PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3245, 15 July 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Monday, Idly 14. DEVELOPMENT OF COALFIELDS. Mr M'Glashan moved “ That in the opinion ef this Council, it is desirable that immediate efforts be made, by boring, to develop the coal, fields of the Province, more particularly that portion of coast line between the Molyneux and Mataura Rivers, which, on the geological map issued by Dr Hector, is shown to be of carboniferous formation, and in which sexeral thin seams of coal have already been discovered. That a respectful Address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place a sum of money on the Estimates with that object.” He said that during the twelve months ending March last, there came into Port Chalmers alone 20,000 tons ©f imported coal, which, valued at L2 a ton, represented L 40,000; besides which, Oamarn and the Bluff were large importers. In 1870, the total imports of coal into the Colony were 93,424 tons, and of coke 919 tons, or 94,343 tons in all; in 1871, 93,867 tons of coal, and 889 of coke, the declared value of which was, in 1870, L 130,612: in 1871, L 151,151. But this amount did not represent the actual value which he thought he was justified in computing at L2 a ton, and in that case there went out of the Colony for coal alone, in 1871-72, the large sum of L 374,582. He wsnt on to show that large and valuable coal deposits, some of which were equal to Australian coal, existing in the Province, and only required to be developed. - After some debate, the resolution was amended, and adopted in the following form “That in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that immediate efforts- be made, by boring, to develop the coal fields of the Province. That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place a sum of money on the Estimates with that object.”

' TOLL-BARS, Mr Fish moved—" That, in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that the toll-bars known as Hill Side, Anderson’s Bay, Wakari, and Water of Leith be removed from their present position to a distance of not less than three miles from the boundary of the City.” Mr Davie seconded and supported the motion, as he believed the greatest benefit should be given to the greatest numbers. Dr Webster opposed the motion, on the ground that the minority should not be neglected, and that there were districts that would gladly pay tolls, provided they would have passable roads. MrG. F. C. Browne would consent to the motion, provided the City of Dqnedin would maintain the roads for three miles beyond the City. Mr M'Glashan proposed, as a contingent motion—“ That tolls should, be abolished throughout the Province.” He considered it a remnant of barbarism which was rapidly disappearing from England, Ireland, and Scotland. It was time that they were done away with, and a tax imposed on horses and carriages, which would produce a larger revenue. Mr Shand opposed both motion and amendment, as he considered that the toll was not too heavy for the advantages conferred on the town. Mr Allan opposed the motion. Mr Stout intended to propose the removal of the tolls to one mile beyond the City boundary, as it would remove many of the objections urged. Mr TuRTON opposed the motion, for he thought those who used the roads for pleasure could afford to pay the toll, and that those who lived beyond the City boundaries saved more in gas and City rates than the extra toll cost them.

Mr Oliver considered the motion of the member for Caveraham met the case. It was a hardship for those who wished for a ride on the Ocean Beach, and used a road for 200 yards, to be taxed for doing so. Mr Lumsdbn opposed the motion, as he considered it a motion for the advantage of Dunedin, as opposed to the country. Mr Fish would accept the amendment of the member for Caversham (Mr Stout), as it would to a great extent meet his views. Mr Reid would not consent to one mile being made the distance; for if alterations were made he should propose the distance to be ten miles. He considered the matter a mere electioneering cry, and he did not see why he should not make a bid for the suffrages of his constituency on such grounds. He looked upon it that it was an endeavor to give an advantage to the people of Dunedin at the expense of the people of the country! Mr Fish condemned the spirit qf the remarks of Mr Reid, He considered that it was time the cry of town versus country should be done away with. He did not consider it right that on a metalled road, thirty-five miles long, two or three toll-bars should be within nine miles of Dunedin. Mr Mollison opposed both motion and amendment, as being an attempt to benefit Dunedin at the expense of the country. Mr Hallensiein opposed the motion. The Goldfields Secretary suggested the withdrawal of the motion, and the appointment of a Commission to endeavor to substitute some tax in lieu of tolls. Mr Wood opposed the motion, as he thought it unfair to tax drays and horses for floundering through the mud, and spending the money on good roads near Dunedin. When all districts *had good roads, it was time to do away with tolls. Mr Fish askgd leave to withdraw the motion. Mr Stout opposed the withdrawal of the motion. The amendment to remove the toll-bars three miles from the City, on condition of Dunedin maintaining the roads for that distance was put and negatived. Mr Stout proposed the amendment that tollbars be removed one mile from the City. The loss to the revenue would not lie great, while the benefit to the citizens of Dunedin would be great. Mr M'Glashan seconded the amendment, and intended to ask leave to withdraw that of which he had given notice. He maintained, at any rate toll-bars should not be within the City boundary, and yet the Wakari and NorthEast Valley toll-bars were within the Town Belt. The tax upon agricultural and dairy produce was very heavy.

Mr Oliver hoped that residents in country districts woiqd see that mere justice was asked by the citizens of Dunedin, who really had it in their power to compel the removal of two toll-bars. Mr Kinross was prepared to support the amendment. Mr R. Clarke thought it would be better that the motion should be withdrawn. Dr. Webster considered the removal of tollbars would cost a considerable sum of money and that they should be informed as to the expense. Mr Reid combatted the idea that there was any injustice in the present position of the tolF bars near Dunedin. He had no uitqidtion to s€t country against town, but meffeiy replied to lection speeches, ’ ■

Mr Fish did not think the removal of the toll-bars one mile would benefit the City, and would prefer the withdrawal of the motion. The House divided as to whether the distance of one mile should be substituted for three 10 Ayes, s—Messrs Davie (toller), M'Glashan, Oliver, Stout, and Tolmie. . , Nofs 26—Messrs Allan, Bastings (teller), J. 0. Brown, G. F. C. Browne, H. Clark, R. Clarice, Gumming, Daniel, De Lautour, Green, Hallenstein, Hazlett, Ireland, Lumsdeu, Menzies, Mills, Mollison, M'Kellar, M'Lean, M‘Neil, Reid, Rogers, Shand, Turton, Webster, Wood (teller). Mr Fish asked leave to withdraw his motion, but was opposed. Mr Oliver moved, as the amendment, that the toll-bar at Hill-side should be removed to a distance of not less three miles from the City. The amendment was not seconded and the original motion was negatived on the voices. AMENDMENT OP THE ELECTORAL LAWS. Mr Fish moved—“ That, in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that the Electoral Laws of the Colony should be amended during the ensuing session of the Colonial Parliament, and that such amendment should embrace the following resolutions Ist. That any person proposed as a candidate for the office of Superintendent of any Province shall days before the day of nomination deposit with the Chief Returning Officer of the Province the sum of fifty pounds sterling, such sum to be absolutely forfeited to the State should such candidate fail to secure one-fifth of the total number of votes polled on the day of election. 2nd. That any person proposed as a candidate for the office of Councillor in the Provincial Council of any Province shall previous to the day of nomination deposit with the Returning Officer of the district in which he seeks election, the sum of twenty-five pounds sterling, such sum to be absolutely forfeited to the State in the event of such candidate failing to secure on the day of election one-fifth of the total number of votes polled. 3rd. That the franchise be extended to all male persons, being subjects of Great Britain, of the age of twenty-one years, who shall have been iana fide residents in the Province for a period of six months pievious to the date upon which claims are received for enrolment, That such persons when enrolled shall vote only in the district for which they are enrolled, and no other—except for the election of Superintendent, when they shall be allowed to vote in any district in which they may for the time being be residing. 4th, That the foregoing franchise shall extend to the election for members of the Heuse of Representatives, of the Provincial Council, and of Superintendent. sth. That the law at present in force regarding the voting of miners by virtue of their miners’ rights be abolished, and in lieu thereof all miners he brought under the operation of the 3rd resolution. 6th. That Mr Speaker be requested to forward a copy of these resolutions to the General Government, with the respectful request that they will introduce a measure during the ensuing session of Parliament to give effect to the same.” His object was to prevent persons becoming candidates who were not in a position to command a certain number of votes. The necessity for such a course was illustrated by the late election, in which, but for the candidature of Mr Gillies, the Province would have been put to heavy ex: ense because of the candidature of one who could not possibly be returned. He thought the time had come when all men should be allowed the franchise. The consequence of the present restrictions was that a great number of well qualified persons were excluded from voting, because they were not housekeepers. Manhood suffrage had been for many years the principle in Victoria, and had been found to work well. It had been said that manhood suffrage might be conferred, provided men of property had a number of votes in proportion to the value of their property. That might do in a municipality where property was heavily rated, but the same argument did not bear upon men as inhabitants of the Colony, where probably each contributed pretty nearly a similar amount to the revenue. He thought there would be no hardship, under the sth resolution, in abolishing vot«s in virtue of mining rights, and thus compelling that miners, equally with other people, should have their names placed on the Electoral Roll, The Goldfields Secretary seconded the resolutions. It was found necessary to pass similar resolutions in Victoria, to prevent a system growing up of candidates presenting themselves and consenting to retire on receiving ten or twenty pounds. The remainder of the resolution was an affirmation of the principle of universal suffrage, to which he considered there could be no objection. With regard to the abolition of voting on miners’ rights, it was a fact that some miners had voted through their names being on the roll in the district, and then gone to another and voted in virtue of their miners’ rights. Such a course was manifestly never intended by the Legislature, was unfair, and should be prevented. He thought the Province much indebted to the honorable member for bringing forward the resolutions, Mr Stout expressed surprise at the Government supporting the resolution. Tho Goldfields Secretary : I may say I supported the resolutions in my individual capacity, not as expressing the opinions of the Government in the matter. Mr Stout commented on the absence of the word “Irish” from the third resolution, by omission, he said, no Irishman would be allowed to vote. He condemned the idea that, because a man had no money, the conclusion was that he had no brains. He would oppose the first and second resolutions, because he objected to hedge round any person and say that the man of means only should bo a candidate. The resolutions seemed to embody an attempt to limit the choice of the people in selecting their representatives.

Dr Webster considered that as the matter was likely to be discussed in the Assembly, it was simply wasting time to discuss the resolutions, and he moved the previaus question. Mr Fish, in intimating that he would withdraw his jesolutions if the feeling of the House was in-favor of that course, that he thought a person standing for the Superintendency should be able to produce LSO ; because if he had not the means, and he was thought by a party to be a desirable candidate, the money could be easily raised. But the main thing was the principle of universal suffrage, upon which question he would like to have heard the Council express its opinion. Mr Reid spoke against the resolutions. Mr Kinbo 8 moved an amendment, to the effect “That it is expedient to enable every male person, & subject of Her Majesty tho Queen, and who has attained the age of twentyone years, to vote at the Superintpndency, House of Representatives, and Provincial Cpunpil elections ; and that the Speaker ba requested to forward the amendjpeht to the GoloGovernment.” The Hon. Dr Menzies also addressed the • House on the subject, and suggested that the resolutions should be brought down in an amended form. After some honorable members had addressed the House, The Council divided on the amendment of Mr Kinross, with the following result: —Ayes, 9; noes, 12. FBEE SCHOOLING. Mr Browne’s motion rc free schooling was negatived on the voices.