GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 63, 13 August 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Iter Anglo-Australian Press Telegraph Agency.) Wellington. August 12. In the Legislative Council. The motion by the Hon Colonel Brett, affirming the desirability of establishing a central asylum for the deal, dumb, and blind, was carried unanimously, There was a long debate on the second reading of the Otago Waste Lands Act Amendment Act, moved by the Hon Mr Menzies. The Hon Captain Frazer warmly seconded the motion, which was warmly opposed by the 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." The Hon Colonel Brett denounced the deferred payment system as a curse to the colony. The Hon Mr Holmes concurred in these views. He took exception to the administration of the land laws.

The Hon Mr Paterson supported the motion. He thought the Bill ought to be amended in committee.

The Hon Captain FEASBE would like to see an Otago Land Bill with only two clauses, one repealing all the former land laws of the province, and 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 arriving on the land, acd that could only be done by adopting the system of selling on deferred payments. The debate was adjourned.

Mr Vogel has just made a statement that the Government would proceed with the resolutions regarding the abolition of the provinces the lirst thing to-morrow, and con tinue the debate on Monday to its conclusion. The Government would stake its position upon the result. If the House and the country were against them they would retire. They would not press the Polynesian Bill beyond the second reading this session.

The PREMIER has made a statement with reference to the abolition resolutions. Various opinions had been circulated as to the importance the Government attached to these resolutions, but he hoped members would not come to any conclusion till they heard the arguments in favor of the resolutions he would lay before the House to-inor-

row afternoon. They proposed to go on with the ordinary business on Friday, and ask for an adjournment till Monday, which he proposed to devote specially to the debate on the resolutions. On a former occasion the Government concluded that an organic change in the Government of the North Island was necessary, but had not made up their minds as to whether they would bring down the resolutions this session. They had since decided to do so. There could be no constitutional objection to the change being made in the last session of the Assembly, and so avoid the necessity of having an election in the meanwhile. That would be merely carrying out what they had initiated and agreed to do this session. It could not be held that their proceedings would be emasculated two years out of rive 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 that 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 of the country must pass into the hands of those holding the opposite views. He saw no necessity for extending the session beyond next week or the early part of the following. He had heard of threats of prolonging session, but he treated them as idle. He did not think 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 Island Bill would not be proceeded with beyond the second reading this session. He hoped the resolutions would receive the unbiassed and unprejudiced support of hon members.

Mr J. E. Brown asked if the resolutions were to be considered altogether. The Premier—We shall press the resolutions a 8 a whole.

Mr Bbown (sotto voce)—Then you go out. In reply to Mr Steward, Sir D. McLean said the Government had the first portion of the report of the inspector of volunteers, and as soon as they had the remainder they would bring up the annual report. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—Roads and other Public Works, Advances to Provinces for Public Works, Construction and Purchase of Railways. The following was read a second time: — Goldfields' Act Amendment No 3. Wellington, August 13.

In the House of Representatives yesterday, The Protection of Animals Act 1873 Amendment Bill caused considerable discussion. The principal point of those opposed to the Bill was that the Bill gave the superintendents power to authorise any person to kill pame, and thus override the legislation of the General Assembly. Those in favor of this clause of the Bill regarding the destruction of game, gave numerous instances of cases in Taranaki and Auckland, where settlers were actually impoverished by these birds eating their spring seeds, and compelling two and sometimes three sowings.

Mr Bluett suggested that the matter should be settled in this way. Game should be considered as the property of the persons upon whose land it was found, and that they should be allowed to destroy it at certain seasons of the year, upon payment of a certain license fee. Those who favored the conservation of game need not do so, and thus the difficulty would be adjusted. Mr T. B. Gillies doubted if pheasants were so destructive as they were represented to be, and suggested that leave to kill game in certain district?, should be obtained from the Acclimatisation Society. This was negatived. A clause was added making it penal to sell or purchase game. The Bill was then reported with amendments.

On the Immigration and Public Works Loan Bill being brought on, considerable discussion ensued upon the sixth clause, which gives power to the Government to raise the whole of the four million loan in short dated debentures. Mr Fitzherbert thought that the power of raising short dated debentures should be limited to one million. The Premier urged that it was more economical for the colony to entrust the Government with discretionary power, as to whether they should raise the loan in short dated or long dated debentures. Mr Beeves urged that it was a dangerous power to grant. He had perfect confidence in the prudence of the present Treasurer, but it afforded opportunities for reckless dealing with finances, to the Treasurer who might follow the present one, and be less cautious and reliable. Mr Rolleston wanted information as to the cost of raising the last loans, and whether the Government had made any permanent arrangements for that object. The Premier said the Agent-General had acted when he left England, but as to the £120,000 which had been negotiated by Sir P. Julian, he had been allowed £IOOO, as he was not a recognised Government officer. Mr Sergcnt, who was now the agent for the General Government, had not been allowed anything. Mr T. B. Gillies would shrink from embarrassing the Treasurer in the slightest degree in any legitimate operation, but no necessity existed for the powers asked for. Mr Ctjthbertson pointed out that last session two loans amounting to |£2,750,000, not a small sum as compared with four millions, were allowed to be raised on short dated debentures, at the discretion of Government, and without opposition ; he could not reconcile that course with the present opposition. Mr Johnston insinuated the cost of the loan, which had been floated in a manner not in accordance with usual practice, and although prepared to vote for the clause if the Premier said the money was an absolute necessity, would like more information than that at present vouchsafed them.

Messrs Reeves and Fttzherbert insisted that the Premier last evening, gave a pledge that he would be guided by the wishes of the opposition, as to the limit of short dated debentures.

Mr Reader Wood thought it strange that after the houscjhad agreed unanimously as to the necessity for the four million loan, such feeble opposition should be offered to the progress of the Bill. Sir J. Cracroet Wilson felt bound to say for the honor of the House that he did not understand the Premier to have given any pledge on the question. The clause was passed, and the Bill then passed rapidly without amendment.