PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 349, 21 November 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

On Holiday the House met at 7.30, and the Colonial Treasurer proceeded to deliver his financial statement. It was of great length, but may be summarized somewhat as follows :—

The Treasurer estimates a total deficit of £911,958 to be provided for in some way this year. He proposes to make the financial j'ear end on March 31, and that whatever may then remain of this deficit be added to the public debt. For what he Ceil Is die " permanent deficit," he proposes to provide as follows:—By ,the, abolition after this year of subsidies to looal bodi/s, he saves £275,620. YBy tion lie proposes to raise £618,700, viz., property tax; £470,000, additional customs. £30'0,000,j stamps, £16,000, from which increases remissions to the extent ot 1120,000, and the L-uid Tax £147,300 have to be deducted, leaving a nett increase as above. The"TVFOSt"TrflrtTCtjatrißstcatßfe"rrt the stateiuent is Uj£ that in! future fhq n\A tfp.'.Heatrea-ted as fcVdnuo/'buf payment of: charges of sun'e'ys"aiiira*dinfiitstfatro*n, tTie balance sboul{i»l>eiperujpul<Htsiy applied r<.ta Public Work's and; Immigration. - ■"$ \ The duties pn' tea , and sugar are not re-imposed. * i The articles upon which the Government propose to increase or impose 'duties; aie—almonds and nuts, chaff, corks, dnddj finite, fiesh imit —other than|oianges and lemons), window glass, grain and fipu,r, 1 malt, split peas, hops, iron fencing, tack;s{ matches and'vestas, preserved nrilk,'isiila, peif ninety, patent medicines, «alt, ue'Trino, spinte, cigars, wine, and all goods at present clftrtgcd ad valorem dut}' , . * "">. Vi>* "■ - \ As be*seen, the duties on'"timber and grain ai<Me-fmposed'" i Thobe ( on spirits are increased by 2s, a gallon, but as/an allo.w afao ib uiade toi spnits under proof, which was not pievious>ly done, the Troa.--Buret,©»tii+)ates this, ir»crease ;: as .e,q,qj vnlejil; to Id Gd only. Tobacco is chaiged another shilling. The Additional stamp duties to be levied according, ,to a gradiiatpd scale on successions to property. Some remissions are made, chiefly on materials used by local manufacturers, and light dues on vessels engaged in the coasting trade are abolished. '

The Hon. gentleman concluded by moving the usual resolution authorising the collection of the new duties from Tuesday, the 18th. After a brief discussion, in which Messrs ! Macandrew. Reader Wood, Moss, and Sir !G. Grey took part, the resolution was carried, and the House adjourned at 11.30 ! On Tuesday there was a discussion in the Council on the Railway Tariff. The Hon. G. M. Buckley moved a resolution asking the Government to increase the rates, so as to make railways much more j profitable. Several' members were in Ayor °Il a revision of the tariff, but they we're all "against raising it. The Triennial Parliaments Bill then came up for its second reading. Several spoke" for and against it, but those who were opposed to it admitted that, seeing the Lower- House had ■ passed it, the Council should , not reject it._ The second reading was carried on the voices.

In the House of Representatives,; the Registration^. of Electors. Bill was considered in Committee. , Clause 19 was amended, so as to provide that persona objecting to names being, retained on the rolls should deposit a sum of £1 along with the objection, the'proviso not to apply to objections by the Returning Officer. . . , , ...'•.■.

A division was taken on a further amendment, proposed by Mr Pyfee—" That the objector be required to substantiate his objection," with the result — Aye'S,' , -23 ; Noes, 38.

Mr Hislop moved—" Tliat no objection be entertained, except it is set i'oilh in the summons of objection." Carried on the voices. /. w ,. A motion to tlie effect that the prioo of rolls be Is per 1000 names, and Is Gfi above that number, was carried. " (•' ■: The clause, as amended,' was then- puf and carried on a division,.by—Ayes, 27 ; Noes, 24. At the evening sitting, m committee on the same Bill, on the motion of- Mr Tole, an additional clause wns atfded, providing for the transfer of an elector's name from the roll of one district to that of another, in case of a change of residence.

schedule to the Bill was amended, adapted, and reported to the House. "The regulation of Elections Bill was then considered in committee.

The interpretatibri"*clafu§S'"wtts altered SO" as to make the* word "elpc.tor," mean a person whose name' appears on the electoral roll or the holder of a miner's right;""""" , —* '** "* - ■""■ Mr Turnbull moved— "That'ijiauso 8 be made to read so that all elections would take place on the saihe'day; ,,, ■

The amendment was lost on a division —Ayes,'3o ; ; Noes/31. ' ; <■* : The ciauie, as printed, was nd opted." A number of clauses wen? passed, with amendments, after which progress ported, arid leave granted to sit again."

On Wednesday, a : considerable;.-: aAioupt of business was donein_,the Council, but none was. of great interesj;.. T In the Blouse of KepresefatatiVe','' 'at the afternoon sitting, Mr Pyke gave notice that he would move—" Tljat,. this, PJouse will not consent to the al/6lJtion J 6ql*oeal.subsidies until adequateproyisionl\asbeen mada for carrying On'local works." , ! - ■"' '■" '■-■"'

.Mr Whitaker That this House will, to-morrow, resolve itself into a Committee of jtlie \Vhc-le , ", ty Sdnsider'a* ful address' to' be s f>rese f nted '' to 'His 'Excellency the Governor," praying that he will cause the sunvdf .£200,00.0 to be placedupon the Estimates,as a grant to the jProvnicial District of Auckland, for the formation of roads and bridges."'

Mr Murray moved the adjournment of the debate.

The House divided, with the result, Ayes 33, Noes 20. . :;;.: ; '■ - The motion for the ; adjournment was was carried..

Mr Sutton'inoved for returns relating t6 a payment of £400 or thereabouts made to Mr Rees on account of legal advice in'soirie matters on the-West Coast;-

After some discussion,-in which Mr Bryce, the present Native Minister, professed total ignorance in the matter,

Mr Button said he had good reason to believe that the sum indicated had been paid. He' considered the circumstances justified him in demanding the fullest information. . . ■'.•.'

Mr Sheehan said; that the money had been paid through the , Mapr.i..-member in the then Cabinet, for the purpose of defending Maori prisoners. These were the facts of the case, and as regards the policy of the payment, that was a matter for the House to decide. He reminded them that prisoners were entitled to have counsel retained under.certain circumstances,at the expense of the. Crown., Considering the question of policy involved in the apprehension of these Maori prisoners, he contended the Government was quite justified in defraying the cost.

The Plon. J. Htill and Major:: :Atkinddn both supported .the motion, butane mover did not care to.press itto, ; a : division, ami the " previous question " was,put and cai> ried on the voices. "

'•A,motion was agreed to, asking for all correspondence be'tweeri ! the Marquis ■of Npmianby and the- then. Premier, '-relative to the refusal to grant -the; use of the: Hinemoa. ; \ ..>,• ... i ; -.; ■ .. -}] : •■-, ; ■ ;' : !

A number of Bills ; ,were .advanced, a stage, and the House:adjourned. <.. t . i