GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 383, 3 September 1875, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. {From a correspondent of the Press,) Thursday, September 2. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30. LEAVE OP ABSENCE. ' . Ten days' leave of absence was granted to Messrs Tairoa, Pyke, and Bowen, who sailed in the Hawea. The former only paired on the Qualification of Electors Bill and Mr Rolleston's motion for a committee re the alleged breaches of the Disqualification Act. NOTICES. Among the notices of motion for to-morrow is one by Mr Stout, as to what authority Sir Julius Vogel had for entering into an agreement with the New Zealand Shipping Co., whether such arrangement was made with the consent of the Cabinet, and whether it was intended to introduce a Bill to validate the same. ABOLITION OP PROVINCES BILL. [We are indebted to the Government for the following report of Major Atkinson's speech.] Hon Major Atkinson—Sir,—Before the order of the day is read for considering the report of the committee of the whole House on the appropriation clauses of this Bill, 11 desire, with permission of the House, to take the first opportunity which the Government j have had of stating to the House the course

they intend to pursue with regard to the ameu lments which have been proposed by the hon member for Port Chalmers. The Government have from the first invited hon members opposite to join with them iti the endeavor to render the Bill not only effective but satisfactory to the people at la r ge, and I desire on behalf of the Government to thank the hon member for Port Chalmers for the frank and ready way in which he has met that invitation. Any one who reads the resolutions moved by the hon gentleman, must see at a glance that he not only accepts the situation, but has determined to bring the weight of his great influence and ability to bear, with a view to rendering this Bill as perfect as possible. The Government regret that they are unable to accept the propositions which he has made, but if I understand the principles contained in them, they are in entire accord with the Bill we are now considering. We shall therefore be prepared to go a little further than the hon gentleman proposes upon the same road. The principle of the Government Bill is one with which these resolutions are in entire accord, that local revenue should be locally appropriated and spent. Therefore if the people will be more satisfied that this is really the intention of the Government, by having Boards in the different districts having a community of interest, we shall be very glad to meet them in that respect. Wc shall therefore be prepared to introduce a Bill dividing the various provinces into large and suitable districts, in which Boards of Works, elected by the people, will be appointed, and to which the balance of the land fund will be appropriated. With regard to education also sve have declared that we desire that the large reserves which have been made in the various provinces fhould be secured for educational purposes in those provinces. We shall therefore be prepared to introduce a Bill' to constitute or confirm the various Boards of Education in the several provinces, and to convey to those Boards, or rather to vest in them all the reserves that now rest in the Superintendents for educational purposes. That is shortly the way in which the Government propose to meet the resolutions of the hon member for Port Chalmers. We shall not of course accept them, but we shall introduce measures to give effect to what I have now stated.

Mr STOUT asked that the question should be postponed till those Bills were brought down.

Mr WOOD argued the same, saying it was reported that the Government intended to abandon the Local Government Pi!) °"d the appropriation clauses of the Abolition BiU.

Hon Major Atkinson —We abandon nothing. [Sir G. Grey was addressing the House on the main question when the Telegraph office closed.J

GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE.

["By Telegraph.] {From a correspondent of the Press.)

The insurance report shows that during the past financial year 1978 policies were applied for, representing £662,608, and all but 528 representing £163,893 were granted. Claims amounting to £12,150 through the death of thirty persons, were paid during the year The Department at preseat is responsible for 5064 policies, assuring £1,841,322. The receipts for the year * from all sources, amounted to £63.699, the excess over disbursements being £41,419. The balance at the credit of the department at the end of June was £108,525 ; the expenses of management being reduced from 37.41 per cent in 1871 to 19.24 in 1875. Yet the system is only six years old. The average cost of the management of 120 Li'e Insurance Companies in Britain was 15.12 per centforlß74, after being in existence thirty-nine yeare, and of those exceeding ten years, an average of 57.32. The Government found it impossible to get an actuary of high standing from England 10 conduct the quinquennial investigations; but Mr W. P. Pattison and Mr A. H. Bailey, two eminent London actuaries, will make an investigation there on detailed information supplied by properly qualified officers from the Audit Office or Treasury, wholly independent of the insurance department. The Consolidation Act of last session and the Industrial scheme are working remarkably well. MR RDSSELL'S CREDENTIALS. [By Telegraph.] {From a correspondent of tlie Press.) The following document was laid en the table last night in answer to Mr Rolleston'a motion : Wellington, August 28th, 1874. Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that the Government are desirous that you should continue the negotiations respecting the Californian mail service, with a view of removing the difficulties that have recently interfered with it, and of putting it upon a satisfactory and permanent footing. 2. For these purposes it would be necessory that you should, at your earliest convenience, proceed to Sydney, and you might probably find it necessary to proceed thence to England. 3. It is possible that I might be in Sydney during your stay there, and also that T might have to visit England, but in either case I should not have time to devote to mail negotiations, and if time were at my com mand it is certain that, with your knowledge of all the circumstances of the case, you would be better able to conduct those negotiations than I should be.

4 The Government wish me to say that, in the event of my meeting you in Sydney or at home, I should be at liberty to give you any assistance or advice for which you might otherwise feel yourself compelled to refer to the colony. 5. It is desirable, however, that you should leave the colony with independent powers. 6. The Government would be willing that. gome modifications in permanent contract, should be made in event of your considering them to be necessary, but any modification, would have to be within the following conditions : —(a) The contract to provide for coastal service as heretofore, between Auckland and Port Chalmers, and that on alternate trips the boat from San Francisco shall proceed through to Port Chalmers, andi from Po"rt Chalmers to San Francisco. (by The rate of speed to be not less than ten knots an hour, (o) The subsidy, payable by NeW Zealand, not to exceed £ J 5,000 per annum, (d) The contract not to be for a period of more than ten years. 7. The Assembly has not yet, however, sanctioned any alterations, aud any departure from the terms of the existing contract would have to be made subject to such sanc« tion,

8. The Government will recommend the Assembly to approve any contract the terms of which are within the limits of these instructions.

9. The Government are not desirous to maintain a temporary service, but shoul' you think it necessary in order to meet the views of New South Wales, to make temporary arrangements within the present financial year, the Government will approve of them. Julius Vogel. Thomas Russell, Esq. ALLOWANCES TO AGENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT OUTSIDE THE COLONY. [By Telegraph.] The following return in answer to Mr Bolleston's motion was laid on the table of the House:— „ 1l:nn September, 1874-Imprest advance... £ISOO December, 1874—Imprest advance... 500 £2OOO Which is accounted for as follows: Advance to Mr Fox £135 Passages 210 Travelling expenses ••• < ou Salary—lst January to 30th June, 1875 875 £•2000 May, 1875—Imprest advance ... £4OOO Which is accounted for as follows : By payment to Mr E. Fox £BOO Not yet accounted for 3200 £4OOO MrT.Russel [... Nil -