HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 987, 5 July 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, July 4. The House met at 2.30. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said: — 'that it was not intended to give special inducements for railway passengers to take return tickets. The Government having a monopoly of the railway traffic, there is not the same reason for offering inducements in that direction as companies had, and they were more inclined to lower the ordinary fares so that the advantages of cheap traffic might be secured to all. —That all necessary instructions had been issued to the surveyors at present engaged making a survey of the North Island Trunk Railway route, and the Government had no doubt but that these instructions would abundantly sectwa the object in view of ascertaining the beat route —That the question of fencing railwaylines was unde; the consideration of the Government. —That the question of fencing railway lines was under the consideration of the Government. In cases where land had been taken and compensati'>o, paid, he believed that the estimated cost

of fencing' was included. The cost of t fencing would probably amount to i LIOO,OOO, and the Government was de- < siroua of ascertaining if it could not re- c lieve itself from that burden.—That the ( amount paid h r repair of railway lines ; damaged by floods was inc'ud“d in 1 the monthly publication of the c st 1 of maintenance of a railway line, but the exact amount of such damage was not kept separate from the other expenditure. —That the Government did not intend amending the law so that •• > person shall have more than one vote in the election of members for the House of Representatives, nor yet did they intend to amend the Regulation of Elections Act, 1881, so as to extend the hours for polling.—That the Government had already arrived at an interpretation of ihe Forest 'free Planting Encouragement Act, 1871, so far as it affected Mr Wason’s case, and as they had all along acted on that interpretation, they see no cause for changing their views, that no one under the Act should receive over 250 acres.—That no complaints had been made against Mr .James McDonald, the Sheep Inspector of South Canterbury, beyond the fact that he was raiher too old and feeble for the work requiring to be done under the Rabbit Act. The Government had given him three months’ notice, which was all they could allow by law, but probably the House if appealed to would deal more liberally with an old servant. —That with the view of facilitating the survey of the Canterbury West Coast Railway, survey parties would be started from the West Coast side to meet the party working lip from the east side of th i range, via Cannibal Gorge, so as to complete the survey in three or four months.—That the San Francisco mail contract expired in November, but arrangements have been made for its continuation for a further period of two years, with the right to terminate on three mouths’ notice at the expiry of twelve months. The total cost was L 43,000, from which L 39,005 fell to be deducted, leaving a balance of L 4,000 odd payable by this colony. REDUCTION OF HONORARIUM. Mr Barron moved—“ That, in the opinion of this House, the permission extended to members to absent themselves for five days during the sitting of Parliament without deduction from their allowance, in accordance with the resolution agreed to on the 25th August 1874, should not apply to the last ten sitting days of any session, and that in addition to the proportionate deduction provided for in such resolution a special deduction of five guineas per day should be made from the honorarium of any member who absents himself during the last ten days of any session.” Mr Shephard moved as an amendment —“ That all the latter clauses of the motion be omitted.” The motion as amended was lost by 25 to 33. BAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY. On the motion of Sir George Grey, it was agreed to go into Committee next Wednesday to consider an address to the Governor to request his Excellency to cause a sum to be placed on the Estimates for the construction of a railway for the connection of the City of Christchurch with the West Coast of the Middle Island. The Hon Major Atkinson reserved to the Government the right of opposing the proposal when again brought up. DECENTRALISATION. Mr Montgomery gave notice of the following motion :—“ That the existing system of Central Government has failed to realise the results anticipated, and that the promises and arrangements made at 1 the time of abolition of the Provinces have not been fulfiled. That in consequence of this centralising policy much discontent prevails throughout New Zealand ; that to ensure economy and efficiency in the administration of local 1 affairs it is necessary that all such local affairs, including public works, should be ’ withdrawn from the control of the Central Government and vested in local governing bodies elected by districts having a community of interests.” He said he understood Ministers would be prepared to give him an early opportunity for discussing ' this motion.

The Hen Major Atkinson said that he 8 understood that Mr Montgomery had no 1 wish that it should be accepted as a noconfidence motion, but if carried it might p result in such. There was no wish, how- ‘ ever, in the meantime to stop business, so 1 that he would give Tuesday next for its 1 discussion. 9 The House adjourned at 6.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. LOCAL OPTION EXTENSION. 3 Mr M. W. Green moved the second t reading of the Local Option Extension Bill. e Mr Fish moved the adjournment of the 3 debate to that day three weeks. After discussion the House divided on b the question of the adjournment—Ayes, 1 32 ; noes, 22. THE ANNEXATION QUESTION. Sir G. Gret moved the second reading of the Annexation and Confederation Bill. It was a most important measure, and t dealt With a question of wide interest. The Bill proposed a solution of grave 1 difficulties, and it would be beneficial to New Zealand in many ways. The Home 3 Government had made a move in the f same direction as he proposed, Mr Gladstone a few days ago recommending an almost identical course. The Hon Major Atkinson would not object to the second reading, but asked that the Bill be referred to the Select Committee already appointed on the an* nexation question. Sir George Gret agreed that the Bill should be referred to the Committee, and the motion for the second reading was [ carried. k Sir G. Gret moved that the Bill be referred to the Committee already appointed.—Carried. AFFIRMATION BILL. On the motion of Sir G. Gret the Affirmation Bill was read a second time. SHOPKEEPERS. Mr M. W. Grekn m >ved the second reading of the Regulation of Hours of Shopkeepers and Others Bill. Mr Fish moved, and Mr Fergus seconded, tint it be read that day six months. The House divided on the question of the second reading —Ayes, 22 ; Noes. 41. The amendment for reading it that day six mouths was carried. RETAIL SALES. Mr Bathgate moved the second reading of the Sale of Goods by Retail Bill. After discussion it was moved—“ That the Bill be read that day six months.”— The amendment was carried, and the Bill was thrown out. constitution amendment. Sir George Gret moved the second reading of the Constitution Act Amendment Bill. His task was a difficult one He was about to ask this one branch of the Legislature to sanction the abolition of ihe other Chamber. Ho looked upon that branch as an incubus and hindrance to the well being of the community. In seeking its abolition he was actuated by a sense of public duty. The only use 1 attribute ! to this second Chamber was £ that it induced careful legislation, but he t believed that was a mistake. He believed c that the experiment made in a colony , of one Chamber was successful. It had ® also worked well in South Africa and some countries of Europe. Great embarrassment arose from the creation of tl this second Guam bar. He had himself t; met with gieat difficulties from it. He a had had to modify hia measures, knowing that if he did not do so they would not pass the second Chamber. There were no distinct party lines in this colony, so that si

a measure going through this House would not be taken up in the other Chamber with the same certainty or chance of success. There could be no comparison between the House of Lords and their Upper Chamber as constituted hero. He asked, was not the whole regulation of the country moulded by the Upper House? When, a Ministry was formed colleagues had to be chosen from that House, and the Government had therefore to modify tlreir opinions in defer* ence to the opinions of their colleagues in the Upper House. Then again, the practice of members passing from House to House was a breach of constitutional law, and was a very damaging state of affairs. He contended that anyone having taken the oath of allegiance to his Sovo r eign in the Upper House had no right to abandon that position and come down to the Lower House, knowing that when it suited his purpose he would return to the place again from whence he came. The large number of members in the Legislative Council weakened the choice of new representatives, and by that means another great injustice was wioughi. He concluded by saying that the result of his observations had been that all second Chambers, even the House of Peers at Home, obstructed and delayed sound legislation and all reform in the interests of the people, and in that way it tended to evil legislation. He felt sure that the House could do all the work, and do it more efficiently by itself.

The Hon Major Atkinson said there were two reasons why the motion should not be passed. The first was the measure was of such large importance that it must be dealt with by Government if dealt with at all, and said the mover had not shown any reason why it should pass. There was no statement that the colony demanded it. The objection that certain Bills had not passed was not a sufficient reason, and that the House of Lords had legislated badly, and that there was no similarity between that body and the Legislative Council was certainly not any reason for believing that the Council would legislate badly. He denied that the Legislative Council had any influence in the making or unmaking of Governments. He was altogether ignorant of any such influence being exercised. The objection of members having resigned and taken their seats in the Lower House, and then, perhaps, gone hack to the Council, was not any objection, but, on the contrary, an advantage. If the people wanted the service of a gentleman in the Council it would be wrong to debar him from such service. It was always understood that the members of that body were at liberty to resign, and it would be most unfair to the colony to debar them from that privilege. Sir George Grey had told them this Bill was a life thought on his part. It was rather extraordinary that he should only come in at the eleventh hour and make known that thought. He had spoken to members of the Legislative Council without a word about this life thought and conviction until the Government proposed to deal with the question. It was out of the question for a private member to interfere when he knew that the Government intended to move in that very direction. It was announced in the Governor’s Speech, and when that proposal was given effect to would be the time for Sir George Grey to try and carry out his ideas on the subject. To propose a measure like this after the declaration in the Governor’s Speech was quae unparliamentary. The question was of such large importance that Parliament would not be justified in dealing with it until an appeal bad been made to the country. That was what Government proposed. He believed the country desired to see some change made in the constitution of the Council, and the Government would propose a measure t■ lia session to, take effect after the general election. Such being the case, he hoped Sir George Grey would see his way to withdraw the Bill. If not, he would ask them to refuse to pass the motion, and to wait until the Government had an opportunity of submitting its msaEure.

Mr Moss, although a Democrat, and because he was one, held that a Second Chamber was necessary to secure the liberty and safety of the people. The nominated system was the best he could conceive of. If they made large electoral districts the result would be that the best men would not undergo the trouble and toil of a candidature for such districts. After a long discussion, the House divided : Ayes, 11; noes, 35. The House rose at 1.10 a.m.