PARLIAMENTARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 10655, 2 July 1896, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Wednesday, July 1. — The Speaker took the chair at 2.3 C p.m.

Hon. Mr Feldwick's Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill, which is designed to give Municipal Corporations the same power in dealing with closed streets as at the present time given to County Councils, was read a second time. In^ Committee on the Adulteration Prevention Acts Amendment Bill, coffee was exempted from the provisions of the measure.

The Council then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, July I.— The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. On the motion for the introduction of the Representation Act Amendment Bill, Mr Geo. Hutchison said if the Government had some new scheme of representation the House should know the purport of it as soon as possible, otherwise the present Act should bo given effect to, and the Representation Commissioners allowed to get to work at once. Captain Russell said the principle involved was so important that if it was intended to alter the system of Representation the fact should have been foreshadowed in the Governor's Speech. There should be no delay in getting on with the work of readjustment of seats. Dr Newman said some of the districts in the North Island were 'enormously under-represented.

Messrs T. McKenzie and Lawry also spoke.

Hon. Mr McKeuzie said it was unusual to debate on the principle of a Bill on its in trod uction . He could assure the House thero was no necessity for anxiety in this matter, as the Government would deal with the representation question in a proper manner, and with a view to secure a proper representation of the constituents in the next Parliament. Until the complete details of the census were ready, which would be iv about ten days, nothing could be done.

A Bill waß introduced on reporting Debates^ The Committee recommended the appointment •£ three reporters to the Hansard staff, on probation, and the abolition of the amanuensis system. The Committee also expressed itself adverse to the proposal to locate Hansard reporters on the floor of the Chamber instead of in the galleries.

The Labor Bills Committee recommended that Mr Pirani's Truck Act Amendment Bill bo not allowed to procoed. On Mr Pirani's motion the committal of the Bill was set down for July 22nd.

In reply to questions, it was stated the Government intended to ask the House this session for a sum of money to improve the sanitary arrangements and drainage of the Rotorua sanatorium ; that the Government hoped to deal with the position of old soldiers' claims in the Financial Statement ; that a bill will be brought down this session to classify the officers and employees of the Government railway service.

Captain Russell again protested against the delay in filling the vacancy *n the Supreme Court Bench.

Mr Seddon said the matter required mature consideration. He was not aware the work of the Supreme Court was as much in arrears as had been stated.

Sir R. btout remarked that some litigants wero losing hundreds of pounds owing to the delay. The House rose at 5.30 p.m., and on resuming at 7.30 '

Mr Steward moved the second reading of the Elective Executive Bill, which was similar to the measure he had introduced in previous years. He said he believed the bill represented tho views and aspirations of the majority of the people of New Zealand, and was of such importance that it should have been introduced by the Government. He had received" hoap's of correspondence asking him to brng the measure forward again on the eve of the general eleotion to give tho colony a chance of expressing its opinion ou it. He contended Parliament should have the choice of the Elective Executive, for the evils of the present system of appointing the Government wero many in number. The system had worked well in North America and Switzerland, so that the proposal was not a new one.

Mr Seddon spoke against the Bill. He said the Elective Executive system had proved a great failure in Switzerland, and if it were passed into law hero half a dozen men would band together to obtain office. The Prime Minister under this Bill would have no power whatever, and there would be no end of difference on cardinal points of pelicy. No Ministry, in fact, could exist which was elected by a Bill of this kind ; and no such Ministry woald receive the respect of the House. There was no reason for the proposed change. The present Government were keeping pace with the times, and were progressing as quickly as public opinion reauired

Mr Saunders spoke in support of the principle of an Elective Executive, but thought the Bill should go much further. Ho felt convinced that if the Bill did not pass now it would do so sooner or later.

Mi Earnshaw condemned the present system of the Government under which occupants of the 'i reasury benches cared more for office than for the good of the colony. Mr W. Hutchisop, although not in favor of an Elective Executive, proposed by Mr Steward, thought the Government should bo a Committee of the House appointed by tho House, to carry out its behests.

Mr O 'Regan said members who had no party purposes to serve wore becoming disgusted with the present system of the Government, and he hope! this Bill would he carried.

Mr G. W. Russell strongly supported the Bill, which he felt certain would become law sooner or later.

Mr Hall-Jones said he would support this Bill as he had always done. He found fault, however, with the details of the measure.

After further debate the second reading was carried on the casting vote of the speaker, the division resulting in - ayes, 23 ; noes, 23. The House rose at 1.35 a.m.