GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 57, 5 August 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(JBcr Anglo-Australian Press Telegraph Agency.) Wellington, Aug. 4. In the Legislative Council to-day, the Hon Colonel Brett brought up the report of the Select Committee on the Canterbury Public Domain Act Amendment Bill, recommending that the Bill be not further proceeded with this session. Mr Millar briefly moved the second reading of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand Bill. The Hon Mr Waterhouse opposed the motion, as it gave unprecedented powers to the Bank. The Hon Mr Holmes supported the motion, arguing that all Banks directly or indirectly had similar powers. The Hon the Colonial Secretary thought the Council should not depart from its usual course. The Hon Mr Williamson thought such powers should not be given to any Bank. The Hon Mr Campbell supported the motion, deprecating delay. In the House of Kcpresent»tiv< j s to-day. The adjourned debate on the Forests Bill was resumed. . Mr M urray opposed it. He thought it better that an experiment should be made to assimilate the land laws. The amount of forest land destroyed by fire was much overrated, and private enterprise was quite sufficient to replace that removed Jong before a scarcity was felt. It was a useless measure, only calculated to increase expenditure and the number of civil servants. Mr MACANDREW regretted that he was constrained to vote against the. BUI, though anxious to extend and preserve forests. Why should the control of the forest lauds be removed from those who hitherto administered them. A great deal of what he might cull "flapdoodle" had been introduced in the debate, us to "the people of the colony," just as if the people of the provinces were not the people of the colony. If the state did anything, why not distribute the seeds of forest trees by millions for the people to plant—why if the state saw reason to engage in the timber enterprise, should it not grow grain or do anything else usually left to private enterprise. There was ample timber in the colony to supply all its requirements for hundreds of years. He objected to the Bill also as giving thorn another of those permanent institutions of which they had already too many. Mr O'CONOR supported the Bill. Though coming from a part of the country considered to be too much timbered, he was convinced the Premier showed a wise prevision in drawing up this measure. There could h, ; no doubt a supply would be wanted in thirty years' time. It was dangerous to leave so important a question to the uncertainty of private enterprise. He be-

lieved that if Otago and Canterbury were allowed to consult their own inclination in tne matter of forestry, aud the colony prosecuted the enterprise without them, he felt convinced that before many years they would be glad to participate. As for the other provinces, they could not carry out the scheme at all.

Mr Bucklano opposed the measure, as being too much interference with private enterprise. What the country really wanted was hedgerows and small plantations. Although Auckland utilised more timber than all the other provinces, it planted more trees than it cut down. These would amply replace the disappearing kauri forests. If the Government intended to establish a college why not establish an agricultural college ? "While admiring the thoroughness with which the Premier had done his work in this matter as in all others, he hoped he would conline himself to properly carrying out that other work in hand which was making his name famous. Mr ROLLESTON opposed the Bill. The provisions regarding the forest land and disforested land, seemed to have presented a difficulty greater than the Premier could cope with. The Bill pressed too heavily upon private enterprise, and aimed at taking too much laud. The province of Canterbury had already fully appreciated the necessity of providing forest trees. In 1870 the Provincial Government distributed 65,000 to be planted in reserves which had been made throughout the province. The object of the Bill had his sympathy, but not its provisions. He was surprised that the Premier should think he would receive the approbation of the people of the provinces to a measure appropriating their lands for revenue purposes. He opposed the Bill because its effect was, practically, to cripple provincial institutions in a waj not calculated to benelit the poople of the colony or provinces. Mr BLUETT did not think the hon member who had just sat down did represent the mind of the people of Canterbury. Such a measure was calculated.to be of the utmost benefit. The want of forests on the Canterbury plains often led to crops being so poor as not to be worth cutting, or else to have all the grain blown out. He thought the principal provisions of the Bill seemed to be misunderstood. He highly approved of the idea of a training college, also one of agriculture. He would give the measure his warmest support. Mr BUNNY warmly opposed the Bill, as a measure to confiscate the lands of the colony, especially of the North Island. As far as Wellington was concerned, this Bill really might as well take their whole estate, DO per cent of which was forest land. The object of Wellington was how to disforest their land. He would go with the Government if they wished to resume the control of the waste lands of the colony, but that was another matter. The real way to preserve their forests was to sell them and plant fresh ones where required. Mr T. Kelly thought that, instead of conserving their forest lands, the Government should give them value by opening them up. Under any circumstances, there was no immediate necessity for the Bill. The destruction of forests was greatly overrated in Taranaki. Climatica'.ly, Taranaki would be benefitted by the removal of a great deal of its forests. The province had too much rain. Financially, the scheme would be a failure. He hoped the Government would withdraw the Bill. All they had to do was freely to distribute seeds of trees most suitable for the colony. Mr Walter Johnston opposed the Bill as quite uncalled for. The hon. member proceeded to show that the most fertile countries and the most equable climates and the most regular rainfalls were where there were practically no forests—such as Ireland. He quoted the results of the Prussian forestry to show that it could not pay ; he objected also because he could see in the clauses power to enable the Government to acquire money. They would be in a position to take all the lands on the sounds and bays on the West Coast of the Middle Island, to lay out forest land in townships and sell them. This would place a large amount of moDey in the hands of the Government, which latterly had shown a great desire to get hold of money. He felt certain they wanted it.

Mr LUCKIE supported the bill as a sound statesmanlike measure, for which future generations would thank the House. He regretted that the information on this measure and on the Polynesian papers had not been longer before the public, so as to enable them fully to grasp the many benefits presented. The chief opponents of the measure were superintendents and those interested in keeping up the system of provincialism, all connected by the "tie of pocket. The strongest opponents of the Bill admitted the principle to be right, only they opposed its details. Mr HUNTER deprecated introducing matters of provincial supporters as unjust, all being representatives of the people. He had understood with the majority of the members that the measure would not be pressed further than the second reading until the lion member for Timaru forced from the Government a statement that they intended to press the measure, It seemed to be right to encourage planting in the South Island, and encouiage clearing in the North. The Government should not meddle with the land laws of the provinces. Mr Anm:lows said the evidence regarding the climatic effects of denudation had not been proven, but he supported the Bill for other reasons.

The following Bills have been read a a first time—The Whakataki Grant Bttl ; Native Land Act, 1878, Amendment Bill ; Bill to validate certain orders in Council issued under Outlying Districts Sale of Spirits Act, 1870 ; Bill to amend the Employment of Females Act; Election of Mayor for Wanganui ; Ohikaka Native? Claims Rehearing Bill, Outlying Districts' Sale of Spirits Act, 1870, Amendment Bill ; Awahuri Native Grantees Bill; Goldlields Act, IS6G, Amending Act. The report on the excise duties has been brought up. It states that to immediately adopt the proposal of the Government is not consistent with good faith, and it is inexpedient to stop altogether distillation, but in view of the loss of revenue resulting herefrom, and as the parties engaged have expressed a wil'ingness to accept compensation, the Government should endeavour to arrange with them on equitable terms. Mr WEBSTER has been granted leave of absence for the remainder of the session. Wellington, August sth. In the House of Representatives at the evening sitting yesterday, Mr Keid opposed the second reading of the Forests Bill, deprecating making the

question one between the provinces and the colony. He condemned the measure as unsuitable and uncalled for. The control of the forests had better be left in the hands of the provinces, who could effect the object of the Bill more economically ; he hoped that the Bill would be withdrawn.

Mr Vogel in replying, commented very severely upon the Superintendent of Wellington, who practised ways that are dark, and tricks that are vain ; whatever land was proposed to be taken from Wellington would be considerably less than that province had been voluntarily presented with by the colony ; some time ago all Wellington seemed to care about was to get into debt as much as possible, and then come to the General Government for assistance. It was better for the Oolonial Government to act as a constable, than as a detective. It would be better to administer the aiHairs of the province at once, sooner than be obliged to be a watchdog over it. The object of the Bill had been misunderstood. He did not want to interfere with existing forest interests, and as for the Government interfering with private interests, the case was quite reversed. He did not want to strip the provinces of the best of their land. He only wanted rocky and sandy places for planting forests. He touched on Mr Sheehan's speech sarcastically, by showing that owing to the bad way in which Auckland timber had been stripped to supply Victoria, Baltic pine commanded a higher price than kauri, and a company had actually been got up in Melbourne to export Auckland timber, and send it into the market in a superior condition to the way in which it was exported from Auckland. He contrasted Messrs Gillies and Stafford as leaders, and said that the former could see no good in anything proposed by any political opponent. He looked upon the speech of Mr Fitzherbert as remarably impudent, considering that the General Government had spent nearly £SOO.OOO in Wellington during the last five years, while the amount raised by the province was only £15,600 during the last three years : it was better that they should take charge of the province at once. Taking the whole of the North Island, the General Government had spent nearly three millions and a half in it during the last five years, and nearly two millions and a hall during the last three years, while all the provinces of the island had raised was only £448.000. What answer could they give, but that they should all be swept away? Owing to the large expenditure in the North Island, of Government money, they were obliged to spend large sums in the Middle Island, which properly should have been paid by the provinces. If the Government had too much to do, it was through looking after provinces that could not loolf after themselves. It was monstrous that the colony should not have the assistance of the laud revenue of the colony, and should, in fact, be outlawed, while the considerations they asked for were accorded to private individuals. The withdrawal of the three per cent of the lands would not interfere in any way with private enterprise. He proposed, however, to reduce the clauses of the Bill to twelve, and to introduce a clause by which the provinces should be invited voluntarily to hand over to the colony certain lands for State forest purposes. He could see how, without the measure, public works could be converted into a curse rather than a blessing. The Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed on Friday. Friday. The New Zealand University Bill was reported with amendments. The Merchant Shipping Act Adoption Bill was passed. The second reading of the Harbor Works Bill was opposed and adjourned. The Naval Training Schools Establishment Bill was read a second time, Mr T. B. Gillies seconding the measure as a very good one, and exceedingly well drawn up. The House adjourned at 11.30.