PARLIAMENTARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1306, 4 August 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tuesday Avgust 3. The Council met at 2 30 p.m. Mr Peacock moved—“ That in the opinion of this Council the Prisons Regulations bo altered so that the treatment of persona confined for safe custody and committal f or trial be made as little oppressive as possible.” Luo motion was agreed to. The Loan Bill was received from the House and read a first time.

The Settled Land Biii was read a third time and passed.

The Public Trust Office Bill was read a second time.

The Harbor Board Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee progress reported, and leave granted to ait again.

The Council adjourned till next day.

HOUSE Of REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2 30, REPORT.

Mr Ballance brought (op the report of the committee on the motion for searching the Jou nals of the Legislative Council with reference to the re j action by the Council of the Givernment Loans to Local Bodies Bill,

Sir Julius Vogel said ha should introduce the Bill ag-iu to-morrow by mersaga, and ho hoped the House would pass It through,

TIB a ARY. Mr Macandrew moved that It be ceo-im-raended to the joint Library Committee that a regulation should be framed whereby books may bo lent to members of the Legislature residing outs'de Wellington during the recces. The motion was agreed to. QUBfeTtONS.

In repty to questions it was stated that Government could not put a sum on th* ifsiimatea for capitation for honorary volunteers ; that the Minister for Public Works hid issued instructions that skilled labor was to be paid at the or iinarycurrent wages obtaining in the colony, but as to unaki 1;d labor, that 6a par day should be paid to all man subsequently tikan on V.y Government; that tha advisability of providing funds for the payment of witnesses hi criminal oases in the Supreme C urt would be considered during the recess, end that case* of real hardship w .uld receive special cons daration ; that the question of providing a portrait gallery for hist nidi purposes in connection with the Parliamentary bui'dings was one which should be referred to the bpeaker, who would doubtless make a recom nendatim t> the Government; that it was not true thst £4O had b an charged by a member far travelling expenses In connection with his atUnlance in Parlial - ent in the session of 18S5, but a charge of £33 h"d boon made for the oouvayan e of two members from Springfield to Hokitika, but theSpsaker had disallowed it. and and an allowmoe was made of £7 10-, as that w s. reasonable, the members being dit lined th>ee days.

B LtS, The Government Insurance Bill was read a first time. NORTH ISLAND TRTTMC RAHWAY. The Mouse went into committee on the North Island Msiu Trunk Railway Loan Appropriate Bill

. Mr Peacock asked weather clause 3 loan to bo carried. to a .separate account —wiu’d effict the object of keeping the ban exclusively for the purpose voted, Sir Julius Vogel said that no hcnorable meirber had taken more piir.s to preserve this loan f.-r the purpose for which it was voted than he (Sir Julius Vogel) had taker. When the attention of Government waa turned to the loan after lea*, session they had made great sacrifices in not issuing it. Iha Government would adhere to the provisions of this Bill, and would tske grest care that the loan should be devoted to ih>t railway alone. As to the quettu.n of the land grant, that would depend on t ! 'e vote of the House. If he wore a North Inland member he would admit that no more beneScial proposal had ever been male by any Govern* ment than the present proposal. He believed it was desirable that this land should be set apart for railway purposes. Ho desired to'say that Auckland members might rest assured that Government would only use their loan for the purpose for which It was designed, Maj ir Atkinson said that Sir Julius Vogel had made a definite proposal on the question. He should certainly oppose the clauses for takirg £103,000 of this loan for native land purchases. He hoped the Committee would carry oat without flinching the proposal to ear* mark this loan, so that it could be devoted solely to the purpose for which it was originally brought jown. He would move that progress bp reported, in orc|er tbit the proceedings might be reported m Hansard.

Mr Macarthur said that as a North Island man, he was quite willing to the responsibility or his action on this Bill. He hoped the Committee would oppose the Treasu'et’a proposal to take a portion of this loan for the purchase of native lauds.

Sir Julius Vogel hoped that Major Atkinson s motion would not be agreed to, as it would prolong the session,which many members were anxious to bring to a close

Mr Montgomery and My Dargavilla supported the debate being reported, as it would save time in the end

Sir Julius Vogel soi l he would consent ta report progress, and make * statement at 7 33 p.m. The House rose at 5.30

EVENING SITTING On resuming at 7.30 p.m progress waa reported, and Sir Julius' Vogel moved the further consideration of the Bill in Committee. He reported the statement he had made in the afternoon, and added that if the House refused to sJlow the £1(0,000 to be diverted for the purchase of native lands it must take the responsibility. The money‘wou|d have to come out of the Public Works Fond. Major Atkinson said no credit could bo attached to the Government for not touching the loan, for it would have been in direct opposition to the wishes of the House. They wanted some decided statement from the Treasurer about the amount of to be purchased this year, and ss to how it was to be settled. Mr Peacock was glad to hear that the £IOO.OOO would have to come oat of the * Public Works Fund.

Mr Montgomery thought that the Go-

vernment ought to oppaly self the House to agree to the money being provided lor these purchases and op ning them up out of loin. He would rather see a small

Loan Bill bronght in for that purpose .than that the Bail tray Loan should be diverted from its legitimate purpose's; proposed Mr M. oartbur was ttronjly against the diversion of any portion of the loan. After some remarks from Captain Setter Mr Kerr and Mr W. F Backland, Sjc Julius Yogol replied, twitting Mr Montgomery with advocating for ip >re borrowing, and Insisting on his own right to defend himself against the attacks made on him this (e:sion. He added that if the princely endowment contemplated in the Bill were rejected hy »hj House they wonld only regret it once, and that would be always.

The Bill was then ordered to be committed.

Major Atkinson moved that the debate in Committee be reported, wh'eh, after some discussion was negatived by 41 t 033. In Commit'ee Colonel Trimble asked what necessity there was to spend money on tosgging the Wanganui r|yer, 9 *

Mr Richardson said it was to Rive access to sums heavy works in the centre of the hue, the construction of which would otherwise be rendered much more ccetly. Captain Sutter moved that the clause sotting apart £IOO,OOO out of the loan for t is purchase of Native lands, be struck out. Negatived. Major Atkinson moved that clausa 5, sotting apart land so bought for raJways and reserves, le struck out Mr Wnkefie’d also m protested against ♦he land being locked u’j as entirely defeatB2 ho purpose of railways, which was to open up coun'ry. Sir Julius Vogel said endowment! were given to harbor boards and other bodies : Why refuse those offered in the Bill i Mr Moss moved as an amendment that these blocks of land be set apart from time to time as the Gen ral / s embly direct?. Air Fulton asked if the principle o; endowment coaid not fco applied to other lines ;to ‘hs O ego Central for instance. A discussion arose on the quality of the land being purchased by Government, during which Mr Locke said ho knew they were now negotiating for the purchase of a block of 40,000 or 50,0-3 acres at Is 61 or 2s per acre which the late Ministry had refused at 8i per acre, and he himself would not give the value of thi survey for it. Mr Ballance acknowledged some of the land was of poor quality, bat in this particular instance negotiations had not be-n began by his Government. Ons block having forty miles of frontage to the lino which had been described ns worthless, w e really, acordirg to the very heat testimony, some of the finest land in the island. 3he bid soil vas nsarly all on the east side of the mountains, and not in the dutrict immediaie’y by the railway. Mr Moss withdrew his amendment, ? and the clause was carried intact by 28'. to 20. j Mr Beetham moved a n«=w clause, to the effect that any Imd obtained under thl! Bill should be subject, to the provisions of clause 246 of the Land Act. 1886. The motion was lost on the voices, rud the Bill reported. BILLS The Deeds and Instruments Registra tion Bill passed through Committee without amendment. The Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee A new olatre was moved, to the ifl.ct that one year i ftor the passing of the Ac’ no one shall cany on the manufacture of cordials or bottling of any kind io a brewery under a pmalty of £2J. —Ayes 25. noes 10. The Bill was passed with amendments. The three Bills were then read a third time and parsed. The House rose at 13 55 a m