LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 61, 3 October 1844, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

Thursday, September 26th, 1844. The Conncil met this morning pursuant to ad« joumment. Present all the members, with the exception of Mr. Clifford. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Governor 'before moving the order of said, he wished to give notice to the Council, and to make as publio as possible the nature of the arrangements in contemplation for the ensuing year, and years following, in the event of receiving no assistance. It was the desire of all in the service of the Government, that the alteration should be made known. With reference to those whom the alteration would affect, the reductions would be in the following department:— Customs abolished ...«•••...*.•• £4oo° Land Claims Commissioners ....*••• Supreme and Local Courts ...••••••• 102° Land purchasers **** ....««• 800 Survey 560 Public Works, about ..•••••• 500 Magistrates «nd Police 400 Protection of Aborigines .... 300 Sheriff and Goals 170 Superintendent of the Southern Division 150 Postage 100 Greater reductions he could not make of the departments ; some were provided for by the Home Government, and not affected by the proposed reductions. The officers of Customs' will be keept on pay until the end of the present year, as there were many ways in which they could be employed, and he thought it only fair and just that they should receive oue Quarter's notice. The reductions in the Supreme and Loca| v Court» would consist chiefly in dispensing with thne Commissioners of the Court of Requests, and their subordU nates, which it was intended to appeint ; there would be only two. oue for the Northern, and one for the Southern districts. The Court of Requests Bill giving him (the Governor) power to appoint parties to' act as Commissioners in many places in the absence of the Commissioners. The reduction in the Commiss'ron of Land Claims, would be the salaries of the ClnVf Commissioner and Commissioner Godfrey .• he thougt by the end of the year that their services.could be dispensed with,, as the claims were nearly all settled. The item for Land Pur. chase would be discontinued, unless special funds were provided for by the Home Government.. The reductions he had mentioned, could only be considered as a proposition, amounted altogether to 10,0002. and |he|was happy to say, very few individuals wou d suffer.except in the Customs. The expenditure for this year was estimated at 36,0002.; for the next, 26,000/. from which we might deduct 10,0002., which be was sure would be provided by the Home Government; leaving 16,000/. to be provided for by the Colony ; should however, the amount of expenditure, through a very wrong estimate, reach 40,0002. this year, the proposed reduc tions of 10,0002. would leave it at 30,0002., from which we might deduct the 7,0002 , which we know was already provided by the Home Governmeni, which would leave 23,000/. to be raised in the Colony ; these might be considered as a maximum and minimum, 16,0002. would be the lowest, and 23,0002. the highest sum we should have to raise. Should we however, be unable to provide for the expenditure in either case, he should propose to charge a per centage from 4 to 102. per cent- on the salaries paid by the Colonial Government : about 6 per cent, be thought would be sufficient; he was looking at the question, iq every possible view, His own opinion was, that 10,0002, would for several years be sent to the colony by the Home Government, and that 16, or 18,0002. would be the most we should have to raise. The way and .means which appeared to him, wouldjbe for the rate on property .£BOOO Land Titles and Crown Grants .... 2000 Registering of Deeds 300 Law and Police Fees 500 Auctioneers' Licences 500 Publicans ditto 2000 Incidental 500 Making 14,0002.; he would not estimate the Cobs nial revenue, from all sources, at more than 11,0G07. for the ensuing year, to which we might add 10,0G02. more from the Home Government; if that proved to be the most we eould raise, further reductions must take place. He was sure before the end of the year, to receive instructions on the subject, until then he could not say what would be done. On the Order of the day for Jthe further corn's deration of the " Property Rate Bill," being moved— The Attorney General moved that the 3rd clause be amended, by erasing the two last words in the said clause, and inserting the words " hereby required to be made in respect thereof," in lien thereof. Clause as amended jread and agreed to. Dr. Martin moved that the 4th clause be amended, by erasing the word '* and," in the 40th line—also, by inserting after the word "Pensions," the following words, viz.,"and every other description of Income," Clause, as amended, read and agread to. Dr. Martin moved that before proceeding with the remaining clauses of the Bill, the. Schedule should be first considered, as most of the clauses had some reference to it. Agreed to; On Schedule being read, Mr. Brown moved that the following arrangement of the scale be inserted in lieu of thejcyriginal^scale—" When the Propel ty «

or Income, or both taken together, of any person shall not exceed— RATE. £ £ 50 0 100 •••• 1 200 2 300 3 400 ~ 4 500 s 600 6 700 i 800 8 90 O 9 1000 io Composition .....».<............ 12 On the question being pnt that Mr. Brown's proposed amendment be agreed to, carried in the affirmative. On clause 6 being read the Attorney General moved that the following words-be inserted at the end of the clause, " Provided always, that any person who may be liable to such rate or composition may pay the whole of such yearly rate or composition in advance," Clause as. .amended read and agreed to. Clause 7 read and agreed to. On clause 8 being read Mr. Brown moved that clause be expuaged. Agreed to. Clause 9 altered to 8. On clause 8 being read the Attorney General moved that the word " true," in the 20th line, be erased, and the word " highest," inserted in lieu the word " him," in 22tid line be erased. On clause 9 being read the Attorney General moved that the following words in the 25th line be erased, " either in his own right or as agent or consignee." Clause as amended, read and agreed to. On clause 10 being read the Attorney General moved that the same be expunged. Agreed to. The Governor moved that the numbers in the succeeding clauses be altered. Agreed to. The Attorney General moved that the words 4 * Provided that," be erased from the commencement of the 21st clause. Also, that the words " Provided also and," at the commencement of the 22nd clause, be erased. Agreed to. Mr. Brown moved that the words " (or on ac count of A. B.)."in the 2nd Hoe of Form of Return be erased, and that the word "or," in the same Hoe be erased, and the word ** and," inserted in lieu thereof; also, that the words •* or on account of," in Composition Form, bo erased. Agreed to. On the motion of the Governor, it was ordered —" that the said Bill be engrossed and read a third time on Saturday, the 28tb instant." The Attorney General then moved the Order of the dav for the third reading of the " Supreme Court RuUs Bill." The Bill was then read a third time'and passed. His Excellency then gave his assent to the Bill. The Council was "then adjourned to Saturday Sept. 28, 1844. - " Saturday, September 28th, 1844. The Council met this morning, pursuant to ad joumment. Present all the members, with "the except ion [of Mr. Clifford. * The miuutes of .the last meeting were read and confirmed. Dr. Martin said before the order of the day was moved he should beg leave to call the attention of the Council to the fact that £15,000 was spent annually in purchasing foreign spirits, and he thought there was no impediment in the way o* persons distilling in this Colony. His Excellency said that it would be a very advantageous measure for the colony, but as he had sent the bi'l home for the sanction of her Majesty he felt himself precluded from taking any further steps in the matter at present. His Excelleney said as some ooubt existed on his mind regarding the propriety of having the pros posed measure come into operation generally on the Ist of October, he would be glad the hon. members would exptess their opinion how it would act with those residing in different settlements, and whea ther it would not be ,belter- tqu.name some future day for its coming into operation at those districts some distance from Auckland, say the 10th or 15th of October, or if the bill came into (operation throughout the Colony on the lsrjof October.Jarrangements might be made with the Collectors to refund any duties paid to them up to the time the law was known in the respective districts, but it was not likely any grat quantity of goods would be taken out of Bond from the Ist to the loth of October, and by the latter period the law, he had no doubt, would be known throughout the colony. The Colonial Secretary objected to any money being refunded, as government officers migl.i have received it in payment, and there might be a diffi* culty in getting it back. His Excellency did not think that any great quantity of goods would be taken out of Bond at that particular period, but at the same time he would be glad to hear the opinion of the hon. members, perhaps the learned Attorney General would give hij opinion. The Attorney General said that he should be glad to see the bill come into operation on some particular day, perhaps if the 10th or 15th of October was named for the bill coming generally into operation would be the middle and best course. Mr. Brown could see no use in altering the day. His Excellency said under all circumstances, it was bis opinion that the bill had better come into operation on the Ist of October. His Excellency said there was another object in bringing the bill into operation on the Ist of October, and that was the present month closed the quarter, and he could see no unfairness in refunding anything that might be paid after the Ist of October. Dr. Martuwsaid that he could not see (what right the people at Wellington would have to any draw*

baok ; if they were allowed a drawback, others, and justly, would expect the same. After some discussion it was agreed that the bill come into operation throughout the colony on the Ist of October. A discussion arose as to the per centage to be allowed on the collection of the rates. Dr, Martin sajd it was his opinion that the peopie of Auckland would walk up to the Treasury and pay their rates without any further trouble! His Excellency said he hoped to find it as the hon. member, Dr. Martin, had predicted, but from the circumstances of the depressed state of the colony, he doubted whether people would be iosnch a hurry to the Treasury. It was eventually agreed that 5 per cent be allowed for collection. The Bill received His Exoelloncy's assent. His Excellency then rose and said—: "Gentlemen, " I am now' prepared to close this short, but most important Session of our Colonial Legislature. "There can be no doubt that the decision to which we have unanimously agreed respecting the abolition of Customs', and the substitution of a low rate on Property, will be of vital consequence to the prosperity of New Zealand. "That principle, so true and beautiful in theory, so difficult to be carried into practice in old Countries, the principle ef Free Trade, we-have here, in this new Country, (as it may be called)'in this youngest of colonies, endeavoured to carry into effect; " I say endeavoured, because the 'sanction of i our Gracious Sovereign the Queen is necessrry, in order to make that a permanent, which is now a temporary law, namely the ' Property dinance.' " That Her Majesty will be advised to confirm tbis Ordinance I cannot doubt, the peculiar character and unique condition of New Zealand appear to leave open no other wise course. " Nothing less than the most urgent sense of imperious necessity would have induced me to act promptly, and so decidedly, as I may appear t< have acted, on this important question. " The political horizon may be viewed more ge* nerally and completely from an elevated positk Dangers may thence be seen, not yet visible ft' oiher places. It Is impossible to shew to nianj* , the view obtained from a spot accessible to few. " One word more and Iw ill refrain from trespassing further on your valuable time, so cherfully and perseveringly given to the interests of yoai adopted country. "The Property Rate established by the vOrd J nance, to which I have expressed my strong convi tion, that so much importance attaches—is founder (as you are well aware, having contributed so materially to its construction) on the joint basis of Person, Property and Income. " By taking these into consideration together, scale has been formed according to which each individual may berated to the country; and as every one is alike interested in its efficient operas; tion, I rely with confidence under God's blessing, on £ the "general and cordial assistance which I believe will be given by our community. The Council was then adjonrned sine die.