FRIDAY, JULY 27.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 160, 3 August 1877, Page 2

FRIDAY, JULY 27.

In the Legislative Council, Dr Menzies laid on the table a petition from residents, in the Inch Clutha and neighboring districts, re Kaitangata railway, asking the Government to take such steps in the matter as "might he .deemed best; for the good ofthe country. . The second reading of the Industrial and Provident Societies Bill was discharged from the Order Paper, The Constabulary Bill was recommitted for the purpose of amendment, and ordered to be read a third time on Tuosday next. The Council then (3 p.m.) adjourned till 8 o'clock this evening, when the Imprest Supply Bill will be brought before them. In the House, in reply to questions, The Hon Mr Whitaker said it was not the intention of tho Government during the present session to propose any alteration of the law relating* to lunatics, but that next session a comprehensive measure would bo introduced. The Premier said the Government did not intend taking any steps for 'establishing* a deaf and dumb asylum. The Hon. Mr Reid said the whole question ol dealing with the Crowa lands was under the consideration ol' the Government. The Premier said that the engagement with Sir J. Yogel was to terminate twelve months after he arrived in lii- gland, which was m Decembur lasr.. Thf*. Premier said that a return would be pmparod of the nominal value of uusatisfied Government land scrip in the Ooio~y. Thu Hon. Mr Whitaker said the question of an amendment of the Adulteration of Food Act had not been under the consideration of tho Government. If any deficiency in the Act was pointed out it would receive attention. The Premier said in regard to the defence ofthe Colony, that- the Government had communicated with the other Colonies in regard to securing the services of eminent professional men there, and until those gentlemen visited New Zealand the Government did not propose taking any steps in the matter. Mr Rees moved the suspension of the Standing Orders to introduce a Bill to enable the Highway Boards to validate the notifications of these Boards during the past two years, in order to enable them to obviate the recent decision in Supreme Court by Judge Gillies. The Auckland Highways District Validation Bill was read a first time, and the second reading was fixed for Tuesday. An Imprest Supply Bill for not loss than L 950,000 was passed through all its stages. The Hon. Donald Reid moved the second reading of the Mines Bill, a measure for consolidating the mining* laws of the Colony. Aj In explaining the nature of the Bill^he pointed out all rhe new features of mining legislation contained in the Bill, among whicli were the powers to issue minors' rights for 1 to 2D years, and of issuing consolidated miners 7 rights to Companies. These provisions were taken Irom the Victorian Act. They also proposed to limit the area of leases to 320 acres, instead of 640, as in Victoria. Tho miners' rights would also enable tho holder to search for any other metal as well as gold. After a discusssion the Bill was read a second time by 45 against IS votes. The Hon. Mr Reid moved the second rending of the Charitable Institutions Bill, the provisions of which he oxplained. It was absolutely necessary that some provision should be made for charitable aid now that the Provincial arrangements for that purpose hnu ceased. The question they had to decide was, whether it was advisable to make the charge a burden on the consolidated revenue, or merely to contribute towards private aid in this direction. After considering the question, they thought that it would be best to aid local efforts in providing for chantable objects. It appeared to him that that would ho the best plan to effect the object in view. They would, therefore, under the Bill, pay to each institution out of the Consolidated Eund each financial year a sum equal to the sum raised by the managers of such institutions by subscriptions, receipts, or donations. There should, however be a limit, beyond which they should not contribute out of the revenues of

'•the country. The control of all these institutions would be placed in the "hands of persons on the spot, who "would be best caluclated to administer their affairs and distinguish between deserving and unworthy objects of -charity. Mp Rolleston thought the House generally would consider the Bill was utterly unworthy of the subject with which it proposed to deal. The Bill left it purely optional whether there "should be any charitable institutions, and, if there were no charitable people in a district, where would be their system of charitable relief? The mistake in the Bill was that the provision for charity depended on voluntary 'efforts. These institutions should be dealt with nationally, and brought under the general taxation of the Colony. The Bill was a miserable rechauffe ot a Victorian measure, which had worked anything bufc well. He •'hoped the Bill would be rejected by the House at once, and that they would send it away for remodelling*. Mr Wallis considered the Bill vague i in some respects and defective in others. He considered the destitute had an nalienable right to be assisted by society, and it was evident to him that \ the Colony was rapidly approaching* the poor-law system, though taxation was already so depressing that he feared there would be nothinjr left to tax when the call to do so for the poor came upon the Colony. Ambitious and comprehensive as the Bill was, it passed over two most important classes oT institutions, viz., for reclaiming drunkards and fallen women. As to supporting institutions for the poor, the burthen, he thought, ought to be thrown upon the waste lands of tho Colony. No more righteous burthen could be conceived. Mr Stevens disapproved of the principle of throwing* off the State the duty of befriending those who failed in the race of life, often through no fault of their own, and leaving those who were willing to give to bear all the burden, while the uncharitable need give nothing. He knew there were lots of people who would say the State ought to provide for these institutions, and ' decline to give anything, and he professed to know something of the matter. In no case should voluntary contributions be made the basis of the financial arrangements of the institutions. Nothing but failure could ensue from such a system. He moved — "That the Bill he read that day six months." The Premier thought the views of the last speaker had been much narrowed through living in a community (Christchurch) where they had always been able to support tlieir destitute withotit* asking the settlers to put their hands into their pockets. When the Provinces were taken over the annual cost of these institutions was L 55.000, and Canterbury alone was spending L 29,000. The Government was proposing nothing new. It was a system that worked well in Otago, and none o the evil effects dreaded had arrived. The real point at issue was, should they levy a poor rate ? But he thought it "would not he acceptable, nor indeed 'was it required. He had every confidence in the measure. It worked in other countries. Mr Gisborne supported the second reading* of the bill because it supplied the machinery for dealing* locally with charitable institutions, although there 'were many imperfections in the Bill 'which might be remedied in Committee. -The principle of the Bill, however, was •sound. He thought that Canterbury • gentlemen had most to boast of in the wdy of charitable administration, for the expenditure in that Province had been enormous as compared with other parts of the Colony. He had even heard that in that Province women came, bringing children in their perambulators, to claim charitable aid. Mr Reos opposed the Bill, first, because there was no cojlpulsion and no responsibility cast nOsA any one. It appeared to him the very best plan would he to levy an income tax, out of which to provide for the support of the poor. This Bill was an attempt to get rid alike of the cost of keeping up charitable institutions, and of the trouble which ought to fall upon tbem after having abolished the form of government which formerly managed these institutions, and managed them well. Mr Travers considered the Bill utterly unsuited to carry out the objects in view. In order to enable the Government to withdraw the Bill, he hoped the member for Christchurch City would withdraw his amendment. Mr Wakefield said be was »*lad to hear from the Premier that the Bill did not mean what it said, but they were asked to pass a Bill that neither said "what it meant, nor meant what it said. It was perfectly astonishing that the Minister for Lands could have brought in such a trumpery measure. He hoped the Bill would be withdrawn, and ■another measure brought down. Mr Ballance held that the principle of the Bill was too valuable to be thrown away, and he would vote for the second reading. Mr Lumsden supported the second j reading, and instanced the excellent way in which the hospital at Invercargill was managed under the system of private assistance and control. Mr Lusk thought there was no principle in the Bill at all. It was the most deplorable attempt at legislation 'ever made in the House. -Mr Murray- Aynsley was opposed to ■

postponing* the second reading. The question must be grappled with. Mr Shrimski opposed the second rending, on the ground that the difficulty must be grappled with. Mr Burns said two parties opposed the Bill. One was represented by the member for Christchurch, and the other by the member for Franklyn. Both now began to feel the effects of Abolition, and each were anxious to have these services contributed to by the other parts of the Colony. They wanted to dip their hands into the public purse. But there was a third party that* wished to force them to put their hands into their own pockets. He considered the Bill a good one. Tt, would be a bad day for the Colony if they had to resort to poor-laws, which had always a demoralising effect. Mr Fisher opposed the second reading. If in the last year of Provincialism Canterbury spent L 29,000 on charitable institutions, they would find it perfectly impossible to get L 15,000 by private subscriptions.