THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3287, 2 September 1873, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

Wellington, September 1. In the House of Representatives, Mr Webster asked if the Government would lay on the table in writing a copy of the offer said by the Minister of Justice to have been made by members of the Southern caucus to the Government?—Mr Vogel replied that the Government would not sa'.isfy the curiosity of the hon. member.—Mr Webster then gave notice of motion of the same question. Mr Vogel laid on the table a return of Ministerial allowances, regarding which he made an explanation. He said he joined the Ministry originally on the understanding that he snould be Resident Minister in Auckland. He drew his regular allowance as such, and when in Wellington he drew his travelling allowance. .Previous Ministers had done the same. Had he drawn the residential allowance in Wellington, and the travelling allowance when away, he would have drawn more. He might say generally that the allowances of Ministers were insufficient. The Green Island Coalfield Railway Bill was passed through Committee and read a third time. The Ruapuke Annexation Bill was discharged, the Legislative Council having added a clause preventing it from being applicable to that island, * The debate on the Provincial Loans Empowering Bill was resumed by Mr Bunny, who blamed the Government for taking a stand before the House on the principle of Provincial borrowing, and then giving way under pressure. He regretted to hear some of the opponents of the Bill talk of the bankruptcy of the Provinces, unless they were prepared with absolute proof, as such statements would damage the Colony outside. The Bill was an evidence of the incapacity of the Government for administration. The clauses respecting security upon rates possibly might be applicable to Road Boards, but were nob suitable for Provinces. He believed that the Premier saw that a property tax was inevitable, and that he sought to throw on the Provinces the odium of imposing it. Alluding to the Government's want of administrative ability, Mr Bunny said it was rumored that Mr Vogel was going to England after the session, and the prospect of the administration of the Colony being left in the hands of his colleagues was not a cheering one,—Mr Buckland referred to the fact of no member who had spoken having supported the Bill. The Government were able to thrust measures on the Colony against the intelligence of the House. The Bill was utterly bad. The proposal to purchase land for Auckland would be of no present benefit, as there was no land available from which a return could be obtained till after several years’ occupation. They policy of the Government had a tendency to destroy the confidence existing between the Europeans and the Natives.—On the motion of Mr Reynolds, the debate was adjourned till next day. The Gold Mining Bill was thrown out, the Goldfields members from Westland and Auckland objecting that it had not been circulated as early during the recess as was promised. The Education Bill is now being considered in Committee. Mr O’Neill has just moved that the Speaker do leave the chair. If this is carried, the Bill will be thrown out. September 2.

Last night Mr O’Neill’s motion in Committee on the Education. Bill that the Speaker do leave the chair caused considerable discussion, principally turning on whether members should take advantage of a thin House to throw out the Bill.— Mr T. L. Shepherd, whose Gold Mining Bill has been thrown out in his absence, spoke strongly against, and talked of an alteration of the law.—The Premier supported him, but several other members took the opposite side, aud said members should be in their pla«< a After pome personalities the motion was lost

on a division by 20 to 36. Clatwo 73, defining the rateable property, passed, on the Premier promising that if Crown Lands occupied by private individuals were exempted by the clause, he would, at a subsequent stage, move the insertion of a dause to remove such exemption. Clause 75, providing on whom rates may be levied, was amended so as to make the rate on land held under pastoral lease or license to be on one half of the annual value. - The Premier moved the insertion of a new clause, providing that Provinces may strike out clauses 53, 54, and 56, regarding aiding schools and reading the Scriptures.—Mr Johnston opposed the new clause, stating that the effect of it would be to deprive Roman Catholics of aid for their schools, while compelling them to pay towards the support of schools they would not use, which would be robbery. The clause was carried on a division, by 24 to 20. Clause 73 was amended, adding to exemptions from rates buildings used by masters. The Bill was then reported, i he Merchant Shipping Act Steam Navigation Bill and the Governor’s Salary Bill were read a second time. During a brief discussion, Mr Stafford said he would move in Committee that the Governor’s salary be L 7,000 per annum, to include everything.

(from our special correspondent.) Mr Bunny resumed the debate on the Provincial Loan Bill. He said any Government, after so positively stating that it was vital to their policy to charge the Colonial loans against Provincial lands, to abandon that policy under pressure was not competent to govern the country. He had no sympathy with certain statements made by opponents of the Government. Their statements as to the insolvency of the Provinces were unwise and improper. New Zealand was not insolvent, nor could she be made so by any Government ; but unless the Colony secured the services of men capable of administering wisely, there was no use in the forms of Government. He criticised the several Administrations, and instanced the San Francisco service, the constant absence of Mr Vogel from the Colony, and the rumor that he was going to England again to negotiate a loan, and leave the Government to his colleagues. In introducing the Bill, Mr Vogel had said it was necessary in order to preserve the credit of the Colony by placing a curb in the Bill, and then asserted that the Provinces would be enabled to borrow freely ; that in the case of the North Island it was absolutely necessary to make works before settlement, and that the money could be supplied on reasonable terms. He reviewed in detail the difficulties imposed by the Bill. He showed that an income and property tax must come, and the Government desired to impose this duty on the Provincial Governments. Mr Buckland spoke strongly against the Bill—Mr Vogel was then called on to reply, and he asked for an adjournment till Tuesday night. The debate was, on Mr Reynold’s motion, adjourned accordingly. There is much dissatisfaction felt as to the Provincial Loan Bill It is felt that only Otago and Canterbury can borrow on legitimate security; but the Northern Provinces will obtain money on bogus securities at a high rate of interest, for which the Southern Provinces will ultimately have to pay. Whatever debts the Northern Provinces may contract the Colony cannot afford to repudiate. The Government expect a less majority on the division to-night than they hoped to obtain. on Friday. The threat of dissolution is held over raembtrs’ beads, and those who feel they have unstable seats are inclined to hesitate as to how they will record their votes. Many of the Government supporters consider the Bill radically wrong in principle, but say they must calculate who can take the reins if Mr Vogel drops them. They feel disposed to consider the Loan Bill in its present effect rather than in its future result. Many of the Otago members would like to know Otago’s expression of opinion on the Bill. Ihe whole question, they say, is this —“Shall we help to defeat the Ministry or sacrifice the interests of Otago ?” The Northern members say—“ Well, if we borrow at a loan rate, it will only help to make the Southern land Colonial instead of Provincial revenue, and so our interests wUI even thus be fostered.”