HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXIIi, Issue 11688, 5 July 1890, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, July 4. NEW BILLS. ■Several new Bills were introduced and read a first time. THE EDWARDS 1 AFrOINTMUKT, Tho Supremo Court Act Amendment Bill, which provides for tho appointment of an addition til Judge, was introduced by message' from the Governor. • Mr Seddon moved, " That a re'spoctf ul reply be forwarded to his Excellency informing him that the circumstances of the colony and the administration of justice did not warrant the colony going to the expense of appointing a sixth Judge." He spoke strongly against Mr Edwards' appointment. Captain Russell suggested that the amendment. should be withdrawn, and that the Bill should be allowed to be brought in, when a full discussion could be taken on the second reading in the usual way. Mr Ballance thought the Government Bhould agree to have this question adjourned, as its discussion, even at this stage, would take up considerable time. The Government had taken a mobt extraordinary and unprecedented step in ap. pointing this .Judge to preside over the Native Land Court. The Opposition could not agree to the appointment) of an extra Judge, wholly unnecessary, in the present condition of the' colony, and he warned the Government "that if tho discussion was not adjourned the Opposition would 'be compelled to. oppose it at every stage. .-,-,-. The Hon. Mr Hislop asserted that Mr Edwards' appointment wag perfectly legal, and he. challenged any honourable member to prove to the contrary. Mr Ballance said that the Bill made provision for Mr Edwards' /salary,, and how therefore could it be legal p Ha urged tho Government, to agree €ct ! iep6rt^. . progress at the present stage. -•. '. '. " Dr Fitchett and M* Fish supported the motion for postponement, and the latter moved to report progress. . The Hon. Mr Hislop said that every •member of the legal rprflfesajon in this part of the conritry kßenr-itafc the appointment of aaeitraJudgo was necessary, and that the Government wero losing money by tlie work going on as it had been. • The Hon. Mr Mitchelsoh agreed to report progress, and hoped that when tba - Bill came before them again it would be discussed in a reasonable manner, and not in a party spirit. , ' ■. Mr Samuel trusted that on the' next appearance of tho Bill before the/Hpuso a Minister would explain tuo whole (Srronmstance that led to the appointment. Sir George/Grey* aaid thajfihis waj thfl first time an effort had -been iaidi i to placeVa Judge upon the Bench for whom no salary :had 'been provided. There should be no, adjournment, and the matter should bo decide^ at 6nce. A crime had been committed against the whole British race, and. he for one would resent that ( crime being committed without the consent of the House. ' Mr Seobie Mackenzie believed the Edwards' appointment was wrong. Howevei, ho advised Mr Ballance not .to adopt too_ high a moral tono in regard to the administration of justice, and' reminded that honourable gentleman that he had at one time made a. proposal in in this direction so radically vicious anc pernicious that nothing had :been h&wi ' like it since the thae of the Stuarts That was that' every decision' of ;<•■. Supreme Court Judge should be subifc ; to the revision of a Parliamentary Cojnl •• mifctee. ' TV •' Mr Ballance denied this . \\i Mr Mackenzie then quoted from .'aspeech made by Mr. Ballance at WangW J nui in March, 1887, and added that when Mr Ballance made the proposal there was such a howl throughout the colony that lie at once dropped it. He (Mr Mackenzie) held that the proper time for the discussion of the Bill was on the second reading,- and ' if it' could then be shown that the appointment was wrong, good would conio of it j but as it was already made, it should be validated. I2r Ballance replied that the remarks quoted 'by the member for Mount, Ida were not a correct and full report of his speech. Mr Reeves (St. Albans) deprecated the partisan attack which had been- made on ' Mr Ballance by the member for Mount - Ida. The Opposition did not desire to offer any obstruction, but they were determined to have a full discussion on this ° question. ' ' Captain Bussnll, in reply to Mr Fisher, disclaimed having sprung any surprise oh the House in the introduction of the Bill, as in 99 eases out of 100 there wag no debate on tho second reading of tlie measure. As to Mr Edwards' appointment, tho Government were of opinion that he was absolutely a Judge, and when the' second reading of the Bill came on they would be quite prepared to prove, that he was ■ • legallyaud constitutionally appointed. ' ' Tho debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. ' •' The House resumed at 7.30. Sir George Grey resumed tho debate on the introduction of tho Supreme Court ' Act Amendment Bill. Ho believed tho whole transaction was a wrong one, and thought Mr Edwards should retire from. ■ the bench. Mr Bruce said it appeared -to him that tho appointment 'was-a perfectly 'just and defensible one, and ho could not understand what political move the Government could have, had in making it. Mr Fisher wanted to know why, if the appointment was legal, a Bill had b&ii introduced at all ? • . "' Mr Bryco deplored the fact that the leader^ of the Opposition displayed such a hostile attitude when speaking on wjis appointment. Government had not made any explanation as to the circumstances of the case, but the reason of that was solely because it wsb unusual to debate a Bill on its first reading. Mr Seddon characterised tho whole thing as a " job," and he hoped members behind the Government would not sanction it. He would like to know otit of what fund Mr Edwards' salary was being paid at present. Mr Peacock thought this discussion was at present irregular arid entirely unnecessary. Mr Fitchett reminded members tliat during the discussion on the Financial Statement Government were repeatedly charged with having made this appointment, and made no reply to it. He'considered this appointment was a greater l blow to the independence of the bench than anything that had yet happened. Mr Ballaace said tho position he had taken up was that the fullest information should be supplied to members on this question. Mr Bryce admitted that there was a peculiarity inthe present case. He knew nothing of tho intentions of tho Government with respect to it, but it seemed to him reasonable that as an impoachment had been made against tho Govornmon thoy had taken the first opportunity of bringing forward a Bill in order that they might be able more fully to. meet the charges made against them. " "

„■ The motion for reporting progress was then put and carried. - Mr Hislop moved s " That allegations having, been .made, that ,'dummyism' had taten place in regard-to the selection ' of land in the Canterbury district, that it be an instruction to the Waste Lands Committee to enquire into, and report whether suoh 'dummy ism' exists, and what remedy sh6uld be taken to prevent it." , Mr McKenzie (Waihemo) moved, That other places bo inserted in' the motion as well as Canterbury. .;. , The ' motkjn, ' with this addition, was •'agseeato., j';.: .. .' / . " TH* KNANCIAJ, STATEMBKT DEBATE. \ Mr Verral resumed the '.debate on the Financial, Statement, speaking against ,- the .Government policy. ... t Mr Beetham thought the ■ Premier deX : served , great credit for his Financial r Statement although he was sorry to say he could ' not .agree with the whole of it. Tbq. Statement,, however, showed a thorough grasp of tho .position, and he thought it would,; have great weight in the Homo country, and be very eagerly . read. Ho tailed to see why tho House should hofrperforrr- good work, or why if should be regarded ■ as" moribund. With respect to. the federation question,, he trusted that delegates would be sent to - the Conference, bnt he thought Captain Russell .and. Sir John Hall -were quite riftht in not committing the colony at tho last conference.'. His': idea was that they should, have one grand confederation of the whole British Empire, and he honed they would never Beyer -the connection between^Greafc Britain, and her colonies. Mr'FishY. Twenty-five years will Bee it.