PARLIAMENTARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1313, 12 August 1886, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE! COUNCIL. August 10. The Council mot at 2 30 p.m. The Council declined to accept the amendments of the House in the Harbors BUI, and a message to that effect was sent to the House. The Council decided to insist on two amendments in lha Counties Bill disagreed with by the House. Certain amendmen's alihby the House in the Deceased PerscmEs'ates Bill were not Insisted on.

The Special Powers and Contracts Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Waste Lands Committee. It was decided to insist on the amendments in the Municipal Corporations Bill which had been disagreed with by the House.

The Stamp Act Amendment Bill was committed, and progress reported. 11 The Council adionrned at 5 30 pm, w and resumed at 7.30. Dr Pollen brought up the report of the C committees appointed to draw up reasons why the Connell insisted upon their h amendments in the Counties and Muni- tl elpal Corporations Bill. Both were transmitted to the House, tl and the Council adjourned at 8 15, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. I The House met at 2.30. p ro. ii The Premier moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Counc'l t in the Hospitals and Charitable Aid la- v s'ltatens Bi'i be agreed to, with the ex- n ception of the amendment to separate f Fiako from the Thames and add it on to Waikato. s Mr White moved that this amendment \ also be agreed to. t After some discussion Mr White's h amendment was carried by 39 to 29. Sir George Grey desired to bring up a I personal matter with reference to a speech t made a few nights ago by Mr Ballance, In which he referred to him (Sir George t Grej) as being a promoter of the New Zealand Agricultural Company, and had j said there waa promoters and promoters < of that company; He wished to ask if ] Mr Ballance used the words attributed to ( him as they bad been sent to the newspapers. i Mr Ballance admitted that he had ] used th< se w irds, but said he had explained the reason why ha bad used them, which Sir George Grey had not given. He wished to say thst he had nothing to (Jb with sending it to the newspapers. Sip George Grey then said that he gave i the statement an absolute dtpiil. He should be sorry to be a promoter of that company. Mr Bailanca said he had spoken from memory of what had taken place in 1878. lie had since spoken to one of his colleagues at that time, and they stated that George Grey bsd given bis sanction |b tfcpcompanySir George Grey asked whether Mr Ballance stated that hp was a promoter of that company. Mr Ballance said that bis recollco'ion waa that ha stated that Sir George Grey had given his sanction to it. Sir George Grey moved the adjournment of the Housed and gave a detailed history of the case The Premier pointed out that his recollection was that Sir George Grey had cordially approved of the company. He believed that If the price of land had kept np, the Agricultural Company would have been very beneficial to the colony. Sir George Grey denied that he hid ever approved of the company. The matter then dropped. Replying to' questions, it was stated that if any amendmer t were necessary before next session in the Elections Petitions Act, Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, and other electoral acts, a Bill would be brought down dealing with them ; that £2OOO would be placed on the Supplementary Estimates in recognition Sir William Fox’s services as Commissioner under the West Coast Settlement. Act; that Government oonIJ not at

once order timber • n 1 iron for 'he tanui riser, on Its ’ vr apler-I > ilinor > ton railway ; that Gi v ■ cnm'Qt would aflo'd every encoursgem it'othafi'x ludu'-'ry. Mr Rosa reauor ' t! ■* debate on the Representation I>-Ha thought that an Improvement might be made in the conatru uion of the board. If population were taken ss a bast*, be admitted that the North Island was entitled to an increase, but if trvauon were considered, the South deserved the prepe dstance. He supported the amalgamation of city electorates and the reduction of members. Mr Pyke disapproved of the constitution ! of the board, nor was he much enamoured of automatical leprea-mtatlon The number of members w t% not too gre.t He obj -cted to popu’atioa ss the sole basis, and deprecated the cry of the north. If the electorates w. e amalgamated they might as well spply the principle to the whole colony. He contended that single electorates were the best, and the proposal was retrogressive. 1 f this Bill were passed, the Government -would not sit long on those benches next rossioo He intended to vote against the second reading Mr J. C. BuckUi.d urged those who objected to the Bill to vote boldly agsiust the second reading • t once, and not dally with the matter. U i disked the number of members being ft blank, end said it showed disurmn 'o the Government. The Bill was read a second tone with out a division. On the motion for c imm ttal tc-morrow., Mr Seddon moved t> insert that dM month, but was ruled out of order. The question wn then pu.: Ayes 39, Noes 29. The District Rail v Purchase Act Am niment Bill was further considered in Commit'ee. The House adjourned at 5 30 p.m. On resuming at 730 p rn. th« Rabbit Act Amendment Bi 1! was further considered. CUnse 36, giving boards power to levy a rate of threr-uxteenths of a penny, evoked a sha-p discussion. Mr Hurrthouse complained that they had not had time to conssider these clauses, and moved to rspirt p raas, Lostt on the voices. Mr Bryce protested against the slipshod stylo of continually bringing down new clauses to the B’Ts which, r ■ In the present, ossa were practically new Bills,

Mr Hurathouse said the rating clauses involved fresh taxation of £60,000 to £75,000 a year.

Mr Hiret asked if the town districts would be rated.

Mr Tele proposed that they should be excepted. Ihe clause was re* ined on the voters Another discussion arose over the clause proposed by M- f’cobie Mackenzie, giving stock-owners the right to vote by proxy.

3he Speaker held it was encouraging absenteeism; another thing it was only right that the mmegirs of stations should represent the : - principals. The clause wou’d only confer similar rights to those given by other Acts. The division was—Ayei, 23 ; Noes, 35. Clause rejected.

Mr J. C. Buckland said this bad d:tfranchi ed men who would have to pay a heavier rate.

The Bill was repo, ted as amende!. The Property Ai .essment B*l was considered in Committee.

Mr Macandrew s.»id the Bill w< s stealing a march cn church properly, to which It meant alo of £3ot oor £4OL I a year, He proter d against such a meaeure being forced at the ftg end of the session.

The Premier said the question was whether nearly a nr'”ion of property, mostly State granted l>ud, was to escape taxation.

Colonel Tiimble .■ tppo.ted, and Mr Bruce opposed the B Mr Rolleston syrup, tl’iil with Mr Macandrew, but th nght reason and argument were with the Premier

Mr Gair'ok instamod Cl ristchu'ch as a case where largo chui ;h endowments escaped almost free, though moilly Improved by extraneous ex* ondiurr. Clause 2 on wh'o'i the deba v had arisen wn curl' 1 by 35 o 17, end the remainder of the B 11 passed wi’h liti'o opposition. The Settled Land Bi'l v.as committed, and the Premier sa dhe hti ! <-vi to make certain amen*' menti to m-at the views of the spe kt j on the second reading. In clause 7, Mr G .trick objected to trust funds being ' vest d in the pu.chase of land as o t nirg the door to speculation on the p . l-; the trv tees. The clause w s ret-' it 1 by 30 t > 28. Consideration of the Bill w a inte--inptod to appoint m n; jars of cmfereno. a with the Council on *’ e amendments ’ i the Harbors, Count iss and Municip' 1 Corporations Bills. After the Ptopu.,’ Assessment Bill had passed its final s', jxs, consideratiotd the Settled Land B!V v. roaura. 1. Some further aim id s?enl s were made, the Bill rer d a th ; rd time and p s ed. The Miu-'ster of Fub ,: o Worl s moved the recommit' 1 of the t strict Railways Bill in order to looonsid' • certain clauses. He said purchase money I. id beer n laced in a small house, Mr Montgomery made a strong protest that tht House s-s stiT tbm when the clause w. i e'U’ed. Government would be do;r r sv.ong to try end force this upon the t-ouee.

Mr Sutter rene'nded members that something had b( sn dore with the Waimats railway 'r.st rcscion, enl begged them In take w.u : ng by what bad happened sin 3 the.'. Mtssrs Biyce, Bush*-.an, Duncan and Rollestin also pro'cjied ageiust inking the House by sui^rise. Mr Peacock moved ihe adjournment of the debate. Mr Richardson sa'd G varnment had no wish to fierce the ocstter on, bat he denied there bad been any su.prise es It had been known a’t night that Government would bring ihe matter in. The adj mrnment unt : l to-morrow was agreed to on the voi.es, and the House rosa at 12.45 a.m.