GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 522, 15 July 1881, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

On Tuesday, in the Council, the business was unimportant.

In the House of Representatives, among other Bills read a first time wnre the following : — For the Establishment and Management of a High School at Akaroa (Mr Montgomery), to extend the Parliamentary Franchise to Women (Dr Wallis). The Hon. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Crown and Native Lands Bating Bill. In doing so, he wished to state the views of the Government on the whole que tion of local self-govern-ment, which, he helieved, was agitating the minds of members a great deal more than it was the minds of the country. He did not intend to press the second reading of the Bill that night. The first difficulty in the question was that no two members seemed agreed as to what local government wa?. Iho Government held that the country had got local government already. If the people were consulted, counties and Road Boards would remain the local government. What the country desired was a simplification of what they already, possessed, its extension in certain directions, and sufficient funds to work with. As to boroughs, that local government was working very satisfactorily, aUhough they, perhaps, wanted more nionoy;" , .As to County Councils and Road Boat-ds, no two persons seemed agreed as to what should be done. In some places the county did the work And in some the Road Boards, bnt in no case had they been asked to join two counties. If the ratepayers wished union of this kind they would effect it. One point on which ail these bodies were agreed was a desire to get more money. There was still a feeling abroad that money could be obtained in-soino other way than out of the pockets of the ratepayers. They must recognise the fact that there was no other way of getting money than out of their own pockets. Government held that every facility should he given for counties amalgamating and for Road Boards. They proposed to take .power to delegate to Councils all power*of admiriisr tration under the local or geuerul Acts, which could he delegated safely/ also to give power to counties to levy tk,e fates for Road Boards, and where the. Road Boards desired it, to spend the money for them on definite works. They proposed also to give County Councils powers now exercised by the Government as to Road Board boundaries, and until the property tax valuation roll was avai able, to allow existing vain itioii rolls to be used with annual amendments. Then as to Road Boards. Government proposed to introduce an Act for the simplification of Road Board machinery, especially in regard to elections, for which the Local Elections Act was too cumbersome. This would be permissive. Extended power for merging would also be given to Boards. Sir G. Grey considered that the Government, had arrived at a lame and impotent conclusion to satisfy tho wants of 500,000 people. He contended that no real local government now exists in New Zealand. Tho way votes in local districts were proportioned to property rendered real local government impossible, and for this the Government proposed no remedy. He denied that tliere was no other way of gotling Mono) than out of the people's pockets. There were other means which could oasily be got at, and which the House, he was sure, would get at sooner or later. There should be large local bodies constituted, taking in the who'e counties and boroughs, and then full powers should be given to tile people in these districts to determine tho form of their own administration of local institutions, so as to best meet their requirements. A very short measure would provide a complete system of self-government. Ample power for making by-laws should be given. The geographical formation of tho Colony rendered such a system necessary and desirable. The local bodies should have power to make by-laws on almost all subjectson which the pro vi rices used to legislate. There would he plenty of money available for local bodies. The surplus revenue, after provision for general purposes, should be divided amongst the local bodies in proportion to population. Rates on Crown and Native lands should be imposed by local districts, and be expended by them, tho rates being the same as on iili other property. Large landed endowments should be granted to the local bodies, and rendered inalienable. In time the rents from these should free the people from all taxation and provide for all their wants. Future generations would bless them if they did this, but the Government proposed a continuance of a system of legislation belonging to an expiring civilisation instead of welcoming the new civilisation which was dawning on the earth. Mr McLean said he would like to see Sir G. Grey's Bill, and consider tho whole matter more fully before going on with the debate. He accordingly moved its adjournment. This was after Home discussion, agreed to, the debate to be resumed at 7.30 on Tuesday evening next. The Licensing Bill was recommitted for the consideration of clauses 12, 22 and 28 inclusive, JJO, 32, .47, 81, 122.12G, 137, 140, Ml, 19-1, and 218. Clause 28, providing against any licensee being interested in more than one license. Considerable tinkering took place over this clause, and after having boon amended, it was struck out altogether.

An attempt was mado to restore the bottle license, but the motion was negatived by 38 to 31. Mr Stewart proposed to add, as a > übsection, '• Bottle licenses in such districts as they at present exist." The motion was carried by 36 to 25. Clause G4 >4 Licensing committee may of itso wn motion take cognisance of objecjeotions." Dr Wallis thought this should be struck out, as it gave power to refuse any existing license without assigning any reason or grafting any compensation. The amendment was not pressed, and the clause was amended on Mr Sheehnn's motion, to provide thnt not less than seven days' notice should be given. On the question of foes coming up for discussion, after various proposals had been made, Mr Murray moved that the fixing of the amount of the license in euch cnse should be left to the local body receiving the fee. Mr Oliver said this question was bo important, and the hour so late, that he moved that progress be reported. The motion was agreed to, and the House' rose at 12.45. An immense number of amendments were proposed, and numerous divisions taken, but the above were the only alterations agreed to. On Wednesday, in the House sentatives, Mr Oliver moved that .1 Select Commit:ee be apointed to enquire into the management and working of the New Zealand railways, and to report their opinion on the changes which may appear to them desirable to introcuce, the committee to consist of Messrs Wood, Kelly, Ormond, Shephard, Saunders. Bunny, Macandrew, Richardson, Wright, and the mover. The Hon J. Hall spoke in support of the motion, stating that Government felt sure that valuable information could bo obtained through that channel which could not be had from the ordinary official sources. A number of members spoke on the motion, the general opinion, being that the time at the disposal ofrthe' committee would not allow the subject to be gone into exhaustively. Ultimately the motion was withdrawn, Mr Stewart moved—"That a committee be> appointed to enquire into the reduc lions and removals in the police force of the colony during the last twelve months, to consist of Messrs Colbeek, Harris, Pitt, Hirst, Shrimski, and the mover." The Hon W. Rolleston hoped that the motion would be n jeeted. as if tho Houße intruded on such matters, thai interference would tend to disorganise the force. It was A disagreeable duty thrust on the Government, but it had to be done. In tin , civil police £10,000 had been Raved, and in the Armed Constabulary £40,000. Such being the case, he hoped the House would strengthen tho hands of the Government in a matter of this kind. Mr Bryce said bo was responsiblo for these reductions, and ho could assert thi\y wore done in a perfectly fair spirit. He had reduced twenty-one inspectors, and a commotion immediately was create.l. Something like MOO persons immediately took up their cause, and he felt that thin was simply a prolongation of that agitation. Mr Macandrew spoke in favor of tho motion. There could lie no doubt hut that favoritism Mad been shown, and if the committee w.»* not granted it would have a very bad effect. ' The Hon J. Hall said that the charge of : favoritism having been iuudo without a [ tittle of evidence. i£ a commit cc were uppointed it would bu tantamount to a voto of censure on the Government. Mr Stewart having replied. The House diyi led —Ayes, 30 ; noes, 3£v,.>%. ■ ~', .;•..: **•>.■ Sir G*. Grey asked leave to postpone tho second reading of the Loca|,Government i Bill to that day'wce.lv. Sir G. Grey moved, the second' ,, - reading of the law Practitioners Bill. It effort to establish the rule observed in United States, where were fifty millionth of people speaidiiii the name language a§ ourselves, and where it had been found to work well The Bill left it to the judges to test the learning of tne applicant for admission. It was in one souso n charter of. freedom to New Zealand, na it would enable, men from any calling t<) study the lawdevoting their evenings to the study. In that way many eminent lawyers had arisen in America, and even although many of those who studied did not succeed in passing, tho study would nevertheless bo beneficial to them avid to the coniuniniiy. By educating men as the Bill proposed, the traditional trammels connected with conveyancing would be broken through, and a more reasonable system adopted. After a brief discussion, the Biil was read a second lime, and oniered to be committed in a fortnight. The Uouse then wont into committee on the Education Reserves Act, 1877, Amendment Bill. Messrs DeLautour and Pyke supported, and Messrs Speight, Whitaker, and others opposed the Bill. A motion to report progress was carried _ The Hon J. Hall, moved the adjournment of the House on account of a ball at Government House. Mr Pyke objfcted, but the motion was | carried by 30 lo 13, and the House rose at 8.55.