GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3555, 15 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[Bx Telegraph.]

Wellington, July 14. In the Council, My Waterhouse, in moving the motion of Which he had giyen notice regretting increase in the indebtedness of the Colony, was very moderate in his language. He said wheu, four years ago, the public works policy was initiated, Mr Vogel had said that L 8,500,000 was to be spent over ten years, or, including immigration, L 9,500,000, which, however, was to be reduced by the sale of 3.500,000 acres ; bat they had authorised the expenditure of L 9,816,000 in seven years only, and would have pnly about 1,000 miles of railway to show for it j and this sum would make the total indebtedness of fhg Colony over I -17,000,000. The question was whether any increase to this would not make too heavy the taxation necessary to meet it. Still, there was nothing alarming at present, only more caution was required. We were apt at present to under-estimate the weight on our shoulders. This feeling was attributable to three causes—l. The unpreoedeuted prosperity prevailing. 2. The full burden of interest was not yet felt, in consequence of the interest charge being deferred till railway hues were completed. 3- *Wjs wefe not paying the full burden imposed upon the Colony in consequence of Native troubles. There would be a large expenditure yet in connection with the Native question, which he advocated should he borne out of the public revenue. As for railways going on, he thought they would repay interest and develop industries, but to plunge too recklessly int® them would render taxation an industrial resources necessary, and defeat its own object. They had increased the indebtedness as far as was consistent with sound prudence. WDr Fallen said if he were to follow Mr Waterhouse through his arguments he would be obliged to disclose the financial policy af the Government, which would be more properly done in the other House in a day or two. Me moved the previous question.—Colonel Kenny opposed, apd Mr Campbell supported the amendment fpr jthe previous question, which was put and carried!

On the paotion of Major Richmond, a call of the Council was fixed for July 30. ■' Dr Pollen laid on the table all papers relating to Judges Ward and Chapman. The Regulation of Machinery Bill, Offences Against Person Amendment Bill, and Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill were read a second time.

The Council adjourned. In the House, Mr Vogel moved the second reading of the Westland Loan Bill. He (said it need cause no apprehension among' hoh. members, as it was of a very harmless character. Ordered to be committed to-morrow. ”•

In the adjourned debate oiji the second reading of the Telegraph Bill, Mr Luckie took objection to imposing LlO penalty for accidental injury to telegraph lines. He hoped the Covernment would reconsider the clause.—Mr J. Shepherd thought such persons ought to be left to the ordinary operation of the law, and the clause was withdrawn.—Mr Vogel said he had not yet had an opportunity of consulting the Attorney. General upon the new clausa proposed by the member for Kangitikei. Major Atkinson’s proposal, however, would not be a feasible course, especially in small offices, because it would prevent any check whatever. It would be feasible to do so at the bead office—after telegrams had passed through there to post them at the nearest post-office instead of storing them—but the adoption of the practice would entail an expenditure of L 1,200 a year. He would not bring down the proposal himself, but would have no objection to its consideration in committee. One disadvantage of the proposal was that by the proposed plan (sending them at once to the post-office) telegrams would not be accessible to the sender and receiver as at present.

Mr Richardson moved the second reading of the Regulation of Mines Bill, and said it was founded mainly upon a BUI introduced

by the British Parliament in 1872, and another introduced into Victoria. —Mr Sheehan asked the Speaker if the Bill affected the goldfields matters in Any way, and, being replied to ill the affirmative, skid the Bill should be referred to the Consideration of a goldfields committee j besides, this would be a favorable opportunity for embodying the suggestions of the cO limit tee which had reported upon boilers.—Mr Richardson said that a Bill embodying those suggestions was being prepared by the Government.—Mr O’ Veill also thought the Bill should be referred te the G ddfields Committee after the second reading. Matters were dealt with in the Bill which would require the consideration of such committee. —Mr Buckland thought the Bill provided for everything.—Mr Joseph Shepherd supported the second reading, but thought the Government should hare introduced two Bills -one for go'd-mining, and one for other kinds of mining. He also thought the Bill should be referred to the committee named.—-Mr Steward pointed out several deficiencies in the Bill, which had no provision for lighting of mines, for fire-damp, &c.—Mr Tribe opposed the Bill as unnecessary. It certainly would be productive of mischief in his district, whtro great difficulty was experienced •in finding room for the refuse from below. He hoped it would he left over for another session He also objected to the Bill being brought into operation at the option of the Provincial authorities.—Mr Bradshaw supported the Bill generally as a good one that would have prevented many accidents had it been in foree. He thought the Bill might be so amended as to throw the onus of proof of the efficiency of material employed on the owners and piapagera of mines.—Mr Richardson said there could be no doubt as to the great need for the Bill generally ; hujfc, whatever happened to the Bill, that portion relating to the cr al names, he hoped would be carried into force. ]Je could not see what good a Goldfields Committee could do with the Bilk He thought the Bill was so drawn up that any alterations requisite could be made in committee.—The Rill was'read’a second time, and the third reading fifed fpr that day week.

Mr Vogel moved the second reading of the Savings Bank Amendment Bill. The principal object of the Bill was to increase the amount on which interest is payable from LSOO to LI,OOO —Ordered to be committed on Friday.

Mr Reynolds moved the second reading of the Municipal Reserves Bill, and explained that the Bill provided that power to make reserves for public purposes would include power to make reserves for municipal purposes.—Mr J. Gillies would not oppose the second reading, but would propose considerable amendments, so as to make the Bill apply t® all corporate bodies, well as to merely Municipalities and Road Boards, vrith regard to all kinds of reserves for purposes of public utility.—Mr Mervyn thought thought the Government ought to have dealt with the Question more exhaustively than by that Bill.—Mr Shepherd said that if the reserves had been made on the scale in sere ral of the Provinces which they had been informed, such reserves should be made upon authority of that House, and that House alone.—Mr Reynolds trusted members would _ iro notice of amendments they proposed to introduce. —The Bill was read a.second time, and committed for Friday. Mr Vogel, in the second reading of the Suprem Cum t Judges Bill, said it had been introduced chiefly through the projected retirement of the present Chief Justice. He then referred to tfie highly satisfactory manner in Which he had, through a long series of years, {performed his duties, and the very great estimation in which he was held. Mr Vogel pointed out several Colonies in Australia which had fixed the rate for retiring allowances for Judges. The second jn the A ct provides that superannuation allowance of the Judges over 60 years o 1 age, resigning after J. 6 apd less than 25 years of service be on fijilf salary. He thought that tfie sliding scale of 1 pensions should not be applied to Judges, on the gro nd of public policy if on no other. H® thought that it was f the highest importance that the Judges should be dealt with in this ways as an incentive to them to hold their appointments as long as they possibly could. —Mr JE. Brown said it would be better for the Government to bring in a special Bill to deal tfee present case,—Bill read a second time. 'lhe Civil Service Aot Amendment Rill was moved by the Premier, who explained that some such Bill is absolutely necessary for keeping up the Civil Service to a state of organisation consistent with the requirements of the public. The Premier detailed the provisions of the Bill, which related to the abolition of offices, compensation for loss of office, re-appointments, to misconduct of officers, retiring allowances, and mode of providing £>t pensions, amj’allqwances were regard to systom of pensions. He gavfc it ps hi& private opinion that some prospect should pe held out to officers to expect a pension after a long and faithful service Such a system bad been seen to be highly desirable. He could not agree with those persons who said, “ Oh, they ought to make provision for themThat would not be found to answer in practice.—Mr Gillies oh jetted to the third clause, which was brought in to meet a special caj)e, which should rather have been pro* vided for by special Apt, Generally he would support the principle, hut must sot hj a face against the pension system, which the Premier thought so well of.—Mr Reader Wood could not see that the House could object to a tax of 2$ per cent, being deducted from the salaries for the purpose of making a pension fund.