PARLIAMENTARY.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 8, 1 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

m HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [PEE UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] . ■ Wellington, June 29. ' PETITIONS. % Sir George Grey presented a petition from 1800 electors and settlers j against the Contagious Diseases Act, :.- and also from 763 electors of Auckland \ praying for redistribution of , representation. LOCAL BODIES LOAN BILL, The House went into Committee on the Local Bodies Loan Bill. A lengthy discussion took place on clause 7, empowering local authorities to borrow . money for erecting school buildings.— Sir K. Stout .pointed out that some , districts might not be in $ position to erect school buildings, and. the clause was intended to borrow for that :purpose, There was no compulsion whatever in. the clau&e. He said the' Government could not constantly go into the money market to bo»row for the erection of school buildings, and in a few years borrowing would have, to cease altogether.'-^-Major Atkinson 1 hoped the clause would be withdrawn. He said the matter was of much importance, and that it should be dealt with as a whole, not in piece-meal fashion. He quite agreed with the Premier that borrowing would hare to cease in a few yea'ra.-^Mr 'Montgomery also urged; its withdrawal. He contended that borrowing 1 money for school 'building was quite as legiti- - mate as for roads and bridges. I —^Mr Eussell thought that putting the question of taxation before the people was a good one. Whether the present clause > was a*|good one or not, his" opinion was that, eventually, the whole education system would hare to be borne .by the local bodies.— Messrs Sutter, Newman,' Barron, Lake, ind Fisher opposed the clause.— -Sir JuliM' Vogel defended it, and deaied that, the Government wished' ' to save anything by it.— ln clause 8, relating to the Interest and Sinking Fund, Major Atkinson moved, That tho words "If any," relating to the Sinking Fufid, be struck out.— Sir J. Vogel opposed; the amendment. —Mr Pyke' moved; That the words in the Sinking Fund, "If any," be struck out.—Sir Julius Vogel hoped the House would pass the clause as it ; stood, add-not strike it' out of the Sinking Fund.— Mr Fyke's amendment was lost on the voices 1 , >m was also Major Atkinson's amendment — for, 22; afainst, 40. Sir Julius Vogel moved the addition, ef a new clause in the Local t ßodits Loan Bill, having for its object the exemption of Crown and Native lands liability to special rating of loans. The clause was opposed by various members on tho ground that Maoris* ought to be rated as well as Europeans. — Mr Sutter offered to propose the abolition of Crown and Native Lands Hating Act if anyone would second it. — Sir Julius Vogel said that every f speech against the clause was a nail in the coffin of that act. — Major Atkinson defended the act and^aid thai but for it the Government would be asked by every local body for assistance. — After a lengthy discussion, a division was taken— ayes, 42 ; noes, 24. — Mr Garriek got another clause added, enabling any local body to anticipate one year's rate. The bill was then passed. |jp ■'# June 30. PACOTC ISLAND QUESTION. .Sir J/tfw m. Vogel resumed the debate on th<B Facific Islani* question. He aaidythat the circumH*an<.>eß had now chaioged, and it was necessary to strengthen the hands of the Agent* Gejneral in representing the matter to the Home Government. '2 i The debate was interrupted by the 5,;30 adjournment. ' , This Day, MIDLAND BAILWAY BILL. The, House went into Committee on on the Midland^Railway^ :Bill,rfMr Fikher moved to strike out the concessions of interest during the construction. Ayes 9," noes 84.— Mr Hursthouse moved a proviso allowing deviation in route between Lyell and Nelson if tho Government and Company agreed. This was done to embrace the Colling wood district, i