PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1277, 30 June 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE CUUNCIL,

Tuesday, June 29

Tha Council met at 2.30p.m. buta f t'r 1 some formal business, adjourned as a i mark of to the late member, the Hon T. Henderson. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, June 29. The House met at 2.30 p.m. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY, The House went into Committee o! Supply and Deficiency Bills to the extent of £375,000 were renewed on the motion of Sir Julius Vogel. PETITIONS Sir George Grey presented petitions from 1800 electors and settlers against tha Contagious Diseases 4ot, from 763 electors of Auckland praying for redistributions of representation, and from a resident at North Shore, Auckland, ask« Ing for an enquiry Into the conduct of certain Government officials at Rotorua duringthe recent eruptions. BILLS The Coal Mines BUI was farther con--1 sidored in Committee and reported with amendments.

The House went into Committee on the Local Bodies Loans Bill.

A lengthy discussion took place on the clause empowering local authorities to borrow money foe erecting school buildings. The Premier pointed oat that some districts might not bein posltloutoerect school buildings, and the clause was intsuded to allow them to borrow for the purpose Thera was no compulsion whatever in the clause. He said Government could not constantly go Into the money market to borrow for the erection of school buildings, and in a few years borrowing would have to cease altogether. Major Atk nson hoped the clause would be withdrawn. He said the matter was of so much importance that it should be dealt with ss a whole and not in piecemeal fashion. Ho quit t agreed with the Premier that borrowing would have to cease in a few years. Mr Montgomery also urged its with brawal. Ha considered borrowing money for school buildings was quite as legitimate as for roads and bridges. Oaptvln Eus’oll tbenght. that whether the p e eat clause was a good one or not, eventu illy tha whole education system would have to be berne by the local bodies. Captain Sntter, Dr Newman, Mr Barron, Mr Lake, and Mr Fisher opposed the clause. Sir Julius Vogel defended tha clause, and denied that Government wished to save any thing by it. Mr Saddon moved as an amendment to the clause, ti insert “may raise money also for the erection of mechanics' inati tutes, schools of art, and schools ol

mines.” The amendment w»a lost, and the original olmwe was than put and struck out on the voices. After a lengthy consideration the Bill was passed. The Govornmont Loans to Local Bodies Bill was consid red in Committee. The House went into committee on the C ‘ti .ties lull.

MrGuioaoaa proposed to place the audit in the hands of the Auditor-General, following the precedent of the amendment made this session in the Municipal Corporaf ions Act. The Premier said it would be better to the presant system until the whole* method of local audit could be dealt with in a special bill. Mr Menteath spoke strongly against nominated auditors.

The Premier pointed out that the present auditors would probably have to be compensated. Mr Holmes was In favour of elected auditors.

This clause was retained on the voices

Clause 181 and 189 were amended to enable counties to borrow up to six times the amount of one year’s rates. The Premier said if the loans to Local Bodies Bill became law, he anticipated the wh le of part 9 of the Counties Act relative to borrowing would become inoperative. The remainder of the bill passed with minor amendments, but notice was given of some new clauses, and one or two were postponed for further considnadon. The House rose at 1.20 a.m.