LATEST PARLIAMETARY. [By Telegraph.}

Waipawa Mail, Volume VI, Issue 664, 24 June 1884, Page 3

LATEST PARLIAMETARY. [By Telegraph.}

Saturday, Junb 21. Ik the Legislative Council it was agreed that private and local Bills should be taken up next session from the stage where they would be left this session. Major Atkinson moved that the House go into Committee of Supply. Sir Gsorgo Grey moved, as an amendment, that the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown should he taken as to the action of the Waste Lands Board of Canterbury iu the Case of Albert Walker. The amendment was negatived after discussion, the Government saying the case would be brought before the Supreme Court. In reply to Mr Shrimski, the Premier said the Government were advised by the Law (ffiicers that they had no power to bring the Otago dummy ism cases before the Supremo Court. In reply to Sir George Grey, as to whether the Government would also assist the Kauri Gum diggers to bring their wrongs bofore the Supreme Court, Mr Roll eston pointed out that the system of leasing gum land had been established by Sir George Grey himself when Superintendent in 1876. The Hon. Member’s conduct in thiH matter had been neither honest nor upright. Sir George Grey moved that these words be taken down. Negatived on the voices. Mr McKenzie blamed Mr Rolleston for re-appointing the members of the Otago Waste Lands Board. Mr J. Green defended the action of the Board and of the Minister of Lands. Mr Fish condemned both. The discussion was continued by Mr M. W. Green, Mr Shrimski, Mr Holmes, Mr Fitzgerald, Mr Fulton, and Mr Seddon, until the adjournment at 1 o’clock until 2.30 In the afternoon, on the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr Smith complained of the irregularity in the matter of nominating inen to serve on the Waste Lands Boards. In Hawke’s Bay it was notorious that these men and the Government officials had taken advantage of their official information for the purchase of lands to the prejudice of the general public. On the motion that Supplies he granted till 31st August, Mr Montgomery discussed the Financial Statement aud the mode in which government had been carried on dining the recess. Messrs Petrie, Holmes, and Shephard followed on similar lines. Mr Montgomery asked an assurance from Major Atkinson that no political appointments to the Legislative Council would ho made during the recess. Ho nlso asked when the writß would he isnued ? Major Atkinson in reply said the Government would, before the close of the session, take the advice of the House on the latter point ; on the former one ho wished to consult his colleagues. He then replied to what dr Montgomery had stated. He had reduced departmental expenditure steadily, lie could have brought tho expenditure of the year within the revenue, and Ids successor would have no difficulty in regard to public works or in the Treasury. Mi Turnbull said that while three millions was drawn from woo! and eleven million acres occupied in its production, only seme halfmillion was spent in the colony in connection with the woolgrowing industry. That was the cause of the depression. These large estates should he broken up. There was otherwise no hope for the colony. The real question was, should this vast area remain practically unproductive. Annual Parliaments would be the effectual remedy, but he despaired of getting them. Progress was reported at midnight. Monday, June 23. Mr Rolleston explained that, on inquiry, he found that mo proclamation had been issued in the name of Sir George Grey as Superintendent of Auckland re the gum fields leases. He found, however, that all the correspondence on tho subject had passed through the office of the Superintendent. In reply to u question, Mr Rolleston suid he would withdraw the statement, made that these leases were provided for l*y Sir George Grey as Superintendent of Auckland, Still lie held to the fact that thev were so provided for by an officer under his immediate control. On tho motion of Sir George Grey the debate was adjourned. The House resumed at 7.30. MrSeddon moved that certain alterations should he mude in the regulations of tire Ivumnra Studye Channel. Ho complained that a variety of hardship and inconveniences were imposed upon miners who used the channel. Messrs Fitzgerald and Munro spoke in support of the motion. Mr Rolleston said that the regulation could not be altered, but promised that the hardships and complaints would, as far as possible, ho remediod. Motion nogatived. Sir George Grey resumed the adjourned debate on the question of the Gum Field leases. He had been charged by Government with having, while acting as Superintendent of Auckland, been n party to the granting, of a lease over a large area of gum-holds country. He heard that they received from Auckland the papers which showed that h. had not, as had been alleged, heou a party to tho transaction file whole negomat’on took place between the Commissioner of Crown lands and the Governor in Council. These documents •howed that he had been UDjustly blamed

by Ministers. He had that day received a letter signed by the diggers, asking him to do all iu his power to prevent the issue of largo leases in these fields. He complained of the conduct of the Minister of Public Works, in threatening that in consequence of the action taken in this and other matters against the Government, that he would have his revenge by unseating at least ilireo members who had voted with him. As a matter of fact, Mr Mitchelson took his seat upon the Land Board, the very body who had to judge as to the illegality of this transaction on his part. Such conduct was most reprehensible. It was notorious that over and over again persons of this sort, who had wrongfully acquired wealth, had found their way on to those benches. Mr Dargavillo also complained of unfair dealing in the administration of these gumfields on the part of tho Waste Lands Board of Auckland. Mr Rolleston said that when these large leases were provided for, the whole administration of the Waste Lands of Auckland was vested in the Superintendent and tho Waste Lands Commissioner. It did not proceed from the central Government, but was purely the result of a consort between the Superintendent and the Commissioner. In these circumstances it was absurd to say that this was not the action of the Superintendent. A motion for production of papers connected with the gumfiolds was agreed to. The House then went into Committee of Supply, and the resolution for £43,000 out of the consolidated as honorarium was put. Mr Holmes niflvod that the amount be reduced to £21,000. He argued that it would be unfair to vote the full amount of honorarium, seeing that the session had not exceeded eleven sitting days ; the average duration of a session was throe months, and tho proposed reduction was only fair under the circumstances. Mr Peacock seconded and supported the amendment. lie argued that the honorarium should not bo looked upon as pay for services, but simply as a refund for necessary outlay. They had not exceeded one fourth of the normal period of an ordinary session. Tho amendment was negatived on the voices. Mr IJurst moved that the amount be reduced so as to make the honorarium £IOO. Mr fteddon said that the proposal for reduction came from wealthy men. He had never known these men leave the surplus amount in the hands of the Treasurer, or even give it to charitable institutions. It was a contract made with members that they should he paid £2lO per session, and tho full amount should be paid. Ho cautioned tho supporters of the reduction that they would not catch five votes more by this sham proposal of theirs. Colonel Trim bio spoke in support of tho amendment. He was in favour of payment of members, hnt under the circumstances he thought £IOO sufficient.