POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 474, 1 July 1890, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE PROGRESS OF THE SESSION. [special to standabd.J Wklukotos, Friday. Things have taken a queer turn now. Sir George Grey’s cross shot having completely shattered the Opposition for the time being. The division was of course nothing in the •hape of a party vote, but some of the usual weaklings who like to be on the strongest aide, imagining the division to be an indication that the Government’s side was the stronger, of course are now inclined to hop that way, while sympathy for the Premier has had a lot to do with the turn things have taken. There seems, indeed, no one in the House fitted to take the leadership excepting Sir Harry, weak and all as he is, and certainly

the other Ministers are wretchedly poor in debate. The debate on the financial proposals is expected to be taken on Tuesday. Mr Arthur essayed his maiden speech this week, and was accorded the nsual compliment to new members, a kindly hearing and warm applause. Mr Taipua, a Maori member, objected to Messrs Arthur and Kelly (Tauranga) being included in the Native Affairs Committee alleging that they were gicnliarly interested in native lends. Mr elly strongly resented the imputation against him, stating that though he had been Chairman of the Committee for several sessions, it was the first time any insinuation had been made that he was unworthy of a seat on it. Mr Arthur, suffering from a mixture of affectation and nervousness, rose and said in effect that though he had been engaged in native land transactions for years past the Judge bad reported that all his transactions were thoroughly honest. He (Mr A.) felt hurt at the imputation made, and / especially regretted that his first speech in the House was in reply to such imputations. One point made by Mr Arthur was rather comical coming from a new member. He said it was well known the native members to having on the Committee persons nmo bad an expert’s knowledge in native matters. This from a new member is likely to be taken in a very different sense to that intended. Indeed Mr Arthnr may yet have sprung upon him that little point concerning the private letter to the Chief Judge. It does not matter how honest his transactions may have been, a man who takes upon himself to make such communications can never after its disclosure expect to be regarded as Cesar's wife was. In connection [with the appointment of Judge Edwards, Mr Hutchison referred attention to the[neat' way [in which the appointment was worked. It had been generally understood that Judge Barton was to be given the position of Commissioner, everyone recognising his special qualifications for the position, but in the meantime he had been put on a Land Court case with another Judge. Individually they were both good men, but it was known the arrangement would certainly end in a rupture, as it did, the Government hastily taking advantage of the trouble to confer the Commissionership On Mr Edwards. After making these significant remarks Mr Hutchison pointed out that Mr Edwards had acted as counsel in many of the cases, and he also referred attention to the admissions made by Mr Graham, as reported in the Gisborne Staxdabd. . In his reply the Postmaster General denied there had been any collusion concerning Judge Edwards’ appointment. Scant courtesy was shown by the lawyers of the House last night to the author of the Law Practitioners Bill, the passing of which they seem to dread so much. Sir George Gray having, by an oversight, set down the committal of his Bill for a date which he had not intended, the few opponents of the measure refused to give their consent to the rectification of the mistake, and as absolute nnanimity was required under the Standing Orders, in the absence of notice of motion, three or four men were able to prevent the act of simple justice to which the great majority of the House was favorable. The professional opponents of the Bill received sundry nasty knocks in the course of the debate. One of the most amusing came from the member for Sydenham. That gentleman was arguing that Sir George’s Bill would, if passed, tend to improve the status of the profession. “How?” interjected Mr Fitzherbert, himself a lawyer. "By getting a few iutelligent men into it,’’ retorted Mr Taylor, with cutting irony, whereat the House fairly roared. The following is a report of the discussion : —Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners Bill, to entitle any person of good character to be admitted to practice on passing an examination in law—dispensing with the general knowledge examination.— Mr Samuel thought the effect of the Bill if passed would ba to increase the

number of incompetent lawyers, who would not feel that they bad anything to lose if they misbehaved themselves and neglected their clients’ interests. It would largely increase the class of practitioners who touted for business, and took up whst was known as •' try-on ” actions.—Mr Taiwhanga supported tbe Bill, and caused some amusement by stating that if it had been passed last year he would have defended the “ poor Maori ’’ charged with the New Plymouth murder, instead] of tbe last speaker.—Mr Downie Stewart thought the people did not require the Bill, and it would cause an infinite amount of mischief. Personally he did not care whether the Bill was passed or not, but he claimed that it would cast a slur on the professional men of the colony, and prevent the New Zealand lawyers from practising in other colonies if they wished to Dr Fitchett, as an examiner in law, said that any man who could master our law would have no difficulty whatever in passing the general knowledge exami. nation. Tbe profession was already overrun, Bjtfl many lawyers were glad to hire themselves ■Tas engrossers at 4d per folio.—Messrs >WBith, Saunders, Taylor, and Verrall, supported the Bill.—Mr Rhodes moved the adjournment of the debate.—Sir (George Grey protested against tbe amendment, and said nothing could be more convincing as showing what lawyers were than that it should be moved, so as to close his mouth.—The amendment was lost, and after Sir George Grey had replied vigorously, the second reading was carried by 35 to 22.—Messrs Joyce, W. P. Beeves, and Hutchinson ware the only members of tbe profession who voted for the Bill,—The committal of the Bill was set down for the 10th of July, and Sir George Grey moved that it should be made the first order of that day.—Objection was offered bv Mr Samuel, and it was then explained by Sir George that he bad made a mistake, and wished to have the Bill set down as the first order for the 3rd, when only two other Bills of bis own were as yet appointed to be dealt with. By unanimous consent the alteration could have been made, and Mr Seddon appealed to the House as a matter of courtesy to agree to the correction, but Messrs Samuel and Rhodes objected. Other members expressed indignation, and eventually the opposition already shown was withdrawn. Mr Fitzherbert then leapt into the breach in zealous defence of his profession, and barred the way. After much further discussion, the committal was made the first order of tbe day for the 10th, by 30 to 27.

Ministers were to day asked by Mr Barron what they bad done towards fulfilling the promise that they would abolish the Public Works Department? The Minister for Publjc Works esid the Government had been and waa still taking steps in that direction. (Laughter). As long as public works were going on there must be some supervision. When the Government took office there were IM officers in tbe Department. Now there were 57, and these were scattered throughout the colony. The House had decided that when all the loan moneys were expended no more would be borrowed, and it would then be quite possible to wipe out the remaining tail of the Department. An exceedingly expensive and not particularly instructive return was presented to the House—one showing the number of wills administered by the Public Trust Department. The Colonial Secretary, in laying it on the table, called attention to tbe fact that its preparation had cost £359, all the records of the office since 1872 having had to be ransacked. Mr Walker, who had moved for the return, said he did so in al! friendliness. He would like to have the taxing of the cost, but be thought the money would not be ill went U II eaued tbe Public Trust Often to ag£?

to mote activity. Sir George Grey also said that from the cost of the return the accounts of the office must be kept in a very complicated way. Mr Allen says that many electors esteem their rights so lightly that they can be purchased for a glass of beer, but was careful to explain that his strictures did not apply to the voters of Dunedin East. Mr Buxton, the member for Rangitata, boasts that there is no Justice of the Peace witbin twenty miles of his abode, and as the people resident there are quiet and peaceable, none is wanted. The prevalence of sheep stealing in the colony has induced Mr Anderson to put a notice on the Order Paper as to whether the Government will make it a recommendation to devise some means for its detection and suppression ? Mr Humphreys wants to know if tbe Government will this session introduce an amendment to the. Education Act with tbe object of more efficiently enforcing its compulsory clauses by removing tbe duty of appointing truant officers from tbe hands of School Committee and placing it in those of the Education Boards. Mr Carroll wants an amendment of the law so that half-castes and Maoris may be rendered responsible for the maintenance of their wives and children in cases cf desertion. The setting up of a select committee to consider all matters pertaining to the development of flex and dairy produce industries is being moved by Mr Beetham.