GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
In tho House of Representatives on Monday,
'Ihe on J. Hall moved the second read ing of the Railway Construction and Land Bill. He said that a total of 1287 miles of railway had been completed in the Colony. What remained to be done was to complete a gap of 215 miles in the North and 104 in the iSouth, to complete the ni.dn through lines. The railways alrea ly made paid 3£ per cent., which was a strong inducement to £et these gaps filled up. They had also heen a means of opening out many important branches of industrial pursuits. Agricultural development had been promoted to an extent that would not otherwise have been the case. After enumeratinjr various p ! ans by which this could be effected, the hon. gentleman referred to the mode proposed in the Bill, which had been largely adopted in America and Canada. By givi g land they became no poorer, and if the work was a su-cess they were a great deal richer by makim*; the land that would still remain accessible more valuable than the whole area was before. Then it brought foreign capital into the Colony, and would give commercial men ot Home a more direct interest in the welfare of the Colony. By that means an additional colonising agency would be established at Home, and that was, to his mind, a very great desideratum.
Hr G. Grey took it that if this Bill was given effect to the whole future of the Colony was to be changed. It meant that they were to establish a community of tenants under foreign landlords. The proposed system would, he believed, be initiating the greatest system of corruption that had ever been attempted in New Zealand. If abundance of capital was seeking for investment, why not go into the market themselves and complete these works. They were only restricted from borrowing till the end of next year. Meantime, they could go on at a very trifling cost and complete the surveys. He had thought the question out clearly, and these wero tho conclusion--* at which he had arrivvd.
Mr Richardson supported the Bill
Mr Bastings urged the necessity of completing the main trunk lines, even if some of the railways already made were to be sold to raise the money required. He believed that a syndicate could be formed to buy them. As for the present Bill, he was certain that there would never he a mile of railway made under it, The Bill was a blunder, and never could be made to work. Mr Gisborne would support the Bill, expressing his strong belief in its principle Mr Macandrew said the Bill was an excellent specimen of the way how not to do it. He was certain that it would be a dead letter.
Mr Levin said that the life of the Colony depended upon the completion of these works. With certain modifications, he was convinced that the Bill would successfully accomplish the objects aimed at. Mr Oliver supported the Bill, and affirmed the principle of settling the waste lands by means of companies at Home, having direct personal interest in the welfare and progress of the Colony. Mr Moss thought the Bill was of no use so far as the North Island was concerned. Under these circumstances the prospects of progress would be confined to the South Island, 'lhcre were large districts where the public works scheme did not apply, and he was afraid the Bill would only aggravate the evil. He desired to see some special provision made in the interest of these districts. He would, for these reasons, oppose the motion for the second reading. But he did so reluctantly, as he looked on the Bill as one of import -' ance forsome places. Mr Collins supported the Bill. He believed it was the only chance there was for railways being provided for some parts of the Colony otherwise neglected. At ] all events it would prevent one part of the I Colony being charged for railways made in | another. '
Mr De Lautour characterised (he la;!-, r argument as '■' utterly fallacious."
Messrs Reid and J.T. Fisher supported the Bill,. which was opposed by Messrs Levestam, Seddon, Shophard, and Gibbs. Mr Weston spoke in favor of the proposal made by Mr Bastings, that the Bill should be referred to a committee of practical men to put it into shape. He strongly urjred the necessity for passing the Bill, The Hon J. Hall having replied, tho motion for tbe second reading was carried on a division by 31 to 5, and tho Bill ordered to be committed next day. On Tuesday, in the Council, The Licensing Bill was recommitted, and a clause reinserted that children under sixteen shall not be supplied unless lodging in hotels along with their parents. The Bill was then read a third time, and sent back to the Lower House.
The Fixtures Law Amendment Bill was thrown out by 18 to 8.
fhe object of the Bill was to allow of tenants removing fixtures erected by themselves, provided they did not damage the landlord's property. The question of harbors came up for discussion on a motion for the appointment of a Royal Commission, and a debate ensued, during which several members expressed their conviction that Royal Commissions do no good, that all the artificial harbor works in New Zealand, except at Oamaru, bad been simply money thrown away, and that it is high lime that the Legislature should have the political courage to stop the whole affair. The Hon Capt. Frasersaid that £400,000 had been squandered in Dunedin, and that the authorities there, and at other places, all thought they knew better than Sir John Coode and other eminent engineers. In the House of Representatives, Mr Fulton moved that the Education Act, 1877, Amendment Bill be read a first time. The House divided. Ayes, 41; noes, 26. The Bill was read a first time, and on the motion that it be read a second time on Thursday week, Mr Barron moved that day six months. Mr Turnbull, Sir W. Fox, and others spoke in favor of tho Bill, and Messrs Speight, Bryce, and Bowen supported the amendment, arguing that the Bill could not possibly pass, consequently it would be simply a waste of time to keep it on the Order Paper. The Hon T. Dick said that he desired to say a word, strictly in his capacity as a private member, and as not in any way expressing the opinion of the Cabinet. He denied that the community at large were completely satisfied with the educational system as it stood The fact of a Bill of this kind being introduced was sufficient to show tbat such was not the case. It was also a well-known fact, that a large section of the community, more especially in Otago, was strongly favorable to the introduction of Bible reading in schools. He had no doubt but that the Bill would be defeated, still he believed that it would come on again from time to time until they dealt with it in another way.
Major Harris moved the adjournment of the debate.
The Hon J. Hall looked upon the question as a mo.-t important one, anil one that ought to Ito fully discussed. At tho same time, the present period of the session would not allow of that being done. He approved of the Bill, and would vote for the motion. Mr Oliver expressed his surprise that the clergymen of the different denominations should be so remiss in their duty in availing* them-elves of the provision made for 'nvja; ting religious instruction to children attending school. The question for adjournment was put and lost on the voices. On the motion for reading a second time on Thursday week, the House divided :—Ayes, 15 noes, 52. The amendment for the second reading that day six months was then put and carried. The House went into Committee on the Pepreeentation Bill. Clause 2—Houso to consist of 91 members.
Mr Speight insisted that the number of membeis proposed to govern half a million of population was out of all proportion ;52 or 54, be thought, would bo amply sufficient. It was not calculated to bring about a better state of legislation. A suggestion had been made to have the number of electorates reduced to nine, leaving each district so constituted to elect its own members.
The debate which followed was hardly worthy of the name, consisting chiefly of persistent obstruction, or stone-walling, on the part chiefly of the Nelson and West Coast members. During the night attention was frequently called to tho absence of a quorum, but the ring of the division bell always quickly made up the number. We can hardly wonder at the absence of a quorum when, among other features of the debate, it is reported that Mr Seddon spoke for two and a half hours, during %vhich he traced minutely the history of the West Coast anil its necessities. The House sat (in Committee) all through Tuesday night, and till 5 p.m. on Wednesday, when the Chairman left the chair till eight o'clock, at which time the House resumed, and were left sitting at 1.30 a.m. on Thursday morning.
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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 534, 26 August 1881, Page 2
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1,546GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 534, 26 August 1881, Page 2
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