PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS

Dunstan Times, Issue 591, 15 August 1873, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS

—o—(I'UOM A CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, Auo. 2The chief event of the past week has cen the financial statement, which the elegiaph will have already informed you ■as delivered on the evening of Tuesday, ts appearance at this early period of the e ision has been commented ’upon, hut no .itisfactoiy explanation of the circumlances has yet transpired. The statement ), in many respects of the word, an exoptional one. It pioduces the Colonial treasurer in quite a new character. For mre timefpast Lis efforts have been in the irectidn of centralisation, as distinguished rom provincialism. Municipal Councils, load Boards, and other engines for the iromotion of local self-government have all leen fostered by his Government. On the ther hand, the resumption of public works >y the General Administration wasjvery laturally interpreted as another step in ho direction of abohshing onr provincial nstitutions. These were looked upon, and may add looked ,npon complacently, by he thinking pait of the population as so nuch evidence of a design, at no distant latr, to elbow Provincial Governments l iltogether out of existence. Last Sessic n in effort was made on the j art of the Produces to arrest this threatened overthrow -nder the leadership of Mr. U. Curtis, the Superintendent of Nelson—a member of he House—a party was formed, who put orward a claim on behalf of the Produces, to get Jeon t rol' of the public woika ixpenditure. The Government, of whiih Hr. Vogel avas then, as now, the leading iiember, made a determined stand against he proposal, and (the result was tl at it Iropped without coming to a division. Now ve have Mr. Vogel’fwithout exhibiting the [lightest appearance of outward penance, mining forward and proposing to give the Provinces, if not all that they asked for,; t ait the greatest portion. They are, aclording to the plan put forward in the i.iaucial prophecies for the year, to be allowed to exercise the power of horn wing money on their own responsibility. By this means there is every likelihood of tho iys'em being bolstered up a few years longer. The Honorable Mr. Stafford, Hie acknowledged leader of the Opposition, has volunta ily resigned his position as such. It was known that he did not intend making ai y effort to oust the Government this Session. A caucus meeting of nis supporters wis held the day after tho statement was delivered, and it was at that meeting that 1 o (Mr. Stafford) formally intimated his resignation. It is rumored that an entirely new Opposition will be formed, under Mr, Fitzherbert—upon Jwhat card has not transpired. The so-called prudent policy of the Stafford party has been a complete failure. Twelve months ago, when he got into offho on tho plea that the Government of the country had been mal-administered in every respect of the word, be failed in substantiating one single change. On the contrary, bis Government was forced to adopt, substantially, the financial statement prepared by their predecessors, thereby virtually acknowledging that the charges they had preferred were unfounded. That itself must have operated against Mr. Stafford, and there can be little doubt but that it was mainly instrumental in b: inning about the defeat he subsequently sustained. Last year it was prognosticated-, that he was merely living out tho fag end of a good name, and there is reason to believe this year will find the prophecy verified. You will see by tho annexed statement of facts that Dunstau affairs have not as yet engaged much attention in the Assembly. Mr. Shepherd is here, in close attendance upon his duties, whatever they may bo. He has had very li'.tlo to say, a circumstance not at all to be regretted. In answer to a question put by Mr. Shepherd as to whether Government intended extending the telegraph during tho present financial year from Nasehy to Clyde, via St. Bathan’s and Black’s; Mr. Vogel said the information he had received . was as follows :—That, in order to carry ’ om J out the work every polo [would have to he carried from Waikouaiti, ami that the cost of construction would be between 3,C00L and 4,000/. Therefore, before he could undertake to say that tho Government would go to such an expense, it would be necessary to inquire into the amount of business | likely to be transacted in the towns of St. Bathan’s and Black’s. Ho would not at present make any promise on the part of the Government. Mr. Bradshaw asked whether thcGovernmeat intended to bring in a Bill to authorise mining for gold and silver on private properties. The Treasurer (replied that tho Government did not propose to introduce such a measure. The same question had been brought up in Victoria, and it was desirable to see what would be the final result before the Government made up its mind as to the course of action it would take. At tho same time ho suggested for . the consideration of those who had to do with the public lands of tho I’rovinces whether the difficulty might not he overcome, at hast in regard to future sales. In the United Kingdom there was not only a reservation of the minerals, but of tho right to obtain them on payment of compensation for surface damages. During the twelve months ending the 31st of March, 1,049 souls, namely, 945 males and 704 females, were introduced into your Province. Their nationalities were —England, 891 ; Scotland, 3 5 ; Ireland, 174 ; other countries, 279. In the neighbouring province of Cauterhurry the number was 599. Select Committees, under I both branches of tho Legislature have been ] appointed to inquire into the whole subject of immigration. The Upper House ( Committee has already bad one or two sittings, and it is. anticipated a largo numi her cf limns and ispcis will be examined.

Without desiring to anticipate the result of these inquiries, it may observed that papers have been produced showing that the Agent-General taken upon himself to review the points of policy regarding the despatch of immigrants, rather than attend to the instructions issued from time to time for his guidance. In other words, Dr. Featherstoue appears to look upon himself more in the light of a legislative fuuc'ionary than that of a public servant: hence his actions have been regulaced in accordance with his own preconceived opinions, instead of the delibarative voice of the Colony. It remains to be seen bow long be will be rise superior to the powers that be. A Bill, intituled ‘ ‘ The Provincial Powers Bill,” introduced by the Government, has been read a second time. Its objects are to give the Provincial Legislature power to constitute Courts of Judicature, and also to alter the jurisdiction and practice of existing Courts, with regird to the following subjects : The prevention or cure of scab or other disease's in sheep ; regulating the sale of liquors and dealing with licenses for such sale ; cattle trespass and impounding cattle ; branding cattle ; preventing the soread and growth of noxious thistles ; the making and repair of hye-ways ; the valuation and assessment of properties for rates ; / e levy and recovery of rates, and appeals ’ against assessments, valuations, or rates ; and the construction, repair, and maintenance of boundary fences. Mr. Vogel explained the objects of the cable movement. New Zealand, he said, could not afford to be left,out rf the chain of communication, and he believed the stimulus given to the commerce of the other colonies by the telegraphic communication with Europe should be shared in by this Colony. Steamers arrived from Melbourne every week, bringing great budgets of English news, and trade was obstructed by the knowledge that, within a certain distance, later information than we possessed had been received, and might affect the prtce of commodities It would stimulate commerce, and make capital much more available, and enlarge financial transactions if we possessed direct communication between the chief cities of the Colony and Loudon. He bad to express a strong opinion that, if the Jlunae really desired cable communication, it was not likely that a better arrangement could be effected by the Government than had been Submitted. A desire had been expressed to carry the lino to the north of New Zealand from Norfolk Island,[with the view of connecting it with a line to New Caledonia, the French Government being willing to pay a subsidy for such a line. The Government of this Colony, however, had stated that they would not agree to the lino being landed at the extreme north, and that it would bo better for the cable to be landed on the south side of Cook’s Straits, as the. business of the South Island was the largest, and the Cook’s Straits cable would be thereby relieved from the work which would otherwise be thrown upon it If it were feasible, be thought it should be lauded in the neighborhood of Cape Farewell. The Bill has been read a second lime and committed. The New Insolvency Bill has passed its second reading. It makes provision for seizing the insolvent’s estate, for its management and distribution, as also for the discharge of the insolvent. All estates under the declared value of 500/. to be immediately taken possession of by the Assignee in- Insolvency, and distributed by him as sole trustee, without the estate being put to the expense of solicitors’ charges, advertisements for meetings, &c. The 9-llb section enacts’that, when property is seized and sold by a judgment creditor, the .sheriff and bailiff shall retain the proceeds for a period of fourteen days after the sale, and if a sequestration of the debtor’s estate be made within such lime, the proceeds to be banded over to the trustee or assignee, If the estate pays 10s. in the pound, the debtor may apply for his discharge at once. If not, be may do so with the consent of his creditors. AVhen that consent cannot be obtained, he is at liberty to apply for a discharge at the expiry ol twelve months. Deeds of arrangement are away with, and in lieu thereof it is that an insolvent estate may be wound up simply by obtaining a resolution of a general meeting of creditors.