PARLIAMENTARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1308, 6 August 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

LTSGISLAITVH! COUNCIL Thuksoay 4uea«t 5 Tho Coun il met at 2.30 p,m. bill* Mr Renclds moved the second reading of the Loan Bill, In doing so he ex** pressed the hope that it would be passed rapidly at this late oeriod of the session Sir Fred riok Witsker opposed the motion o i wie grou ;d that cor.ain railway lines in th| Bili had not been authorised by Parliament. After discussion the Bill was referred to a select Committee. Several other Bills were dealt with.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; The House met at 2,30 p.m. KJtJ’ORT. Mr Lamach brought up the report of the Committee appointed to search the journals of tha Legislative Council iu respect to the Gold Duly Export Abolition Bill by the Council. On the report being read by the clerk, Mr Larnach moved that a committee be appointed to search for precedents, to learn the relation | of the House of Lords to /the House of

Commons in respect to money Bills, and taxation remission and imposition, etc. The motion was agreed to. WAGES. Replying to Mr Taylor, Mr RGbvdson said that Government had not intsrferred in any way with the payment of permanent laborers in the emp'oy of Government ; temporary laborers only were to receive Gs per day, while permanent hands received Gs Gd. nrrTa

On the motion of Maj >r Atkinson it was resolved that tho Fisheries Conservation Act Amendment Bill be committed that day fortnight. Mr Ballanoe moved the second reading of the Special Powers and Contracts Bill, which was brought in to grant special powers to tlia Governor to issue Crown | grants, and to enable him to carry out certain contracts and promises- Ho said that as the Bill would have to go to'the Waste Land Committee, he hoped the Home would consent to the second reading, and allow the debate to be taken on the third reading. After some discussion the motion for the second reading was agreed to. The House weut into Committee on the District Railway Purchasing Act Amendment Bill,

Mr Montgomery moved that the amount, £35 000, which it was proposed to pay in cash, be struck oat He considered It was too much by about £20,030 to pay iu cash. The debate was interrupted by the 5- 80 adjournment and on resuming at 7 30. Mr Montgomery’s amendment was put Ayes 21, Noes 21. The chairman said he would vote with the Noes, in order to lessen taxation. O donel Trimble moved to substitute £27,000, which was carried by 29 to 28. Colonel Trimble then moved that the Colonial Treisurer shall sell debenture bonds at two per cent instead of seven. Mr Richardson said he mast consult his colleagues, and progress was reported. £ On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr Macandrew said that Government should take measures, and give effect to the petition of F. D. Rich and others, wib regard to the Shag Pui I coal mine He said he had taken the matter up partly on public grounds, and partly in order to do justice to an Injured man. The mine would have to be closed unless the recommendation of the Committee were given effect to. Mr Balance said the offer made by Government to Rich in 1884 was accepted in full, and he had no right to re-open the claim now. After some debate tie motion was carl d by 34 to 26. In answer to a Macandrew said the Committee’s recommendation involved the earn of £3OOO. Mr Taylor moved that the next sitting of the Assembly be held in Christchurch. Lost on the voices. The House proceeded to oousider the Estimates Cla’a 11, Minister of Public Works £780,500 was passed. Class 10, Minister of Mines Mr Allwright moved to strike off the Increase of £SO to the Inspecting Engineer.

on the voices. Mr Sutler moved to strike out the Korea's s’udge channel £7OOO. Mr Larnach hoped the House would do nothing of the kind. Mr Peacock and Sir M. O’Rorke asked If Government would not take advantige of the Auckland University College Professors to give lectures on mining in the north instead of bringing Professor Black all the way from Dunedin at great expense. Mr Seddon defended the Knmara water race system, and urged that the returns published showed it paid 1H per cent. The county would be quite willing to take over the sludge channel if the Government did not insist on tacking the Wairaea water race on to It. Colonel Fraser offered to give a cheque for £30,000 for it on the spot. Mr Soddon explained, in answer to a question, that there was no connection whatever between the Waimea race and Komars workings. He proceeded at length to disclaim any personal feeling in the matter. The amendment was lost. Captain Sutter then moved to reduce the item £7OOO by £2O 0. Lost on the voices. Mr Peacock thought the item £4OOO for lectures in mining districts ought to be reduced by half.

Col. Fraser vigorcu ly defended the value of Professor Black’s labours, and said the Auckland professor had never shown the slightest Interest in the work. Mr Seddon spoke In favor of Professor Black’s services, and Messrs Trimble, McKenzie and others thought the amount too large. Sir M. O’Rorke said an application was made tc Government for the Auckland professors’ services, but from the answer given it h'd been determined to place the whole cf last year’s vote at the disposal of Professor Black. Ho asked if the circumstances of the colony warrantad such a large expenditure as proposed. Mr Larnach said the nature of the

work Involved heavy travelling expenses. Auckland had made uo sign until Profetsor Black had appeared on the scene with his stiff LcHares had already given great results and would yield greater In future. The question of reducing the item by half was put and negatived by 28 to 25 Mr Peacock moved to reduce it by £IOOO. Ayes 28, .noes 27. Dr Newman moved to reduce contingencies £IBOO by £2OO. Lost by 28 to 21. The total vote as reduced to <£30,713 was then passed. Cass 1 Legislature £18,390. —Carried. Vote £6875, Audit Office —Carried Vote £17,072, Registrar Generat’d Department.— Carried. Vote, £4325, Agent-General's Department —Carried. Charitable Aid, £ll2O My Hutch took ex option to the hurried appointment of Dr McGregor as tire Inspector of Asylums.—The vote was carried. Major Atkinson asked how much further it was intended to go with the Estimates. Mr Ballance said ho hoped to finish thorn ] that night. 1 Major Atkinson demurred, and objected 1 to such late sittings. They were longer 1 ‘bin jo the provipus session,, and he said j

Government would not get the Estimates through if they persisted. After considerable discussion, the Estimates were proceeded with. Vote, £42,808. Lunatic Asylums.— Carried. Vote, £22,322, printing and stationary —Carried. Stock Brac#h, £29,lls.—Carried. Miscellaneous, £21,063 —Carried Progress %as reported, and the House rose at 3 50 a m.