PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 998, 18 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 17. bills. The Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill and the Fugitive Offenders Jurisdiction Bill were introduced by the Hon Mr Whitaker, and read a first time. COLONEL M'DONNELL’s PETITIO N. The Hon Colonel Bkett, as Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee, moved —“ That the petition of Colonel McDonnell for further recognition of his military services bo referred to the Government for their consideration." Sir G. Whitmore moved—“ That the Committee should re-consider the petition.” After some discussion the matter was adj urned for a week. tenants’ fixtures. 'Die Hon Mr Whitaker moved the second reading of the Tenants’ Fixtures Bill. After a short debate the Bill was read a second time by 20 votes to 10, and was referred to a Select Committee. The Council adjourned at 4.45.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 17. The House met at 2 30. busden’s libel. The Hon Mr Rkyce made a personal explanation in re the Rusden scandal. He said that this was a matter in which the House had already taken some interest, with the view of clearing his character from the charges made against him. Two courses were open to him—the first was to proceed against, Rusden by way of criminal information, and the second b> way of civil proceedings. He had intended at first to adopt the first of the courses, but upon enquiry he found that a great deal of time and expense would be involved. Witnesses on both sides would have to be taken Home from this colony, and the process would be otherwise objectionable ; in fact, it would necessitate his absence from the colony for a lengthened period, besides incurring very serious costs. The second course, viz., the civd procedure, he had determined upon. By that means he would be enabled to have proof taken in this colony by commission; and while the same object would be obtained as in the criminal proceedings the cost would be much less, for he would not be compelled to take witnesses H* ne. His object in referring to the subject at all was in its relations to a motion on the Order Paper by Mr J. B. Whyte, proposing that the cost of the criminal proceedings should be provided for by a sum on the estimates. Having made these explanations, he would ask that the mover ot that motion should allow it to lapse, as it would be manifestly improper for public money to be given to assist civil proceedings. NEW ZEALAND LAND COMPANY’S BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of the New Zealand Native Land Company’s Bill, Mr DeLautouk said he had intended, before asking the House to read the Bill a second time, to have proposed the appointment of an impartial Committee to consider the Bill, and enquire fully into the object and transactions of the Company. For this purpose all necessary documents had been received in Wellington, but this Committee was now unnecessary, as the Government had intimated that they objected to the Bill on public grounds, and could not permit private legislation on matters affecting native lands and bearing on the native policy. He quite recognised the right of the Government to take up such a position, and that the good government of the colony would be impossible if Government were denied such a right. He therefore prop sed to abandon the preamble of the Bill and all the clauses relating to general or public matters, leaving the Bill to consist solely of the first four clauses, which dealt with matters, purely personal to (he Company. He would move the postponement of the second reading for a week, that the Government might have time to consider the Bill in this new form. If they still objected to it, he would abandon the Bill altogether, as the results sought could be obtained at the expense of a few hundred pounds by re-registration. He concluded by moving the adjournment of the Bill for eight days for the purpose stated and subject to tbe understanding mentiored above.

The Hon Major Atkinson said the position of the Government was that matters of large public interest should not be dealt with by private Bill. On behalf of the Government he would be willing to agree tc the postponement till next week. In the interim, he would inform the mover what view the Government had formed on the Bill in its new shape. In the meantime he guarded himself against any expression of assent or dissent. The m< tion for adjournment was then put and carried. QUESTIONS.

Replying to questions, Ministers said: That the Government had referred the claims of sufferers by the fire at the Dunedin railway station goods shed to the Law Officers of the Crown, who were now considering it. Mr Wilson, who was acting for the sufferers, had been informed that the Government would accept the notices of their claims already given as sufficient.—That the Government would not, during this session, introduce a measure to endow with waste lands, hospitals and charitable institu ions throughout the colony.—That Southbridge was considered by the Government to be the proper place for holding the sittings of the Resident Magistrate’s Court for the Ellesmere district, and not Leeston. —That the Government would procure all the latest information obtainable with regard to the working of the Contagious Diseases Act in England and on the Continent, to be laid before the House next session.—That the Government would not undertake to offer for sale under the pastoral deferred payment conditions, sections already surveyed in the Malvern district, and supposed to contain minerals. PRISONS BILL. The amendments by the Legislative Council on the Prisons Bill were disagreed io, and a Committee appointed to draw up reasons for dissent. CROWN GRANTS BILL. On the motion of the Hon Mr Rolleston, the Crown Grants Bill was read a second time. He explained it was simply a consolidation of the present law. The House adjourned at 5.25. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. SHERIFFS BILL. The Hon Mr Dick moved the second reading of the Sheriffs Bill.—Agreed to. AUCTIONEERS BILL. The Hon Mr Dick moved the second reading of the Auctioneers Bill. It proposed making a uniform fee for licenses of L4O throughout the whole colony, with the right to the licensee to conduct sales in any part of the colony. The Bill was read a second time. PREVENTION OF ADULTERATION. The Hon Mr Dick moved the second reading of the Adulteration Prevention Act Amendment Bill. Mr Sutton contended that the Act should be more extendo 1 in its operations, and made to include the analysis of liquor. Toe Hon Mr Dick, in reply, said that he had the suggestion of the previous speaker under consideration, and expected to be able to bring down a clause which would nuot his views. Bill read a second time. bills of exchange.

The Hon Mr Conolly moved the second reading of the Bills of Exchange Bill. Bill read a second time. LAND ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

The Hon Mr Rolleston moved the second reading of the Land Act Amendment Bill. It was a continuation of the liberal scheme of land legislation in the colony, initiated by Mr Donald Reid in 1877. The tendency of that and the Amending Acts he had since introduced was to obviate that class conflict against which so much complaint was made. The land laws had a great deal of bearing on the material wellbeing of the community at large. The Acta he had had the honor of introducing had for their object the giving increased facilities for the obtaining of land from the State for bond fide occupation. The great object was to prevent the land being acquired in the first instance in large estates, the breaking of which would in after years be a work of great difficulty. The revenue last year had not been as large as it was in the previous years. The reason of this was that several large blocks had been withdrawn for railway purposes, and no effort had been made to force sales. There was also another cause, viz.-, a tightness in the money m irkot. Taking the operations of the last three years they would

compare favorably with preceding periods however, the average being L 197.000 per annum. Although the actual money returns this year had not reached those of preceding years the general policy of settlement had suffered no abatement. Since 1870 not less than 10,000 people had been settled on 1,000,000 acres of land under the deferred payment system, and many of them had since obtained the freehold. Despite all that had been said about the settlers trying to get out of their payments, there was only at the rate of L 22 per head for 867 settlers in arrear. Upon the whole the system worked well. Perpetual leasing was next referred to, and he had great faith in that system, and it was pleasing to him to find that the recommendation of a Commission appointed by the Legislature of New South Wales was practically in favor of the system which had been adopted here. This system was an effectual check to the accumulation of large estates, and no one person could hold more than the one allotment. Whatever were the effects of ihe deferred payment system in this respect, such was the effect of the leasing system. If he had his own way he would not alienate another acre of pastoral country. The Bill aimed at laying out blocks of land all over the colony as they were now on the goldfields, for perpetual teases, giving the tenant the value of his improvements at the conclusion of the first term. The provision for improvements had been carefully considered and adjusted so as to suit the circumstances of this class of settlement. It appeared that the deferred payment system was not stringent enough as regards checking speculation, and it was proposed to enforce further restrictions. This provision, he believed, would operate as a check to speculation. By patting in the provision for residence, which was proposed in regard to the deferred payment pastoral settlement lan s, he was hopeful to be able to check dummyism. He would ask them to affirm the general application of the prinfiple of pastoral leasing, as the more he saw of it the more it recommended itself to his mind, and so far it had been a success.

Mr Bathgate supported the Bill as a farther step in the right direction initiated last session. He bore testimony to the success of the leasing system. Anything that put a stop to speculation in Crown lands, and to screwing an extra price out of the hand fide settler, ought to recommend itself to their best attention. He suggested that the residential clausa (clause 16) should be widened so as to make a residence by a member of the selector’s family sufficient. Mr J. P. Thomson supported the Bill, as a measure designed to settle people on the lands.

Mr Joyce said that if they could have listened to a speech like that delivered by Mr Rolleston twenty years ago it would have been well for the colony. Now it was like locking the stable door after the steed had been stolen. Large portions of the landed estate of the colony had been alienated at nominal prices, and now they proposed to conserve the small remainder. The result of that was to make all future settlers the taxpayers, and let the others comparatively free. His idea was that they should alienate the whole land, and impose such a land tax as could prevent anyone from reiaining the land for speculative purposes.

Mr Petrie spoke in favor of leasing the land, as compared to the system of selling it out. He would support the BUI. Mr Montgomery said that the leasehold system having been affirmed by Parliament last session, he would say nothing against it now. Mr Holmes considered the Bill one entirely in the right direction.

Mr Fulton denied that the paHies who opposed the leasing system were mostly land sharks and land speculators. Mr Pearson supported the Bill. The Hon Mr Rolleston replied. His object had been to make a gradual advancement in the policy already affirmed. He had brought down proposals that would improve the deferred payment system rather that do away with it altogether.

The Bill was read a secend time, BANKRUPTCY BILL.

This Bill was further considered in Committee. The remaining clauses were passed; clauses 178 and 183 having technical alterations made in them. Schedule 2 was also amended. The Bill as amended was reported and ordered for re-committal on Friday, with the view of considering certain new clauses. The House rose at 12 25.