PARLIAMENT.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1294, 7 September 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, 6. In the Legislative Council yesterday the Land Boards Enquiry Bill, (which embodied the provision against " dummyism " contained in the Land Act Amendment Bill) was thrown out by the Council. The promised Bill for the reconstruction of the Council was laid on the. table of both Houses last night. It consists of 100 clauses and 14 schedules. It repeals the " Legislative Council Act, 1883 " and seeks to provide for the reconstruction of the Council after the Ist January. 1885. According to the provisions of the Bill the Council is in future to consist of members, three of whom are to be Maori members, to be named by the Government. Half the number of the present members are to retain membership of the new Council, these being elected by the present Council. No member of which, however, shall be entitled to vote for himself, Of the 22 so elected by the existing members, half again are to retire in 1880 (?), the remaining 22 are to be elected by the electors of the Colony, which is to be divided into 2 constituencies, one for the North Island, the other for the South Island. The qualification will be the same as for the election to the House of Eepresentatives, and eleven members will be returned by each Island, the term being- 10 years. Hare's system of representation is the one chosen, . The House met at 1 a.m. Dargaville. asked the Treasurer to Btate what opportunity would be given to Mason , to move the m-tion standing in his name, viz, " That the report of the Committee on the allegations of the member for Auckland West be adopted." The Treasurer said:— The motion will, I have np. doubt at al^ come on immediately 'after the Government orders of thexiay. It is the intention of tfie (rovorriment to ask the House to deal with the question. Shaw gave- notice that on the first day \ of next session he would move that the standing orders be altered, so as to provide that in future questions shall be asked>/without any comment whatever. Smith, rosei to protest against the manner, in which the Government had treated private members' business. Seddon also -had a grievance, viz., the throwing out of his Gold Abolition Bill. ■ The Treasurer denied that private members had been obstructed in any way in bringing their business forward, and maintained that " the legislation of the session had been exceedingly good .and satisfactory." Sir George Grey held that the whole country had been insulted by the overbearing conduct of the Government. He moved an amendment to the question that the resolution of the Committee be now agreed to. That ihe word "now" be struck out, with a view of adding the words " not until the original agreement between the Government and the Bank of New Zealand bo produced, or a copy thereof." Dargaville seconded the amendment. The Treasurer said there was no agreement, but if Sir George Grey meant certain correspondence which passed between the Government and the Bank in 1864 or 1865, he had better say so. The records were not to be found in the Treasury Department, and as Sir George had been in charge of that Department for a couple of years perhaps he could say what had become of them. At 1.15 p.m. the House adjourned till 2.80. Ojl S e HousG res «raing in the afternoon, M Kenzie asked the Minister of Lands to state what action he intended to take with regard to those provisions of the Land Bill which had been rejected by the Legislative Council. Eolleston expressed his deep re<rret that the Bill had been lost, and °feit convinced that the whole country from end to end would feel the loss of it in various ways, but he had this comfort that the action of the Council would bring about the remedy in the immediate future, and next session there would be no uncertain sound as to the wishes of the people. After further discussion the Treasurer s motion was put and agreed to on the voices. # The Appropriation Bill was then introduced. In the Legislative Council this morning, the Property Tax Bill and the Public Revenues Acts Amendment Bill were passed. The Council then adjourned.