GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3580, 13 August 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegraph.] Wellington, August 12. Bills passed : Petty Sessions Amendment Bill, Otago Reserves Bill, Auckland Harbor Bill, Harbor Beard Act Amendment Bill, Regulation of Elections Act Amendment Bill. In the House of Representatives, Tho Premier moved the seemd reading of the Immigration and Public Works Bill, and made a statement regarding past loans, their expenditure, and the present indebtedness of the i ’olouy. The amount of outstanding ind bteduesr, after deducting sinking fund, wag L12,494,W00, of which L 9.229,000.229,000 is to Colonial account, and L 3.265 to Provincial account. Loans already authorised; but not raised, L827.H00, of Public Works Loan, 1870; L 500.000, Public v\ orks Loan, 1873; L 192.000, Defence and other Purposes; L 5.310. general purposes loan; besides L 22.000 not realised under North Otago 1 üblic Works Loan. The total receipts to •SOth June last were L 3.870 000. This was advanced out of the consolidated revenue, as explained in the Financial Statement. L 150,000 disbursements, up to 30th June, were-for railway purposes, L 2,070,000 ; immigration account, L 401.000; roads North Island, L37l,000; water supply f»r the gold fields, LlOO.OOO; laud purchase, North Island. L 214.000 ; telegraph extension, L 90,00; ] works in course of construction, L 143.000 ; ■ grants to Road Boards, L 150,000. Up to i J une 3(), there was a balance left of L 268,000.

The loan now proposed would bring the mount for loans up to Ll<>,ooo,ooo. Of this 6,500,000 had been votid for railway pa., poses, L 1,500,000 for immigration purposes, • 460,000 for roads in the North Island, L 350,000 for waterworks ou gold fields, L 700,000 for land purchase, L 490.000 for elegraph extension and lighthouses and other public works. He pointed out that, although a large amount authorised and in hand was not rais d, and although the Colony was not immediately necessitous, the Government considered that for prudential reasons they should be placed in a position to secure the Colony from probable loss and inconvenience, by being able to avail them* selves of the favorable condition of the money market, which was liable to be seriously disturbed at any time by European war.—Mr Fitzherbert said there were some points of novelty in the present Bill, which required explanation. He understood that it was proposed to ask the House for L 4,000,000 more, although there was still a large amount of debentures available. He was glad to hear the bon. member had LBOO.OOO out of the guaranteed Li,ooo 000, available for a rainy day. The argument appeared to be to this effect: that a favorable opportunity for putting the loan into the market might ptesent itself, and that it would be best to have the power to embrace that favorable opportunity. He quite agreed with the prudence of borrowing in advance of our needs, but it would be iucons'btent to ask for such an amount when their needs were not so pressing. He hoped the amount would be L 1,000,000. This rate of 4 per cent, interest lor our loans, once fixed at 5 per cent., he thought might have been judiciously kept at that, although some members took credit for lowering the rate of interest. As wo now had the debentures at 4 and 4£ per cent., why fix the maximum at six per cent.? Mr T. B. Gillies said, according to the words of the Premier, We have only L 144.000 in cash, while there was over L1.000.0'10 actual liabilities. It was clear then that the House must give the Government power to borrow more; hatha must call their attention, to the pace they werp going. The Premier had told them that up to the 30th the loans borrowed amounted to L 12,494,000. After deducting the amount of all the sinking funds, that was the indebteduess of the Colony and t*ie Provinces. He also showed them that, while he had an unexpended balance of 12,051,000, they were asking the Mouse for a further loan of L 4,000,000, which would bring the indebtedness of the Colony up to L 18,500,000. When the borrowing policy was first introduced he endeavored to inculcate prudence. He was now glad to find that the Premier had found out the necessity for prudence: that, m fact, the money market was getting tired of us, through the way in which our loans had been forced upon the market during the last four years. The mere fact of the Premier asking the House for power to raise L 4,000,000 iu short-dated debentures showed he was frightened, and wished to prepare for the financial difficulties the Colony was driving into. The endeavor to raise the last loan of LI, 500,000 upon which a private concession of 1 per cent, had been made, demonstrated this. It seemed strange, after the Premier's boast of having raise! a loan at from L 4 12s 6d to L 4 15s, that he should ask to fix the limit at 6 per cent. Anyhow, it was satisfactory to see the Premier accepting bounsii he pooh-poohed two years ago. Me only hoped it was not too late. Under the circumstances, and after the statement of the Minister of Works, it was clear that the liabilities incurred must be met, and that the House must pass the Hill. He therefore supported the Bill. The House had at last had its eyes opened. Mr Keeves considered that the'explanation given by the Premier iu introducing the Bill, if not diaengenuous, fell far short of what the House had a right to expect after the unparalleled confidence which had been reposed in him. 1 here were peculiar powers embraced in this Hill that might prove very dangerous.—Mr I homson thought sufficient explanation had not been afforded. We appeared to be expending at too great a rate altogether. He U no nnn he «- oan Bhould reduced to L, (MW,OOO. We were spending the money in a variety of ways not originally contemplated.* such as public buildings, Ministerial reaideuces, &o —The Premier explained that a large amount of debentures were, as a guai a K *0 nftn ot f thafc is ’ L BOO,OOO apd L 6 0,000 of the'loan of last year. In respect to rate of interest, it was" the sable last year, and in 1870. It was not ad isable to change. But a European war might raise the price of money. He asked for power to issue short-dated debentures for the whole amount, because it was the more prudent course, so as to be in a position' to renew them, as was the general practice of all large eoujpanies at Home. There was not an atom more power in ' giving power for short dated debentures than m fon£ ones, As fflr their credit, he only marvelled that we stood si> Mell, considering so many people went Home from this Colony and did their be it to injure the credit of the Colony, and who absolutely gloated oyer the idea of the Colony being involved m financial embarrassment, the reason that the last loan floated was not so favorably done as the previous one was reallv owing more to the agents asking too high a price, and not leaving sufficient margin. As for the cries of alarm laised about the position of the Colony, he could say, let any b ? : tt ' l robber look around him in any part of the Colony, and he would be forced to admit that on all hands he saw that which unmistakeably showed that the Colony could easily meet all its indebtedness solely through the enormously enhanced value which had been given to everything in the country, solely through the prosecution of the great scheme the country has now engaged in. They could easily bear double the present transactions. During tbe last four years the Increase'in tjxe revenue was -L484,000. suffiCleat to pay interest upon L1Q,006,000- ahfi aliho jgh cries of alarm were raised; it was certain no one felt any real alarm. Those who think there is cause for alarm, and who desire to interpose difficulties in the way of I the Colony should say, “ Do not let the Provinces have any - keep all for the Colony. He could not see that in placing discretionary power in the hands of the Government u this matter they were doing anything extraordinary. The country was pledged to certain things which it was bound to carry out and he cmld not see why the Bi 1 shouffi bo postponed. The session was getting late, and there was no use in losing time.—Mr Beeves asked the Premier to spare the House the stigma of passing the largest Loan Bill during the shortest session, and m one night. It bore upon another financial pleasure, which he did not think was for the interest Of the Colony.-LMrJ BBrown hoped the Premier would press the Bill, He did not think any hon. member would object to the Dill in committee; as it was to ,do something that everyone iu If TX £ ne * w t0 be absolutely necessary! -Mr Outhbertion pointed out the inoonsuteney of members agreeing with the Bill X efc f °PP° Bm g going into committee on the deferred proposals of the Bill, as ac!!!l Dg 4. f ° r ’ less P otFer than was granted without question last year. Knowf“^J°fethlng of financial transaction, he tailed to see upon what grounds the gentleRm s Pbke oftwo novd-provisions in the millT #^ Pr u mier ’ “ *° tbe & marks of the hon. member for tielwyn, said :..® re was no new principle involved in the bin, which was framed exactly in the same form as the Bill of last year. Although a majority of the members wished to proceed

■with, the Bill, he had no objection to conceding so iniibh to the wishes of the minority, and pleasantly parsing the rest, of the evening over the Licensing Bill. Tne Bill Was ordered to be committed to-morrow The HorS- weht into Committee on the Licensing Bill. After several hours’ dis Cttssion a division was called for 01 an amending clause propcS’d by Mr Fox, which Was defeated by 24 U 10. The amending clause, prohibiting hiring of young *. iris for dancing with men in places where liquor is sold, under a penalty rf not leia than 1-20, was carried with discussion.—The clause prohibiting barmaids under a like penaLy was moved at 2 a.m by Mr Fox, in an energetic speech, condemnatory of the practice of young girls being contaminated by the liqnor trade.—The Premier pointed out that the clause would shut out female members of country publicans’ families from assisting in bars of their houses, thereby causing groat hardship not only to many worthy publicans, but to females compelled to travel and make use of hotels. The clause was of such an invidious nature that it could not pos ibly work. The clause was negatived on the voices. That prohibiting barmaids under th’rty years of age wrs withdrawn. The next clause, making every bar or place where liquor was sold by license a factory, under the Employment of Females Act, limiting their boms of labor, and giving them Sunday, was negatived. On the clause providing that public-houses shall have open glass fronts to the street, Mr Fox quoted the Premier’s words in 1872 as to the same view.—A division was called for the clause—9 against 24—the Premier voting with Mr Pox.—Clause 9 was withdrawn.—The Premier withdrew the clause providing for the renewal of licenses as a matter of course if no complaint had been made -—Clause 10, providing special commissioners and inspectors of public houses, and the following clauses were negatived.— Mr Steward moved a new clause, to the effect that no female, other than a wife qr daughter of the licensee, be emplored in a bar jnore than ten hours, and those to be between 11 a.m. aqd 11 p.m. A division was called in favor of the new clause, the result being 21 against 12.—8i1l reported, with amendments. The House adjourned at 310p m. Today, In reply to Mr Steward, Mr M'Lean said the Government had received the first portion of thn report of the Inspector of Volunteers, and as soon as they had the remainder they would bring up the annual report of the Inspector of Volunteers. Bills introduced and read a first time: Beads and others Public Works, Advances to Provinces for Public Works Construction and Purchase of Railways. Second reading : Goldfields Act Amendment No. 2 ’ the House went into committee. Clause 2 met with opposition on the ground that giving miners power to allow tailings to pollute rivers and destroy lauds simplymeant confiscation of recognised rights. —The Premier explained that a clause to settle the point in dispute was now before the Supreme Court. If the miners gained their point, the Bill would neit her give them miything ror take anything from them, and if the rinarian holders or squatters gained theday, the Bill, if passed, could not be of any avail,—Mr Shepherd, who was in charge of the Bill, regretted that hon, members were so ready to oppose it in committee, when not reported, and were shy of doing so on its second rearing. He was only asking them to legalise that which had hitherto per mitted, and to give miners power to do that which must be a serious evil to the Colony if denied.—Mr J. L. Gillies failed to se any good ground for objection to a clans 3 which was purely permissive. Why not apply it to rivers were private rights did not exist, leaving ojihertiases to the Goyernor-in-Coun-cil?—Mr Steward pointed' out that the danse came before the House with the approbation of all the goldfields members, and with the imprimatur of the Otago Provincial Council.—To meet the objections, the Premier moved that clause 2 be amended by adding the words, “provided before making such proclamation the Governor shall satisfy himself there are no private rights to be prejudiced by such proclamation ” —Mr Shepherd called for a division.—The amendment was carried by 25 to 9.—The House rose for dinner.

The Premier made a statement in reference the “abolition resolutions.” Various opinions had been circulated as to the importwee the government attached to these resolutions, hut bo hoped members would not come to any decision till they had heard the arguments in conclusion, and in favor of the resolutions, which he would lay before the Bouse to morrow afternoon. They proposed to go on with the ordinary business on Friday, and asked for an adjournment till Monday, which they proposed to devote specially to the debate on the resolutions. On a former occasion the Government had considered an organic change in Jibe government of the North Islarid necessary, but had not made pji their miuds as'to whether they would bring down the resolutions this session. They had since decided to do so, so there could be no constitutional objections to the change being made in the last session of the Assembly, and so avoid the necessity of having an election in the meanwh'le. That would be merely carrying out what they had initiated and agreed to do this session. It could not be helped that their proceedings would be emasculated two years out of five during which Parliament sat. Going on with the matter this session afforded an opportunity for continuing it during the last session. The resolutions were essentially Government resolutions, upon which the Government staked their position. It must be distinctly understood they were not brought down for the mere purpose of a fancy debate. If the House and the country decided against making the change, the Government would [not] endeavor to give effect to the resolutions, but the goverment of the ifojxhtry mast pass into the hands of those holding ofcpegitA views. saw n# necessity for extending the session beyond next week, or the early part of the following. He had beard of threats of prolonging the session, but he treated them as idle. He did not think the members of the House would do more than state their views, without any desire to lengthen the session unnecessarily. In order to lighten the work of the session the Polynesian Islands Bill would not be praceeded with beyond the second reading this session. Ho hoped the nsolution would receive the unbiassed and unprejudiced support of hon. members. —Mr J. E. Brown asked if the regulations were to be considered all together.—The Premier : We shall press the resolutions as a whole.—Mr Brown (sotto voco): Then you go out. In the Legislative Council, the motion by polonel Brett, affirming the desirability of establishing a central apylpm for fhe deaf, dumb, and blind, was carried Unanimously. . There was a long debate on the second reading of the Otago Waste Lands Apt Amendment Bill, moved by the Hon, Dr Menzies.—Captain Fraser warmly seconded the motion, which was strongly opposed by thfe Hon. Mr Campbell, his principal objection being to the deferred payment principle. He moved an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.— Colonel Brett denounced the deferred payment system aa a curse to the Colony.—The Hon Mr Holmes concurred in the views. He took exception to the admiristratibn of the land laws,—The'Hon. Mr;Pattersonsuppoftedihe motion. ’ He thought the Bi 1 ought to be amended in committee. Captain Fraser Would like to see an-Otago Land Bill, witkonly

W) chares, one repealing all the former land laws of thfe Province ami the other adopting those of Canterbury.—The Hon. Mr Waterhouse supported the motion, observing that they ought to do all they possibly could to settle the thousands of immigrants who were a-riving on land, and that this could only be done by adopting a system of selling on deferred payments —debate adjourned.