PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 9067, 4 July 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

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Wellington, July 3. PBIVILKGE. The whole of this afternoon and part ; the evening were occupied with a diaeus* sion of the quest! n of privilege. Last night's Evening Press contained au article reflecting personally on Mr Jackson Pulmer. As soon as the Houae met today Mr Rees brought forward a copy of the paper and moved that the article was a breach of the privileges of the House, on all hands tue words of the article were condemned as being scuri rilously personal and unfair. The motion was ultimately carried on the voiceß. Thea came ttie question of what Bhould be done to the offender and on this a greifc divergence of of opinion aroBC. Mr Rees moved that the proprietor of the paper be summoned to the "bar of the House, but after some discussion Government were in favorof adjournment till Tuesday to give an opportunity of apologising, but tbis was opposed by the leader of the Opposition, who objected to holding a threat over ihe hesd of the publisher in the hope of extorting appologiees in this way. The matter oo until the evening when Prtlmtr asked the House to go no further but leave him to protect his own civil rights if necessary. Rees thereupon with* drew his motion and the House passed a resolution expressing sympathy with Palmer for tbe libellous and unjustifiable attack made upon bitn. Just the same as was done in re.ard to Larnarcb and the New Zealand Hera'd three years ago. A QUEEB DIVISION. One of the queerest divisions ever seen in the House took place to-nigiit. As an amendment to the motioa to go iuto Committee of Supply (the basis ot the fiuancial debate) Fisu moved a vote of confidence in the Government. It became necessary to diepoe of the original question. The propo-itiou put from the Olnir was—" Tlmt the words Mr Speaker do now leave tbe Chair Biand part of Ibe question." Tne Opposition did not wiab to cull for a division, so Government bad to tell off their own chief whip (Hall-Jones) to do so, and he and W. C, Smitb, their other whip, to act as tellers. Then, amid much amuse* ment, every rnemb'r of ihe Opposition walked into the "No" lobbp with the Government in favor of striking out the Oi;<jiaal words, making a total of 23 while only the two 6rovernment whips voted on the other side. The question now becumcß that the words ot Fish's amendment be inserted and on this the financial debate is still going od. MINING AMENDMENT. The Hon Mr deddoa's Minim? Bill, is a largo codifying measure, containing 342 clauea. It dealg in detail with mining on Native lands, procedure in the Warden's Court, and reguhtiona for working miues. Wardens, inspectors, miuiug registrars, manager* of water laces aud o'.bera were precluded from ho'ding any interest ia any mine in his owu district. Wage* men are to have a lien on the claims for unpaid wages j tributora and men wo.king under contract coming under this head, shareholders are empowered to c iter mines and in« speet the workings, and provision is made that no mineral leases or licenses, or prospecting licenses, shall be granted within a mining district under the Land Act. Private lands are to be open for prospect" ing, with certain restrictions, and they are liable to resumption for mining purpose?. Water raceß may be cut under streets and roads "with the couseat of the local authorities; but the local authority, cannot alienate a water race. A registrar may apply for forfeiture for a breach of the Act or the regulations. In minirig partnership a contract by ' any agent op manager ia not to be binding unles^io. writing, and on the abandonment of in» 'crest the remaining partners may sue to (tfee fourth page.)

be put in possession. Q'ftr'z crushing Huoh'nea require to be rgfcUre' und:r • £50 penalty. Every person employed in tbe capacity of mine manager or mine engineer must have a certificate. A registrar is empowered to bub for arrears of rent, and di'eoioAs und officer* of a COtnpauy are made pfifcadnaliy: liable for* rente due. The bona fide minor and ii> , vestor receives encouragement and! ■eourity, bogus ronijiai.y fl>»ler«, an-J[ ttking np claims to In Id and not to work : them, are dealt with in a very drastic I manner. Compulsory attendance at the Warden's ( ourt by the applic nt for a mining right wh»n no oijtac ; ionq are •lodged is dispen ed with, ihe area of occupation licenses has hern increased ' from 50 to 100 acres, anl the maaimum rental is fixed at Is per nnnum jer acre. The rental of licen-ed holdings is fixed at 103 per sere in lieu of 10s, 1115 1 and 20», which have hiiherto obtained. On, any pers m obtaining by process of law the forfeiture of any licensed holding or claim, plaintiff h declared to be (he fir^t applicant instead of, as at present, having the land submitted to auction. Provision is also made subject to safeguard for pro■pecting on private lands. The resumption ot lands for mining purposes is also aimplifi'd. A judge of thebupreme Court alone is to settle all claims over £250. Any claim under that amount is to be settled by a resident magistrate. The roldfields members express thtir satisfaction with tbe practical manner in which the Minister has dealt with the require' ments of the goldfielda aod very little discussion is anticipated on tbe second reading, after which the Bill will be re* mitted to the Goldfields Committee. SIB G. GRBTJLNDTHETAXITION PROPOSALS. There was a long interview between tbe Premier and Sir U. Grey, and from the Utter I learn th»t he has not committed himself to any extent on the taxation pro posals. He is of opinion that the Government will give way on material points as regards the incidence of taxation by completely exempting improvements under the tax, and by so modifying the income tax as to cause it to press less heavily on those engaged in trade and commerce, thus relieving ibe people of the colony from taxation. He considers th it they really ought not to pay In Sir G. Grey's opinion the Government proposals are in the right direction, but do not go far enough, and ifaat sflei regarding tbe support he may expect in carrying out his own views he will move in that; dircct'on. Tbere is, Bir George says, a general disposition on the part ci the Government to make tbeir taxation proprosab the best in the interests of tbe . country without any consideration of party linep, and be therefore snticlpatis that matters of difference will be settled amicably. He makes no secret of his annoyance with the manner in which the conduct of the financial debate has been agreed to by the two sides of tbe House —viz, that speakers follow each other in a certain order fixed by tbe whips. The member for Newton fears that by cot. enabling lending men of indepedant views to place tbeir arguments before tbe House at an early stage of the debate aome members may be led to pledge themselves to a particular course of action. None ot hie immediate friends have been afforded an opportunity of speaking yet. Personally ho has bad no chance, Bnd Mr Bees, who he is particularly anxious should have early opportunity of express* log his views, has been prevented from placing them before the House by arrangements entered into day by day, BegardiDgthe line of argument tbat they will fake on the taxation proposal?, £ir G. Grey contents himself by saying that his views are well known to tbe colony —viz, a land tax pure and simple, and an Income tax based on very different lines to that prof 03ed in tbe Financial Statement.