PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP. [BY TELEGRAPH -"STAR" CORRESPONDENT.] Law Practitioners' Bill.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 159, 3 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[BY TELEGRAPH -"STAR" CORRESPONDENT.] Law Practitioners' Bill.

Thx lawyers of the Hou&9 have again triumphed over Siv George Grey, and succeeded in throwing out his Law Practjtioner3' Bill just at the moment when its succor appeared to be assured. A division took place, on the motion for committal, when the supporters of the bill were successful by 30 to 22. The Premier immediately afterwards moved, " That the Chairman do leave the chair," aud denounced the bili as aiming a blow at all higher education. A passage of arms occurred between Sir Geo. Gray and the Premier. Sir Geo. Grey appealed to the House not to allow the legal profession to be restricted to A selfish and wealthy few. Ihe Premier said those who had known Sir George Grey iu timateiy fro long and intimately as he, could always assess hia veracity at its proper quantity — a veracity equal to that of the famous historian Froude. He had been accused of selfishnee, and asked if Sir Geo Grey had ever done anything without eelfieh motives. Sir George Grey retorted that the Premier had never beon iutimate with him. It was noticeable that while free lances supported the bill, Messrs Samuels, Menteith, and other lawyers opposed it. The Premier kept the House eagaged some time, and a division was taken with a thin house after the majority of the members had gone off to the Richard-Bon-Vcgel ball. The , motion for the Chairman to leave the chair was carried by 21 to 18, and the bill was shelved for another session. Sir George appeared very much disappointed, but he is determined to bring in the bill again next session. His supporters say that one result of these defeats will be that fewer lawyers will gain admissions to the next Parliament.

New Plymouth Harbour. The fate of the New Plymouth Harbour Bill, which seeks authority to borrow a further sum of £6G,000 for Harbour works, is still doubtful. The Local Bills Committee have recommended that if further borrowing is sanctioned a condition shall be made that the interest thereon shall Ice paid wholly out of the proposed special rate, and the money now in hand shall be expended in the improvement of the harbour, and not in payment of interest on Sicking Fund.

Mr Moss's Protective Resolution. Mr Moss's motion in favour of protection to iron foundries and engineering industries unexpectedly came on at half-past three yesterday, and was the cause of a smart debate which lasted till the dinner adjournment. The protectionists (including the Government) supported it warmly, while the free traders as strongly opposed, and a sufficient number of members took part 'in the discussion to show that as the present Parliament is constituted the free trade party are in a decided majority, but as the adjournment intervened^ no decision was come to, Mr Moss has received a letter from the New Zealand Protection Association in Chriatchurch, warmly thanking him for raising the question.

Mr Moss's motion ran as follows: — "That it is desirable to impose GuatomB duties on all machinery now imported dutyfree, but. wh\ch can be munufaotured as well and cheaply in the colony, care being taken to make a corresponding reduction iu the duties on articles not manufactured in New Zealand, in order that the total taxation may not be increased." He spoke at. gome length on the noceesity of protecting machinory of various kinds, and pointed out that many ironfoundnes were now closed, and some of the best workmen were leaving the colony for wutit of work. bir K. htout sai'1 of course Government wouid not opposo the motion, as it was simply ro-ecnoing a policy proposed last session, which Mr Moss opposed . He was glad to toe that *he lion, member had changed his opinions. He believed the Customs tariff should be raised not only m machinery, but in several oth«r articles. Mr Hatch suggested that the word " machinery " bhould be struck out, and the word "article" substituted. He said there wua no nation which haa gone in for a strictly free trade policy which had ever come to succofSiul issuo. Mr 5. C, Bueklund thought the time was quite inopportune for raising the question ot t\ee trade v. protection. ,tie movod the previous questiou. Mr Gore supported the motion to eorae extent, although he thought iX, was not the proper time tor discussion ot the question. Mr Sutter opposed the motion on the ground that it would crubh the industries ot the colony. Mr Seobie Mackenzie also opposed the motion. ±lo referred to Victoria, h protective country, and pointed out that her policy ot protection bad gro«lly raised the price of various articles since its institution, and Victoria now demanded that the taritl should be raised higher. Hu knew of no single u:&i<iLCt) iu \s inch increasing the tunft lowered piicts. Colonel Tumble agreed with the Premier that tbere should be revision in the tanfl", but in the direction of freedom, not of pro tcction He quoted quantities of statistics to £>hoft the evils of protection. Any change in tho tariff, he thought, should be for pur po-ed uf revenue alone. The debate was interruputed by the hdlf-past five adjouinment.

Bills. The following bills were advanced a stage at ye&teiday's sitting: — The Hawkers m.d Pedlars, Auc-io..eers, and Salmon and Trout Bills Mere read a second time Thu bi*h Auction Bill, Employ ment of Females an.l other Acts Amendment Bill, and Small Birds Nuisance Bill wore read a third time a:.d passed.

Purchase of Stark's Proporty. The purchase of Stark's property at North Shore for defence purposes- is now being inquired iiito by the Public Accounts Corn mittxe, but no e^ Hence of consequence has been taken yet. Tho Auckland members of the Coixunittea are Messrs AJoss(ehah-man), Peacock, and Dargavillo.

Elective Land Boards. The latter part of last night's sitting was occupied by a debate on the second reading of tar George Grey's bill providing that Lund Boards shall be elective. The Pietuier opposed the bill on the ground that the franchise bein^r limited to local bouied wad not liberal enough. Mr Rollesfon urged that iho administration should be concentrated under the Minister ot Lands, and a bystem of judicial rents, such as prevails in Ireland, established. Mr Peacock said the bill was a step in the right direction, as a change in the py^tcm of eloc'ion of Laud .Boards wiia necessary He thought some membeid 01 the Hoard should be appointed by Government. Sir G- Grey said ifc was curious th.it the Premier was the only member who opposed the bill. He hud douo ins ucst tj draw up a f^o-it-i measure wbien would suit The motion for the second reading was aeietd to, and the House rose ac twelve o'clock.

The Representation Question. The redistrioution of goats question is not being lost si^ht of, and a section of the Hou'O =*eem detei mined to force the Govurn rnent to deal with the matter this pension The prominent agitators in thia direction ire Captain ilu^ell and Major Atkinson. The Opposition loader tells mo th-it he has not yet definitely mado up his mmd as to what action he will take, tbou^n he will certainly make a move, but I gather that his proposals will be to reduce tho House to eighty members. He i3 consulting with his fi lends In some quartern a desire ie ehown to iucieaoo the tnombors by 10 per cent., giving 5 extra soats to the North Island ; but this would never be consonted to, though if the proposal to reduce were not carried, three peats may not improbably be taken from the South Island and given to the North, thus equalising the representation.

Sir Julius Vogel and the Insurance Association. Sir Julius Vogel gives an unqualified denial to the statement that ho is to be appointed manager of the Government Insurance A&sociation.

Employment of Females. The Govern ment have agreed to take charge, in the Council, ot the Employment of Females Amendment Act, which was thrown out by that august body last session.

The Contagious Diseases Act. Sir George Grey feels strongly respecting the Contagious Diseases Act, and eays that if it has been repealed in England after a trial of 20 year3, it should not be tolerated here. There is aleo a strong feeling in the House on the other side of the question. Sir George Grey presented a petition from 1,800 electors and settlors in New Zealand, etating there belief in the evil tendency of the C D. Act, and asking for amendments in the criminal law.

Representation. Sir Geo. Grey presented a petition from 748 electors, citizens of Auckland, asking the House to pass during this session an Act; to re-adjust the representation of the people.

The Volcanic Eruption. Sir George Grey presented a petition from Mr E. Harrow, of Takapuna, relative to the Rotorua disaster. The petitioner sets out the circumstances attending the formation of the boating party. The petition concludes as follows : — "Your petitioner, therefore, humbly prays that your Honourable House will cause a searching inquiry to be made regarding the following matters, viz. : The conduct of the Government officials in the district in not promptly organising and despatching proper relief parties to the scene of the eruption. The conduct of the above-mentioned Mr Johnbtone in not guaranteeing the £12 103 on behalf of the Government, and leaving it to private individuals to do so. The conduct of Captain Mair in assuming command of a private expedition as a Government official. By whom Captain Mair was iuetaucted to take command of the expedition. Why the rescue work was left to private enterprise. And generally as to the want of proper organisation through lack of proper instructions or otherwise, and incapability of the Government officials in not affording proper relief to the sufferers by the disaster. And your petitioner will ever pray."

Taranaki Harbour Bill, The Public Petitions Committee recommend that the petition against the Taranaki Harbour Bo *rd Bill be referred to the Local Bills Committee.

New Bills. The following new bills are to be introduced at this late period of the session : — By Mr Keid : Bill to Amend the Employers' Liability Act, 1882. Mr O'Connor : Nelson Crown Temmts Relief Bill. MrTole : First Offenders Probation Bill, the Gisborne Prison Bill, and Unclaimed Deposit Bill.

The Government and Representation. The Ministerial organ, in its inspired article on the representation queption, says : " We are much pleased at being enabled to Ptate positively that the Government do not intend to submit to Parliament any proposal for reducting the number of the representatives of the people. A bill dealing with the distribution question has, hovvever,been prepared, and itis, we believe, the intent ion of Ihe Premier to introduce it, if possible, this session, leaving it to the House to s ly whether it shall be proceeded with or held over until next session. The Govi rnmont, we have reason to think, propose to institute on automatic machinery for the psriodical readjustment of the representation of the colony on defined lines, so that Parliament will not every few years be called upon to go through a freo fight on the fcubject.

Mr Vaile's Railway Scheme The Vnile Hail way System Committee will probably roporfc against Mr Vaile's proposal, aa [ have already stated that a Commission will bo recommended to further consider the question. An application is to be made to have Mr Conyers (manager for the Middle Island railways) summoned, aa it is anticipated that be can give important evidence.

Questions. In answer to queotionfc, Ministers stated (I) That in July iust they communicated with tho Agent-General with icgard to the supplyof Kew Zealand mutton to tho Imperial troops, but having received no reply they would again bring the matter under Sir D. Boll's notice. The Government would communicate with other colonies on the subject of sheep exportation from New Zealand, but they were afraid thoee colonies would not romove restrictions until the scab had ceased in the Middle Islaud as well as in the North Island. It wa.s proposed to make further inquiry into naval and military land claims, but they could not suy whether power would be asked to deal with such claims this se^ion. When the Committee of Supply was reached it was thought tho opportunity would be giveu of sounding the Government as? to the reprcentiition question, but, the Treaeauer explained that he only proposed to pai?s a resolution uuthoa«ing the renewal of certain Trea ury Billb, which fall due tomorrow, and that hon members who had un.endmonts oi the Ordor Paper would receive a day's notice befoio again going into Commit* eo of Supply. Of couise only format business was transacted under the circumstances, and Major Atkiupon bad to await a more favourable opportunity for his question re the redistribution of seats.

Coal Mines Bill. The greater portion of both bittings \vo3 occupied in Committee on the Coal Mines Bui. The bill was further considered, and reported with amendments.

Local Bodies Bill. The Local Bodies Loans Bill was next taken, and Clause 7, wh f ch provides that any local authority may borrow money for erecting school building?, was attacked in the first instance by Major Atkinson. An acrimonious debate followed, and, deppite the staunch m inner in which the Premier defended the olau&e, it was thrown out on the voices, subsequently the Treasurer movi'd the following new clau&e : " Whore a local authority wishes to raise money by way of loan from the Government under any /> ct of the General Assembly authoring such loans, no Crown land? or native lands within the moaning of t'ie Crown and "Native Lands Hating Act, 1S82, or any amondruont theieof lipon which rates are or would bo payable by the Crown cv thci native owners, "hall be liable for any special rate to be levied aa the "whole or patt of tbs pecurity for such loau." This gava r>-o (o another Ions* dincu:»«ion, in the eouise ot which Colonel Trimble charged the Premier with being too much of a lawyer and too little of a e>rate&man Major Atkinson baid he was convinced that the tune had arnved when the native* should bear their burdens equally with Europeans, and for that reaeon he should oppobe the clause. On a division tho clause was retained by 52 to 22 Captain Sutter wished to move for the repeal ot the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act (Hear, hear), but the Chairman of Committee moved that the motion could not be received at the present stage of the proceedings. The bill was then reported with amendments.

Counties Bill. Further progress having been made with the Counties Bill, the House adjourned at 1.20 a.m. Quite an interesting discussion took place yesterday on the Criminal Codes Bill, which was originally introduced by the Atkinson Government in 1882, and which some of the speakers were anxious to postpone till next session. Mr Moss took exception to the large number of statutes which imposed flogging, and objected to the new provisions for placing people under police supervision after undergoing punishment. Mr Stewavfc urged the abolition of private prosecutions and the introduction of the f^otch system of public prosecution. He was glad to see that the age of consent wup raised to 16. Sir Robert Stout agreed that flogging should only be resorted to for glaring offences. Sir Goorge Grey wanted to have the bill remitted to a cotnaiittee of the House. Mr Tole said the clause for the protection of girla had been petitioned for from end to end of the colony. The second reading was carried on tho voices. On the motion of Mr Tole, it was agreed that consideration of 461 clauses in detail in committee be omitted * and a' fow of the more important clauses be taken.

North Auckland Railway. The Premier has informed Mr Hobbs that the Government could not agfree to give grants of lands for the construction of the North Auckland or any other line, and also pointed out that the land of Auckland was quite different to that on the route of the ilast and West Coast Railway. Sotns of the Auckland members complain that Mr Dargaville's Kailway Board resolulutions were moved to take tho wind out of their eails in a matter which they had under consideration ; but it is only fair to Mr Pargaville to say that he had a somewhat similar motion before the House last session.

New Hebrides Debate. The Government surprised members last night by moving for the adjournment of

the Orders of the Day, so aB to take the New Hebrides debate, and they explained that the Agent-General had cabled for instruction?. They succeeded in carrying their motion to postpone the Orderp, but it was found they could not proceed with the debate, Sir George Grey, being unwell, had gone home. The debate waB therefore adjourned till Tuesday next, on the JPreniier's motion

Fines on Railway Employes. The Minister of Public Works says he intended to bring in a bill to deal with the distribution of the fund accrued from fines on railway employes, but has 1 so far been unable to do ho.

Loans for School Buildings. The clause in the Local Bodies Loan Bill providing for a loan for the erection of school buildings was roughly handled on the motion for committal. It. was repeatedly asserted that the Boards of Education could not pay intere&t on loans, and Mr Ormond characterised the clause as an insiduous blow on the part of the Colonial Treasurer against education in New Zealand, and denounced the Premier's connection with it. Mr H&mltn said the clause would sap the foundation of the educational system of the colony. Mr Montgomery feared theproposals was aimod at a reduction of the capitation grant. Sir Julius Vogel eaid if the school building clause were agreed to, it would not come into operation till next year, provision having been made for the money required for education buildings. The motion for going into committee wa8 agreed to, but progress was reported immediately afterwards.