GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 401, 24 September 1875, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph ] (.From a correspondent of the Press.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, September 22. The Committee resumed at 7.30. ABOLITION BILL. After the Government intimated its intention of adopting Mr Brown’s amendment, Mr Fitz Herbert spoke at considerable length against the proposal to relieve the land fund of the charge for immigration purposes, which he said was a legitimate charge upon it. So far the action of the Government was in a retrograde direction. Of the amendment in sub-section 2, he approved and supported the amendment of the raejnber for Port Chalmers. It was necessary that on provincial institutions being abolished, some responsible body should be placed in their stead. The farther they proceeded with the Bill, the more evident did it become to his mind that Government was totally incapable of grasping the subject. The result of these tentative measures would be that it would take years to build up a new system. In the financial statement immigration was charged in part upon the laud fund. If the amendment was carried, this section of the statement would have to be modified, otherwise the Government would be guilty of deluding the public creditors. Hon Major Atkinson explained that the statement merely said such charges should be made in the opinion of the Government; and further said he stated that Government weremostauxiousthat the publicestateshould not be dissipated. He should be disinclined to consider that there was anything in the objection of the hon gentleman, but as he was an authority, he supposed he must consider it pregnant with meaning, and he should therefore be prepared to amend the statement to the effect that immigration should not be chargeable against tne land revenue.

Mr Reid proposed to insert in the amendment of Mr Brown that “ a Provincial Board of Works be elected.” This amendment was negatived, fand an amendment of wording simply waa moved by Mr Steward, and carried. Mr Macandrew’s amendment, aftor oorae discussion, was made to be general, instead of local, in its bearing.

The question was then put that the proviso of Mr Macandrew be added to the Bill, and lost on a division—

Noes 31 Ayes 14 Clause 18, as amended, was allowed to stand part of the Bill. Clause 19—After discussion on the last paragraph, Mr Sheehan stated that Taranaki could not come within the last section of the proviso in clause 19, because it could levy no average rate according to the Highway Boards Empowering Act, and he contended that a validating clause was necessary.

Hon Major ATKINSON stated that the Taranaki members were quite satisfied of the safety of their position. Mr Gibbs moved an amendment for providing subsidies to outlying districts of which he gave notice the other day. Messrs Shepherd, Buckland, and Sheehan supported the amendment. Mr Sheehan contended that under the present Bill, the outdistricts would suffer. The latter said he should vote against the third reading of the Bill unless some amendment was permi.ted in the direction proposed. If the Bill were passed in its present shape he should, when he met his constituents, have to disclaim all connection with it.

Mr Reid thought many members would be ashamed when they should go before their constituents after the passing of the Bill. He thought the Native' Minister had done wisely to throw it off his shoulders, and that the Colonial Treasurer would not attain much glory from his connection with it. Mr Montgomery did not give favor to the amendment. Its wording was vague. Mr MIEHAN moved that the following words be added to Mr Gibb’s amendment: — “ That all districts situated within the proclaimed goldfields or gold mining districts, shall be deemed to come within class three.” His reason for this was, that the traffic on the roads within such districts was so exceptionally heavy that it was utterly impossible to keep them in repair without a special subsidy. Hon Major Atkinson said the object of the 19th clause was simply to provide for all Road Boards a general endowment. Mr Murray suggested that some provision should be made for those districts in which Road Boards had not been constituted.

Mr Reid failed to see how the clause was to be operative in Otago. On a division Mr Gibb’s amendment was negatived by 31 to 2.

Mr Curtis moved that the whole of the proviso be struck out, for the purpose of adding the following words : —“ But such annual payment shall not exceed one shilling in the pound upon the annual value to let, or one penny in the pound to sell, of rateable property within any such district.” The Government accepted the amendment, and it was agreed to. On clause 20, Mr Curtis proposed a similar amendment to that which was accepted in the last clause.

Messrs Gibbs, T. L. Shepherd, and Sheehan strongly opposed the subsidising of municipalities at the expense of the country districts, arguing that such a proposal if given effect to would reduce the taxation of cities, and relieve property of its just burdens at the expense of the consolidated revenues. Mr Harrison proposed an amendment to the effect that the Hoad Boards should receive an endowment of thirty shillings and the municipalities nothing. Mr Heid urged that the clause should be struck out altogether, considering that it could not be justified on any principle of sound statesmanship. It was merely taking away money from the people to return it again, and the proposal violated every principle of taxation. Instead of increasing the Customs revenue it would be better to reduce the Customs revenue to a minimum, and allow the people of particular districts to determine how they would raise taxation for local works.

Mr Wood said, although the principle of the clause was vicious, yet there was no alternative but to accept it. Unless Government were prepared to reduce taxation, the people by this clause would get some of the money back for local purposes, and no one

could deny that drainage, lighting, Sen. wore very imperfect in many of the cures ami towns. He should vote for the clause. Mr W. Kelly supported Mr Harrison’s amendment. Mr Webb thought a pound scarcely enough for the towns to get. Mr Stewart said if these subsidies were vicious in principle, he would like to know whether the principle upon which the capitation allowance had been granted and received by the Provincial Councils was sound. Mr Harrison protested against the system of subsidies. He believed Government would not be able to meet its engagements in this respect. After further discussion, Mr Harrison’s amendment was negatived on division, the numbers being 6 for, 34 against. Mr Curtis’s amendment was carried, and the clause as amended, agreed to. Clause 21 was agreed to. Clause 22 was struck out, as the Government have introduced a Bill dealing with the confiscated land. The House then adjourned. Thursday, September 23. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30. QUESTIONS, In answer to questions, Government stated—(l) They would take into serious consideration the desirability of discontinuing at no distant date the use of the cemeteries in the city of Wellington. (2) A Hundred in Otago could not be proclaimed until the Provincial Government furnished the Grown Laud Department with more accurate information. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were read a first time :—Gold Duty Abolition Bills, one introduced by Sir G. Grey, and the other by Mr Shepherd ; Martin Grant Bill ; Immigration and Public Works Appropriation Bill. IMPREST SUPPLY. The Imnrest Supply Bill, No 8, passed through all its stages. ABOLITION BILL. In committee, ou the Abolition Bill, on clause 2, Mr Ballancb moved—“ That hospitals and charitable institutions” should be struck out. The cost of these institutions should not be borne upon the consolidated revenue. To be efficiently conducted, they should be voluntarily sustained. There was no body so incapable of efficiently conducting charitable institutions as a central Government, whether General or Provincial. Mr Sheehan said if the consolidated fund did not, for some at least, support the hospitals, many of them, especially those in the central towns, must be shut up. The Treasurer agreed with the member for Rangiieiki so far that the management of the charitable institutions and hospitals should be thoroughly local, but it was the duty of the Government to see that proper provision should be made for those purposes. So far as his experience went, the whole of those institutions would fall through, as would the industrial schools, if they were not continued in operation by subsidies granted for those objects by the Provincial Governments. The Government reserved to themselves the right to say how much should be locally contributed. He would never be a party to the colony undertaking the management of these institutions, which should be administered as locally as possible. Mr Pyke, Mr Rolleston, and Mr Stafford opposed the amendment, which was negatived on the voices. After the word “ Education” in line 1, page 8, Mr Macandrew moved the insertion of the word “ Museums,” which was supported by Mr Montgomery, Mr Reid, and others. Hon C. G. Bowen considered education included museums and things of that kind. The House would never allow valuable museums to go to ruin as was asserted by some members. The House would from time to time vote moneys for educational purposes, in which museums must certainly be classed. Mr Fitzherbert protested against the vicious principle of the whole clause, which was placing on the consolidated revenue burdens of an absolutely municipal character. It would be doing au injury to the manhood and charitableness of the people. Mr Carrington said the clause as framed would exactly suit his little province. Mr Reid assured the member for New Plymouth that the Bill was framed with especial regard to Taranaki, and would be sure to pass in that shape. [Laughter.] Mr Fitzhekbbut’s great objection was to the fixity of the proposal. Towns and municipalities were well able to contribute their quota towards the cost of these special services. It would be better if the clause were abandoned, and the Treasurer came down and asked annually for a vote for charitable purposes, which he was sure the House would readily and cheerfully grant. Mr Reid contended in the same strain, urging that the people should plainly understand that their voluntary subssriptious would be subsidised. Bir G. Grey moved the excision of the clause proposing to give to the Government absolute power to deal with this matter. Hon Major Atkinson said Government could not accept of the kindness of the member for Auckland West. He could not see auy harm would come from the public recognition that the colony must absolutely maintain its poor and sick.

Sir G. Grey considered he was only doing his duty to Auckland, in case the Bill should come into operation, to insist upon that province being placed in an equal position as the rich provinces, in respect of institutions, which, through the poverty of the province, she was unable to provide. It was the duty of Government to provide her with museums and public libraries, &c, like Otago and Canterbury. Ho expressed his intention of dividing the committee on the clause.

On a division, the word “ Museums ” was added by 31 against 25, Sir G. Grey then moved the addition of “ public libraries” after museums. Mr Mac Andrew said it was necessary to add “ libraries,” as in Otago they were at present subsidised by the province, Hon Major Atkinson said it had already been intimated that “ education” included such purposes, but to make the meaning clear he accepted the addition, which was agreed to.

The Government have brought down the following new clauses in the Abolition Bill, 10 a:—“ All real and personal property whatsoever, which immediately before the coming into operation of this Act within any provincial district, is vested in or under the control of the Superintendent of any pro-

vince comprised within such provincial district for general educational purposes, or as sites for schools or for the endowment of education, or which shall be vested in any other person or body for such purposes, shall on the coming into operation of this Act be be vested in the Board of Education constituted under any Act or Ordinance, or if there shall be more than one such Board in a provincial district, then in such Board or Boards as the Governor in Council shall direct or appoint; all the functions and duties which, immediately before the date of the coming into operation of this Act, were under or by virtue of any Act or Ordinance in force in any province vested in the Superintendent of such province, either alone or acting with the advice of his Executive Council, shall on the coming into operation of this Act, be performed by the chairman of the Board of Education, in whom such property shall be vested as aforesaid. All lands hereby vested in a Board of Education shall, subject to any leases or contracts theretofore lawfully entered into relating to the same, be held in trust for the same purposes, and with the same powers that the same were held by such Superintendent or by such person or body as aforesaid prior to the coming into operation of this Act.” A strong effort will be made to-night to take from the Timaru and Gladstone district the 25 per cent of the land fund.