PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 10199, 3 July 1889, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

♦ [By Telegraph.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, July 2. * The Council met at 2.3,0 p.m. The following public bills were read a second time: — Fire and Marine Insurance Companies' Bill; West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Bill; Religious and Charitable Aid and Education Trusts Act Amendment. The Post Office Bill was committed and passed. The Patent Designs and Trade Marks Bill was committed, and after clause 126 was reached progress was reported. The Council rose at 4.50 p.m. till to-mor-row.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions Ministers said there was an over-valuation of the securities of Friendly Societies, but not such as to affect the stated surplus. If the societies desired the Government would be glad to appoint an official to make valuations. The preservation or forests was in the hands of the Land Department. The following bills were read a first time : — (Grey) Bill to Provide for the Election of Governor ; (Grey) Bill to Provide Land for the purpose of Settlement ; (Guiness) Bill to Amend the Workmen's Wages Act, .1884 ; (Atkinson) Otago Central Railway Bill ; (Atkinson) Property Tax Assessment Act, 1886, Amendment Bill ; (Hislop) Chattels Transfer-Bill. The Premier congratulated. Mr Ballance on being elected leader of the Opposition, and desired to say that he understood that it was the desire of the House that they should discuss the question of representation before the financial debate was proceeded with. If that was the wish of the leader of the Opposition the Government were willing to agree to that course. Mr Ballance thanked the Premier for his congratulations and intimated his agreement in the course suggested by him. Mr Hislop moved the second reading of the Dunedin Street-closing and Licensing Bill for closing certain streets during the Exhibition and granting, a license for the sale of liquors in tbe Exhibition Building. Mr Fulton protested against the sale of liquor.— Second reading agreed to. Mr Hislop moved the second reading of the Corrupt Practices Bill, which provided that withiu 28 days after an election agents should make a return to candidates of the expenses incurred. Other points would no doubt be discussed in committee. Mr Samuel opposed the bill as unnecessary. Mr Ballance objected to several proposals contained in the bill as unnecessary and as hampering candidates aud tlieir friends. Debate interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment.

Evening Sitting. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Fish moved that the second reading of the Corrupt Practices BiU be adjourned for the month.— The Colonial Secretary agreedTto postpone the debate for a week. — Agreed to. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Registration of Electors Bill, briefly explaining its provisions, the chief of which were jthat every person would be obliged to apply for enrolment, and no person would be entitled to vote till he had taken out an elector's right for which a fee of oue shilling would be paid. — Debate adjourned for a week. The House went into Committee of Supply for the further consideration of the Estimates. On class 13 (Defence Department) item " L7OO for Under-Secretary and staff officer and inspector of artillery stores," Mr Hutchison moved to reduce the amount by L 75. — A discussion followed in which the recent appointment of Col. Humphrey was assailed by Messis Reeves (St. Albans) Fitchett, and Hutchison. — Amendment lost by 38 to 34. Mr Reeves then moved to reduce the vote by L 25 as a protest against the audacity of the officer referred to in appointing himself Colonel over the heads of more experienced officers. — Amendment lost by 35 to 32. Mr Hutchison asked whether the Government had received a memo, from MajorGeneral Harding Stewart to the effect that owing to the recent advance in military science the forts of the colony were practically undefended. The Minister of Defence said that he was not aware that such a statement had been made and was not aware that such a despatch had been received. Tne Government had been assured by Major-General Schaw that the forts of New Zealand were in a more advanced state than those in any other part of the world. On vote " L 28,912 for Volunteers" — a discussion arose on the Te Kooti campaign. Ministers stated that the total cost of the campaign was L 2610, and the Premier at some length justified the action the Government took, and which culminated in the arrest of Te Kooti, whose visit would have resulted in a Maori wai*, and who was clearly breaking the law by travelling with such a number of adherents. Col. Fraser said the real harm was done in Auckland where Te Kooti was given to understand that he could go wherever he pleased. Sir H. Atkinson said that when in Auckland Te Kooti had committed an offence against the law. Mr Ballance said that the Native Minister had made too much of Te Kooti when in Auckland and steps should have been taken at the outset to prevent Te Kooti going to Gisborne. The Government had encouraged the settlers at Gisborne to resist Te Kooti by telling them he was a free man and they would be arrested if they interfered with him. Progress was then reported and the House rose at 10.35 p.m.