PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6488, 4 October 1892, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRKSFONDKNT.) Wellington, last night. The Servants Registry Office, Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment, Factories, Native Laud Purchases, Shops and Shop Assistants, and Customs Laws Consolidation Bills passed, the final stages in the Council this afternoon. In view of the continued slips in the Manawatu Gorge and the enormous cost of keeping open communication to Hawko's Bay by that line, Mr Hogg is asking the Government to make some ample provision to complete the Government line from Ekotahuna to Woodville. The Postmaster-General told Mr Richardson that the passing of the Taxation Amendment Bill will reduce the estimated revenue by from £20,000 to £23,000. The Industrial Conciliation Bill has passed through the Committee stage in the Council with considerable alterations, the clause having reference to Courts of Arbitration and Government railways being deleted. Several members considered that it would be wrong and unlikely to lead to conciliation in disputes if the compulsory principle were admitted in the Bill in the Arbitration Court clauses, and it was further considered an unwarrantable interference with an independent Board of Commissioners to bring the railway service under the operations of the Act. The arbitration clauses were struck out by 13 to 6, and the railway clauses by 12 to 3. The entire afternoon in the House was unexpectedly taken up with a discussion on the Public Petitions Committee's report re theDashwood railway contract, Marlborough. The petitioners, who were the contractors for this section, had asked for relief and the Committee reported adversely Mr Buick, a Government supporter, in moving that the report be referred back to the Committee for further consideration, made a bitter personal attack on the Minister for Education, who, he alleged, had gone to the Committee, given his own vote and influenced that of other members without having previously attended the Committee meetings and heard the evidence. Mr Buick added that he never did have much respect for Mr Reeves, and after his conduct with tills petition he freely stated that whatever respect he might have entertained for the hon. gentleman was now entire^" gone. John Lundon's dealings with the Natives north of Auckland was again under review this afternoon. The Hon. Mr Cadman said Mr Mitchelson, in his strong speech last Friday, fairly put the case before the House. He did not look upon the matter as to how the Minister and Government whip voted on the Committee as very material. Having been in Lpposition, lie realised that all the virtue was on the Opposition side, and if two members of tho Government party voted on opposite sides, it would have also been made a matter of comment. If there was any blame in connection with this matter he was prepared to take it all on his shoulders, but pointed out that the whole trouble would have been avoided if certain interested Europeans, who were at the back of the petition, had informed him of the affair when he was in the Bay of Plenty some lime ago. After consultation with the Surveyor-General, he fixed the price to be paid at 7s (3d, and that was his mistake, as it could have been bought cheaper. At his instructions every precaution was taken to see that the Natives should hare the money placed in their own hands, but the Postmaster at Rawere, at Lundon's request,, instead of paying the Natives with one large cheque paid them in small cheques, thus it Mas the money got into Lundon's hands. Care was taken that Lundon was not to be the Government agent in this transaction. He was acting solely as agent of the Natives. The discussion proceeded at some length. Mr Richardson greatly blamed the Government for bringing a party feeling to bear on the Native Affairs Committee in order to bring in a report white-washing Lundon, who should never have been employed in these transactions considering his past career. Wkllington, to-day. A stormy debate, lasting five hours, took place on John Lundoirs transactions with the Natives north of Auckland, the circumstances connected with which were characterised in the strongest possible terms, the Government being blamed very severely by Mr Richardson, Sir John Hall, Mr Duthie, and others for having brought party feeling to boar on the Committee in order to bring in a report "whitewashing" Lundon, and for having in the first place employed Lundon, whose career was well known, and having greatly overvalued the land for which they paid 7s 6d per acre. Mr Carroll said the transaction was a very discreditable one. The Government eoukl only in a general way assist the Natives to prosecute Lundon, who would not, however, be again employed by Government. The Justice of the Peace would be struck off the roll, the postmaster censured, and interpreter Cochrane would have his license cancelled. Ultimately the Acting-Premier agreed to accept the resolution moved by Mr Kapa, that Government should immediately take steps to recover £'783 illegally obtained by Lundon from the Natives, and this was carried. Mr \V. Kelly was the only member who supported Lundon, considering that the Natives had perjured themselves, and if he were Lundon lie would have them up for it. The speech made by the member for the East Co.ist last night called forth very unfavorable comment from the members who followed him. It was on Mr Kelly's motion that the white- washing report was carried in Committee, and he lias generally been recognised as Lundon's sole advocate. Mr Bruce said Mr Kelly's action throughout was very peculiar, and quite in accord with what appeared from the evidence they had before them. What was his position right, through 1 It Mas this : From the very first question that lie asked Avitnesses that- he was there with the evident intention of shielding the chief [Mr Fish : Robber] delinquent. His whole attitude was of a peculiar and extraordinary character. Wellington, this afternoon. The managers appointed by both branches of the Legislative Council to confer over the Electoral Bill met again thia forenoon, and after two hours' deliberation adjourned till to-morrow. The Council representatives offered considerable concessions on the two main points at issue, but the House managers wanted them to give May entirely, and unless a compromise is effected on concessions offered it would appear that Government were not sincere in their desire to pass the Bill into law. The concessions offered were, (1.) That the managers of the Council will agree that the avoiucus' electoral right method of voting shall not apply to the four city electorates, if the House of Representatives should so decide. (2.) That the managers of the Council will not insist on the division of the four city electorates if the House by a majority decided otherwise. The conference meet finally to-morrow either to compromise the question at issue or to end in a dead lock, in which case the Electoral Bill will be killed. No business was transacted in the House yesterday, and the probabilities now are that the session will run into next week. The Acting-Premier informs me that he does not hold out much hope of bringing business to a close before Tuesday. The Premier's condition is far from satisfactory, and his colleagues are urging him to take a sea trip as soon as his medical adviser will permit him to make a, journey.