PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2101, 22 July 1875, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(PEE PBEB3 AQEROY.) HOUSE OP EEPItESBNTATIYES. : , '~ WjifliiNarofl, Wednesday. The Native Minister moved, in a highly eulogistic terms, that Mr O'Borke bo made Chairman of Committees during the session, ' ■ Sir George Grey seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously, Mr O'Borke replied briefly, thanking the House for the compliment paid him in placing him in a position .which he had not made the slightest effort to procure, since he learnt it was vacant. Ho referred to tho remarkable aptitude and capacity for the duties of the office shown' by his predecessor." ; (fbom oub spboul cobbespondent.) 1 In the House of Bepresentatives, in reply to Mr Eolleston's question whether it was the intention of the Governor to introduce, a Bill during the sesjion to amend 1 the .Friendly Sooieties Act, 1867,.

(The Minister, of Justice, said the Government would take into- consideration th'o whole question of tho state of the law in regard to friendly societies j and in regard to James's case, referred to by Mr : OBolleston, that although it was not ad via. able immediately to' legislate upon the. whole subjeot, some provision might be made for meeting similar,cases in future. The whole subject would be carefully considered. - The Speaker informed tho House that the writ for Wallace had been issued. A number of sessional conimittees were appointed, and upon the motion for ap-. pointing the Public Works Committee, Mr White asked , how it was that names ' of West Coast members, usually found on such committees, had been left out. Mr Kolleston thought that when tho Minister for Public Works was responsible, Buch committee was of little use.. ■ •; The Public Works disclaimed any invidious, intentions in , the selection of a committee.. The resolution was agreed to. On the motion for appointing the Goldfields Committee, Mr O'Connor called attention, to.the unwiso practice of the Government in making committees up out of so few members. The result had been, and must, necessarily continue to be, that very little business was'done. Mr T. L. Shepherd denied'the truth of the remarks by the last speakor. He would be happy to vacate his position in favour of the last speaker if ho wished it, because his experience of that committee convinced him that it was of no use to the country.;, . ; On moving'the. appointment of a Select Committee to consider bills and petitions, Mr White suggested the propriety of placing some West Coast representative upon it. • Mr Stafford suggested the withdrawal ofhisnamo with a view of substituting some other person. : . '

.Sir. Cracroft ..Wilson, .said.. he„„was anxious to be relieved from committee work, as he felt himself physically unequal to the,duties. ■ ' Mr Inglis then rose and moved the address in reply, In asking the indulgence of the House he reminded them that during the four' years he was id the House he had not unduly trespassed on them, He said he considered that New Zealand bad reason to be proud of tho distinguished and honourable gentleman sent by.her ■Majestyito presido, over-,the country, 5 'He'considered : on'tho 'wholo that the progress of public works had been tolerably satisfactory, and gave encouragement to hope they would be fairly remunerative. In like manner the country was to bo congratulated upon the very favourable aspect of native affairs. No doubt Ibis was due to the skilful management of the Native Minister. It was satisfactory to note that the financial position of the colony was so good, as amply evinced by tho increase in revenue/ He referred to the intimationgiven in bis Excellency's speech regarding the abolition of the provinces, and said it must be patent, from the„amount of support which the first resolutions on 1 that subject met with, that the question had now become one of all or none, and I when he voted last year for Sir J. Vogel's resolutions, though not usually found on that side, he did so simply because he considered half a loaf better than no bread, ~He, thought the,, Government deserved great credit for the 1 courage they showed by the attitude they took upon this,question, , . .. I Mr J. May seconded the address.' He trusted that his Excellency would always find the same: loyal reception he .referred :to ia his speech. Touching upon tho management of public works, ho referred to great complaints heard in the North against the high fares on railways. • He trusted the Government would endeavour to make the fares as "low as possible. Willi regard to the paragraph relating to native matters, he did feel disposed to give all credit for the present aspect of native affairs to the . A great'deal was undoubtedly'' due to the altered circumstances. Speaking from his personal knowledge, he could say that the unfortunate war which occurred during the" office of the present member f ,for ,;Timaru,. was an inevitable" "war, as ' tho' natives wore determined to try their strength with the pakeha, It,was, no doubt, gratifying to note the improved state of the finances of the colony, but ho hoped the Government would see their way to do something more'forUliG road'(boards' than-had'yet been done. With regard to the abolition measure, he hoped it would apply to the whole colony, which was too much overgoverned., .He quito agreed with , the need for jthe revision of the,electoral laws,' especially in the direction of miners and natives. Tho Thames was a glaring instance of unfairness in tl\e represents-, tion. . ... _ After a considerable pause, Mr Swanson rose. Ho said he would move the postponement of the debato. He regretted - that.- the Government, had -not seen fit to act upon his advice,' that the draft of the'bill abolishing the provinces should be placed before the people so that the subject might ,have.been discussed by the Press and country." Mr Murray seconded the adjournment" on the. ground that the subject was, far too important to W summarily dealt with. : The Native Minister said it would be highly, inconvenient to postpone the adjournment of the debate. There was no intention to tako the' House by surpiise. There would be.ample scope to discuss, tho measures referred to, when they would be brought down, which would be at a very early dato. There was nothing in tho address to compromise anybody. Mr Wakefield supported the adjournment on the ground that the address was not merely'it formal, record of thanks, but expressed gratification at certain aspeots and conditions of the government of the country, which were not concurred: in bymany. Mr Stafford said that whether the Government 1 should of' should - not accept tho motion of the momber for Newton was .merely . a;. question of courtesy, and might very properly be accorded. But at the same timo he felt bound to ; say there was", nothing to be gained by an adjournment. To do so would not advance business one half hour. He could' not * agree with the exception taken to the terms of the address, such as expressing gratification that his Excellency had- been loyally received in the colony. Or at the fact that the cable telegraphic arrangements had been made on better terms than had been authorised by the House. The other' paragraphs conveyed, merely, the thanks., .It would be most'unprecedented"for the Govern-' ment > to introduce a great fundamental question, by which they stand or fall, before the address in reply was passed, That, he felt, would have a great tendency to retard business. With regard to the remark of the member for Chiistchurch City East, that it was a significant fact that the mover of the address was 'the member for Cheviot, he might say at once, : so as'to prevent any misconception on the matter, and because of his, political, association with that gentleman, that there were certain periods in public life when the,first consideration of a. politician should' be his country. (Cheers.) : New Zealand had now arrived' at such a crisis, and he had no hesitation in saying that upon -all fundamendal questions upon which the Ministry would nave to stand or fall, ho would give them his most cordial and loyal support during the session.

Mr Atkinson said no possible good could be derived by the postponement of that which raised no issues. The Government would use all possible despatch .infringing down their fundamental measures. Their chief reason for objecting to a postponement was this, that owing to the unusual late period of meeting this session, an Imprest Supply Bill would soon be required; and the forms of the House would not admit of 'their obtaining that until tho address in. reply., was passed. An adjournment would' therefore be detrimental to tho public service. There Would be economy of time in debating measures only , when brought down,

■ Sir George Grey rose amidst applause 'and said that the House had a fair claim .to' /'ask!: for an adjournment. He maintained that the highest possible principles were involved in the question :of adjournment. _ He must object to these things wholesale, and. in forcing this address upon them they were :being made to do so. Why not giro ! them an opportunity of consulting with aSsent members whether they should accept the address, or to enable them to prepare an amendment to it. It was .too i much to ask him to express gratification at things which were not the fact, such as the statement regarding the railways paying. The very reverse was the case. They were also asked to give up all repreventative institutions, and deal with the rights and liberties which belong* not

to them, but to posterity and all time. (Cries: "No " and "Yes.") The address would pledge,the House to certain principles. , He implored / the Government not to forco on .what ho believed to be a most arbitrary and unlawful proceeding. (Applause,) - v : Sir Cracroft Wilson opposed the adjournment. jNotliing was to be gained by, doing so. He could not see how the address bound anyone.!.'. ■' Mr. Luckie, -although he studied the speech carefully, could not see how the Housewas in any way committed by the address. ■' - , MrFifzherbert. supported the postponement. 1 He considered the Government would be wise in treating even a small minority of the Houso, to courteous consideration. It was unwise to create a feeling of irritation'the. first day of the session by su'eh a small request. He contended that the address invited them to express approbation < as' to the negotiation of four millions before tho papers arid explanations regarding the loan wero laid upon the table.' :• Mr Eolleston supported tho adjournment. If tho address in reply had become a matter of form of late years it was to be regretted, Ihe address contained a number ■of questions which ;in justice to Ministers, in justice to members and to the country ought to be debated at once, arid thus safe tho-time of the House by preventing the constaut cropping up in debate of whether tho abolition should be. applied to both islands or only to.orie. ; The debate was then adjourned, and resumed at 7.30. : ; Mr Pyko to going on with 1 tho .debate, as they had no time to consider the speech .or, address in reply. There could bo .■ no : waste >;• of.. time in ; ' allowing the': imembers. a little time for'- calm' deliberation. : There were several cjauses in the'address, such as those relating to (he,mail service, tho loan negotiation', &o.j whichdid not convey to hid any particular gratification, lie would rciove, as'a compromise, that the, debate be adjourned till to-morrow. 1 Mr Buokland hoped the Government' would acced to tho. request for the postponement, although he .was awaro that they could force-their.,measures through by a sheer majority. ; Mr Bicbardson had no objection to tho postponement, provided it was. not too long. The Government had no desire to take any advantage of the House in the matter. \ The debate was accordingly adjourned till Friday. , . The Pollution lifters Bill, introduced by Mr T. L. Shepherd, was read a first time. The Protection of Animals Bill was read a second time. ! ■ (PES PBBss iasKcr.) j Owing to the ball at Government house, the House meets to-morrow only to,allow, of the . circulation of papers', re the loan, negotiations. It then adjourns till Friday. • :i . , ■ . -, , ; :,Inthe Legislative Council to-day, on the motion of Dr Pollen, Mr JSiohmond, C,B„ was appointed Chairman of Committees, leave was given to tho Premier to introduce a bill relating to tho registration ol births and,.deaths; also a bill to amend the New Zealand University Act. The usual sessional committees were appointed.'No further business was done. '