GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 365, 13 August 1875, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Prom a correspondent of the Press.) ■ Thursday, August 12. the land fund. Mr Wood moved for a return, showing the estimated amount of land fund to bo received within each provincial district for the period from November Ist, 1875, to June 30th, 1876, together with the estimated amount to be raised in aid, by the issue of treasury bills, under section 17 of the Abolition of Provinces Act; also, the estimated amount foreachjprovincial district, chargeable against the laud fund by subsections 1,2, and 3 of section 16 of the said Act, together with an estimate of the amount for departmental services for local public works and education, proposed to be charged against the land fund by the financial statement. The balance between these estimated receipts and charges to be struck, and the sum mown, which will be available for the purposes mentioned in subsections 1 and 2 of section 18 of the said Act,

Major Atkinson explained how the matter would stand as affecting the colony, because members repeatedly said it would take away

the land fund from the local Boards. Under existing arrangements, and he was speaking in round numbers, the provinces received £277,000 from the consolidated fund, from their own local revenues £50,000, and the amount alluded to in the statement, £71,000, making a total of £348,000. The arrangement pioposed by the Government was this: When the provincial services were taken over by the colony, now paid to a considerable extent out of the land fund,the provincial districts would be paid out of the consolidated revenue, £345,000; as grants to Road Boards, £105,000; for local public works, £60,000; that was to say out of the consolidated revenue there was altogether paid £510,000, which really left £439,000, if the £71,000 before mentioned was deducted as against £348,000 now received. Therefore, if the proposed arrangement was carried out, £91,000 more would be paid than now to the provinces out of the consolidated fund. [Mr Macandrew —8o much the worse for the colony.] That was another point altogether. Mr Reid asked where the £91,000 was to come from. The Hon Major ATKINSON —Out of the consolidated revenue. Mr Reid— How 1 The Hon Major Atkinson referred the hon member for Taieri to page 19 of the financial statement, where full particulars were given. If the member could point to any figures there as wrong, he was prepared to answer him. Mr DIGNAN enquired if the Treasurer’s calculation included items at present a provincial charge. The Hon Major Atkinson replied in the affirmative. Mr Reader Wood, in a vigorous reply said the object to be gained by the abolition of the provinces was to consolidate the departments, yet the Treasurer now stated that the enormous expenditure of the provincial establishments was to be continued. That which was now held out as a boon, was really the curse of the colony. [Opposition cheers.] The motion was carried. OTAGO WASTE LANDS BILL. In committee on'the Otago Waste Lands Bill, Sir D. Bell explained that he was now a believer in the deferred payment system, and paid a warm tribute to the Provincial Government Jfor the way it administered !the system. He also urged the House to settle this question, so that the constitutional question might go to the people for discussion free from other questions. Mr Fitzherbbrt, after alluding to the success of the deferred payment system in Wellington, thanked Six D. Bell for joining the Opposition in the appeal to refer the decision of the constitutional question to the general election. Sir D. Bell. explained he would be sorry if a political interpretation was to be put on anything he said. What he had urged was, this abolition question having been raised, and assuming that would be determined this year, it could not for a moment be supposed that a system which bad been inexistence for twenty-five years would be swept away by onei measure, one divis onj or one vote. [Opposition cheers.] Enormous work was required to give, in the place of the existing system, that which would give greater satisfaction and prevent what must absolutely be a feeling of great disappointment, if a satisfactory means were not provided by which the expenditure of the Government would be reduced, and the public interests and the management by the public of its affairs secured. If abolition was to be anything, this Bill was but the beginning of the end. The present task.was one that required the utmost patriotism, as well as intellect, of every member. -The Bill then passed the second reading. NOTICES. - 7 ,r .

Among the notices of questions for tomorrow is one .by Mr Reeves whether it is intended after the abolition to secure 25 per cent of the land revenue to the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Wbrks.^ Mr Rolleston moves for returns showing the commissions paid to Mr Russell since June, 1874.' oil m Sir Q. Grey gave notice of his intention to bring in an Act declaring null and void all the Orders in Council relating to the confiscated lands issued since July 20th last. CUSTOMS’ duties. Mr Murray moved that as the change in the mode of taxation from measurement to ad valorem duties has resulted in a very large increase in the revenue, and that as the Government when proposing the change stated that the increase of revenue was neither intended nor required, therefore unless the increasing necessities of the Government require this increased taxation, the House is of opinion that the duties now levied on unrefined sugar and other articles of common necessity should be reduced. Mr Reynolds said the Government were not prepared to make any alterations in the tariff. It was very impolitic to tamper with the tariff, which had barely been two years in operation. The tariff was working very well, and in the meantime there were no complaints of excessive taxation. While Sir J, Vogel in 1872 said it might ultimately be considered necessary to consider a reduction in the tariff, he never made a promise to the House or the country that he would do it. Since then, there had been large charges in respect of railways, immigration, and public works, and until such time as the works were completed and the railways in full working order, it would be impolitic to interfere with anything affecting the revenue. He hoped the member for Bruce would with-' draw his motion. [Mr Macandrew: “No.”J He trusted the good sense of the House would not at present consent to any alteration of the tariff.

Mr McLean (Waikouaiti) thought it mattered little. whether the motion was carried or not, because no unrefined sugar was likely to be imported into the colony, Mr Macanduew concurred in the spirit of the question. It would be well if the House showed a little more interest in the question, and not allow the motion to fall still-born. If it was brought forward in another shape, he would be happy to support it. Sir G. Grey thought the member for Bruce deserved the thanks of the House and country. He believed the Gavernment could take no wiser or more statemanlike step than reducing their expenditure in many respects, and should take care that the duties now levied upon certain articles in ordinary consumption should be considerably reduced ; in some instances they could be done away with. If the member for Bruce brought forward his motion in a more definite shape, he would give him every support. Mr O’Conor would support the member for Bruce if he brought down a motion specifying that duties on certain necessaries

of life, such as flour, tea, and sugar, should be reduced. The tax on flour was a disgrace to the country. That question was one which the Government might consider, and for himself he was prepared to support such a motion. Mr T. L, Shepherd considered that the sole object of the motion was to throw mud at the Government. Mr Heid would vote for the motion, as likely to assist in the establishment of a sugar refinery. Hon Major Atkinson thought the House had enough of levying certain duties to protect certain industries. It would be better, if they were to encourage certain industries, to give a bonus, and know what they were doing. It would be very unwise to deal with the question in its present shape. The Government had been perpetually reminded that taxation should be reduced by the leaders of the Opposition, who however said that it was impossible to make reduction, because only a few nights ago they asserted that there was an actual deficiency. The real question was that the colony was engaged in public works on which an enormous expenditure was going on, and the House would make a great mistake, while the railway policy was still incomplete, to reduce taxation without some very great occasion for so doing. He was quite prepared to consider the question of altering the incidence of taxation, but not until the constitutional question had been disposed of. They should consider this matter next session. The question must be considered as whole and not in part. The change in taxation had been in the direction of taxing articles of luxury. If the member brought down a motion directing the Government to consider during the recess the necessity of reducing the duties on specified articles it would be a fairer step. . Mr Reeves was. inclined to support the Treasurer, who, however, bad not gone lar enough. He should have explained why the present was an inconvenient time to consider the question. He would supply the omission. First, in a short time they would have to pay at least a million a year for interest on the public debt. [Hon Major Atkinson— More,] That taking a candid and impartial view of the public works statement, and judging by the precedent that they had but comparatively a few miles of railway open—that the Government is obliged to ask for an increased vote of half a million to complete the lines authorised, he was perfectly satisfied himself that the lines would never be constructed under one or one and a half millions beyond what the House had voted. Therefore, in addition to the £1,050,000 they were now liable for, £BO,OOO more was required. It was very questionable whether the Treasurer was justified in taking it for granted that because a short portion of the lines now running through populous;, districts, and connecting the principal towns with the seaport as in two instances, were paying a little above working expenses, that when the lines began to run through the sparsely peopled districts there would be increased returns. He (Mr Eeeves) never believed they would pay, and still thought so. Again, the Treasurer might have pointed out the enormous increase, palpably owing to the expenditure of borrowed money. When that ceased the Customs revenue would certainly fall off. Sympathising with the treasurer for the above reasons, he would vote against the motion. Hon B. Richardson could not allow Mr Eeeves’ remarks re the railways to pass unnoticed. He was utterly at a loss to understand where he got his estimate of a million and a half to complete the railways. The Government were now in a position to state within a trifle what the lines will really cost. That statement was in the hands of members. Of course there might be slight errors one way or the other, but very slight, unless some wonderful change came over the state of their affairs. His inferences would lead the House to suppose no suppose that the cost of labor and material would increase, whereas the contrary was most likely. If so, there would be a proportionate decrease in the estimates, As to the lines paying as opened, he asked what about the Dunedin andCluthaline, which would be opened in a 1 few days. Already a company had offered the Government eight per cent on the total cost if allowed to work the line for twenty-one years. That did not look like not paying; Would the member for Selwyn say that the Christchurch and Timaru line, which would soon be opened, would not pay ? He (Mr Richardson) would be very much astonished if within two years it did not pay •interest on the whole cost of construction. There might be small sections of lines in different parts of the country, representing half a million on the whole, that would hardly pay more than working expenses, and there would be three or four short lines representing not more than £150,000, which would not pay working expenses; but. these would have very little effect on the general question of railway receipts. He was astonished to hear the member for Selwyn speak in such a desponding way of the railways. The motion was withdrawn. [Per Press Agency.] Wellington, August 13. The House, during last evening, was entirely engaged in committee, and the following Bills were passed The Southland Waste Lands Act,. 1865, Amendment Bill, the Napier Waterworks Loan Bill, the New River Harbour Board Land Bill, the Invercargill Gas Loan Act, 1874, Amendment Bill, the Wellington Harbour Reserve Bill, the Wellington Market Reserve Sale Bill, and the Inspection of Machinery Bill. SECOND READINGS. The Westland Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill, the Palmerston Waterworks Bill, the Auckland Institute Bill, the Auckland City Endowment and Reserves Bill, the Campbelltown Athenaeum Bill, the Nelson City Loan Bill, the Ann Hood Grant Bill. On going into committee on the Deceased Wife’s Sisters Bill, Mr Pearce moved—“ That the leave the chair.” Mr George McLean protP c, *r vl against trying to shelve the principle of which had b— three times affirmed by the aTl( i bad become law in nearly every Australian colony. A division was called for, the result being 26 in favour of going into committee, and 6 against. Mr O’Rorke moved—“ That the third reading of the Bill be postponed till Wednesday,” but this was negatived on the voices, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. There were seventeen pairs, Mr Cuthbertson, who called for the division, did so, as he stated, to expose the surprise attempted, and although he voted for leaving the chair, he was a supporter of the Bill. The House adjourned at 10.30.