PARLIAMENTARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1305, 3 August 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Monday, August 2

The Conn il met at 2.30 p.m.

On the motion of Dr Pollen it was decided that a return of the number of cadets appointed to the Civil Service during the past three years, other than those skilled in medicloe, law and navigation, bo furnished.

On the motion of Mr Taiaroa a Fill to lessen the expenses of litigation in Maori suits or actions was read a first time.

The Speaker said ho had received a message from the House asking for leave for a Committee of that branch of the Legislature to inspect the Journals of the Council relative to the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill laid aside on Friday last.

Mr Beynolds moved that leave be given. Mr Mantell dissented, and the Speaker declined to pul the moticn. The Settled Land Bill was considered In Committee; several amendments of no great importance were agreed to, and the bill was reported with amendments. Mr Beynolds’ motion to allow access to

Committee of the House to inspect the Journals of the Council relating to the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill was agreed to. The Administration Extension Bill was read a second time. A message from the House stated that the Parnell Cathedral Site Bill had been passed, also that the Council’s amendments to the First Offenders Probation Bill had been agreed to. The Otago Harbour Bridge Bill was considered in Committee, and reported with amendments. The Civil Service Beform B ; H was further considered in Committee, and a new clause, giving power to the Colonial Secretary to appoint cadets was considered.

Dr Grace moved as an amendment, that cadets be appointed by oompetive examination yearly. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. The Council resumed at 8 30 In Committee on the Civil Service Reform Bill. A discussion ensued, resulting in Mr Grace’s amendment for the annnal competitive examination of cadets being agreed to olr the voices.

The amendments by the House in the Harbors Act Amendment Bill were d'acusaed and the debate adjourned till next day. The Port Chalmers Fire Brigade Site Bill was read a third Urns and parsed Several other Bills were advanced a s L age in Committee. The Christchurch Municipal Offices BUI, and the Oamaru Harbor Board Loan Bib, were further considered in Committee, and agreed to without amendment. At &.40 the Council adjourned till mxt day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The Honaa met at 2.30. p m. BILtS Mr Balance said that the Legislative Council had made seve al amendments in the Native Land Administration Bill, which were not of an important character, but which would, in fact, nuke the Bill more workable. He detailed the various amendments made by the Council. A now clause had been added to the Bill, which he considered of an Important nature, namely, that the occupier ofle«cd land may obtain a renewal of a leaee for a term not exceeding fourteen yjars None of the amanimonts made affected the principle of the Bill, and he would merely move that they be adopted by the House. After considerable discussion the motion was agreed to. Mr Ballanco moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Native Lands Court Bill te agreed to. A lengthy discussion ensued, Mr J. Thompson moved that the amendments he agreed to with the except:oa of clause G 7, which provides that lawyer j may practice in Hatiye Land Courts. The amendment was lost by 35 to 28, and the amendments made by the Counc 1 were agreed to. Sir Julius “Vogel moved the second reading of the Deeds Instruments Registration Bill, the object of which was to facilitate the registration of deeds and instruments. Under the Bill district agents may be appointed for transmitting ! instruments for registration under the I Deeds Registraion Act. A further provision of the Bill was that all perpetual leases under the Land Act may be registered. Mr Samuel thought there was no particular necessity for the Bill and pointed out that the registration cf deeds was not at all machancial work. Mr Downie Stewart looked on the Bill as a very mischievous one, and he thought it wou'd result in much insecurity and litigation. The Bill would also practically introduce a new local department without any corresponding benefit being realised. Mr Donald Reid also strongly oh j ;cted to the Bill. Mr Kerr supported the Bill. Mr Guinness also supported the Bill, and said he was surprised at the opposition tc it. He hoped that if it were not brought into force in any other portion of the colony, it would, at any ra*e, be so in Nelson and Westland, as it would be of great Benefit to those districts. Mr Ivess hoped the Bill would become law. as it was one that was required. The House rose at a 30 p.ra , and re; aumed at 7.30 p.m. The debate was continued by C iptain Sutter and Mr Tarnbnll, and the Treasurer having replied, the Bill was read a second time by 49 to 10. The Public Trust Office Act Amendment Bill, which adds the Minister of Native Afftirs and the Sarveyor-General to the board, was read a second and third time, and passed. In answer to Mr Ssddon, Air Larnacb said he would state next day what would be done regarding the Gold Duty Reduction Bill, which the Council had refused to consider

LOAN BILL ( On the motion for the third reading of the Loin Bill, Major Atkinson said that the Premier had always insisted that borrowing should be for reproductive purposes, but Ministers had all been bitten with the Treasurer's ideas, and it was not until it becirae evident that the House wonld not have it that Sir Julius Vogel was Induced tc draw in his schemes. He

| recapitulated the arguments he had used in discussing the Financial Statement and on the second reading of the Bill, and contended that the Government had virtually shown that the statements he then m\da were perfectly well-founded. Something like £(ioJ,o£)o of the loan would practically not te applied to railways at all, but to make good the £BOO,OOO. liability. It would simply be misleading the British public to ask tor this loan on | the ground that it was for railways only. He demanded to know why the loss of £175,000 would, as the Treasurer said, be disastrous to the colony’s finances. He denied that it was so, and stigmatised it merely as a threat of the Treasurer’s. The Government bad really never faced the qnastion before them. Uhe Premier did not know what Sir Julius VVge.’a pro posals meant, for they were in direct conflict. He reiterated that there would be no money for general works next year, and they bad a right to know how tie Government Intended to provide fc r them. He'.himself bad no doubt it would have to be from a fresh loan ; yet the Govern* ment had pretended to make oot the finances for two years. The {sot was the

Treasurer was too strong for the Premier, and was radically gett'ng his own way. Tbe consequence would be increased taxation next year. Mr Wakefield said be had or posed every loan Bill brought in while he was a member, and he intended to vote against this. He had always disagreed with Sir Julias Vogel’s policy initiated in 1870, and contrasted its remits wi h the promises of its founder. Oar revenae was falling, yet this was the moment chosen far adding £60,000 a year to out harden. How were Government going to get the money 1 The capitalists of London had an idea of the reality of affairs In this Parliament, and in this colony the loan would be a dismal failure. The beat thing that could happen (or n« would be to atop borrowing on Interest. The railways already made did not pay, and never would while they were worked undertaking. Government so far from as a public convenlnce and not as a commercial realising the expectations of striking out now lines had prepetuated the “ bad old policy ” by bribing districts whhbirrcwad money. Ho quoted the Te drohaGraharastown line as an instance He deployed the passage of the Bill in the shape it had assumed, and concluded by moving that the Bill be read that day six - months.

Mr Joyce said that Mr Wakefield was • Cassandra in trousers. Nobody believed hia mournful forebodings wonll come <o pass. Ho defied anyone to say we should have been as well eff now without pnblie works.

Mr W. F. Buck’and said Mr Joyce's knowledge of c’a sical lore was vague, and took him to task for misrepresenting Cassandra. Mr Joyce denied this, and produced an encyclopedia from the library, from which ho proceeded to quote. Mr Hursthouse disagreed with spending money on railwaj a only. It was n t a paying thing, and would only make matters worse to go on bu 1 ting nonpaying and fragmentary lines such were proposed in the schedule of the Bui. Mr Peacock did not believe in spend* ing all the loan on railways, and disapproved of many of t’.e lines in the schedule. Mr Moss blamed not the Treasurer, bat those who, while disbelieving in hia policy, still presiated in carrying it oat. He hoped it was not yet too late io see Government come down and initiate some bold policy which would invigorate tha country. Mr O’Coror said the cansns returns showed it was the population of the towns, not the country, which bad increased by the Public Works Policy, Loan money ought t j be devoted to buying land along railways and settling the people on it. He did not believe in trunk railways. Dr Newman considered the Jovornmeut had totally failed to keep their promises of carrying the existing lines to a paying point, linking up mnch required connections. He entered at length on the question of the merits of the various lines, and the cost of our railways. Mr Hobbs said if Govercm >nt were not prepared to make the lines themselves, they ou'ht to allow syndicate to doit, as in the case of the Midland Railway. It was ridiculous to allow £SJ,OjO only to the main t mk north of Acc land, which would p-y hra'aimeb, Mr Montgomery said It was evidently in the minds of the Ministry that m midion at least voald be borrowed next session, and he hoped the Treasurer would say explicitly whether they proposed to raise it then or wait til IQBB,1 Q BB, It would be unwise in eve y sense to stop borrowing new, but he held they cou’d easily taper off. Mr Bryce adverted to the personal attacks which had b?en made < n himself in the course of the debate, and said he had been trea'ed unfairly with respect to hia actions when Native Minister. With respec' to the debate on the Bill, be contended that Government had led the House astray as to their intention regarding it. He saw no n 'ceesity lor many of tha lines mentioned in the Bill. We were borrowing at too rapid a rate, and the payment of increasing interest would be felt as a very great drain on the resources 'of the colpny presently. He could not see how it was to be met without extra taxation next year. If the Premier would adhere to the principles he had laid down during the debate on the second reading, he would have Mr Bryce’s support, He could not vote foe tha amendment but if he thought a modified Bill would-be brought d iwn, he weald support it. Colonel Trimble could not support tlui amendment, and Mr G. F. Bichardpop denied that he bad been put up by Usjoc Atkinson to move his smendm nt on the second reading. He had not beptt prompted by any one. The question wss then put and Mr Keyr called for a division. On being appointed Teller bo said be did not Intend to vole against tha Bill, bat wss told by the Speaker ha must give hia vote with his will.

Ayea 55, Noee 7. Mr Kerr explained that he had called for a division merely to ascertain who the non-borrowers were. The noea were Messrs Ham : in. Hirst, Hursthonse, Kerr, Levestam, O’Connor and Wakefield. The Bill was read a third time and passed, and the House rose at 12 35.