HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3192, 21 September 1881, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday. The House re-assembled at 2.30. THE RIMUTAKA RAILWAY ACCIDENT. Replying to a question put by Mr Kelly, Mr Hall said that the petitions for compensation in connection with the Rimufcaka railway accident having been referred to tbe Petitions Committee on the motion of a member of the Government he felt bound to adopt the committee's recommendation. He was bound, hovvovpr, to admit that lie did not concur in the recommendation made. CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DUTIES BILL. Major Atkinson moved the second reading of tbe Customs nnd Excise Duties Bill. He deprecated any discussion on the abstract questions of Free Trade and Proteciion in connection with the bill. Although he felt bound to admit that in many respects our • tariff departed from Free Trade principles, yet neither the existing tariff nor the proy .posed, amendment was intended to be of a ~>f Protectionist character. The proposal to ' impose a duty of twopence per lb on hams and bacon was made more for sanitary than fiscal purposes, as it was felt desirable to discourage the importation of these zv tides from America, where producers were now seeking a new market, as France and Germany had forbidden the importation of the meat as unwholesome. With a direct subsidised service with America lie almost feaied the duty wag not high enough. The distilation clauses had been introduced at the recommendation of the Local Industries Committee. At this late period of the session however, he did not think there would be ~"Afc sufficient time to give the subject all the r~ consideration it demanded. Under these oircumstances he would not object to the clause relating to distillation being struok out. Mr Gisborne thought that the thin end of the Protection wedge was being introduced by the proposed tariff. He fully recognised the importance of encouraging local industries, but they should reduce the duties on the raw material, or even give a bonus to the local productions, and not, as proposed by the bill, impose a protective duty. The subject was a large one, and it was to be regretted that the bill had not been introduced at an earlier date. Colonel Trimble reviewed the various imposts proposed, which, he argued, were too high, and altogether protective. He would not oppose the bill, but in committee he would propose material reductions. Mr Hursthouse advocated the imposition of a higher rate than was proposed on hams and bacon, which he contended would have the effect of preventing the importation of diseased meat into the colony. He also sup- : ported the increased duty on jams. Mr Ballance spoke in favor of the tariff being made a protective one, and condemned the bonus system as being beneficial to only one or two individuals. Sir William Fox spoke at some length ageinst the introduction of Protectionist fallacies under the guise of encouraging local industries. Dγ Wallis condemned the practice 'of constantly changing the tariff. The bill before the House, he maintained, tended in the direction of a Protective policy. Mr Stevens acquiesced in the first clause of the bill, but considered its other clauses most objectionable. Mr Swanson read a telegram from a produce firm in Auckland, largely engaged in the Fiji trade in maize, objecting to the duty proposed on that cereal. He would give the Government what assistance he could in carrying the bill, but he hoped an exception would be made in the case of the IFiji trade. After some remarks from Messrs Saunders, % Reeves, Murray, and others. \f Major Atkinson briefly replied, after which the motion for the second reading of the bill was put and carried on the Toices. The House adjourned at 5.30. BILLS ASSENTED TO. On the House resuming at a despatch announcing the Royal assent to the Native Lands Court Bill of last session was laid on the table, and the Acting Governor's assent was notified to a number of bills. leaseholder's qualification. Replying to Sir George Grey, Mr Hall announced that, in the face of Sir George Grey's determination to introduce into the Leaseholder's Qualification Bill an altogether extraneous clause to limit the number of votes under any qualification, the Government could not afford time to go on with the bill, and must therefore drop it. CONSOLIDATION 01? STOCK. The New Zealand Consolidation of Stock ■ • Bill was, after a short discussion, read a second time. CUSTOM DUTIES. In committee on the Customs and Excise ( .— Duty Bill, the duty of 2d per lb. on hams and bacon was carried by 31 to 19. A proposal by Mr Ssddon to reduce the duty on iron nails from 2s to Is was lost by 37 to 16, and 2s carried. A proposal by Mr Seddon to strike out the extra half-penny on jams and jellies was lost on the voices, and ljd carried. A proposal by Mr Moss to strike out the proposed duty of 9d on maize was lost by 35 to 15. A proposal by Mr Reeves to exempt sugar altogether from duty was lost by 41 to 15. Clause 5, tobacco rebate duty, was carried by 34 to 16. Clause 6, relating to distillation, was, on ■ Major Atkinson's motion, struck out by 34 to 16. The remainder of the bill was then agreed to. SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS. Mr Hall announced that the Government intended dropping the following bills, and they were accordingly discharged :—Pensions Validation, Education Reserves Act Amendment, Leaseholder' 3 Qualification, Counties Act Suspension, Fisheries, Friendly Societies, Inspection of Machinery, East Coast Land District, Land Act Amendment, Land Claims Settlement Acts Repeal, Bank and Bankei-'s Act Amendment, and New Plymouth Harbor Commission. PASSAGE OF BILLS. The Land Tax Bill and the Consolidated Stock Bill were passed through committee, read a third time, and passed. The Native Lands Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. In committee on the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill, a motion by Major Te Wheoro to have two trustees, one European and one native, was lost by 22 to 14. ''''-Clause 17 was struck out, and several amendments were made in the other clauees. V. The bill was reported, read a third time, ' ■' and passed. The Native Lande Acts Amendments Bill also passed all its stages. ' Progress was reported on the Native Reserves Bill. THE .WEST COAST TROUBLE. Before the House rose, Major Te Wheoro referred to the reports published in the

newspaper? about the state of native affairs dn the West Coast. He did not believe in them. He would not say lo the Government to cease being careful, but at the same time he did not think there was any wellfounded ground for alarm. They should, however, look carefully after Te Whiti. He believed the alarm was got up by the Europeans for their own purposes. They wanted troops sent up thore, because Taranaki was really supported by the expenditure on soldiers.

Mr Tomoana thought the Government should prevent the newspapers publishing statements which were likely to alarm both Europeans and Maoris. Mr Tawhai agreed that the newspapers had grossly exaggerated the facts. The object was to get troops sent up to the district. The Government should not be alarmed by these reports. Mr Hall asked the native members if they had any special information from which they spoke. Major Te Whero said he did not wish to throw the Governmens off its guard, but ho had been informed that the reports in question were unfounded. They would have been sure to have heard of it if any cause for alarm existed. Had there been real cause for alarm the European settlers would not have continned on their land in the district. He had telegraphed to the district, and would have been informed if there was anything serious. At the same time, the Government, without being alarmed, should be on its guard.

Mr Hall said the Government was not alarmed. They knew what was being said by those at Parihaka. They vrere on the guard, and nothing more, as they knew they were strong enough to deal with any emergency. Therefore they were not alarmed. If trouble came they knew how to deal with it, but they would not meet it half way. He was sorry the Maori members had attributed the alarm to the desire to get expenditure in the district. The Government had information proving that it was not correct. The Government trusted to the good sense of the natives to prevent any distuabanee, and every precaution was being taken to prevent trouble arising. At 2.40 the House rose till 11 a.m. Wednesday. The House met at 11 a.m. PRIVILEGE. Sir George Grey said he wished to make a personal explanation upon the subject of the Leasehold Qualification Bill, which the House had ordered to be discharged. He had consented to the committal being got rid of by reporting progress on the distinct understanding that the Premier had promised Mr launders and Mr Seddon that he would accept the three votes for property holders. He thought the Premier ought to give effect to the promise so made. Mr Saunders said he first heard it from Mr Seddon, that the Premier intended to accept the three votes, and what the lion, gentleman alluded to was what the Premier said to him (Mr b'aunders.) The Premier entirely denied that he made an unqualified promise to Mr Seddon. Mr Seddon said he went to the Premier, and asked him if he would not be prepared to accept the three votes which Mr launders was prepared to move. The Premier said he saw no objection, and it would perhaps be well to do it. Subsequently the Premier said he wished for time to consider the subject. The Premier again denied that he made any unqualified promise. Messrs Seddon and Saunders said they had no doubt that Sir George Grey dropped further opposition believing the Premier had made that promise. PEESIDENT GAEPIELD's DEATH. The Premier said :—Sir, before proceeding to the orders of the day I think it is only right that some allusion should be made to the information contained in this morning's newspaper of the death of the President of the United States. I am sure, Sir, that we all feel that that is a most melancholy event we should not pass over in silence, the death of the head of the first American community, which, we all agree is associated by ties of kindred and community of interest and large sympathy in the work of free institutions. Sir, there is perhaps no country in the world in which the British Empire ought to have, —and I believe has —a more deep sympathy than with the United States of America, and an event of this kind is calculated to draw that bond of sympathy closer. We deplore this event, not only in the loss of our kinsman in the United States, but because it brings to an untimely end a great career by a most cruel fate. He was a most distinguished man, not only for his great natural talents, but for that quality which distinguishes men in the United States when they have raised themselves by their own ability, by their own conduct, and by their own hard work from the lowest steps of the social ladder to the highest that is a feature among statesmen of the United States more than in any other country, and we have no more distinguished instance of this than in the case of President Garfield. Therefore we join with our kinsmen of the United States in sympathy for the loss they have sustained. These few words have been said without reflection, but they will, I am sure, express the feelings, not only of the members •of this House, but of all the colonists. Sir George Grey asked if the Premier intended to move a resolution. The Premier said he thought the remarks he had made would be sufficient to express the feeling of the House. Sir George Grey said : Sir, I beg to concur in what has fallen from the Premier, and I would move that a committee, consisting of the Premier, Mr Macandrew, and myself, be appointed to draw up a paper expressing sympathy with the people of America on the occasion. Sir, a great and good man has passed away, and his death is attended by this remarkable circumstance that lie was ruler of about 50,000,000 people speaking our own language ; that lie rose to be the ruler from the very humblest position in life. It is a remarkable circumstance that the death of a man of that kind should be known all over the world within a few hours, and that many millions of people should deplore the loss of a man who by birth was not clothed in those attributes which usually command the sympathy of men. I think, Sir, we would do well to show that even in this remote part of the Fmpire deep sympathy is felt by the whole community. Mr Macandrew concurred in what had been said, and suggested that a telegram should be sent. The motion was then agreed to. RAILWAY CONSTIUTCTION AND LAND BILL. I Mr Hall moved that the House agree to the Council's amendments in the Railway Construction and Land Bill. He did not altogether like some of them, but at the present age of the session he thought it best to accept them. Mr Gisborne said the provisions in clause 15 would render the bill practically useless, as, although a contract would be made, the allocation of the land was to be subject to the approval of Parliament. Mr Weston concurred. Mr DeLautour said if this proviso passed no company could even get advance to enable it to go on. It would not be till at least the session after next before any company could get any certainty about its land endowments. On a division the motion for agreeing to one amendment in clause 15 was carried by 44 to 23, and for agreeing to the others by 46 to 17. Mr Hall said he accepted the amendments, because he wished the bill to pass. Mr Olliver warned the supporters of the bill that they would loose it altogether if they did not accept the amendments. • The remaining amendments were carried on the voices. RAILWAYS AUTHORISATION BILL. The Eailways Authorisation Bill was then considered in committee, and the schedule amended by the addition of the Seaward Bush line,

The bill was then reported, read a third time, and passed. PUBLIC REVENUES BILL. Major A'kinso'n moved the second reading of the Public Revenues Bill. Mr Montgomery insisted that the new Parliamentshould mcetat the earliest possible moment, and would therefore oppose clause 4, which proposed to grant supplies for three months beyond the closing of the financial year. Mr Thompson agreed with Mr Montgomery. Mr Gisborne said that the Government had been unable to carry its measures, so that they were bound to assume it had not the confidence of the country. In that case it was necessary the question should be finally determined after the elections at the earliest possible moment. Mr Rolleston said they had instructions to remodel the Civil Service and make reductions of £50,000. That could not be done in a day. The Government was not going to stand still and let the elections be carried against them. In that case it was absolutely necessary that they should have time. The debate was interrupted by the dinner adjournment.