PARLIAMENT.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1277, 30 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

I • : Wellington, July 25. : The discussion of the annexation fcommittee's report was continued, and Ultimately the following resolutions were agreed to : — (1.) That the steps taken up to the time by the Government in conjunction with other of the Australasian colonies to promote the establishment •of British rule in certain islands in the Pacific be approved. 1 (2.) That the British Government should, under existing circumstances, take steps for the establishment of, its rule over such islands ifo-the Pacific as >; are not already occupied by or under the protectorate of a foreign power, be detrimental to the interests of Australia. (Carried by 49 to 19.) ; (3.) That in the event of its being made an absolute condition of annexation that the colonies of Australasia shall contribute a fair proportion of the cost, it will be necessary that a (Statement of the amount to be contributed by this colony should be furnished by the Imperial Government before Parliament is called on to concur in a course which may involve serious additional taxation on this colony. . ' . (4.) That the Federation and Annexation Bill, with the amendment proposed by the committee, be passed by the House, and that the papers named in the schedule laid by the colonial "treasurer before the committee relating to the annexation of islands in the Pacific, together with such other papers relating to the subject as Government can supply, be printed for the information of Parliament. ' ' ■■' '•'•..'" The Minister of Justice laid on the table a return showing the number of civil and criminal cases heard at the Supremo Court, Hokitika; showing also the number of witnesses and the locality from which they came. The number of criminal cases are nine; witnesses number fifty-six. The localities are one from Murray Creek and from Greymouth ; three from Eumara ; three from Hokitika, and one from Waitaha, near Ross. The civil cases number eight ; four from Greymouth j two from Eumara; and two from Hpkitika. The witnesses examined numbered thirty-three. 28. In the Legislative Council yesterday Mr Pharazyn moved — " That in the opinion of this Council, the payment of the honorarum to its members should cease after the present session." Mr E. Reynolds seconded the motion pro forma, and then commenced to speak against is. The Colony did not desire members to be out of pocket. Colonel Brett considered the motion of an offensive character. The motion had been discussed to his knowledge three times, and each time had been thrown out with indignation. He begged to move the previous question. Mr Richmond did not consider the Colony desired such a change. Mr Peacock would not support the amendment. Mr Nurse considered that the last man who should have brought forward such a motion, was the mover of the motion. The motion was rejected by 6 against 25. The Property Tax Bill was introduced by the Colonial Treasurer in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, and read a first time. The Colonial Secretary introduced the leaseholders Qualification Bill, which was also read a first time. The Trustees Bill was committed, read a third time and passed, and the House afterwards went into Committee on the Confederation and Annexation Bill (Sir George Grey), Fugitive Offenders Jurisdiction Bill. Murihiku lieserve Grants Bill, Tonantable Native Commonage Bill, Bankruptcy Bill, Bills of Exchange Bill, Married Women's Property Bill, and Affirmation and Declarations Bill. The Confederation and Annexation Bill went through Committee with an amendment providing that the Parliament, instead of the Government of New Zealand, as originally proposed, should have the responsibility of annexing the islands in the Pacific The Fugitive Offenders Jurisdiction Bill did not undergo any alteration whatever, and the Native Bills already

mentioned issued from Committee without- serious amendments. The Bankruptcy Bill was then further considered in Commijit^e. s E ventusJly^pftV the' motidrt • "of, the* 'Minister in. enrage, progress was-re-ported. . .-i.. ■' !:&.■'' '■ . \, ::■. ' ; :: " The Affirma|ipii atjjd ;Declj(|a?tiQn Bill {M> Bi>ll^^^n*ca ! a|^^|/yfus;iieitK considered in tfcmraittee; lii reference to clause 2 Mr Mason spoke in condemnation of the system of administering and taking "6a tns," and moved an amendment tq trite the word 1 ' "shall" for ttie word; " may," and to strike out other words i of the clause* which would then" read as follows : — " Where, by any law or enactment now, or that may hereafter be in force, any person is required or permitted to take an oath, such person shall make a sqlemn affirmation. and declaration in the manner prescribed by the Act, instead of taking an oath." This would make it necessary to take an affirmation instead of an oath. Mr I< ish supported the amendment, as also did Mr Stewart, each exnressing their conviction that the taking of an oath had no deterrent affect whatever in regard tb'giving^alse evidence. Mr Eolleston i objected tk> the j>rpword"nTay," whichT^fter ' considerable discussion, was carried by 83 to 80. . ' The word " slfall " was then inserted on a division of 44 to 24. After the supper adjournment Mr « Turnbull moyed^ / ,that,...progress be reported. '■ Mr Bolleston, itough not believing himself in the abolition of oaths, accepted the decision of the Committee, 1 , and asked that the remainder of the Bill might be altered in conformity with that decisioij. Clause 8 passed without alteration^ an<i consequently the amendmenta^rer]efie.ctedun suc^ ceeding elausesVan^t tn^ JChafrrrian was instructed to report^ #fche Bill as amended. |t* ?v / The consideration ia^ Committee of the Married Womhi's Property Bill was further postponed, owing \to the Jate^ur. ,1 „-* > f r ](f\, f I |Che Annexaftrfm fetia Bill was then rep >rtec| read a third time, and passed, i s alsp the Fugitive Offenders Jurisdic; |on- pßill, MurikU Natives Reserves j tGran't Billi and Tamutu Native Coi Jnotta^e Bill. • ;The House {them bse£fcllr2tfa.t>i