New Zealand Parliament

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7078, 31 July 1891, Page 3

New Zealand Parliament

By Telegraph— Per Press Association. Wellington, July 30. COUNCIL, The Counoil met at 2.30 p.m. The Shop Hours, Trues: Employe/s Lia- | bility Act Amendmen .. and Adulteration and Food Prevention Bills, were received from the House and read a first time. The Trustees Bill was recommitted, and reported with verbal amendments. Tbe North Dunedin Cemetery Exteneion Bill was thrown out on the seoond reading by nine to four. HOUSE. The House met at 2 30 pm, Replying to questions, Ministers stated that the Railway Commissioners were not aware that the railway employees had received an intimation that unless tbey left the Railway Servants Society, there was no chance of their being promoted. That st.ps would be taken to stop the destruction and exportation of ojßters at the Bay of Islands. That the Government did not consider business had progressed sufficiently far to justify them in bringing down the Publio Works Statement as yet. That the Government were considering the expediency of opening an intercolonial oable, and if it could be arranged, it would make a great reduction in the cost of cable messages. That fines oolleoted from telegraphists for mistakes in transmitting telegrams were put aside for the speoial purpose of assisting officers who were in financial difficulties, and whose cases were suoh as warranted assistance Replying to Mr Bryce, Mr Reeves said th . Government had not yet decided who was to fill the vaoanoy in the Agent-Generalship iv London. Mr Fisher moved the adjournment of the House, and said it was a very unusual proceeding that the House and the oountry had not been informed who was to be appointed to this important position. Mr Bryoe said hs was not satisfied with the Minister's reply. His opinion was that the Government should take the House into its confidence, and ask for its oounsel on such an important question. Mr Reeves agreed that this was a question that affected the character and reputation of tbe Colony, and he assured the House that the Government would do nothing- derogatory to the reputation of the Colony in making the appointment. Mr Fisher replied that a certain section of tbe House, were determined to know more about this appointment before the House was prorogued. On the motion of Sir G. Grey, seconded by | Mr Ward, it was decided, " That a memorial i (be addressed to the Czar of Russia, respeot- { fully praying that all exceptional and restric- , tive laws which afflict his Jewish, subjects may be repealed, and that equal riptts with I those enjoyed by the rest of his'f_fajesty's subjects may be conferred upon them, and k that the said memorial be signed by the . Speaker, and hy him transmitted to his Majesty.'^

The House rose at 5.30. House resumed 7.30. Mr Bryoe said he wished to refer to tha attitude assumed by the Government towards the Opposition, an attitude whioh he considered unfair, unjust, and particularly obnoxious. He quoted from recent issues of the 'Lyttelton Times' and « Dunedin Star,' and read paragraphs whioh had been sent to the.c papers from their Wellington correspondents, commenting on the obstruction which had been coming of late from the Opposition benches. He went on to say he had made full enquiries into the aotion of the Opposition on Friday night last, when they were said to have stonewalled the Land Bill, and he had ascertained that there was nothing on that evening in tbe shape of obstruction on the part of the Opposition. With reference to the statement in the newspapers that the Opposition whips had stated in tbe lobbies that the Opposition would not allow the Government to transact any business this session, except passing the Estimates, ho characterised it as a slight on their reputations as politicians, and he must therefore give a direot denial. The hon gentleman also condemned the aotion of the Government in counting out the House on Saturday morning just as a member of the Opposition waa rising to refute certain statements which had been made on the Government side of the House. Mr Buckland complained that he had been grossly misrepresented in connection with the part he took in Friday night's affair. 28fD*j Mr Valentine in explaining the part he took on Friday night, s.id the Land Bill was attempted to be thrust down their throats by the Minister for Lands, who had a large majority at his back. The Opposition had no desire to stonewall, but they did claim that freedom of speech which would enable them to ventilate their opinions on the measures brought before them by the Government. Mr W, C. Smith said Mr Buckland distinctly mentioned to him on Saturday morning that the Government would only be allowed to pass the Estimates, and that the Labor Bills and Land Bill would have to go this session. Mr Buckland declared that Mr Smith had put a wrong construction on his remarks. After some further discussion, the matter was dropped. The Indecent Advertisement Bill was read a seoond time. Mr George Hutchison movel the seoond reading of the Gaming and Lotteries Bill to suppress improper pastimes, and to regulate the me of lotteries. Capt Russell thought the House owed the member thanks for introdncing this Bill, as the Aot in fores in the Colony at present was in some respects extremely absurd, and in others a dead letter. Tha House went into Committee on the Legislative Council Appointment Cancellation Bill. Sir John Hall gave a long list of appointments made by previous Governments, as showing that more than one Government had tried to obtain an undue proportion of power in the Legislative Council, and he WSB inclined to move that certain names be added to those contained in the Bill. Captain Russell moved that all the names in the Bill be struck out. He objected to this " society humbug." Let them carry on their business like sensible men, and not go on playing like a lot of school boys. Mr Seddon agreed with the last speaker that very little would oome of this measure. Mr Bryce suggested that the best way of getting rid of the measure would be to report progress, and ask leave to sit again, knowing full well that nothing more would bs heard of it this session. Several members took exception to thi course of action.