naturally the more intelligent and independent followers of the Government resent being regarded as mere votiDg machines. Stormy protests are raised almost daily nt Ministerial attempts "to ram their measures down the throats of members," and a certain hitherto faithful follower, S I am credibly informed, considers himself a " marked man," since upon a recent occasion he dared < o vote according to his conscience. The question is being asked, can the overwhelming majoriby last under such conditions ? , THE MEMBER WHO WAS "TIRED." The accident on Sunday, which necessitated the fi thing out of the harbour of a. southern member of Parliament, ha 9 been the subject of a good deal of comment. ' This method of lowering the Legislature in the eyes of the colony is naturally very severely commented on on all h^nds. There seems to be gome doubt as to what member is referred to, and this fact has led to the rather amusing spectacle of ouc legislators rising eagerly to explain to th«-ir fri3nd» ami neighbours that tho culprit was ? someone else. JOTTINGS. - - . Mr M'Guire's Importation or Manufacture of IntoxicaMf..' Liqaoro Prohibition Bill provides that anybi'dy importing or manufacturing liquor shall be fined from £100 to £500. The Juries Act Amendment Bill, in p'wgo of the Attorney-general, abolishes special juries. It also contain* a provisio-i allowing fch" judge to discharge a jury after they have deliberated for a reasonable time without agreeing. Sir Patrick J?nH?l«y is introducing a frarniu." .v 1 f-.-vro«f -.-vro« ! - % tt ■-: v'it, pni V , rr-'.v--'
such mattera as the recent Challenge Stakes case comiDg into court. It provides that no prize in any horse or foot race, fight, game, sport, or exercise shall be recoverable at law. TUESDAY, JULY 3. In the Legislative Council to-day the Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill, Printers' and Newspapers' Registration Bill, and the Gaming and Lotteries Bill were read a, second time. A RETURN REFUSED. The Hon. Mr RIGG moved that a return be laid upon the table showing the dates on which the various loans comprising the public debt of the colony were floated, and the amounts of such loans respectively ; the average price received for each £100 ; the costu incurred and paid in floatisg each loan ; the amounts of interest paid annually from the date of raising the first loan to the present time ; conversions that have been effected from time to time ; the terms on which each loan has been so converted, also the costs incurred and paid in effecting such conversion ; and the total amount borrowed and the amount received, and the total amount of interest paid to date. The Hon. Mr MONTGOMERY trusted the motion would not be passed, inasmuch as the information could be obtained in return B 189 last session. The motion was lost by 17 to 13. THE AGE OF CONSENT. The Hon. Mr MONTGOMERY, in moving the second reading of the Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill, explained that its provisions ■were to raise the age of consent to 16 years, and a further provision making criminal proceedings nugatory unless instituted before the lapse of two months instead of one month as at present. The Hon. Mr SCOTLAND would like to see age raised to 80 years, if necessary. The Hon. Mr STEVENS considered it would be more satisfactory, before the bill passed, if evidence were taken as to the reason why the ; Government sought to amend the act, aud if the bill went to the Statutes Revision Committee he should endeavour to obtain evidence as to why the amendment was asked for. The second reading was agreed to and the bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. SECOND READINGS. The Hon. Mr MONTGOMERY moved the second reading of the Printers' and Newspapers' Registration Act Amendment Bill, which, he explained, was intended to include stereotypes, chromos, and lithographic printing within the terms of "printed matter." — Agreed to, and the bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hon. Mr MONTGOMERY, ia moving the second reading of the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill, said the bill absolutely prohibited any stakes or wagers being recovered by law. The Hon. Mr STEVENS thought the bill was not required, more especially as it was notorious it was only asked for in consequence of the dereliction of certain persona concerned in a recent case. The bill involved an important principle, which should be considered carefully before it became law. He did not for a moment believe respectable race clubs or trustees in whose hands stakes were placed would act so dishonourably as not to hand the stakes entrusted to them to winners, and therefore he thought the bill was not required. The Hon. R. OLIVER would vote for the bill if he thought it would discourage or mitigate the existing evils of gambling, but he scarcely considered the proposed measure would have that effect. The Hen. Mr MACGREQOR did not think the bill went far enough. He should like to ccc all betting made illegal. The Hon. Mr BOWEN would like to see more weight-for-age races than there were. He presumed the bill was intended to operate against certain small country meetings, the conditions of which were not, perhaps, too honourable. If the bill would have the efftcb of abolishing many scoundrels who made their livelihood by queer practices at country raco meetings he would be entirely in favour of it. As it was he should vote for the second reading, reserving to himself the right to speak further to the bill when it came back from the Statutes Revision Committee. The second reading was agreed to by 17 to 8, and the bill referred to the Statutes Revi&iou Committee. The Council then adjourned.
In the House of Representatives to-day a considerable portion of the afternoon sitting was taken up in discussing the qualifications of Captain Hannah, a relative by marriage of the Premier, for the position of fire inspector. In the evening the Auctioneers Act Amendment, Hawkers and Pedlars Act Amendment, and Companies' Accounts Audit Bills were read a second time. The Arms Act Repeal Bill was passed, and the discussion on the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill was adjourned. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Hogg, The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said the Government were advised there was no power to enable village settlers to exchange their pre&ent leases for leasts in perpetuity, bub the House would be afforded an opportunity of voting on the question before the session closed. Replying to Mr Masliu, The Hon. Mr SEDDONsaidtbo Government would br rig in a bill this session abolishiug distraint for rent. Replying to Mr T. Mackenzie (Clutha), The Ht.n. Mr SEDDON said it was very uudesirnble that boys uudei? 16 should smoke cigarettes, but he thought the time had not yet arrived for legislation on this subject. Replying to Dr Newman, The Hod. Mr SEDDON said that the Kailway Commissioners considered the cushioning of second-class railway carriages would mean a large expenditure. They also thought the second- chss carriages in this colony were fairly comfortable. Replying to Mr Allen, The Hon. Mr SEDDON said it was probable that 3000 Martini rifle? would not arrive in the colony, as that contract had been cancelled because they were not in accordance with specifications. Another order of 500 rifles had been givfen at £3 15s each. Replying to Mr G. W. Ru3sell (Ricc&rtou), The Hon. A. J. CADMAN said the Government had had under consideration for some time the Maude and Harper case, and if they found it desirable steps would be taken to bring Leonard Harper r-r>f< re the court. Replying to Mr Kelly (luvercargill), The Hon. A. J. CADMAN said the Government would fully investigate the matter of compelling the Union Bank of Australia to refund the trust moneys paid by Harper Bros, to the bank for the purpose of paying oir" the linn's overdraft.
Replying to Mr Flatman, The Hou. Mr M'KENZIE said the Govt-ru-menthad not at present decided whether a Fair Rent Bill would be introduced this session, but they would decide later on in the session. The following bills were read a first timo: — Coroners' Inquests Bill, Rivertou Harbour Board Empowering Bill, Employers' Private
Benefit Society Bill, Waimakariri-Isley Water Supply Board Loan Bill. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. Mr CROWTHER resumed the debate on the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill. He held they should protect the public against those who could pay, but would not do so, and that was his reason for opposing this bill. He had no sympathy whatever with legislation of this kind. Mr MONTGOMERY said the bill was to a large extent a misnomer. Imprisonment for debt was not a common thing now ; it was quite the contrary. It was not those who could not pay who were sent to prison, it was those who were able to pay, but would not do so. He did not think the credit system would be done away with by the bill. It would be carried on as before, but there would be much more dishonesty. He should vote against the bill. Mr DUTHIE would support the Government on this occasion, which gave him some anxiety, and the House might rely on it that if he did not think he was right he should not support this bill. He looked upon imprisonment for debt as a relic of barbarism, and he should therefore heartily support the bill. The Hon. W. J. STEWARD said if the bill was properly designated it should be called a bill for the punishment of honest men at the expense of rogues. He thought when a man had the ability to pay and refused to do it they ought not to step in with a bill of this kind. He should oppose. the bill. Mr M'NAB regretted that he had to oppose the bill. They were asked to pass a bill to abolish the credit system, yet a night or two ago they had given £2,000,000 credit to a banking institution. He held that they had really no claim at all against an individual unless they had imprisonment for debt as a final resort. Mr W. HUTCHISON (Dunedin) strongly supported the bill, and said imprisonment for debt was unnecessary. He did not mean to say that a man should not be punished for fraud, but a man should not be imprisoned for getting into debt through misfortune. Mr BELL gave the bill his most cordial and hearty support. The law on the subject was a farce as it was carried out. Over and over again people were sent to gaol for not being able to pay their debts for something which lacked every element of crime. He had seen men compelled to pay to creditors money absolutely required for their wives and children. Messrs RUSSELL (Riccarton) and MASLIN opposed the bill. The latter said if a bill of this kind was passed it would offer a premium to dishonesty. Mr BUICK also opposed the bill. Mr O'REGAN supported the bill, and congratulated two such prominent members of the Opposition as Messrs Bell and Duthie on their support of the measure. His only objection to the bill was that it did not go far enough. Mr PINKERTON moved the adjournment of the debate till Friday. — Agreed to. SECOND READING. The Taonui Branch Railway Bill wag read a second time without discussion. lIAWKERS AND PEDLARS. The Hon. Mr SEDDON resumed the debate on the Hawkers and Pedlars Bill. He said this colony had been flooded by hawkers owing to the restrictive legislation of the other colonies, and he thought when they did come here, they ought to be restricted in the way proposed by the bill. As the law now stood, any person could peddle goods, and it was very desirable that those who hawked goods about town and country districts should be persons of good character. Mr LANG did not see any necessity for this bill, as borough councils and county councils had already power to deal with the matter. The clause compelling people to reside in the colony 12 months before taking out a license was a most unjust one. He should oppose the bill. Mr M'LACHLAN supported the measure, and held it was very necessary that the large number of hawkers going about the country should be restricted in some way. Mr HALL supported the bill. Mr DUTHIE called attention to the hardship done to legitimate trade by people who travelled from place to place and rented shops for a month or so for selling jewellery and oth g wares. He hoped the bill would deal with cases of this kind. Mr M'NAB agreed with the last speaker. He objected to the 12 months' restriction, but would not oppose the bill on that account. Mr FRAsER thought as the bill affected local bodies copies of it should be sent to them He hoped, therefore, the committal of the bill would not be hurried on. Mr GRAHAM heartily supported the bill, and thought it would meet the cordial approval of the gceat majority of the people of the colony. Mr HOGG hoped that articles manufactured in the colony would be specially exempted from the operation of the act. Dr NEWMAN thought the bill as a whole a good one. It was a great hardship to country storekeepers, who had to pay taxes of all kind&, while hawkers got off scot free. Mr BUTTON supported the bill. •Mr ALLEN referred to several amendment*, which it was necessary to make in the bill in Committee. The motion for the second readiug wan agreed to. BILL PASSED. The Arms Act Repeal Bill was committed, read a third time, and passed. AUDIT Or COMPANIES. The Hon. Mr SISDDON moved the second reading of the Companies' Accounts Audit Bill, to give power to appoint the Audit Office to audit the accounts of companies. He instanced the case of persons who had been absolutely ruined in consequence of a bad system of audit in certain companies. ~ There was no desire on the part of the Government to interfere with or hamper companies without the shareholders being first consulted. He held that in widening the scope of the Audit department of the colony they were moving in the right direction. If the House generally desired to refer the bill to the Statutes Revision Committee, he should not object to that being done.
Mr G. W. RUSSELL (Riccarton) supported the bill, which he thought was very necessary. The bill was a thoroughly 6ound one.
Sir R. STOUT did not object to the bill if shareholders wished to have a Government audit, but there were difficulties in the way. He warned hon. members that this would be a false security if companies' assets were not valued properly. If the bill were to be of any servico at all there must be a valuation. Mr HALL said he thould move for a compulsory triennial audit, and not leave it to shareholders at all. Mr DUTHIE agreed with Sir R. Stout that an uudit by the Government would have little effect unless the assets were valued. He pointed out, however, that an institute of accountant* was about to be established, and thafc, he held, would be a more appropriate body to do this work than the Government Audit department. Mr GRAHAM warmly commended the Goverament for bringing in a bill of this description, and said it was absolutely necessary. Captain RUfc.SSLL (Hawke's Bay) said Eir R. Stout discovered in a moment the weak
spot of the bill. The real thing required was a true valuation of the assets of a company. The Government audit was carried out in a cut-and-dry fashion, and the Audit Office was not so capable of carrying out the audit of a company as other auditors would be. They had had examples recently of the valuation of a company's assets which were very misleading. The Government auditor would take the value of assets without making any inquiry, and a company might be made responsible by shareholders for bogus assets. Mr O'RBG AN thought some provision should be made for finding out what the assets of companies were. He saw no hardship in making the audit compulsory. The Hon. Mr SBDDON said if the House considered the scope of the bill should be widened, so as to give power to auditors to call in experts to value the assets, he had no objection to that • The motion was agreed to. MR EARNSHAW AND THE PREMIER. In the course of the discussion upon the Government fire hose question, a sharp passage-at-arins took place between the Premier and the Labour member for D anedin, Mr Earnshaw. Mr Seddon had accused the latter, among others, of trying to get at him by damaging the character of Captain Hannah, a relative by marriage of the Premier, who tested the hose. Mr Earnshaw denied having attacked the expert, but had only pointed out that he was not required. He proceeded to state that if he wanted to get at the Premier there was no necessity for him to bring in any third person. He was quite prepared to deal with the Premier at any time, whether Mr Seddon professed to be " the only man in New Zealand or not." Mr Earnshaw is not by any means a servile follower of the Government. Some comment has been caused by the attitude of the Premier in opposing the return asked for by Mr Earnshaw with reference to a map of the Otago province, and the Official and Special Commission reports made from time to I time bearing upon the character and settlement of the Crown lands of Central Otago and the construction of the Otago Central railway. Even more significant was the opposition of the Premier to Mr Earnshaw's motion for a complete return setting forth the character and cost of additions and improvements to the Parliament Buildings and grounds during each of the last four years, also the cost of furnishing rooms for Ministers' and their secretaries' use. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TREASURER. The Bhower of congratulatory telegram? from all parts of the colony and from Australia which the Hon. J. G. Ward has received, and still continues to receive, should prove a great source of gratification to him. These communications are not confined Co any particular class of society, but come from people in influential positions and from poor people quite unknown to the Treasurer, also from business and professional men, and from the working classes. All, without exception, approve of the action taken, and thank Mr Ward very warmly for his part in averting what threatened to be the greatest financial disaster in the history of New Zealand. These messages, and the almost unanimous approval of the press, have been a great source of comfort to the Colonial Treasurer during the severe illness from which he is just now recovering. NOT EXTINGUISHED. The Premier certainly did not suffer defeat over the fire-hose question,, though somewhat unfairly baited by some leaders of the Opposition. As Mr Seddon said with force and truth, if such trifles are to be the points of attack upon the Government, then are his opponents greatly in need of really offensive weapons of attack. He made a good point that distinctly scored when he said that he believed that he was the only man in the House who for 18 sessions had sat in Parliament and could say that he had not a single relative in the civil service of New Zealand. AGIN' THE GOV'MINT. The Government received an unpleasant check last night over the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill introduced by the Premier. The objections came as freely and as forcibly from members regarded as faithful followers as from the ranks of the Opposition. So unanimous was the feeling against the measure that to avert an ignominous defeat Mr Pinkerton was put up to move the adjournment of the debate, to which Mr Seddon agreed, stating, j amid ironical laughter, that a return was being prepared to show the number of persons who have been imprisoned for debt, and this return would doubtless induce many members to vote for the measure. It is generally considered, after the expression of opinion given last night, tbat the bill will not be heard of again this session, though it may be pressed to a second reading and then dropped. BETTERMENT BILL. When the Betterment Bill was called*on this evening Sir Robert Stout objected to the House being asked to go on with it, inasmuch as it referred to Native lands and yet had not been translated. The debate on the second reading was accordingly adjourned. I understand that Sir Robert Stout will oppose this bill upon various grounds. He says that under it the whole of the lands from Hyde onwards will, if the Otago Central i 3 constructed, be taxed — both agricultural and pastoral lands. The tax will be the diil'ereuce in the value of the lands now and what the value will be after the railway is constructed. Half of the increase is to be charged upoa the land. Suppose, for example, he contends a man has a farm worth £1000. If it increases £500 in value after the railway is made it will have to pay £250 in cash to the Government, or 5 per cent, on this £250 until it is paid. Sir Robert Stout also says that according to the bill the Government may even tax laud within 20 miles south of Hyde, and all land within a radius of 20 miles from the railway. Land would, in fact, be taxed which received practically no advantage. Sir Robert objects because this would have been unfair as bearing upon residents in the Waihemo, Tuapeka, and Wakatipu electorates, as these had been promised a railway years ago, and had bought land on the faith of the railway being made. It would therefore be unfair to charge them so heavily on its construction. Of course this objection will also apply to the Catlins river and other railways, and new railways that may be made in the future. I understand several members will oppose it on the ground that it would be unfair to outlying districts, which will have to remain for many years without railways, while other places have had railways for years and have paid nothing. Sir Robert Stout says the bill will also apply to the North Island Trunk railway besides the Eketahuna, Woodvillo, and other lines. THE DUNEDIN GAOL. In answer to Mr Piukertou, the Prernior said that the architect's plans submitted to him if adhered to would cost £20,000 for the construction. The Government had no intention to build such a gaol, but as the brickmakers were just now doing very little he felt justified in
Baying that the Government would put some 200,000 bricks in hand. INVERCARGILL LICENSING COMMITTEE. Mr O'Regan asked the Minister for Justice what steps he proposed to take with a view to checking such insolence as had occurred at the last meeting of the Invercargill Licensing Committee. The Hon. Mr Cadtnan stated that he had asked for a report on this matter. He understood that an information had been sworn by a member of the licensing committee in one case in which an apology had been refused. THE TENDER SYSTEM. Mr Hall asked the Premier if it is the intention of the Government to so amend local legislation as to enable municipal councils, county councils, road boards, and other local governing bodies to fix a fair price for the construction of their works, and so abolish the hardships which frequently occur to both contractor and his workmen under the tender system. The Premier said he believed the old contract system a serious mistake. The principle of always accepting the lowest tender led to cheap work and work being badly done. The Government proposed to give the local bodies a wider discretion in this matter. He hoped to see the local authorities taking an example from the methods of the London County Council and the Government co-operative works. A BURNING QUESTION. An animated and interesting discussion arose this afternoon in connection with a paper laid upon the table by the Premier with regard to the condition of the fire hose at the Supreme Court and the Parliamentary Buildings. In laying the paper upon the table Mr Seddon referred to the fact that an attempt had been made to injure the reputation of a gentleman who bore a high reputation. Captain Hannah, he said, had been- a fire brigade inspector under the Victorian Government. He referred to certain statements j made in connection with the testing of the Government hose which had appeared in the public press, and went on to say that an attempt had been made to cast a stigma upon the gentleman referred to, and through him upon the Premier himself. He (Mr Seddon) had instructed the messengers to attend and make a test of the hose of the House, and before the water had been on two minutes the hose ripped. In the case of afire there must have been a catastrophe. At this stage Mr Mitchelson wanted to know whether Mr Seddon was in order, and Sir Robert Stout thought it was inconvenient for the Premier to make these explanations, since the House, not having the documents before them, were not in a position to discuss the matter. "There. is no necessity for discussion," responded the Premier, which brought the rejoinder from Sir Robert, "Oh, I don't know about that." The Premier went on to state that upon the advice of Captain Hannah the hose at the Supreme Court had been replaced, as it tore like a piece of old linen. Captain Hannah denied the assertion made, to the effect that he had made use of a knife in his test. " Why did he cut the hose P" asked a member. "He never cut the hose," was the reply, and Mr Seddon went on to state that the Government at once ordered an official report, bringing forth the interruption, "Another Royal Commission." Sir Robert Stout then rose and, while accepting the explanation as to the ability of the expert, said that the statement of the Premier showed such culpable neglect on the part of the Public Works department as to be a disgrace to any Government. He said there had been unnecessary delay, and it was most extraordinary that the test had been carried out without warning to the Supreme Court officials. They were so much alarmed that one of them had not gone to bed for two nights, thinking there was a plot to burn down the building. If the Public Works department managed in this way in a small matter, how would they act in great emergencies? Sir Robert ridiculed the necessity of securing an expert from Ballarat, as if there was no one in the colony capable of examining a little hose that required overhauling. Captain Russell also thought it absurd to import an expert. He had been told that the hose was in perfect order, and had been cut with a knife. He said the Ministry were abrogating their position, and allowiug the colony to be governed by a newspaper. Mr Earnshaw accused the Premier of bringing disgrace upon the Liberal party. As one who knew something of what he was talking about, he regarded much of what the Premier said as " simple nonsense." Some amusement was caused by Dr Newman wanting to know who this Captain Hannah was and where he came from. " Was he," the doctor asked, " a captain of the Salvation Army or what P Did he hold a | temporary billet or had he come to stay ? Had he lost his billet in Ballarat ?" Mr Bell, with cutting irony, remarked that the officers of the local brigade were quite competent to run some water through the hose and burst it. They needed no gentleman from Ballarat for that. In reply to all this, Mr Pirani spoke in the highest terms of Mr Hannah as an expert. The Premier then rose to throw more light upon the question, and in doing so said that an attempt had been mado to ruin a gentleman's reputation in order "to get at " him. As he proceeded certain of his statements called forth a laugh from Sir Robert Stout, whereupon the Premier remarked that there was no need of "hohoing "or sneering over these things. He went ou to protest that the country was not ruled by any journal, and contended that Captain Hannah was almost a New Zealander. This elicited loud laughter and "cries of "Almost." He had been a champion sculler on the West Coast in 18G8, and had since gone to Australia. Another laugh being raised, Mr Seddon suddenly burst out with the rather startling information "I am the only man in this house." — (Loud laughter.) He hastened to explain that he was the only man who had been in the House for 18 sessions and yet had not a single relative in the public service. Captain Hannah was only a connection by marriage. Here Mr Bell interrupted "You are just beginning." The Premier replied : "I tlon'fc fchiuk the name of Bell is unknown in the civil service." " Hear, hear," from Mr Bell. The Premier even threatened to move for a return to show the connection between members and the civil service. It was absurd to say that the Liberal party had been dragged in the dust. If it had done nothing more than this, it was purity itself. JOTTINGS. Dr Newman wants to know why an abstract of the national income and expenditure for the year ending 31st March 1894- has not been published and laid before thia House, as directed by " The Public Revenues Act 1891." The Hob. W. J. Steward is moving to induce the Government to relieve the existing distress by voting a buoi of money, to be expended in subsidising a.t the rate of pound for pound any sums voted by local governing bodits or subscribed by the general public to bo expended in relief works ot public utility:
Sir Robert Stout referred to the Public Trust report as an extraordinary document. Mr Duthie thought so too.
The influenza is making itself felt among members. Three Ministers — Messrs Ward and
Reeves and Sir P. Buckley— are down with it, besides Messrs Allen, Green, Massey, and T. Mackenzie. It has also made its appearance in the press gallery.
Mr T. Mackenzie asked if the Minister for Public Works, with a view to assisting struggling bush settlers, will recommend the Railway Commissioners to consider the propriety of fixing schedule rates for the various qualities of sleepers, and accepting them from settlers in small quantities. The member for Clutha, in putting this question, showed the great advantage which would accrue to settlers were the Government to recommend the motion to the Railway Commissioners. The Premier said he quite agreed with the spirit of the motion. The Commissioners had in some parts of New Zealand fixed schedule rates for small quantities of sleepers. Mr Mackenzie asked if he would recommend the extension of the advantages of the system to the Catlins bush district. Mr Seddon said he would.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 18
Word Count
14,746NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 18
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