LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5034, 21 June 1884, Page 2

LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

THIS DAY. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 21. The House met at 11 o'clock, Major Atkinson announced that for the convenience of Southern members the Wakatipu would be detained until Tuesday. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Sir George Gret moved — "That Government be directed to take the opinion of the Law Officer as to whether the action of the Canterbury Land Beard, in the application of Alfred Walker, was in accordance with law ; and if not, that the Crown take action to have the proceedings set aside. " Mr Rolleston said that action had been taken in the direction already. He therefore requested that the motion should be withdrawn. Mr Shrimski said that in these circumstances he thought it was unfair that Government should not take similar action in respect to the Land Board of- Otago, in the matter of the Dummyisin cases. Major Atkinson said that Government had been advised by the Law Officer that they had no standing or power to interfere in the matter, otherwise action would have been taken. In reply to a question put by Mr Smith, Major Atkinson said that steps would be taken to prevent the promoters of private and local bills introduced this session from being put to the expense of renewing them in the next Parliament. Replying to Mr J. M'Kenzie, Mr Rolleston said that, so far as Government was aware, no parties had been legally aggrieved by the action of the Otago Land Board in the matter of the dummyism, and consequently the same assistance could not be given to try the case in the Court as in that of Walker's. Sir G. Gret said that in the matter of the kauri diggers' lands acquired by the Minister for Public Works, to the alleged prejudice of a number of poor diggers, the reply made was that those men who felt themselves aggrieved might go to the Supreme Court. Mr Rolleston said tkat in regard to this gum-digging question, he was asked in the House what remedy these men had, and his reply was by appeal to the Supreme Court. The question, how far Government might assist such appeal, did not arise. The history of these leases was- this : When Sir George Grey was Superintendent of Auckland, he made arrangements for these leases. The Minister for Public Works, in his capacity as a private individual, went in and competed for one of these leases in open market. He complained that imputations of this kind, utterly groundless as . they were, should be made in view of and for the purpose of influencing the coming elections. The system now in force had been initiated by Sir George Grey, whose conduct was now neither honest nor upright. Sir George Grey complained that unparliamentary language had been made use of, and he moved — " That the words be taken down." On being put, the motion was negatived on the voices. Mr Rolleston said that, while he had no wish to offend, still he felt strongly. All the papers in connection with these leases had been made public : it was impossible to bring down legislation this session to meet the requirements of the case. In the next Parliament he would, if returned, see that such legislation was attended to. Mr Tole said he had the Auckland Provincial Government proceedings of the date when Sir George Grey was Superintendent. He could find no such regulation sanctioned by Sir George Grey. Mr M'Kenzie strongly condemned Mr Rolleston for re-appointing the Otago Land Board. Mr J. Green defended the Board and Mr Rolleston j and Mr Fish condemned both. The discussion was continued by Messrs M. W. Green, Shrimski, Holmes, Fitzgerald, Fulton and Seddon until the adjournment. At one o'clock the House adjourned until 2.30.