PARLIAMENT

Western Star, Issue 271, 16 November 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Monday, October 23. On the Railway Construction Bill, Mr Waterhouse urged that the lines should not be authorised until more definite information os to their likelihood to pay was before the Council, aud moved “ That this Council is of opinion that inquiry, reports, ; and surveys necessary to construction of any railway should be made prior to its nuthori- j eation by special Act,” The Hon. Georoe Buckley said if the Council passed the Bill they put the matter out of their hands for goon. In future a eura would be placed on the estimates, and the Council would have no control whatever. The Hon. Dr Grace characterised the Bill as unfair. Its whole scope was to centre expenditure in the Middle Island. It was impossible for any Government to resist the temptations it would be subject to under this Bill. The Hon. Dr Menzies would vote for the second reading, in the hope that the Bill would be amended in Committee. The Acting-Speaker (Major Richmond) at this stage said he could not give a decision as to whether the Bill was an appropriation one or not until next day, as he wanted to consult authorities. The adjournment of the debate was then carried by the casting vote of the Acting-Speaker. The Premier said the Government had already the Drainage Bill printed, and would distribute it among agricultural associations and local bodies during the recess. SUPREME COURT. Mr Hislop asked the Government whether they would take into consideration the advisability of appointing another judge of the Supreme Court, so that quarterly sittings of the Court may be held at Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Invercargill, Lawrence, and other places where the business may warrant it, thus obviating the necessity of having sittings of the District Court, at those places. The Minister of Justice replied in the affirmative, saying that at the same time the Government intended to take into consideration the whole question of the organisation of the Bench of Judges. MISCELLANEOUS, The Wellington Reclaimed Land Bill was shelved by 38 to 3G. The Council’s amendments in the Native Licensing and Auckland High School Bills were agreed to. The second reading of the Native Lands Act Amendment Bill was carried. In the Native Law-suits Bill the Government introduced a proviso that the judges appointed, in case of the resignation of the judges mentioned, should hold office till next session and no longer. The Bill was strongly opposed by Mr Rolleston, who urged that it lowered the dignity of the Supreme Court; and by Major Atkinson, who charged the Premier with partiality in this matter, and said the measure would not be satisfactory to either of the parties. In announcing his intention to withdraw the Bill, the Native Minister termed Mr Fox’s charges against himself unjust and ungenerous. Since he had been in office he had sacrificed thousands of pounds rather than place himself in a position to have charges made against him. The Bill had been introduced on Mr Whitaker’s recommendation, but he had no objection to submit the cases to the Supreme Court. The Bill was shelved by 21 to 14. Native Lands Bill, No. 2, was reported with amendments, and the Governor s amendments in the Temporary Powers Bill agreed to.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Monday, October 28.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS BILL. In moving the second reading of the Financial Arrangements Bill, the Treasurer explained that the fees arising on goldfields would be made local revenue. The rejection of the Wellington Reclaimed Land Sale Bill would cause a deficiency in the estimates of the revenue to the extent of L 59,000, which the Government proposed to make good by taking the power to sell the lands described in the schedule as reserved for the Wellington hospital, the balance being applied to the consolidated fund. The Government could not bring down a Bill for the Management of Hospitals this session, but would introduce a general measure next session. The Government thought that benevolent societies should be supported on strictly voluntary principles. Major Atkinson said he acknowledged responsibility for abolishing the Provinces, but he held the present Government culpable for the failure of the system. He moved that a respectful address be presented to the Governor recommending that the surplus land fund of the Provincial district of Otago for the year ending December 31, 1878, shall, after deduction of all charges imposed upon the land fund of the said Provincial district in the 4th section of the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, be paid over without further deductions to the local bodies, as provided in the 9th section of the eaid Financial Arrangements Act, 1876. After discussion, the amendment was negatived on the voices. Mr Rolleston moved that a respectful address be presented to the Governor praying that he will cause a separate account to be kept of the moneys accruing within each county for the sale of the lands named in first schedule to the Public Reserves Sale Act, 1878, and there shall be paid to each county out of the consolidated fund quarterly a sum equal to 20 per cent, of such moneys so accruing in each county. There was considerable discussion, several members contending that notice of the clause should have been given. The chairman ultimately ruled 8b out of order. Mr De Lautour moved as a further amendment “ That the House regrets that the surplus land fund due to the Provincial district of Otago, as shown by the Financial Arrangements Acts to 30th December, 1877, baa not been handed over.” ■ The Treasurer said the Government acted upon the advice of the So icitcr-General to the legal rights between - the General Government and the Provinces. The Minister for Works said he had no evidence of any sum due to Otago, and he desired some proof. He would prefer to see the printed evidence of the Finance Committee on the question of the detention of the Otago land fund. The amendment was negatived by 30 to 27. The following new clause was added on the motion of Mr W akeeield : “ The committee of any hospital or any benevolent aociety may, through its secretary, chairman, or manager, make contracts for the maintenance, care, or attendance of persons in any hospital or charitable institution, and the secretary, chairman, or manager, may Buo in his own name, by direction of the committee, for such maintenance, care, or attendance.” . . _ ... , c , , The House went into Committe of supply, when Mr Murray strongly denounsed the expenses ill Hegina v. Jones. In reply to Mr Montgomery the Attornky-Gknebal said the present vote in aid of domains wauld probably be lost. The foliowing items were passed : —Miscellaneous, L 71,767 ; roads in Native districts, L 5,000; and the Committee reported progress. ... The House adjourned at five minutes W gve this morning.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, October 29, Before business was proceeded with Mr Waterhouse and other members called attention to alleged misreporting of the free conference. Members of Parliament should, he said, remember that they were gentlemen first and partisans afterwards. The Colonial Secretary doubted whether one of his colleagues could have said that 11 the House would find it necessary to review the constitution of the Council.” The Railway Construction Bill having been ruled by the Acting-Speaker not to be an appropriation Bill, Mr Waterhouse’s amendment was put and negatived by 17 to 15. The Bill passed through Committee without material alteration. On the second reading of the Publie W orks Mr Waterhouse said that under it the Minister for Works would become far and away the greatest man in the Colony. Sir F. D. Bell also alluded to the great powers the Bill gave. The Hons. H. J. Hall and J. Buckley condemned it as “monstrous,” and the Colonial Secretary admitted that it was eurriedly drawn. The second reading was carried on the voices. The Dunedin Waterworks Bill was passed, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, October 29, QUESTIONS Were answered by Ministers to the effect that steps would be taken to appoint a lock-up at Queenstown for prisoners convicted of minor offences, and that the Government would be glad to extend to the Auckland Waggon Company the same concessions as were given to the Otago Company. DIRECT STEAM SERVICE WITH BRITAIN. The Minister eor Works gave notice of the following motion:—“That direct monthly mail service between New Zealand ond the Mother Country would be highly advantageous to both countries, and that the Government be authorised to enter into arrangements for the estabilshing of such service subject to the following general conditions :—(1) Vessels to be of such draught of water as shall enable them to enter the principal ports in the Celony. (2) Contract time between final port of departure and first port of arrival, not to exceed —— days. (3) Government to guarantee to ship 1,000 statute adults by each inward monthly trip during a period of five years from commencement of the line, and to pay by way of subsidy a sum not exceeding annually, during the same period.” municipal corporations bill.

In committee a clause was added validating the Dunedin elections in September last. MEETING OF THE ASSEMLY. Mr Shrimski’s motion that, in order to consult the convenience of members, the next session should be held at Christchurch was, alter some discussion, carried by 29 to 20, the division list being— AteS : Messrs Ballaucc, Barton, Bowen, Brandon, Bunny, Carrington, Curtis, Be Latour, Feldwick, Foi, ; George Gibbs, Gisborne, Hodgkinson, Johnson, Kelly, M'Miim, Nalie, Pyke, Beeves, Richmond, Holleston, Sharp, Sheehan, Stout, Takamoana, Wood. Noes : Atkinson, Exigent, Barff Brown, J.C. (Tuapeka), Dlgnan, Fisher, Fitzroy, Green, Henry, Hislop, Hobbs, Hursthouse, Joyce, Jlacfnrlane, Montgomery, Murray-Aynsley, Oliver, O’Rorke, Rowe, Saunders, Shrimski.Swansan, Thomson, Tole, Turnbull, Wallis, Wason, Williams, Wooleoek. Mr Montgomery’s motion that the financial year should close on March 31 was negatived on the voices. THE ESTIMATES. There was considerable discussion on the Government Insurance Department, the Treasurer stating, in reply to questions, that it was intended to place the department under a responsible head. The vote passed as brought down, as were the rest of the Estimates. Thefollowing items also passed ; Consolidated Fund, LG80,203; Native Reserves Account, LI 17 10s; Government Insurance Account, L 1,500 ; unauthorised expenditure, Consolidated Fund, L 78,442; Public Works Account, L 22,000 ; total unauthorised, L 100.752 10s. During the discussion of the item half a million, under the head “ Railway Construction Act, 1873, LoOO.OOS,” Major Atkinson protested against a trust-to-luck policy, to which he was no party. BILLS, The following Bills passed—Seal Fisheries Protection, Dynamite, Whakatare Grants Validation, Wellington and City Boundaries Eating Act Amendment. Sir R. Douglas moved the second reading of the Hamlin Land Gtyont Bill, urging the claims of the soldiers who shed their Wood in the country. He asked whether any member of the House would agree to sell his life for L 2,000. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. The Native Minister promised that the amount asked under the Bill should be included in further estimates. Sir R. Douglas then declined to proceed further with the Bill. In committee on the Rating Act Amendment Mr Reeves moved a new clause, giving power to local bodies to levy rates for the support of fire brigades and waterworks, which was negatived. The Bill was reported without amendment. The Attorney-General moved that Government business should take precedence of other business on Wednesday. Mr Wakefield deprecated passing such a motion during the morning and in a thin House. At 3.24 a.m. the Attorney-General moved the adjournment, which was agreed to.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, October 30. The Native Land Act Amendment (No, 2) was read a second time, as were the following minor Bills : —Seal Fisheries Protection, Fisheries, Dynamite, and Whakatane Land Grant Bill. The Colonial Secretary then moved the second reading of the Financial Arrangements Bill.—Mr Waterhouse called attention to the twelfth clause including a tack by authorising a railway. —-Mr Hall followed to the same effect, saying that it was an invasion of the privileges of the Council. Mr Robinson, Captain Fraser, and Sir D. Bell followed briefly. The Colonial Secretary having replied, the motion was agreed to, with the addition of words calling attention to the tack, and saying that it should not be construed into a precedent. The Council then went into Committee, when the Native Act Amendment, the Seal and Fisheries Protection, the Fisheries, Dynamite Bills were considered and reported, as was the Financial Arrangements Bill. The three last were read a third time and passed. The Council adjourned at 1.30 a.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, October 30. questions Were answered by Ministers to the effect that the Government were prepared to grant to the Christchurch Waggon Company the same concessions as were given to the Otago Waggon Company, and that sergeant-majors would participate in the increase of police pay. THE SPECIAL WIRE. Mr Fox moved—“ That the arrangement entered into with the * Otago Daily Times,’ ‘ Lyttelton Times,’ and ‘ Auckland Herald’ shall be suspended till the machinery of th®

Telegraph Department shall be in a condition to grant equal privileges, if required, to all journals and Press Agencies in the Colony.” He wanted any arrangements of this kind established on a proper basis, so that evenhanded justice might be meted out to all. The Premier said a misapprehension existed on the matter. After receiving the memo, of the General Manager, and examining that gentleman and questioning him closely, they found that he had been mistaken in his calculations, and consequently they had granted the application made to them on behalf of eight papers. There was no monopoly intended. The sole object of the Government was solely to destroy an existing monopoly, which the member for Waikouaiti arranged. The allegations made against the Government with regard to establishing a monopoly were perfectly untrue. The Government could not entertain the motion.

Major Atkinson said the point had been missed altogether. He ridiculed the idea of the question being one of free printing as claimed by the Premier. There had not been any monopoly in the strict sense of the word granted to the Press Agency. The Attorney-General expressed surprise at the speech of the last speaker. It was only after the resignation of the late Government that the concessions to the Press Agency were discovered. He charged the late Government with making a contract with regard to some future arrangement, and the Press Agency with political partisanship. It was afraid it could not exist without a monopoly. The Commissioner of Telegraphs said he was led into granting this monopoly to prevent complaints between the evening and morning papers, but without intending to grant any improper advantage. Mr Joyce would not go so far as to say that the Press Agency Parliament telegrams were falsified, yet there was a way of putting things so that one side of the House gained and the other side suffered. The monopoly was injurious, and the Government deserved credit for attempting to break it down. Mr Bowen considered the last gentleman’s arguments very damaging to the Government, because it was an admission that the machinery of the Government and the money of the country were to be used to crush a monopoly obnoxious to the Government. Mr Saunders said however gross the job, it was one entered into, aud he would not assist to upset it. There could be only one opinion as to the nature of the arrangement made, and that it was not a defensible one ; otherwise they would not have had the spectacle of each Minister getting up and giving a different version of the affair. There was no doubt an arrangement had been made by which the people of the Colony would lose L 3,000 per annum. After some further remarks the amendment was negatived by 37 to 23.

MR BARTON AND THE JUDGES. Before going into Committee-of Supply, Mr Barton re-opened the question of his grievance against the judges. The statement he recently made in the House was correctly reported, and ho was prepared to substantiate by evidence the charges therein made. He maintained that the allegations made re Mr Spence, and Pearson and Gillon, and M-Donald were such as ought to be inquired into. There were about ten other charges which he would proceed to particularise. Mr Bowen raised a point of order to the effect that such charges ought to be made in writing. The Speaker cited Todd to show that in any statement impugning the position of judges the Government themselves should have investigated the complaints before ordering Parliament to interfere. When similar charges had been made, the Government did not feel justified in ordering the interference of Parliament, and as the charges now made were only in a new form, he did not think the hon, gentleman*should continue making those charges. *- Mr Barton said he would move—“ That, in the opinion of the House, the charges made by the member for Wellington against the Chief Justice and hrs Honor Mr Justice Richmond ought to be inquired into without delay.” In defending himself he should not act on the aggressive. He believed that if he had not ceased to practice in the Supreme Court, an attempt would have been made to have him struck off, so that he might be unable to practice his profession for the maintenance of his family. Never since the indignity of the month’s imprisonment —an indignity which neither he nor his were ever likely to forget—had those who punished him condescended to inform him of the nature of the offence for which he had been committed. STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH BRITAIN. The Minister for Works withdrew the resolutions of which he gave notice yesterday, saying that next session he hoped to be able to bring down a proposal that would be satisfactory. THE ELECTORAL BILL. The Premier announced that this Bill had been dropped, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, October 31. At 1.45 a.m. the second reading of the Public Works and Immigration Appropriation Bill w r as moved by the Treasurer. Major Atkinson complained that no explanation of the Bill had been given, especially as there was an amount of L 700,000 to expend, without any provision being made to meet it. The Government, in effect, said : “We are all honorable men, and you can trust the affairs of the country safely in our hands.”

The Attorney-General pointed out that in 1876 the late Government had asked for and obtained a similar vote to that now asked for.

Captain Kenny raised a protest against the injustice to the part of the Colony he represented. He divided the House on the second reading. The Bill was ordered to be read a second time by 38 against 2, and the House then went into Committee on it. The Bill then passed. The Attorney-General moved that the amendment made by the Council in the Railway Construction Bill be disagreed with, and managers were appointed to draw up reasons. The amendment made by the Council in the Special Contracts Bill were agreed to. The amendments in the Rating Bill were disagreed with, and a committee appointed to draw up reasons. At this stage Mr Barton moved his motion that the House should inquire into the charges made against the judges, and proceeded to quote from his printed speech regarding those charges. In reply to Major Atkinson, the At-torney-General said that the prorogation depended entirely upon the action of the Upper House. After long discussion as to whether Mr Barton could move his motion, the suggestion that he should postpone it till 2.30 to-morrow was accepted, The House adjourned at 3.10 a.m, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, October 31.

Before proceeding to business Sir Dillon Bell warmly denied the Premier’sstatementthat he had in the Council said that the Natives should be punished for having passed the Land Tax Bill. He (Sir Dillon) expressed his regret that on the close of their lives Sir George, with whom he had worked for years, and who knew his opinions op native affairs, should have in

face of this bo misrepresented him. Members on every side supported Sir Dillon, and the Colonial Secretary said it was most likely that the report of the Premier’s words was incorrect. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, October 31. In the House of Representatives, Mr BARTON, in bringing forward his motion respecting th judges, said his only object was to elicit an expression of opinion, and as bo many members had gone, and the session was so advanced, his object was futile now. He therefore asked that his motion might be withdrawn, which was granted accordingly. After some discussion regarding the Mongonui (Bay of Islands) Electoral Bill, which related to alleged malpractices in connection with an election there, the Bill was withdrawn. Several adjournments took place during the afternoon on account of the conference between the two Houses respecting amendments in several Bills. The Attorney-General said there was so much business that he did not think the House would be prorogued to-morrow, and probably not before Saturday. It was announced that the Council did not insist upon the Public Works Amendment Act and Financial Arrangements Act. The following is the report of the conference on the Railways Construction Bill;--“The managers being unable to agree upon the question whether clause 3 of the Bill is or is not an appropriation clause, recommends that the amendments made in the said clause be omitted, and that the Ministry advise his Excellency the Governor to avail himself of the power of the 56th section of the Constitution Act by transmitting the following amendments for the consideration of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, instead of those that the Legislative Council proposed. • Provided always that no contract shall he entered into for the construction of any railway or any portion thereof, unless, (1) in the case of each line to bo constructed, plans and estimates shall be laid before the Governor in Council, with a certificate from the Chief Engineer that the route chosen for the railway is the best available one ; (2) such plans and estimates to be approved by the Governor in Council, and it is hereby declared that within thirty days after the commencement of the then next session of Parliament, such plans and estimates shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament, together with a copy of any contract which may have been entered into in respect to which such plans and estimates refer.’ ”

Friday, November 1. The House met at eleven this morning, when the Appropriation Act and Public Works and Immigration Appropriation Act were brought down from the Legislative Council. The Attorney-General referred to a question of privilege in connection with tho report of tho conference last night, and asked the ruling of the Speaker. The Speaker was understood to say that the Bill being an appropriation one the Council had exceeded its powers in amending it, and he objected to a clause being brought down by message, which he considered would be a violation of the privileges of the House, After a considerable pause, the message was received from the Governor containing an amendment in accordance with the suggestion contained in the report agreed to by the conference of the previous evening. The Attorney-General proposed that the amendment be agreed to. Mr Bichardson congratulated the House on the fact that wise counsel had prevailed so as to put a satisfactory termination to the conflict of opinion which had prevailed during the last two days It was fortunate that both Houses had agreed to a modification of their views, and also fortunate that the Bill did not pass as originally submitted to the Council. Mr Hlslop said if it were not so late in the session he would oppose the ameddment, as there was an important principle involved. The amendment was then agreed to, and the House adjourned till 1. On resuming at one o’clock the Speaker announced that the Legislative Council agreed with the amendment which came by message from the Governor. The House then adjourned till noon to-morx-ow, the prorogation takes place.

. Wellington, November 2. The House met at noon to-day, when the Speaker read a schedule of the business during the session, after which the members repaired to the Legislative Council, where Parliamentwasformally prorogued by commission to the 14th January next. The commission consisted of the Hon. Major Richmond, Sir F. D. Bell, and the Hon. Colonel Whitmore. Twenty-three members of the House of Representatives were present.