HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Southland Times, Issue 3568, 27 November 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. Sir George Grey gave notice that he would ask Government if a man named P. Armstrong had been given into custody by the railway manager at , Westport, for being unlawfully on the wharf on a Sunday. A message was received from the Legislative Council, that the Fine Arts Copyright Bill had been agreed to with amendments. Mr Hall moved the amendments be agreed to. . .- ■ ■ = :. Sir G. Grey objected to the amendments, alleging that it was the commencements of a vicious- system. Authors were asked'to deposit, free of charge, copies of "their works in certain public, libraries!. He knew of one casein which an author in England, where the"' system "'was' 'first introduced, being mulcted in a sum of £1200 in this way. If an author chose .to/ send his works, free there could be no objection, but it was absurd to say he should be com pelled. Mr Hislop moved the adjournment of the debate till that day week. Carried, gto Mr Finn, Mr Rolleston said that the opening up of agricultural land at the head of Lake Wakatipu for settlement Will be considered. Replying to: Mr Reeves, Mr Oliver said it was 'not intended to appoint an inspector of mines for the West Coast of the Middle Island. In: reply to Mr Finn, Mr Oliver said the erection of a public gaol at Queenstown would be considered in connection with the general question of erecting district gaols in rural districts. Replying to Mr Shrimski, the Premier said the W. J. Hurst mentioned in the estimates for the present year (class 1 in the Colonial Secretary's Department) a3 being entitled to £81 for services rendered as chairman of the Auckland Hospital Committee is a member of this House. V 7 Replying to Mr Pyke, Mr ; Bryce said that £021 had been paid to Dr. Butler within the present year for services rendered as counsel to the native land prisoners. , Replying to Mr Andrews, the Premier said papers of correspondence bearing on the subject of the manufacture of ammunition and war materials in the colony would be produced. Replying to Mr Gisborne.'Mr Atkinson said the Government would reconsider the necessity of allowing the white light onthe flagstaff at Okarito, West Coast Middle Island, to be continued. Replying to Mr Reeves, Mr Rolleston promised that enquiries would be made as to the necessity for establishing a school of mines in the colony. On the motion of Sir George Grey, leave was granted to introduce a bill to amend the N.Z.. Constitution Act. 1852. Mr Hall moved that for the remainder of session the House do sit on Mondays at 7.30 for the transaction of Government business only, and that oh Thursdays Government business shall take precedence. Mr Macandrew complained that the Government was desirous of occupying toomuch time with Government measures, to the

manifest exclusion of private members business, Mr Finn moved that the House will tomorrow resolve itsc'f into a committee of the whole to consider a respectful address tn be -presented to the Governor, prayiug that His Excellency will cause a sum of. .£100.00:) to be placed" on the estimates for tha purpose] of encouraging gold raining industries within the colony. The House divided -ayes, 26: toes, 32; motion lost. J r: --MT M'.ii*ray.Tn6ved : thatacbmm pci-suM.-j be elected by the House, by ballot, to 'investigate the manner in which the public servicesbf the colony are conducted, and to summon witnesses, and take evidence upon -oath,?anA report to Parliament jat nextsegsipn 'how, in their opinion, the administrative and . departmental business of the colbnv may be :so systematically organised and conducted, so as to secure the efficiency and economy suited to the requirements aiid means , of the colony. .. . , : Mt Hall said, the. matter would bo attended to by the" Govern ment,' and. hoped on' that assurance the motion ."would be withdrawn; The numerous demands raiirte by small comi munities for all'the benefits of a complete civil service, in many cases altogether unnecessary, was the cause, of many complaints made as to the service' He hoped members would impress that fact on their constituencies. . Messrs Turnbull and. Speight spoke in favor of the motion, and 1 hoped it would not be withdrawn. * The latter said it was a notorious fact, that men had been pitchforked into positions in the service, in consequence of their family or other relations, for yvhich they were utterly unfitted., He did., hope something would be done to'remedy the e>»l. Mr. -Macandrew said he agreed in the opinion that if anything was to be done it would be done by the Government itself. If they would give th£ 'Government sufficieut time he believed 'greater. good' would, be done than could possibly be achieved by a commission. , 7 .'. ... - Mr Murray said, having directed attention to the subject, he would be prepared to withdraw the motion. The motion was withdrawn. Mr George moved that the House resolve itself into committee of the'whole to consideian address ■to : the Governor praying that 20,000 acies of land in Rodney country be set aside for the purpose of constructing roads. ' Mr. Seddon moved, as an. amendment, that the question for consideration; should be the granting of lands to County Couucils for the purpose of making roads. Messrs Macandrew and Pyke spoke in support of the amendment, and on the motion of Mr Sheehan the debate was adjourned for a fortnight. Mr Macandrew moved that it be an instruction to Committee on Standing Orders to consider and report as to the expediency • of adopting a new standing order which; shall* provide that, in the event of this House not being adjourned -before tlie hour of midnight it shall stand adjourned Jat 12.30 without the question being put, the business under consideration to stand adjourned till the following day,; and that in the event of the House being in committee of the whole the committee shall stand adjourned at halfpast 12 without the question being put, the Chairman to report to the Speaker at the next.sitting ofthe House... 7 7 The motion was discussed, aiid carried on the. voices. Mr Andrews moved that, in the opinion of this House, all salaries' of civil servants amounting to £200 and over per annum, shall be reduced by 5 per cent., a ad. that the salaries of Ministers and ihembeis' honorarium be reduced by 10 per cent. ■-": ,'.: Mr George moved, as an amendment, that the number of civil servants be reduced by 10 per cent. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30., .V' ; 7.7,; The House resolved itself into : committee of the whole to consider the question that the House concur with the Goldfields Committee upon the petition of R. Reeves and others/ of Charleston' and Westport,- Nelson (South? west Goldfields), and recOmmen^s.the Govern* ment to-make-pi'ovisio'n accordingly. Aft3r a- long' discussion the motion was adbpted. The Slaughter Hbiteb Act (1876) Amendment- Bill' \vivs > committed,; ahd < after considering a few of the clauses, > progress, was reported ■• aud leave granted to sit again on Wednesday. '■"-' < * .•• n: ... Mr Ballance moved the second reading of the Taranaki Iron Smelting Act (1874) Amendment Bill, which was carried. The Maralborough Rivers District Union Bill was read a first time. The Rating Act Amendment Bill was recommitted and passed. ... . The House then rose.