GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 2 August 1880, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

» Wellington, July 28, The House met at 2 30. Replying to Mr J. B. Fisher, Mr Rolleston said the Government had had no complaints from the local authorities relative to the Court He use at Lyell. He would make further enquiries with a view of ascertaining what better pro* vision could be made, Mr Reeves asked that the Government will, during the reccs.s, frame a Bill amending the Consitution Act, providing that all Ministers of the Hrowu shall, before taking office, have to be re-elecfed by their constituents. Mr Hall replied that if a measure of that kind were passed it would involve the suspense of business during the sitting of Parliament during the time members of the Government sought re-election, and for that and other reasons Govern" ment could not adopt the suggestion. Beplying to Mr Seddon, Mr Hall said that while the Government was desirous to give every possible encouragement for the development of goldfields interests, at this late period of the session they were not prepared to appoint a Eoyal Commission on the subject. Replying to Mr Reeves, Mr Bryce said that while the Government was anxious to answer any question put in good f.uth and were desirous of settling the native difficulty, the following question put by him (Reeves) was not likely to assist them iv that direction. In what cons sists the difference between natives on the We«t Coast, who Bte being arrested in considerable numbers for putting up ff-ncps across the road, and the natives in Huwke's Buy district who enter settlers lands to take forcible possession and plotigh un the same. MrWriuht asked whether the "Re-dis-tribution of Seats Bill wilt bo brought down before the last week of the ses* sion. Mr Hall replied that the Government intended to fulfil the promise mnde about bringing dawn this mensure. It would be circulated to-morrow. Some difficulty had been experienced in fixing npon the boundaries, but these had been now adjusted. On going : .nto Committee of Supply, Mr Thomson moved the re committnl of the Native Lands Court vote (£10.276;. with the view to getting it struck ont. Vote — Crown Lands, £21,855, was agreed to. Crown Linds, miscellaneous services, £13,325, ngrreed to. Survey Department, £93 436 3s 4d. Mr Rolleston proposed a reduction of £500. Mr Macandrew congratulated the Na* tire Minister on the reductions he had achieved, and hoped ho would live Jong

t'nough to sweep the wh'.le thing away. Photographic anil lithographic print, ing, £2607, agreed to. Arrears of surveys, £20.500, agreed to. Native Department. Mr Bryce said a considerable number of reductions haj been made in this Department. He enumerated the various officers whose services he had dispensed with. Salaries and contingencies, £13,453 10s. Agreed to. Miscellaneous services, £808 16s Bd. Agrepd to. Public Trust Office, £1280. Agreed to. Volunteers, £42,640 3s 9J. Mr Bryce moved that the vote be passed subject to a reduction of £9000. The vote, reduced as proposed by Mr Bryce, was then agreed to. The House divided on Mr Hurst's motion that the vote be further reduced hv £1500, amount payable to the New Zealand Rifle Association. Ayes, 42; noes, 15. \ The item was struck ou', and the vole as reduced was agreed to. Constabulary nnd contingent defence, £133,213 17s 61. ' Ultimately the vole wa9 reduced by i £9000. • ! July 29. In tbe Legislative Council, the de- j bate on the cost* of education was resumed by Captain Fraser who said the . expense to the State might b .s lessened 1 if the third of the children were kept 1 away from sehool'until the seventh or ' e : gbth year, as was advocated by medit cal men, and leading writers on education — Mr Chamberlain thought it was t unfair that bachelors and childless • men should pay taxed for education. — : The debate wns again adjourned. 1 The House met at 2 30. I Mr Saunders gnve nolice for the ap- [ pointment of a Select Committee to 1 consider and report upon the expense k of officials in connection with both . Houses of Parliament. Replying to Mr Reid, Mr Olivier . said the Government bad received an i official report from the Warden, etat--1 ing that a number of claims bad been ' taken up on the recently discovered goldfields at Mapourika, Okarito district. Eeplying to Mr Reevep, Mr Bryce said the claims sent in for compensation by constables who had got notice I of dismissal were under eonsidera* tion, and until they were dippoaed of it was manifestly unfair to ask the intention of the Government with respect to individual constables. Replying to Mr Masters, Mr Oliver said the Government recogn'sed the importance of, an<?<next session would r introduce a Bill to amend the ' RegulaI tions of Mines Act, 1874/ to provide 1 for the issue within the Colony of ' certificates of competency, aa manns ' gers of coal mines to those persons who are anxious to pass an 1 examination and prove their fitness to hold such. The preference shown by coa 1 r o-vners to appoint certificated mano- , sers only placing at great disndvanI tage those who, though thoroughly competent, einnot now ohtain certifis cates in the Colony.