PARLIAMENTARY NEWS I « j Legislative Council.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 16, 19 July 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS I « j Legislative Council.

(PFB FBKSS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, July 18. The William Robinson Estate Bill was reported from the Private Bills Committee, who recommended it be allowed to proceed with amendments. Mr T&iaroa resumed the debate on the question that it ig expedient that the present positions of the claims of the Middle Island natives and the measures taken for a settlement of the same should bp explained to the Council. After discussion, the motion was agreed to. On the motion of Mr McCullough, the second reading of the Institute of Journalists Bill was agreed to on a division by 25 to 3, Slmmski, Scotland, and Swanson being the dissentients. The Council than adjourned till Wed* nesduy, 26th iost. House of Kkphkskntatives. Replying to Mr Rolleston, Mr Seddon said lie hoped to be able in a day or two, before the debnte on the Financial Statement was concluded, to make nn announcement as to the intention of Gorernment with respect to the appointment of Native Minister. In the menn time the native bills were being interpreted and the whole of thoso measures would shortly be before the House. Replying to other questions, A) misters stated the native legislation proposed by Government would prohibit private dealings in native lands ; thnt a Bill was in preparation dealing with the question of issuing licenses to tobacconists; that Government thought it undesirable to introduce session after session legislation to old soldier's claims, and it was understood that the Bill of last session should be linal; that the Government could not introduce a measure making more adequate provision for the payment of jurors; that Government could do nothing fo aid in the establishment and maintenance of nightschools ; that no reduction could be made in the rate of interest charged by the Government Insurance Department on advances made to policy holders on security of their policies ; that Government would consider tho question of imposing duty on all imported photograph enlargements. A Select Com mil tee was set up to consider the Labor Bills. Mr Mitchclson resumed the debate on the Financial Statement. He comjratii' laled the Hun Mr Ward ou having attained the honorable position of Colonial Treasurer, although he could not agree with him us to the brightness of the future, for ho thought on the contrary tho future hud a very gloomy outbok according to his (Mr Mitchelnon'*) calculutiou. The surplus should have been staled at L 283.800 instead of L 515.253. In spite of Ministers' assertions to the contrary, he contended the whole of the expenditure on I'ublic Works since Governmeut took ofllco Imd been taken out of the loan fund with the exception of L200.0U0, transferred from the consolidated fund lust year, and of that amount there was very little left now. He quoted extensively from figures to show the position of the i'ublio Works fund, and said Gorcrntuent had during their two years of oflice had tho control of 1^8(31,293 of loan money. Referring to the land question he quoted from figures to prove i hut there were less people residing on land in March, 1893, than in March, 1801. He approved of the pro postal to tax native lands, and Le must congratulate the Government on taking that step. As to native lands he was in favor of appointing a committee to consider the whole question, and it should include Judge .Richmond, who was thoroughly conversant with native matters, ifc scouted tho idea that the pro>ent Government was a non. borrowing Government, and contended they had utterly failed to prove their policy was one of self reliance. Mr Scobie McXcnzie made nn onslaught on the finances of the Government, especially ridiculing the assertion that they had pursued a non-borrowing policy. Messrs Thompson (Marsden), Dawson, and Lawry followed in support of the Government policy. The debate was adjourned, and the House rose at 12.50 a.m.