THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3307, 25 September 1873, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.] Wellington, September 21. In the House, in reply to Mr O’Neill, Mr Reynolds said the Government would, during the recess, consider the advisability of abolishing the duties on Australian wines, and if desirable, would introduce a Bill for that purpose next session. Mr Vogel introduced a Bill to afford facilities for searching for coal and other minerals below high water mark. The Bill was read a first time.

The report of the Committee on the Petition of the Mcs.srs Brogden is to the effect that, having taken all the evidence that was available to them on the subject of the claims pnt forward, the Committee are of opinion that the statements in the said petition are not substantiated, and so far as they are able to judge, there are no good grounds for such claim, either in law or equity. The Committee are further of opinion that in the absence of proof it would bo a bad precedent to entertain claims founded upon vague allegations, and the admission of which would do away with all finality in a system of public contracts under written agreement ; and that further, in the opinion of the Committee, it is not desirable the evidence should be published,—Mr moved that the evidence be printed, which was agreed to. Some further correspondence from the Agent-General, just published, contains a letter dated June pi, 1873, to the following effect .-—Messrs Hvogdeu and Sons write to the Agent-General, at the invitation of Mr O’Korke, in a letter dated November 2 ; and in compliance with a letter from the AgentGeneral, dated May 27, on the subject of the agreement dated June *27, 1872, between the Government aud the Messrs Brogden’s firm, relative to the promotion of immigration in the Colony. The letter paints out that the negotiations commenced in the Colony between Mr J. Brogden aud the Ministry there, aud its continuance was relegated to the Agent-General and the firm in England. At the time the postal arrangements of the Colony were very irregular, and the only intimation received was that the subject had keen remitted Home, but without particulars. The draft of the agreement for immigration discussed in the Colony was handed to the Messrs Brogden by the Agent-General at the same thn.e. The Agent-General urged Messrs Brogdpii to commence sending oiit emigrants, and before any agreement was made the firm sent out a considerable number, and were actively at wt>fk organising. The letter further says that the lirm had

no desire to enter into the undertaking. The firm looked for no profit, but only to cover th( ir loss. The terms were similar to thosa under No, 1 contract: the firm to keep accurate accounts of the outlay, and the accounts to he adjusted and settled upon the basis of the actual outlay. The firm sent out emigrants in the early ships upon this understanding. l 'he Government informed the firm in New Zealand that it would not be necessary to consider the cost of the prices of work, or any cost or loss arising from emigration. The firm only signed the agreement on an understanding with the Agent-7'cne-al that the terms subsequently arranged would cover the loss. All the details were approved by the Agent-General. These terms bound Messrs Brogden to repay ■he Agent-General by instalments. 'l’he firm had no knowledge that in some of the ships the Agent General intended to send out other emigrants on different terras, and that he required less passage money than from Messrs Brogden’.s emigrants. The Government merely provided the passage money, while the firm, in addition to passage money, provided kits and expenses of removing the emigrants from their homes. These differences became known to tho emigrants during the voyage, and created dissatisfaction. Messrs Brogden’s men on landing deserted and refused work, saying they had been ill-treated and overreached, and blaming the firm for the arrangement forced upon them by the Agent-General. The firm were unable to recover any appreciable amount of the promissory notes from the immigrants. When some of the immigrants arrived in the Colony, there was no public work ready for them, and the firm had to find them tempo rary employment. The latest advices stated that there would be no necessity for further immigrants for tho works given to the firm. The letter proceeds to appeal to the AgentGeneral for a reconsideration of the terms of the contract, to ask for a reimbursement of any moneys paid under the immigration contract, and a release from the notes signed by the firm. The House went into Committee on the Hawke’s Bay Loan Bill.—Mr Vogel moved an amendment on the latter portion of the seventh clause, saying there was no necessity specially to exempt the ordinary revenue, as the machinery already existed ex< mpting it. The clause was amended accordingly. —Mr Ormond moved an amendment on the ninth clause, to strike out the clause providing that land is not to be sold at loss than LI an acre. —Sir F. D. Bell said if the House passed the schedules in their present shape, it would be a disgraceful proceeding. He referred to the looseness of the schedules in the Nelson Town Bill, in which there was no definition of the blocks. He would advocate making the General Government responsible for the schedules in the Bills, and tire ensuring of proper security. This check would be a safeguard The Government were now changing the policy of 1867, and passing over the question of tho colonisation of the Colony, to which these public works were moonshine. He regretted that the general Bill had been rejected. The present Bill was a sham of legislation.—Mr Vogel thought tho last speaker wanted the Government to undertake too many responsi bilities. It was hotter for the Government to reserve the power of stepping in between the Provinces and the lender. Lending to the Provinces was a nutter of good faith. —Mr .Reynolds supported the Bill —Sir F. D. Beil said the necessary mrfmey should be provided for the Provinces, but the lender should bo amply secured. — Mr T, L. Shepherd did not think the securities were sufficient. The securities should be increased or the loans decreased. He would support the Bill in principle, but not in detail. —Sir J. C. Wilson moved an amendment making the Provinces jointly and severally liable, but the Chairman ruled the motion to be out of order.—Mr Parker said that if it was necessary to define the extent of land, it would also be necessary to describe its quality. —Mr Tolmie characterised the Provincial loans as shams. If the securities were as good as they were represented to bo, let the General Government take them over and borrow the money. Let them back the Provincial bills, in fact.—The amendment was withdrawn.—Mr Brown said tho securities in this Bill were insufficient. —Mr Ormond contended that the value of the security was much enhanced by the additional security of the dues to be collected in the harbor.—Mr Reid said the annual value of the lands in the schedule should be stated. The Provincial Councils might reject direct taxation if tho existing security was insufficient. —Mr Ormond described the blocks, and contended that the security was sufficient.—Clauses 10, 11, and 12 were passed. —An amendment was moved on the 13th clause to invest the surplus moneys m debentures.—Mr Fitzhorbert said the Provincial Councils should regulate the details, and the House was placing itself in a false position in endeavoring to do so. Good securities might be purchasable in the future at a high rate of interest. Some ef the half-million debentures sold at a higher rate than that realised by the Colony. He moved, as an amendment, that the money realised in the sale of securities might be invested in Colonial or other securities,—Mr Vogel advocated the money being invested in purely Colonial securities. —Clauses 14 to 22 were passed.—Sir F. 1). Bell moved, as an amendment on the 23rd clause, that the Superintendent and members of the Provincial Councils be liable. The motion was negatived.—Sir F. D. Bell moved another amendment, making the General Government responsible for the value of the securities.—Mr Vogel contended that this was the duty of the General Government.—Mr Webster said the Colony being ultimately liable, the necessity existed for securing itself by an inquiry into the value of the Provincial security.—Mr Hunter defended the Bdh He said the Provinces which paid their interest regularly would be able easily to borrow. He instanced Wellington, in which the value of property had increased, and it should therefore bear increased taxation.

In the Legislative Council, Dr Pollen moved the second reading of the Commissioner of Crown Lands Bill, which was agreed to. In Committee, Mr Wigley moved an amendment, giving the Secretary of Crown Lands power to exercise authority over the Commissioner.—Mr Waterhouse opposed the amendment, on the ground that it would subject the Commissioner to political influence. —Mr Sewell coincided with Mr Waterhouse,—The amendment was negatived. A farther report has been presented by the Select Committee on Local Industries. With regard to coal, it says that by the construction of railways, the coalfields of Otago and Canterbury will be developed. Respecting the introduction of salmon and trout, it recommends a paper by Mr Butt to the consideration of the Government. It recommends the issuing of an invitation to the Superintendents to consider the taking of steps to prevent the wasteful destruction of forests. It recommends the continuance of the purchase and distribution of trees, including olive, hickory, and cork trees. It recommends the giving of a bonus for kerosene produced in the Colony of sixpence per gallon up to 50,U00 gallons, payable on quantities of 10,000 gallons of average price and approved quality. It recommends a bonus being given for the erection of suitable blast furnaces for the manufacture of pig iron, in approved localities, of 25 per cent, on the cost of erection, when the works are in full operation, not’exceeding L 5,000. Also, a similar bonus for the erection of machinery for the manufacture of bar mid rod iron.

Such bonuses to be in addition to the sums offered by the Provincial Governments, and tho Agent-General in Europe. The Government also recommends the granting of free passages to aid the establishment of these and other industries, It further recommends that the Public M orks Department should endeavor to utilise the materials in the Colony for the manufacture of Portland cement.

September 25, Lajt night the debate on the Hawke’s Bay Loan Act was resumed.—On the motion of Mr Tolmie a new clause was added that all works constructed under the Act be paid in cash. The Bill was then reported with amendments and passed. The Marlborough Loan Bill, tho Wellington Loan Bill, the Otago Loan Bill, the Nelson Loan Bill, the Taranaki Loan Bill, and the Auckland Loan Bill also passed. \i r Vogel moved the first reading of the Governors Salary Bill, the Ministerial Residence Leases and Lowry Bay Sale Bill, the General Purposes Loan Bill, the Immigration and Public Works Loau Bill, and tho Purchase of Native Lauds in the North Island Bill.—Sir F. D. Bell urged delay on account of the lateness of the hour, and the thin House. —Mr Rolleston severely criticised the proposed purchase of Native lands in the North Island. He said tho Bill defeated any attempt to solve the difficulties between the North and South Islands. The present difficulty between the two islands prevented good Government, and caused a monetary scramble. The Government had introduced a sheaf of Bills of the most ruinous character, and the House had gone in for feckless borrowing when the money might be obta ned in a more statesmanlike manner. Tiio- Premier had been torn away from anything like prudence, and allowed the different powers of the country to exercise such influence over him, that he had been plunged into an inextricable dilemma.—Mr Vogel replied. He said the first readings would be merely a formal step. The Bills were then read a first time, and the House went into Committee to consider clauses 3, 4, and 10 of the Immigration and Public Works Bill, The clauses were reported, and the House adjourned at 1 a. m. Mr T. L. Shepherd moved a Committee of the whole House to consider increasing the amount to be borrowed under the Otago Loan Bill between the passing of the Bill and the end of December, 1874, from LIO,OOO m LIOO.OOO, which was necessary for the immediate construction of the Dunstan railway. —Mr Macaudrew said the amendment, if carried, would not accelerate the construction of the Dunstan Railway. If the main line of railway be constructed there would be 375 miles of railway under construction in the Province of Otago, which would absorb more labor than was likely to be available in Otago up to the end of 1874.—Mr Gillies Tokomairiro) concurred with Mr Macandrew.- Mr Pyke hoped Mr Shepherd would withdraw his amendment.—The amendment was defeated on the voices.

The report of the Select Committee on Colonial Defence expresses the opinion that torpedoes and heavy batteries should be adopted for external defence. For internal defence, the present system of Militia and Volunteers requires reorganisation. A fixed percentage of the population should be disciplined and trained to arms, drilled for lays continuously, and be placed under canvas once a year. A capitation grant of not less than L 3 should be given to .frontier corps, and a larger allowance to other corps. A BUI is to be prepared during the recess, embodying these suggestions. The Sub-Committee’s report suggests providing regulations to suit localities, stringent discipline, compulsory training iu districts where a certain percentage are not Volunteers, the minimum to be made up by firstclass Militia, drawn by lot; two years’ service iu Volunteer corps to exempt from ballot, except for active service; the commissious of Volunteer officers to lapse if their companies are not maintained at the proper strength ; all Colonial forces to have Snider rifles and efficient inspection. The annual competition for the Challenge Shield is only to be taken part in by efficient Volunteers. There are to be compulsory parades, eight inspections, and twelve company drills. One-third of the enrolled streugtn to count a parade. One third of the capitation money to go to the finance committee of companies for general purposes. Uniforms; Cavalry the same as rifles, except riding breeches ; Artillery the same as the Dunedin or Wellington batteries; Engineers the same as rifles, with distinguishing badge, rifles, grey cloth, cap, tunic, and trowaers; Naval Volunteers the same as Port Chalmers Naval Brigade. Corps enrolled after the Act will not be enrolled to capitation money unless for the regulation unform. Battalions will have distinguishing facings; companies numbers on their caps. Corps already enrolled to be allowed two years before adopting the regulation uniform. Mounted corps to be drilled and armed as infantry. All corps to be drilled in the use of field and siege guns. (from our special correspondent.) September 24. Dr Featherston’a last published letters are singular productions. I send you some extracts ,r I venture to add, if her Majesty’s Immigration Commissioners were applied to they would willingly bear testimony that no emigration service has ever been more efficiently conducted than emigration to New Zealand, for which I have been responsible.” The paper includes all the Brogdon’s correspondence. I hey state that firm had no wish to enter into immigration obligations, but had them forced on them by Dr Featherston and the Government. Mr Brogden says : “We are not, and never were desirous of entering into this kind of engagement, but believe, if the Government urge it upon us, that we could organise anew the emigration movement for the despatch of considerable numbers. We have sent out 1,299 adult males, and have only 515 now in our employ. The following terms were offered by Mr Carter, at Merthyr, for Welsh colliers for Otago :—Steady coal miners will be accepted on undermentioned terms ; single and married people will be taken without any payment for passage, and money will be advanced for their fare to Condon j both, of which sums will have to be repaid in the Colony by instalments extending ov«r two years, before sailing, promissory notes for the following amounts will have to be given; —Each married person will have to sign a promissory note for 1.11 10s; single man ditto ditto, Ll2 10s. The Government will provide each emigrant with bedding, cooking utensils, &c., for the sum of 20s, which must be paid before the emigrant’s note (?) can be cancelled as an earnest that he intends going. iSuch bedding. &c., will be the emigrant’s own property on arrival in the Colony.”