GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 74, 26 August 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Per Anglo-Australian Press Telegragh Agency:) Wellington, August 25. In the Legislative Council, The Hon Mr Richardson's motion for the appointment of a committee to consider the salaries of the Council officers was carried. The Hon Captain FRASER, in moving for information as to what steps the Government were taking towards introducing in the gaols of the colony the reformatory system at present in force in the gaols of Europe and America, urged the establishment of two central penal depots, one in each island ; for the south in Lyttelton harbor, and for the north on Soames Island. The Hon Dr Pollen said the next session the. Government would bring down definite proposals to establish such an institution.

In the House of Representatives to-day, The Speaker announced that the Governor's Salary Bill passed last session had received Her Majesty's assent. Mr J. L. Gill'ES gave notice of motion that he would move for a return of how the million and a half had been apportioned amongst the various provinces as necessary concessions in order to carry out the public works policy.

On the motion that the House go into committee upon the report of the honorarium committee,

Mr Reid opposed it. He thought the general opinion was against the present allowance being increased. Mr Rolleston also opposed it.

In committee the essence of the report was, that the committee [thought it undesirable to increase the honorariums of the other branches of the Legislature, but that they should be subject to the same reductions as the other brauch, and that it was not necessary to disturb the allowances of the members of the Legislature residing within three miles of the Government buildings. These principles were embodied in six resolutions.

The Pkemier proposed the first resolution —" That members of the Assembly residing more than three miles from the Assembly buildings, should receive their actual fares by coach, railway, or steamboat, once each way, to and from their usual residence." Agreed to without discussion. Resolution 3 —" That all allowances, except the actual fares before mentioned, should be paid for attendance during the sitting days of the session, and that a proportionate reduction be made for each sitting - day during which the member is absent; provided if during the session members are not absent more than three sitting days in all, no deduction be made."

Major Atkinson said the clause was most unfair. A member who came into the House and then walked out immediately, without doing any work, was treated the same as a member who displayed industry in the affairs of the country. The Premier said they had this difficulty before them. When they deducted the guinea per day for non-attendance, they found that in a hundred-day session, with seventy sitting days, the member who never attended obtained thirty guineas for neglecting the business of the country. The Speaker said the great difficulty to contend with was to keep a record of members' attendance, and he thought the present usage was the best. Mr J. C. Brown opposed the terms "allowances to members of the Assembly," and objected entirely to members of the other brauch being paid for attendance. They were all rich men, and could afford their services without remuneration.

After a very great deal of discussion, and half a dozen different amendments, the clause was finally passed, being as to allow of five days' absence to members, and in any deductions that five days ibe allowed.

Clause 4,—" That no deduction be made for the absence of any member present in Wellington, but absent from the House through illness," —was agreed to. Clause 5, —"That no payment be made except upon the certificate of the Speakers of the Legislative Council or the House of Representatives,"—was agreed to. The Premier then introduced a resolution for granting equal allowances to members of both branches of the Legislature—" That after this year the allowance of members of the Assembly be regulated by Act, but that during this year the allowance shall be 150 guineas to all members of the Assembly residing beyond three miles from the place of meeting of the Assembly ; and 100 guineas to all members of the Assembly residing within that distance." The Premier defended the principle of paying members of both branches bo as to relieve them of the charge of being mere representatives of .wealth. . Mr Johnstone opposed the resolution, on the ground that the House was not justified in passing it with such a large taxation looming in the distance. Mr Fox objected solely because he, regarded it in the. light of payment, and not from any fear that the country was precipitately running to ruin. Mr (Stafford did not think the honorarium should be increased. Mr M'Glashan supported.

Mr ORMOKD.said the increase was not required, and would not be well received by the country. The present allowance was quite sufficient, .for all their legitimate expenses. .. Mr Reader Wood opposed the increase. There was time enough to propose an increase when the House.sat four or five months. . Mr J. E. Brown suppjrted the resolution. His experience, was different to that of the member for Parnell. While he said he always supported payment to members, and recognised the resolution as a step in that direction..

Mr Fitzherbert believed greatly in the payment of members as the best means of electively filling, the House, and also maintained that the. other branches of the Legislature should be treated in common. He would support the proposal, although in the light of remuneration he considered it inadequate. Mr Tribe believed the country at large would concur in the payment of members. He could point to many instances in the House where the honorarium left a positive loss.

Mr Eeid moved an amendment that the word " fifty" be struck out. Upon a division being taken, the amendment was negatived by 32 to 23, and the resolution then agreed to. Resolution six was then moved—" That none of these provisions be applicable to the Speakers,. Ministers, and chairmen of committees."

Mr Fox : If you are doing this upon the principle that persons already in receipt of public salaries should not receive the honorarium, why not include provincial servants, many of whom received very large salaries. Mr O'Conor and Mr Reid explained that most of the provincial officers had to pay persons to do their work in their absence. The resolution was agreed to, and the whole reported and adopted. The Excise Duties Bill was read a first time.

Mr Murray and Mr. ,1. L. Gillies recorded their protest against the Bill, to do away with colonial industries for the mere purpose of increasing the revenue. The House adjourned at 5.30. Wellington, August 26.

In the House of Representatives yesterday at the evening sitting, upon the House resuming, Upon the second reading of the Excise Duties Bill, Mr Macandueav recorded his protest against the principle adopted by this Bill. Mr O'Conor also had his misgivings ; he was much afraid that it would lead to the springing up of numerous illicit distilleries, and to the requiring of a special force for their repression. Mr Hunter hailed the Bill as a decided step against the pernicious system of protection,

Sir J. ORACBOFT Wilson approved of the action of the House in this matter.

Mr May regretted the House should pass such a Bill. It was pouring into one bucket and taking out of another. Mr McGlashan supported the Bill, which then passed through all its stages. Upon moving the House into committee,

Mr J. L. Gillies wished to record a few figures in support of the statement he had made during the recent debate, with the object of showing tbe lesser cost of management of provinces as compared with colonial Government administration, and which figures had been converted by the Miiiißter for Public Works.

Mr Eichardson pointed out that there was a wide disparity between the figures adduced now, and those given before, and that he need not say a single word' in refutation. Mr Cuthbertson characterised the act of the member for Waitaki, in raking up a question where his figures had beeu so outrageously incorrect, as silly in the extreme. ' •

On the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr Murray made a long speech, in which he found fault with the financial administration of the colony, and regretted that the fathers of the House did not take the matter up. Mr Thomson made some remarks in the same line, in the course of some remarks as, to the mode of carrying out the immigration policy in immmediate future ; he intimated he would cause the attention of the department to be more turned in the direction of nominated immigration ; he would also endeavor toj regulate future shipments, so as to arrive here in favorable portions of the year.

The immigration and supplementary estimates were then passed through committee without opposition, including the estimates for unanthorised expenditure. The Licensing Act came down from the Legislative Council with the following amendment in the thirteenth clause: "Provided that new licenses shall be granted only at the quarterly licensing meetings, to be held in thefmonth of June of each year."

The Premier did not think it wise to peril the Bill, by resisting the amendment which had been fought twice over in the Council; but he proposed to amend the clause, so as to make it apply only to houses not previously licensed—the amendment to be referred back to the Council, along with other amendments they disagreed with. Mr Sheehan pointed out, upon the cotaimittal of the Native Land Act Amendment Bills, that its expensiveness and complication of machinery must render, it practically useless. ..,, ', :

Mr Rolleston disapproved of the Bill:'

TakamoANA would prefer no active Land Act at all, but would • desire the Bill to be circulated amongst the natives. Wi Parata said no Maoris opposed the Bill, but merely some of the details. The Bill was then committed and passed. The House adjourned at 2.15 a.m.