HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1736, 15 December 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday— December 14, The House met at 2 30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ifc was stated 1 that a new valuation for property tax . putpoaeß would bo made next year^'but It would probably not be ready before freah taxation would have to be imposed ; that it waa shortly intended to open on lands reserved for railway purposes m South Canterbury, but three months' , notice would have to ba given before , taking thli step. THE BABBIT PEST. -'..; The Premier said Government fonod Ifc Impoaaible to conoldor the report of iha ; JolnTKiSDUie tfuisance Committee, owing to the press of business, but they thought that wire fencing having been authorised ahould be put up, tad they would arrange \ that the wire required for the additional length should be ordered by telegram. Mr Rcbsqll pointed out that the nn> ', authorised expenditure Incurred by the late Government m sanctioning the ereotion of forty miles of fencing was a very [ serious qaeation. He was prepared to ', grant the principle that Government , should pay its share towards the coat of l this fence, but owners of property should , also be compelled to contribute a portion [ of the cost. Mr Lance said that the expenditure of' ', a small Bum by the late Government ■ prevented a serious loss. , TDBUC BODIES PGWEBS BILL. I Mr Hislop moved the Becond reading of [ the Public Bodies Poweta Bill. t The motion was agreed jto. [ AUCKLAND CWBia' HIGH SOHOOIu 1 On the motion that the Auckland Girls' . High Softool Bill be read a third time Mr ' Turnbull moved that it b* read a third [ tlmetha.t day three months: ■" After a, lengthy discussion the motion ; for the third reading was lost by 42 to 30. On the question being put that the { Bill be read that day three months It was- , also loa* by 36 to 29, , Mr Flaher gave notlca to move to* , morrow thai the Bill be read a third / time, : PHARMACY BILK,. The Pharmacy Act Amendment BUI was oommitted, read a third time, and passed. . . . GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS BILB, On the motion for the third reading of the Government Railways Bill, Mr T. Thompson moved for the re-oommlttal of the Bill to insert a new clause for giving the Vaile system a trial for twelve monthson the Auckland and Te Awamata Railway. Mr Tanner warned the House of the danger of re-committing tho Bill, aa the whole disQUß3ioa would probably be opened up again. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Ward continued the debate on the third reading of the Government Railways Bill. He supported its recommittal. Mr Loveatara also hoped the Bill would be recommitted for the purpose of adding some new clauses. The motion for recommittal was lost by 52^24.^ The third reading was carried by 66 to 18. On the motion that the Bill dp pass, Mr ■• Seddon made a final protest against tbo. Bill, on the ground that it bad not received that consideration which a measure of such importance should have bad given to it. He thought the colony would bitterly' regret thiß Bill boing passed. Sir J . Yogel said the whole responsibility for this measure rested with the Government, and he thought this measure should > not have been forced through m the haste that had characterised its passage. There ■ was also a distinct breach of faith over the Bill, as Government bad' expressly stated that all the amendments that might : bo proposed would receive full consideration. He thought the Bill had little chance of being successful, although it had his best wishes for its success. Mr MoBB protested against a Bill of this kind being f oro^d through the House with such indecent haste. , ■ . Mr Fergus failed to see that members nho were opposing this Bill had advanced any argaments against it. The country was decidedly m favor of the principle of It* Mr Reeves (St Albans) protested against the . obatruotjou that now ojidb from the. -. Government benches, and he warned them, that If Government did not get on with the buainesi of the eoqntry the OprosfUnq

Wonld have to take the matter into tbei own hands, as their patioroe was becomin exhausted. MenrsT. ThompßOD, Richardson, Milln Jackson, FHzherbert, Monk, Leveatam, B Reeves, Taylor, and Rose also spoke or the* Bill, aftetj|which it passed cm tb< voices. THE LO BILL Sir Jnlius Yogel asked whether it wai intended to ttke tbe second reading of thi Loan Bill that night. Major Atkinson said he should ask foi the second reading, but should not preei the BUI till the Committee of Supply hac decided what amount it woald give tc Government for expenditure oa public works Mr Seddon asked whether they wore tc understand that the proposed loan of a million was'brought down as a feeler. Major Atkinson said he would m that case understand quite wrongly. Mr Seddon asked whether the Premier wonld consent to a reduction of the million. Major Atkinson said It would depend on bow muoh of a reduction. Mr Seddon said that the proposal for the reduotlon of the loan would come better from a member of the Government party than from Sir Julias Yogel. He advised the member for Ghristohurch North not to take tho responsibility of moving for a reduction. Sir Julius Yogel hoped the Premier would not force the Public Revenues Bill through the second reading that night. He should offer this Bill a most uncompromising hostility, aa It 1b proposed to raise £400,000 m 5 per cent debentures. plMajor Atkinson said ho should ask for the second reading, but would not preaa It farther. After discussion Major Atkinson moved that the Public Revenues Bill be read a second time to-morrow. He next moved the second reading of the Loan Bill. Government had considered the loan might not be required at present, but after going thoroughly Into the matter the Government came to the conclusion that there was no possibility of avoiding the loan that they oow proposed. He stated that If the House saw fit to ont off particular work Government would be ■willing to reduce the loan proposed to be Aiked for. Sir J. Yogel moved the adjournment of the debate till next day. Agreed to. ** nOPXRTY TAX BILL.* " Major Atkinson moved tba second readIng Of tba Property Tax Bill. Mr Smith proposed an amendment that m the opinion of the Bouse m lien of the proposed property tax there should be levied a land tax exempting all improvements, or an income tax with a fair ex* ceptloD. The Premier hoped this amendment would be withdrawn, as It would be utterly Impossible to bring m a land and income tax undsr five or six months. He admitted that the matter was open to argument, bat at this stage of tho session it was Impossible to make a ohange m the in* oidence of taxation. Sir Julius Yogel also hoped the amendment wonld be withdrawn, ao before making any change In this direction it would be necessary to make a fresh valuation. He referred at some length to the whole question of property tax, and said that the late Government were defeated because they refused to give undue powers to privileged parties. Mr Taylor said a land tax was impracticable at the present time. He was In favor of a graduated tax whether it was on Jand or property, Messrs Barron, Fish, Russell, McKecxle (Walhemo), and Cowan spoke against the amendment, and Messrs Reeves, Kelly, •■d Grlmmond supported it. The amendment was lost by 32 to 14. The Bill was read a second time on the yolces. The House rose at 1. 40 a.na.