GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2744, 10 July 1883, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Press Association Teleoeam.) HOTJUE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wbliinqton, July 9. The Honao met at 7.30 p.m. NEW MEMBRE. Mr J. McDonald, the newly elected member for Bruce, was int'Oiuced by Mr Macandrew and Mr Driver, and on being sworn took his seat. CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BHL. Sir George Urey moved the second rending ot the Constitution Amendment (No. 2) Bill He had introduced it last session, when the modouforthe eecond reading waß l ost by four. The complaint was thot he had not sufficiently explained the provisions of the measure, imd be would endeavor to remedy Hint defect on this occasion. The origirml constitution Was framed by a JParliament iv Greit Britain that had little or no knowledge of tho colony and matters requisite for i'a good government. It was the Parliament of a different p'riod, and a constitution could not then he prepared to make it different. At all event? it was now modified m part, and power wui given to the colony to alter or suspend any part of that constitution which might be deemed desirable by the colony itself. By that he contended they had the powor to iiinke the alterations proposed by this Bill. It had been said that the change was unnecoasary, u=) they could make whatever lawa

they choose, and if the other Chamber would not agree to them they could compel the Government to swamp the other Chamber, and by that means get the particular lan passed. That would be a most violent proceeding. Independence was an inherent right m the constitution of both Chambers, and it they had the power to swamp the Upper House, it was only fair and m pursuance ot that independence that the Upper House should be able to exercise a corresponding power towards them. What hia Bill aimed at was that no constitutional law should be made until the people had been heard m the maiter. To determine under what form of constitution they would live was, he contended, an inherent right of the people. In the abolition of Provinces an appeal to the people, was the course which should have been followed. A change like that could only be brought abrut by violence or else by the promises of a lavish expenditure of money. In either of theso cases an irreparable injury was done to the country, an injury which years would not be able to wipe out.. In the case of abolition, as m many similar changes, nothing efficient wa' given m place of the con«titutio;>» swept away. Tears must necessarily pass before the local bodies could settle down properly to tho efficient disohargo of their functions, and m the mean time grave monetary abuses were being practised. The Bill sought to make a repel i'ion of suoh impossible. With these explanations he troved the second rending. The Hon. Major Atkinson (aid that if the previous Bill had not been fully explained, they would all admit no sufficient explanation had now been made to justify the pas»ing of the measure now before them. The mover had nut given a single instance which would justify the Bill being adopted, or yet seeing the neefs'ity for such a measure as that of the abolition of Province 3 , that any violent changes had taken place. A Bill was framed and put before the country, and it was not until after,: the general elertion bad taken place that the abolition was given effect to. In thnfc respect the Argument ni altogether unsuccessful. If corruption could be practised under the existing law, there was nothing under tho Bill before tho House that could possibly check such a state of things. If the House oad the elections were as corrupt as Sir Seorge Grey represented them, there was nothing m (ho Bill tha. even professed to check the evil. In fact, it would make corruption eatier. The Bill, m effect, proposed to abolish the power of tha Bouse litogether. A gr.-at constitutional change night come down from the other House, and f this Hou*e disagreed with it then the jueation under the provision? of this Bill was relegated to the vote of the people. Boforo ;heir established rights and privileges as a representative. Chamber Wire interfered with m this way, fuller and moro explioit reasons 3Ught to be forthcoming. Mr Shepherd argued that the proper course pras r,n appeal to the country, and not to refer a constitutional question simply to the rote of the constituencies. In that case the jountry districts would be entirely swamped, is it was the peoplo of large towns that would ittend m great numbers to record their votet. Do bring the people as it wero between the wo branches of the Legislature, when they lappened to get into a dispute, would be to )roduce a revolutionary fermentation m the iountry. Mr Macandrow could not allow that aboliion had been agreed to by the toice of the >eople of the colony. He contended that the axing power of the colony, co far as Otago md Auckland were concerned, was most inanimoUßly pledged against abolition. It vas such over-represented places as Taranaki hat returned tho men who carried abolition, le would s»y nothing on the merits of the Mil. All he desired was to correct a mistatement re abolition. Sir George Grey said the whole of New Zealand knew that there was nothing like fair epresentution m the colony. The Treasurer, iy means of the influence he exercised hroughout Kew Zealand by his friends and elatives, had set up a reign of terror. Had , plebiscite ef the population of New Zealand leen taken, instead of a so-called general lection, no such thing as abolition would lave taken place. It was against the ixerciae of this sort of influence at which lie Bill was aimed. The statement that he plebiscite proposed by the Bill rould not check corruption was, perhaps, rue, and he could only add that so long as he present Government sat on the Benches, he corruption of which he complained could iot be checked. A plebiscito, however, would iavo the effect of plucing another Governlent on these Benohes, and bj that means he ras hopeful of checking such corruption. Hvo the people the right of saying under ihat Ihwb they would be governed, and such buses as the continuous Ministry would disppear. The family Government set up by he Treasurer wiuld also disappear, and tho Jivil Service ar.d its influence would bo reakened and brought within reaso? able prourtions. That waa what the Government readed, and that was why the Treasurer and is friends were so opposed to his Bill. The measure was recommended by many great hinkers, and he bad endeavored to convince be Hou*e it was a grand system. Having one this be left it without further comment a their hands. The House divided on tho motion for the econd reading — Ares, 24 j No<-e, 46. The divieiou list is as fjllows : — Ayes— 2l Brown, J. C. Hutchison Buchanan, J. IviSJ Cadmnn MHcwnlrcw Daniel McDonald, A. Cel.autour McKeczie, J. Duncan Mot-a FoMwick P-trie fish t-hrimski George Smith Grey Tomrana Harris U'urnbull Ho]me3 While, W. Noes 46. Allwright McMillan Atkinson Mitchelson Beetham Montgomery Br.;wn, J. B. Morris Bryce Munro Conolly Peacock Pick Pearson D.-iver Pil'ift Fergus Pustlethwaite Fitzgerald Holloston Fulton Shaw Hobbs Shephard Hurst Butter Hursthnujc Bull on Johnston, C. J. Swun»on Johnston, W- W. Tawhui Kelly Thompson, H. Larnach Trimble Lee Wait Levestam Whyte McKenzie, F. W. Wilson, J. Mason Wright McDonald Wynn-Williams. BIOnT HOURS BILL. The Eight Hours Bill was considered i Committee. The Hon. Mr Bryce moved that the Chaii man leave the chair. He said the Goverr ment was not offering active opposition, by speaking for himself personally, he lojke upon the Bill as an utter farca and altogothi unworkable. Mr Fiah supported the Bill, arguing that would be at least the recognition of tho eigt hours principle. The Hon. Mr Bolleston said that the question desired to be affirmed by the Bill ought to be left to the good eei<Be and understanding of employers and servants. That would be better than to plice a Stututo lika this m the book, which would give rise to difficulties and legal quibbles. Mr M. W. Green, who was m charge of the Bill, complained that last year the Govenv ment practically supported the Bill, whereai they were now opposing it. It had beer urged that the country diJ nut require tin Bill. As a matter of fact very large bondjidi petitions had been presented this very sessior m support of the Bill. The Committee divided on the motion tc leave the chair— Ayes 31, Noes 31. The Chairman gave hia ousting vote witl the noes, to allow of further consideration. Mr Driver moved that progress be re ported. The Bill was uuuecessary, and woult occasion, a great deal of difficulty to all cdn Cerned. The . motion for repotting progress wa afterwards withdrawn. On clause 2, Mr Turnbull proposed tha domestic servants and lurm laborers Bhould bi exempted from its provisions.

The Committee divided— Ayes 29, Noes On the question that the clause stand as printed, the Committee divided— Ayes 24, Noes 30. The clause was Btruok out accordingly. The Bill as amended was then reporlod, only the short title remaining. On the question that thn Bill aa amended be considered on the Bth August, the Committee divided— Ayes 28, Nof>« 30. The Bill was accordingly dropped. LAW PEACTITIONEEB BILL. Sir G. Grey moved the committal of the Law Practitioners Bill, and tho Committee divided— Ayeß 34, Noes 31. In Committee the Bill passed without, amendment, and on the question that it be read a third time the House divided — Ayeß, 82 1 Noes, 32. The Speaker gave Mb vote with the Ayes, as a further stags remained. The Bill was then rend a third time. On the motion that it pass, the House divided — Area, 34 ; Noes, 34. The Speaker said that as the House was so undecided on this measure, and as Parliament had laßt year opened wide the door for admia'ion into the profession, he felt constrained to give his individual vote with the Noes. The Bill waß accordingly thrown out. The House adjourned at 12 o'clock.