HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 656, 27 July 1876, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, July 26. QUESTIONS. The following questions were put 1. Mr Swanson —Whether the Government have settled the claim of Mrs Meurant, and if not. what they intend to do in the matter ? 2. Mr Williams— lf it is the intention of the Government to give effect to the recommendation of the public petitions committee, on the petition of Hori Potana and others ? 3. Mr Rolleston— Whether the Government will lay before this House, and cause to be printed, the tables of payments on which they propose to insist before registering societies under the Friendly Societies Act ? Mr DeLatour— If any correspondence has been received from residents at Hyde in reference to the expenditure of a vote of £l5O for a Court house sanctioned last session, and if it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the erection of the said Court house. Replies were given as follows (1) That the Government had not settled the claim in question, and, as at present advised, had no intention of doing so, (2) it was their intention. (3) Some misapprehension appeared to exist on this subject. In accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission the Government would f.iom time to time prepare tables and submit them to the societies. This was the only case in which societies would be required to furnish an actual certificate, and that was where an annuity was guaranteed to its members, In this respect the new Act was less stringent than the existing law, (4) There had been correspondence on the subject, but an additional vote of £2OO was required before the work could be proceeded with. the government proposals. Mr Wason laid on the table resolutions passed in certain Canterbury districts by public meetings held to consider how the Government proposals affect those districts. CENTRAL GAOL. In moving "That in the opinion of this House the tenders should not be accepted for the central gaol at New Plymouth until the House has had an opportunity of reconsidering the question of the site of a central penal establishment,” Mr Murray suggested Westport as a more convenient place, as convict labor could be profitably employed in developing the coal resources of the district. Mr Henry objected to Westport being selected. His constituency was a respectable one. [Laughter.] Jackson’s Bay would be a suitable place, and there would be no fear of trouble from the natives. Mr Manders suggested Stewart’s Island, and Mr Wason Wellington city. The Minister of Justice hoped there would be no further vacillation in the matter. Ever since 1868, when a Royal Commission reported how important it was that there should be some sort of classification in our gaols, with a view to the establishment of a central penal establishment, the matter had been debated, while the necessity for it had become greater and greater, until now the gaols are an absolute scandal to the country, owing to the want of classification. Notwithstanding all the efforts of those interested in gaols to remedy the evils complained of, at this time old and young prisoners were locked up in a manner which he could only call a breeding of criminals. Taranaki had only been determined on as the locality after very careful consideration. Taranaki was not only one of the places recommended by the commission, but it would furnish employment for the convicts, while its climate was good, and food easily procurable ; while with regard to the prospect of moral contamination referred to by some of the speakers, he considered that quite a chimerical idea. Only long-sentenced prisoners were to be drafted to Taranaki. As to the suggestions of the member for Bruce that the proximity of disaffected natives was against the proposed locality, and the desirability of employing convicts as coal miners at Westport, he said the former was a libel on the Maories. The proximity of Maories was, he thought, one of the greatest obstacles to the escape of the prisoners. He felt sure if a prisoner escaped he would soon be returned on our hands by the Maories—[An honmember—"Or eaten”) —whether friendly or otherwise. Apart from the question of competing with free labor, he did not think the other suggestions, which had never been considered by the Government, would find favor with the Westport people. It was only intended to build one wing of the building by contract, adding to it as accommodation was required, by prison labor. He hoped the House would not inter fere with existing arrangements, which should have been come to years ago, or defer the question of site, which had received from the Government a great deal of consideration.

Mr Rees and Mr Thomson strongly objected to Taranaki being favored at the expense of the rest of the colony ; while the former asserted that if he were in the position of a Minister, ho would state plainly to the House that he was bidding as high as be could by expenditure on public works, for votes. Mr Carrington declared, on his honor as a gentleman, that he had never solicited the penal establishment being placed at Taranaki. Mr Rees followed by declaring bis remarks would not bear the construction that had been placed upon them, because his remark was that if the Government had intended, &c. Mr Sheehan moved the adjournment of the debate, to enable the member for Grey and Bell and the Government to further consider the matter. Mr Stafeord could not gather from any remarks that had been made that any more preferable site had been proposed which would furnish such prolonged employment for convicts as did Taranaki. He dismissed the suggestion of the member for Coleridge (that convicts could not be better or more centrally employed than in reclaiming works in Wellington) with the remark that it was presented in such a way as it was impossible to tell whether he was in jest or earnest. That member was one of the grea'est puzzles he had met with this session. He did not know whether that hon member was adopting the role of cynical philosopher, or at times was carried away by a monomania which took the form of a suggestion that convicts should be employed in filling up Wellington harbor, which was on a par with many suggestions the hon member made. The question of constructing a breakwater at Taranaki was a colonial one which would

greatly benefit every vessel going from north to south, and from south to north. He was not wedded to Taranaki as the site, but it had nob been shown any other place offered the same advantage. Not the least important consideration was that the construction of a breakwater would materially assist the development of one of the finest agricultural districts in the colony. This question was a type of those perpetual local jealousies against any particular place being supposed to have the advantage of any colonial work. As a colonial work he would vote for it, not caring the least whether the present people of Taranaki might or might not be directly benefited by it. Mr Wason, in replying to Mr Stafford’s attack on him, said it was a matter of deep regret to him, and must have been one of astonishment to the House, that the member for Timaru had been unable to fathom the depths of his mind, At all events ho (Mr Wason) had always avoided anything like personalities, and, as a young member, had been prepared to take a lesson from old members in that respect; but he was not in the position of the member for Timaru in this respect—if he had anything to say, or to bring before the House he did not get anybody else to do so for him. Mr Reader Wood and Mr Reid urged that the time for discussing the matter was inopportune, as it had not been shown that there were funds at their disposal for the purpose. The latter suggested that the circumstmcrs of the colony had so much altered since 1867 as to render the appointment of another commission necessary, and in considering the erection of a penal establishment for each island. On a division, 31 voted for the adjournment, and 31 against, the Speaker giving his casting vote with the ayes. The debate stands adjourned for a fortnight. MOTIONS AGREED TO. The following motions were agreed to without debate ; Mr Sheehan—" That there be laid before this House a return showing as nearly as possible the amounts respectively expended in the electoral districts of Ray of Islands. Marsden, Rodney, and Waiteraata, out of the amount set apart out of loan for roads and works in the North of Auckland ; that there be laid before this House a return showing the number of road boards or highway districts within each province, the amount of last year’s rates, and the area and population, as nearly as may be ; such return to be accompanied by maps, where practicable, showing the position of such road boards or highway districts. Mr Curtis— That a return be furnished to this House, showing approximately the estimated liabilities of each province for which it is intended to make provision by the proposed loan of £700,000. Mr Hodgkinson— That the names of Messrs Larnach, Wood, and Andrews be added to the rabbit nuisance committee. The motions of Mr Barff, re school of mines, and Mr Kennedy, re subsidising a tug for Greymouth, were postponed for a week. (Per Press Agency .) The House resumed at 7.30. Several Bills of a local character having been read a second time, the Municipal Corporations Bill was committed, and a great many clauses passed without material alteration. A good deal of discussion ensued upon clause 97, limiting the amount of rates to be levied to 2s in the £l. Mr Mooreiiouse strongly opposed, and proposed an amendment which would make the power of boroughs to borrow unlimited, arguing it was not the place for Government to impose restrictions in that direction, as that was an improper interference with the principle of local self-government, the people not being likely to borrow more than was actually necessary or beneficial, and that in any case the lender would not be likely to lend unless upon very good security. Messrs Stout, Woolcock, and Rolleston supported those views. The Premier cared not how much a special rate might be, but objected to indefinite power being granted as to general rates, otherwise ratepayers would have no check or safeguard on the expenditure of rates. Mr Bastings and Mr Hunter took the Premier’s view, and on a division Mr Moorhouse’s amendment was rejected by 44 to !2. A good deal of discussion ensued upon several other clauses up to 105, which were all passed mainly without any very material alterations, and the House adjourned at 12.50, progress having been reported.