LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 42, 23 May 1844, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THURSDAY, May 16, 1844. T |f e adjourned meeting took place at half past II o dock. The Governor and all tie members were present. I he -minutes of the last meeting were read, and a few alterations in the standing rules were made, after which they were confirmed. According to notice previously given his Excellency laid before the couboil, a Bill to authorise the issue ot debentures, and make them a legal tender. He stated that he had sufficient authority from the Queen to issue them without the sanction ofjcouncii, but finding doubts were entertained of ■their legality and a disposition to depreciate their value, existed with some portion of the public, he resolved to bring in a bill to make them a legal tender. ° The Colonial Treasurer moved the first reading of the bill, which was opposed by Mr. Brown, who suggested that the “ Imprisonment for Debt Bill ” should take precedence, as it appeared to him to be connected with the subject of Debentures, a discussion then ensued, when, the Governor, the Attorney General, and Dr, Martin opposed Mr. Brown, who finally withdrew his objection. & The bill was then read a first lime. Treasurer in order to accelerate the ‘ Debenture Bill” moved that after the bills which were to be brought before the council that day, were read, the stauding rules and Orders be suspended. The Governor before suspending the standing rules, reminded the Council that the sooner it passed the better. The only immediate want is a circulating medium of an undoubted character, lhe Debentures should be received as cash payments, there could be no doubt ihev would be paid. He therefore seconded the proposal of the Colonial Treasurer the prosperity of the Colony depended on tl, t bill; if deferred, distt ess and'ruin would tte the consequence. Mr. Clifford said, that as they were issued, the Sooner they were made a legal tender the better. Mr. Brown contended at length, that Debt mures ought not to be made a legal lemhi, but should be allowed to fiud their own level, indeed said the Hon. Gentleman, I consider the procedngs in this case illegal altogether. Dr. Martin could not see the force of Mr. Brown s objections. Debentures having been issued should be made a legal tender, lie would say nothing of the expediency of the measure, that was not the question, no donbt good reasons ex. isted for their being issued, great distress he was

sure would arise, unless they were made, as soon as possible, a legal tender. He supported the measure. A discussion theu ensued, in which Mr Brown, opposed the motion, that the standing rules be suspended. The Governor proposed an alteration in the rule which, as it then stood, enabled one member opposing the motion, to preveut the suspension of the standing rules and orders. His Excellency moved as an amendment that the standing rules could not be suspended unless two members present were opposed to it.

The amendment was then put and carried. The Governor said he had proposed laying before them the estimates for the ensuing year, wi ll the several bills for imposing taxis on land, houses, and d"gs; and a bill for appropriating tire revenue to certain purposes. He had 'every information on the subject, but it was not in proper form. On Tuesday usxt he would be ready, when-every information would be given. The Governor then laid before the Council the “ Bill to establish Courts of Requests,’' and to repea! the *■ County Court Bill ” which was read a first time, also a £ * Bill for the Relief of- Persons Impriscii-d for Debt.” His Excellency explained the nature of th s bill which was read a first time.

The Governor then moved the second reading of the Debenture, bill.

Mr. Brown opposed the he believed that the issuing of Debentures to a.small amount was a necessary measure, but he objected to making them a legal tender, be believed 30001 the probable amount of tfie circulating medium its New Zealand, therelore 15,00G.Z of Debentures would be too much. A lengthened discussion then ensued, when all the members who spoke opposed Mr. Brown’s, arguments. The Governor considered the circus lating medium in New Zealand to be about 18,0001. Dr. Martin felt quite sure it could not be less than 10,0001.

The Colonial Secretary said the Military and Missionaries of New Zealand drew annually from England about 60,0001, and with such means in the colony, be did not apprehend any venience would arise from the amount of Debentures proposed to be issued. Dr. Martin suggested that they should be issued in triplicate, for the convenience of parties wishing to remit to Sydney. The Governor had no objection, if the Colonial Treasurer saw none. The Colonial Treasurer saw no difficulty, and suggested also the issue of Debentures for small sums.

The bill was then read, and considered clause by clause. Upon reading the first clause Mr, Brown proposed as an addition, that Debentures for small sums from 10s to 6 d be issued. After some conversation 5s and 2s debentures were agreed to. Ist clause allowed. On reading the 2nd clause, Mr. Brown stated that he should oppose making them legal tender. 2nd. Clause was then carried, Mr. Brown being the only dissentient. Preamb ie allowed. An alteration in the schedule being suggested by lhe Attorney General, and approved of, the further consideration of the Bill wa3 deferred till Saturday. The council then aujourned till Saturday, IBth instant. SATURDA Y, May, 18, 1844 The Council assembled according to adjourns .Blent, all the members were present. IDs Excellency entered the room at half past 11 o’clock, * Jho minutes of the last meeting were then read. lhe Governor in order to prevent any unnecessary waste of time, proposed an alteration in the 11th rule, dispensing with the form of reading the whole of any bill brought forward. Some furthei alterations were agreed to, in order to prevent unnecessary delay, by the vexatious opposition of any one member, who could as the rule then stood, by moving an amendment upon every clause, seriously protract public business. After these preliminaries were settled, Dr, Martin gave notice that he should move certain re-mtiitious next week, which he handed to Clerk of council to read, when a question arose as to the propriety of resolutions being read, before they wbre submitted to the Governor, for approval, who according to the Royal instructions has the power of putting his veto upon the introduction of any measure he may not approve of. His Excellency had "no objection to the heads of such resolutions being read. The resolutions were on the subject of Emigration, Customs Establishment, and improvement of the condition of the Aborigines, physically and morally, by effecting some change in the Protectorate establishment. It was proposed by Dr. Martin, and agreed, that this day week,(Saturday) be fixed for the introduction of the resolutions. The Governor then moved the order of the day, for the farther consideration of the Debentuie Bill. Some alterations in that part of the form relating to interest on debentures were made, with regard to the issue of small sums. The form being altered was read and passed. The form was then added to the schedule, relating to the issue of debentures in triplicate, for remitting sums to the neighbouring colonies. Passed and ordered to be engrossed. Colonial Secretary moved that the standing order' be set aside for the consideration of the Debenture Bill, ; Mr. Brown moved an amendment tbat the Peb.entme Bill be adjourned untiil this day six months. The Governor then put the motion of the Colo - nial • - eC‘«san, which was cartied, the bill was then ; lead a t ntd time, , M r - Brown then rose to protest against it, and the protest was read. I he Governor objected to the protest being re-* ceived, as it was then too late, the proper time for proiesting being before the council have decided, which was the custom adopted in the House of Commons. He would leave it to the council whether or not the protest should be received. A long discussion heie ensued. Dr. Martin considered M r. Brown’s coarse extremely vexatious and imprn; er, lie perieclJy agreed with the Governor that

it would he unfair to send home the opinions of the minority against the measure, without also stating the reasons of the majority who carried it. Mr, Clifford was for receiving the protest. The Attorney General opposed it, because be did not approve of a onesided statement going home.

The Governor put the question whether or not the protest offered by Mr. Brown against the Debenture bill, shall be received by the CouncilMajority against receiving the piotest. Some discussion theu took place, relating to protests in lutnre, when the question was deferred till Tuesday next. Adjourned until Tuesday, May 2lst, at 11 o’clock. TUESDAY, May, 21. Two petitions were presented from the Licensed Victualers of Auckland, one praying for “the reduction of the tax on Public House Licenses, and that merchants may not be allowed to sell so small a quantity of spirits as two gallons, and the other against the tax on rooms. Ordered to lay on the table.

Mr. Brown stated that that portion of the De-. benture Bill. which related to issuing Debentures in triplicate, was open to much fraud, as it would be possible for the holders of the bills in triplicate to make use of all three, for instance, he might send one to Sydney, one to Wellington, and the other to South Australia, or any other place, and obtain v.siue for each. He moved’ that the D bentuie Bill as far as it related to issuing Bills in t iplicate should be reconsidered. The Governor could not agree with Mr, Brown, he could not see that they were more liable to fraud than merchants bills of exchange, which were issued in triplicate, but lie felt obliged to Mr. Brown for the suggestion, and; :t should be 'considered before bills in triplicate were issued. v The Governor wished the resolutions of Dr, Martin, which were fixed for reading and discussjou on the tollowing Saturday, to lie over for the present, as so much important business was on hand ; he had no objection to the resolutions being read, on Saturday next, but be wished to defer the discussion of them, until other business of a more press* ing nature was dispatched. Dr. Martin consented. The Governor then laid before the. council a statement of the liabilities and assets of the cos Sony, showing a balance in favor of the colony, after paying all debts, of about 14,000 ; supposing the laud belonging to Government, which is about 186,000 acres, be valued at 5s per acre. He estimated the house tax, at about £I,OOO lax . , '2OO Land tax *„ , -10,000 Customs, &c. . . 14,000 From the Home Government . 10,000 _ „ Total £35,200 His Excellency stated that a certain sum is ne« cessary for Government purposes,lie had reduced the expenditure already 10,000 f, in a few months he should know the extent of aid that would be afforded from the Home Government, he confessed that the estimates laid berore them, were very unsatisfactory, still they were the best he could then make, he did not think it prudent to make any fuither reduction in public salaries at present, as it aught prove very imurious to the co'ony, but if after knowing the extent of assistance he could rely ob from England, he found it necessary, of course it must be done. The several bills for taxing houses, lands, and dogs were then laid,on the. table, The Governor stated that the Sheriff would be appointed commissioner in the Gourt of Requests, without any additional salary. He had consented to allow a small annual income for the Pilot, to reduce the charges of pilotage on Masters of vessels. The surplus of the Post office last year was about 4001, this surplus, whatever -it might be, was ordered to be sent home, but he was of opinion that it should be appropriated to repairing roads and opening post communications to the different settlements in the colony. The Land Commissioners may be expected to close their labours in about a year, but still after that, one resident commissioner would be required. He proposed reducing thesalary of Police Magistrate, from 3001 to 2001, per annum, but he would be allowed a small per centage on all taxes collected by him.

He also proposed disedarging three constables from the police establishment m Auckland, and sis milar reductions were made at the other settlements. His Excellency then referred to the Protectors* of Aborigines, whose assistance he very much valued, for several reasons, especially on account of their influence with the natives, which he believed to be very great, he considered it impossible to dispense with their services, and would rather at once retire from the government of this colony, than attempt to go on without them. Dr. Martin then gave notice that he had several farther reductions to propose for their consideration, which would bring the annual expenditure to about 20,0001, instead of 36,000 Z as estimated by the Governor. The council then adjourned till Thursday next.