GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 409, 4 October 1875, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Press Telegraph Agency.')

Friday, October 1. The House resumed at 7.30. DEBTORS AND CREDITORS BILL. Progress was reported on the Debtors and Creditors Bill. STAMP DUTIES. In committee on the Stamp Duties Bill, clauses 50, 51, 52, and 53, regarding the stamping of appointments, were struck out. Clause 66, relating to bills of lading, was postponed. Clause 89, relating to mortgages, was struck out. Clause 96, relating to policies of eea insurance, met with considerable opposition, and was postponed. Mr Pearce wanted all the clauses relating to sea insurance postponed, but Government declined. Hon C. C. BOWEN said that if, upon enquiry as to the amount raised from sea insurance policies, it was found to be a harassing tax, and that but little revenue was derived from it, they would strike it out at once, but until they obtained that information, they must allow the clauses to remain. The clauses were passed and progress was reported at clause 107. BILL PASSED. The Bills of Sale Bill was passed. OTAOO WASTE LANDS. On the motion of Mr Keid, the amendments made in the Otago Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill by the Legislative Council were ordered to be considered on Tuesday. REPRESENTATION B'ILL. Hon C.C.BOWEN moved the second reading of the Representation Bill, He said Government bad under consideration for some time past the redistribution of the electorates, but after mature consideration had come to the conclusion not to attempt it at the present juncture. They, however, recognise the necessity for such a change as soon as possible, Returns had been obtained from the Crown Lands and Immigration departments, in addition to returns obtained at the last census, in order that full information might be before them. After considering these returns, they determined to recommend the House that wherever the increased population warranted an increase in the number of representatives of a district such increased representation should be given, in order to remedy the grave irregularities which existed. He had heard it stated in many places it was not advisable to increase the number of members, but rather to diminish the number. He did not hold with that view ; he thought the larger the representation could be conveniently made the better. He did not think at all that the question of the number of representatives ought to be looked at from the mere point of the number of the inhabitants of a country. Now that Provincial Councils were to meet no longer, it "came incumbent on them to increase ~£ presentation to the fullest extent posthe i 81 Die. £k e p regen t t gjjd was 3 intended to merely tor . untn th had an opportunifc y continue only lUorough division l of tl / e el e ctor a ate n s g The Government recognised electorates. J™ s f administrative and that it was their duty u . : -• _ tic _ electoral purposes, to reme %f fflVff 1 JS where such existed, and he be admitted that, where the a <"?J" t ices proposed to be made, very great - lU < ; j t and inequalities did exist. They u. ,_£ propose to give a member to any disc. * which had a less population than 80ia, people, for they recognised that population was the great basis upon which they must proceed. In one case, however, that of Napier, a member was given, because that was the capital, and the port of a considerable provincial district. All other chief towns had representation, and it was thought but fair to give it to this one. Those were the proposed additions, and if in committee any member could point out where another member could be given to a particular district

with great advantage, the Government would be qnite ready to entertain such a suggestion, so long as the lion gi n< '"man gave notice of his intention, and it w is before the Government a reasonable time for consideration. The reasons why the Government had not proposed a general redistribution of seats were—first, that the change would have driven off the g< neral election to a very late date ;* and secondly, so radical a change should have some consideration at the hands of the people The next Parliament would bo in a far better position to deal with the matter, because, as all would admit, it would not be wise to interfere with districts when they might soon require further alteration. He referred to the alterations which had been made in the electorates of Christ church and Auckland, and said as the town of Dunedin had been previously so altered with the consent and great satisfaction of the people of the town, it was thought desirable to make these towns similar, for thus it was believed better representation was to be obtained. The Government did not think it desirable to divide the country into very small electorates, or to make representation too local. It was far better to have two or three members representing one district. He was aware that whatever scheme was brourht forward it would not meet with unanimous approval, but trusted that the pro posal of the Government which was intended to remedy existing inequalities, and to give a fair amount of representatives to largely populous districts ab present inadequately represented, would receive the support of the House. If there was a wish for the adjournment of the debate, the Government were prepared to accede to the desire. Sir GEORGE GnEYsaid the House had just heard an admirable specimen of a speaker's power to express ideas totally at variance with those in his mind. At the time he was speaking the hon gentleman had described as existing in the Bill everything which was not to be found in it, while he had not mentioned a single particular thai the Bill really contained. In a speech of the most radical kind ever heard of, he had advocated a Bill containing the most absolute Tory principles which perhaps had ever been established in any part of the world, lie had commenced by telling the House that representation should be in proportion to population, while the very principle of the measure was that representation, instead of being in proportion to population, should be distributed so as to meet the views of those who supported Government. They hoped the Bill would give them true representation, but it really meant representation of property. When people looked back upon this and saw that the constituency of Timaru had another member given it, they would say there were giants in those days, and one of them had rolled a huge Timaru log upon the back of the people. The hon gentleman had indulged in prophecy as to what would result from the establishment of Shire Councils but he must remember that a new Parliament would meet, and very likely othe r men would be asked to fill those benches. The B ; ll relieved the people of no burdens, but imposed fresh ones. Why did they not take a member from Taranaki 1 Was it, and no doubt it was, because it was so strongly represented in the Ministry ? Nine thousand people in Taranaki had three members, while fourteen thousand at the Thames had only two. Was this their way of rectifying great inequalities. He. denied the justice of giving Napier another member. Taking the Bill as a whole, he considered that the alterations made in the representation of the colony were not fair. Certain places were favoured that did not deserve it, and those neglected that were entitled to additional members on the score of population. He did not believe the House would accept this Bill as removing injusiices of which there was reason to comolain. Mr Cuthbertson moved the adjournment of the debate. COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. Upon the motion for the House to go into Committee of Supply, Mr O'CONOR pointed out that the way they were conducting the business of the country was most unsatisfactory. It was utterly impossible members could sit five days a week until one or two o'clock in the morning, and then attend committees in the morning and be in the House the remainder of the day. The result of this was, that most important business was disposed of by a bare quorum, simply because members were unequal to the task. He, therefore, moved that the House adjourn. Class six, salaries of European and native officers, £24,266. Mr Murray moved that all the items under Nelson, Christohurch, Dunedin, and Southland b» struck out. Mr Reeves pointed out that no less than one-third of the vote figured as general contingencies. The Native Minister read a detailed statement regarding the expenditure last year under that head, consisting of food for natives, agricultural implements, buildings, saddlery, medical comforts, and travelling expenses. Sir G. Grey and Mr Sheehan objected to voting money in lump sums, without specifying details. The practice was most improper. Mr Sheehan called attention to the very indifferent way in which the Waka Maori was edited, as not being very conducive to the advancement and intelligence of the Natives. Mr W. Kelly said it was a mistake to give Maoris threshing machines. There was one given to the Mokau Natives, and it had been left to rot in the pah for years. The item was voted. All the other items in that class were passed without objection or alteration, and on item £IO,OOO for Native schools, Mr Sheehan complimented the Native Minister for his success in providing education for the Native youth, and said it was the best spent money on the estimates. The House adjourned at 12 30, {From a correspondent of t7ic Press.") On the Debtors Bill, Mr Webb asked Ministers if they intended to persist in retaining the clause relating to after acquired property, to which Hon C. C. Bowen said they were willing to be guided by the opinion of the committee on the subject. In the Council, the Hon Mr Menzies has given notice of his intention to move a new clause on the third reading of the Christchursh Drainage Bill, to the effect that, before any Board shall proceed to borrow money, the intention to borrow shall be published in a paper circulating in the district, and such loan shall not be proceeded with if twothirds of the ratepayers, by notice in writing shall, within thirty days after the publication of the notice, announce their opposition thereto.