GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 70, 21 August 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Per Anglo-Australian Press Telegragh Agency.) Wellington, August 20. In the Legislative Council to-day, The Hon the COLONIAL SECRETARY, in reply to a question by the Hon Mr Waterhouse as to what steps was being taken in regard to telegraphic communication with Ruropc, stated that recently the agent of the Government of New South Wales bad secured the contract. On the motion for the second reading of the Highway Boards Empowering Bill, The Hon Mr Williamson proposed an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. A discussion ensued, and the amendment was carried on a division by 33 to 2. The Licensing Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, and considered in committee, and an amendment to clause 13 by the Hon Mr WATERHOUSE, restricting the granting of licenses to a general meeting, to be held in the month of June in each year, was carried by 15 to 13. In clause 15, twenty-eight days' notice was substituted for twenty-one da^s.

In the. House of Representatives to-day. Tn reply to Mr Curtis, The PREMIER said before finally deciding to run a fourth line from Blenhein to Canterbury, the Department would try to secure a line from Nelson to Lyell by way of Richmond, and if it could be safely and permanently constructed, it would establish direct communication between Nelson and the West Coast, and relieve the existing line considerably. Mr Rolleston asked the Treasurer whether he would lay on the table any correspondence between the Government and the Crown agents as to the negociation of the loans during the present year. The PiiKiiiEßsaid that the correspondence was of a very reserved character, and in the interest of the public service did not intend to lay it on the table. The gist of the matter was in the financial statement. Mr-J. R. BROWN resumed the debate on the abolition resolutions. He welcomed the resolutions as a boon. They would sweep away the bane of the colony, that had never been, •uid never would be, local government, and promote unity of feeling amongst the people, and homogenity of legislation. If the remote and interior settlements of the colony were to be done justice to, they must get local machinery and the localisation of revenue. He was prepared to give instances to show that in the province of Canterbury the provincial authorities could not go on with the work of constructing bridges costing from £3OOO, up to works costing £140,000, without seeking the advice and assistance of the Colonial Government, which was having engineers constantly travelling round at the request of the provincial legislal are. A great argument in favor of the resolutions was, that they would place the large national questions like education, and the control of the waste lands, in the Colonial Government. The finance of the provinces ;threateucd to subvert the tinances of the colony. Last session the Provincial Loan Bills brought down by the provinces pressed the Treasurer on all sides. Fortunately, the wisdom of the other House saved them. It was noticed that the provinces which had squandered their land for 2s (Id or 5s per acre constantly came down to the House for assistance. The sole reason why the South Island was better able to carry on her public works than the north was because she husbanded her land. If the provincial membeis were oidy ready to give up personal power for the welfare of the country, the wisdom of the resolutions would bo admitted, but they could not do that while they looked through provincial spectacles. It was strange that the New Zealand settlements could not manage their roads in the same way as Victoria and Now South Wales, that had roads radiating 300 and 400 miles in the interior managed all by local boards. He came to the House an ultra provincialisf, but he was not long there before he was compelled to ehauge Ins views. The hou gentleman quoted the resolutions brought forward I

in Canterbury to reduce the powers of the Superintendent and Council, and assimilate it to Road Boards, to show that the people could not be stunned by the proposal to abolish the provinces. It was not true that the General Government had undermined the provinces. The first blow to them was the consolidation of the loans measure in 1867. If that did not fill their measure, the Public Works Act of 1870 ought to have done so. He warned the South Island members that by voting for the previous question they would have to answer to their constituents. Was not the speeches of North Island members indicative of the intent that they would not respect the land fund of the South Island, had they the power to take it. Was not the theatrical display of the member for Onehunga, also a sign that he had a secret dagger all the time he was in the Ministry to aim at the South if he ever had a chance. The moment the opportunity was taken from him by the proposal of the Premier he retired. He ridiculed the idea of the economy and efficiency of provincial management, and referred the House to numerous works in the North and South to show the lamentable mismanagement. The Norlh provinces were now powerless for good, and it was time the Government took them over to form them into a united whole. He hoped, if the resolutions were not carried, they would soon have an opportunity of ascertaining the opinion the opinion of the country. Mr CARRINGTON supported the resolution, though he would not vote for the Bill giving effect to the resolution, if it did not secure perfectly local control and protection to local revenue. In justice to the Government, he felt bound to state, that in administering the rather crippled affairs of Taranaki, he had received every consideration and aid from the General Government which he could expect. Mr J. Shephard favored the resolution, and controverted the remarks of the hon member for Selwyn. The change was at length desired inNelson. The hon gentleman proceeded to combat the argument regarding the inopportuueness of the proposal, the hostility of the people to it, the superiority of provincial administrat : on, and other objections. A great mistake was made in creating a valuable estate and handing its control over to others than those who raised the money. The hon member gave details showing the large economy and efficiency in administration to be obtained by the North Island by consolidation. He regarded the security offered to the South Island as to the compact as something worth having. Security given by statute was much greater than by resolutions, and required the assent of both Houses and the Governor to revoke it. He did not think the business of the House would be the least increased if the consolidation of the provinces was effected. It was unworthy of intelligent representatives to fear to face so important a problem by voting for the previous question. Mr Tairoa would vote for the resolution. The provinces in the South Island shonld be abolished, as the Superintendents often threw difficulties in ihe way of the General Government dealing with the natives. There should be a Governor in each island. The South Island members talked of their land, they forgot they had not paid for it properly. Mr O'Neill said for some time he had been in favor of some change in the government of the colony. It was not only the out-districts that favored the charge ; their dissatisfaction was exceeded by that of the gold fields and this had been the case years ago in Otago. He would vote for the resolutions, but not with such heartiness as if they embraced the whole colony. In that respect ihe motion wanted boldness and statesmanlike reliance in the wants and wishes of the people. _ There was an evident fear of the rich provinces. In one respect the resolution was likely to have a. good effect. In sweeping away provincial boundaries, it might lead to the adjustment of the representation and do some justice to the Thames constituency. The seat of Government and the compact questions had nothing to do with the question at issue, find should not have been introduced. The House then adjourned.