THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3278, 22 August 1873, Page 3

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[Bv Electric Telegraph,] Wellington, August 21. Mr Macandrew gave notice that he would move the House into Committee to consider the placing ou the Supplementary Estimates of Ll,soofor establishing communication between the East and West Coasts of the Middle Island; also, that import duties be levied on goods from Victoria, to cease when Victoria admits New Zealand goods free. In reply to Mr Tribe, Mr Richardson said provision existed in the Greymouth and Brunner Railway contract for the payment of the workers in cash to another question by Mr Tribe, Mr Richardson said if this provision had not been complied with, the taking any steps to enforce it should bo left to the discretion of the Government. In reply to Mr Murray, Mr Richardson said the Government had received no communication regarding the reclamation of land near Moeraki jetty. In reply to Mr Murray, Mr Yogel said Sir George Arney while Acting-Governor drew his full salary as Chief Justice and Governor till the 15th April, the date ou which the Governor left England for the Colony, and his full salary as Chief Justice and half salary as Governor from that time till the arrival of the Governor. A Bill to enable the Superintendent of Otago to construct a branch line of railway from the Southern Trunk Railway to the Green Island coalfield was read a first time. Mr O’Neill moved a reduction of 6d per ounce on the duty on gold —Mr Vogel was sorry to oppose the motion. A mint was to be established for the purpose of a combination against bankers. The reduction might benefit Auckland, but would not benefit Otago or Westland, He was sorry the reduction was made last year. The duty was not a tax on miners. 'I he goldfields members should bj glad that others opposed the reduction. M r O’Conor supported the motion. He quoted largely from statistics to show that the miners of New Zealand were worse off than in Victoria. He showed that the yield of gold was decreasing, and the number of miners falling off.—Mr J. L. Gillies supported the motion.—Mr White argued against the duty as being a special tax, and urged the absurdity of levying a special tax on an industry already heavily taxed.—Major Atkinson opposed the motion. He said the question was one of royalty, not special taxation. —Mr Fox supported the motion. He said the understanding last year was that the reduction should be gradual each year.— Mr Sheehan opposed the motion, on the ground that the Assembly had no right to remove the revenue of the Provinces.—Mr Buckland said that unless the tax was continued, Auckland Province would become insolvent.—Mr Reader Wood supported the motion. —The debate was interrupted by the arrival of the dinner hour. On the motion of Mr Bradshaw, the regulations as to the rewards for the discovery of new goldfields were referred to the Goldfields Committee.

Mr Fox laid on the table copies of sundry testimonials of officials of the State of Maine certifying to the efficiency of the Maine Liquor Law. Mr Macandrew moved the second reading of the Otago Waste Lands Bill {No. 2), and explained the reasons for bringing it in, and the provisions of the Bill.—MrM'Olashan said the Bill was at variance with the resolution of the Otago Provincial Council regarding the price of land. He had beard that the Bill had been concocted in Wellington. —Mr M'Gillivray urged that the provisions of the Bill were too stringent.

August 22 There was an extraordinary scene last night over the Otago Waste Lauds Bill, No. 2. Mr Macandrew said the Bill had been introduced, but he wished to withdraw it, and substitute another. Several Otago members spoke apparently on three different Bills, and the Speaker was referred to as to which Bill was before the House. He stated that Mr Macandrew had introduced two Otago Waste Lands Bills, and the one under discussion was No. 2—Mr T. 1. Shepherd disputed this, and said Mr Macandrew had introduced two Bills, but one being distasteful to certain members, he was attempting to substitute a third Bill in the place of No. 1. Messrs Reynolds, Webster, and Thomson, all explained, but each was interrupted with cries of “Wrong.”—Mr Macandrew asked leave to withdraw one and establish another, which was refused. —Sir J. C. Wilson asked was an hon. member at liberty to introduce one Bill, and, having had it read a first time, substitute another for it at the second reading?— After general confusion, and the Speaker being unable to set matters right to the satisfaction of the Otago members, the Bill was read a second time and referred to the Waste Lands Committee.

On the motion of Mr O’Conor, leave was given to introduce a Bill to authorise the raising of a loan for works of public utility in the Province of Nelson, The mover said he would postpone his explanation. The Canterbury Divers Bill and Superintendent of Hawke’s Bay Flection Bill were committed and read a third time.

The adjourned discussion on the Gold Mining on Private Property Bill was resumed, and a motion that the Bill be read that day six months negatived on a division by to 22. The Bill was read a second time, and carried. In Committee on the Y olunteer Land Act, 1805, Repeal Bill, Mr Steward moved that the word “ Amendment ” be substituted for Repealed,” which was carried. An amendmendment was also carried limiting the effect of the Hill to future Volunteers. Mr J. E. Brown moved the second reading of | the Provincial Officers Disqualification Bill. He quoted from the speeches of Sir J. C. Wilson and Mr Bunny, on the DisqualifiBi|l.— Mr Sheehan opposed the Bill. He argued that Provincial matters were really settled in the Assembly, and none were better qualified to discuss such matters than Provincial officers. If Superintendents were excluded from the House, any Government would be able to play off members at Superintendents. If the Government would grapple boldly with the question of constitutional reform, they would be sure of support. The proposed measure was mere tinkering. He moved that the Bill be read that day six mouths.—Mr Webb seconded the amendment. The Bill would exclude the beat men from the House, There was no demand outside for a change.— MrO’Oonor was not prepared to accept the Bill in its present shape. He could not think the country was so barren that no men as good as Superintendents could be chosen. Superintendents neglected their Provincial duties while attending the House. No influence should be allowed in the House but what members may exercise as representatives, and it was well known that Superintendents did exercise more influence and sometimes led parties in log-rolling.—Mr Collins said the Superintendents were the best men of the Provinces, and therefore desirable as members.--Mr Steward said the presence of Provincial Executives in the Assembly prevented the requisite constitutional changes, and urged m support of the Bill the argument, that they neglected their Provincial duties while attending Parliament.-Mr Bunny thought, on a question of such importance, the House would like to hear the opinions of Government. The Bill was an absurdity; the question was one for the electors* And not for the House j apd Jxe wpuld support a we

compelling members, on accepting positions in Provincial Executives, to go back to their constituents. —Mr Andrew said the number of eligible and available men in. the Colony was too few to allow such curtailing. —Mr Reid said none were better able to look after Provincial matters in the House than the Superintendents and their Executives, If the principle was good, it should be extended to officers of municipalities and road board He did not believe members followed Superintendents in the House because they are such. —Mr Cuthbertson would support the Bill because be believe the presence of Provincial Executives prevented constitutional reform. He called on Ministers to express their opinion.—The Commissioner of Customs said the Government looked on the question as a farce. The Bill would deprive the House of much talent —Mr Shephard (''•elson) opposed the Bill.— Mr Fitzherbert condemned private members bringing forward measures involving constitutional charges. Such Bills should emanate from the Government. It was, however, right that members should express their opinions on the Bill. Quacks were never deterred from attempting operations which even skilful men consider difficult. It was curious that some who spoke years ago strongly against the purchase of land turned out to be the largest land sharks. Personal disappointment had been known to make men attempt to cut away all land marks. The question was interfering with the rights of the electors. The argument of undue influence was a compliment to Superintendents. Was it desirable to exclude men of influence and reduce the House to such a bad level that none would be tit to lead ? Some might wish Provincial matters not to be probed to the bottom in the House The proj o al to transfer Supperiutendonts t the Upper House, than which one could not conceive a greater insult, was an insult to the House because it would reduce it to mediocrity. They had given the question too great importance. —Mr Brown, in reply, said he bad no animosity, and it was n ■ question of rights of the electors. The House had already passed a Disqualification Act. He then proceeded to reply to the arguments against the Bill. The Bill was lost on a division by 12 to 44. Those who voted for the Bill were :—Messrs J. E. Brown, Murray, Guthbertson, 0. Parker, Major Atkinson, Webster, Jackson M'Gillivray, W. Kelly, Kenny, Steward, and Bryce. The Emigrants Land Bill, introduced by Mr Vogel, provides for the encouragement of a better class of immigration by a system of land grants instead of free passages, so as lo ensure bona fide settlement. The second reading of the Provincial Borrowing Bill will probably come on next week.

The session is expected to last the usual length,

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

In consequence of the caucus of Southern members, the Government, it is believed will make important modifications of theit financial proposals. They will come down on Monday with the modifications. Marlborough goes in for Provincial borrowing.