GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 680, 24 August 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

(Per Press Agency., ' LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, August 23. Hon Dr Pollen, in reply to questions by Hon Captain Fraser, said that the question of erecting a lunatic asylum in Otago would be taken into consideration shortly. _ The Government desired to obtain the opinion of the Inspector of Lunatic Asylums before proceeding further. The Public Health Bill was further considered in committee. An amendment was made iu clause 26, which will have the effect of giving power to Local Boards to perform necessary sanitary work without the consent of the occupiers of the premises. Thirty-ninth clause was reached, which is to be further considered to-morrow.

The Diocese of Christchurch Church of England Land Bill was postponed til! Tues day. The Drainage Act Amendment Bill was postponed for a week. The debate on the second reading of the Canterbury Sheep Ordinance Amendment Bill was adjourned until to-morrow. The Council rose at 5,30.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, August 22. The House resumed at 7.30. COUNTY BOUNDARIES. Mr BURNS moved an amendment to the effect—“ That there be nine select committees appointed to settle the question of the boundaries.” The Premier said it was the earnest desire of the Government to settle the question satisfactorily to all parties in the colony, and pointed out that the proposed amendment was out of order. The amendment was ruled out of order, and the House proceeded to discuss the original resolution as to the boundaries. Mr Seymour suggested that there should be no schedule iu the Bill at all ; as it was at present it was not acceptable to anybody. The whole country had been cut up into Road Boards with boundaries such as circumstances and necessities led up to, and on the whole, he thought, satisfactorily. The best plan, therefore, would be to allow Road Boards to unite themselves Into counties, as the wants of different districts required, and they would, no doubt, fall into counties iu a natural and easy manner. Under the present proposal, they ran the risk of having two sets of laws in operation within one boundary. Mr Sheehan then announced he would move as an amendment —“ That the responsibility of fixing the boundaries of counties rest upon the Government.” He did this pn the ground that the Government were pitching the Bill at the House. Ministers should have had maps of the proposed boundaries of the counties laid before the House when the session commenced, this being a part of the system which Government had under consideration for several years; and as Government ought to know more about the matter than anybody else, it was not right they should expect the Opposi-ion to put their work into shape. Mr Hodgkinson and Mr Rees strongly supported the amendment, and protested against the attitude of the Government in this matter. The Premier said, while they objected to nine committees, they desired to allow the

utmost freedom of d'scussion between the members from the different parts of the colony. What they were anxious to provide against was, that majorities of members interested in particular portions should not exercise any tyranny in forcing districts against the desire of that district. Mr Pykb wondered at the arguments of the Opposition, which practically meant this, that when Government asked them for their assistance in settling the boundaries, as something in which all should unite, they replied, “Oh no, gentlemen ; we have such confidence in you that we will not interfere at all.”

Mr WOOLCOCK. referring to the proposal for nine committees, asked in what position he would stand, being the representative of a portion of two provinces ? He did not believe in allowing the Government to have the sole control in determining such a question, which was one of those on which the whole House was better calculated to decide upon than any Ministry. Mr Ormond pointed out that the question involved no question of principle, and went on to argue there was no need for the establishment of boundaries at all, as it was clear, to a great extent, that the Road Board system would be maintained. He thought it would be better not to deal wilh this matter at all until the Bill had proceeded further, and therefore moved that the debate be adjourned. The Premier said Government were prepared to agree with the adjournment, which would enable them to bring down to the House the new arrangements which they proposed to introduce into the Bill. After some discussion the debate was adjourned until that day week. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL, In committee on the Municipal Corporations Bill, they took up where they left off at 5 30, and the remaining clauses wore passed without alterations. The schedules will be considered on Friday. RATING BILL. In committee on the Rating Bill, at clause 40, defining what should be rateable property, a long discussion ensued Eventually the Bill was postponed until the goldfields committee bring up their report. Leave was given to sit again on Friday next. BUILDING SOCIETIES BILL. In committee on the Building Societies Bill upon clause 3, relating to the appointment of a registrar, Mr Stout strongly objected to one central registry office and one central registrar. Registrars of joint-stock companies should be registrars of building societies. He also objected on the grounds that this was creating a new department. Hon 0. O. Bowen said there was no intention to create a new department. It was no more trouble to send a letter to Wellington than to any other place, as statistics could be more easily and more reliably kept there. Mr Stout’s suggestion was put as an amendment, and carried by 24 to 22 ; clauses 9 and 10 were struck out upon Mr Stout’s motion, being rendered by a previous clause. Clause 13 (limitation of liability of members) was postponed. Clause 16 (shares not to be sold by auction or tender) was amended so as to include societies already constituted. Clause 37 (minors may be elected members) was amended so as to prevent minors under eighteen years of age from voting. All the other clauses were passed without material alteration, when progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 1.30. Wednesday, August 23. The House met at 2.30. HARBOR BOARD BILLS. The SPEAKER informed the House, in reference to Harbor Board Bills, that all Bills of this kind should be introduced by a committee of the whole, after notice being given in the usual way. NEW MEMBER Captain Morris took the oath and his seat. PENSIONS. Mr MACPARLANE moved—“ That in the opinion of this House all persons entitled to pensions from the colony shou'd, after the 30th of March, 1877, be paid the same on personal application only at such public offices as the Government may appoint within the colony for that purpose.” The Premier said the motion was one that looked very wise and good, but was quite impracticable, and as the Government would oppose it, he hoped it would be withdrawn.

Sir R. DOUGLAS suggested that, if it were made to apply to all future pensions, there would be no objection. Sir George Grey moved an amendment —“ That persons residing at home, and in receipt of pensions from the colony, should have the same amount deducted from their pensions as the Imperial Government deducted from persona in the colony in receipt of Imperial pensions.” Being himself an Imperial pensioner, he had to pay £4OO a year out of his salary of £BOO as Superintendent of Auckland.

The Premier pointed out that the question was one of a very large nature, and should not be decided hastily. He would assure the House the Government would give their serious consideration to the matter. There was no doubt a good deal of hardship was experienced in consequence of the laws of the Imperial Parliament in the matter of pensions. After some discussion, the amendment and resolution were negatived. THE KAUAMEA SETTLEMENT. Mr Henry moved for a return of all expenditure upon the Karamea special settlement, which was agreed to. RIVERHBAD RAILWAY, Mr SHEEHAN moved, “That the House regrets the delay in the construction of the railway from ILiverhead to Auckland, and considers the reasons for delay given in the public works statement not satisfactory, and that the work should be undertaken at once.” The hon gentleman went into the whole history of that line of railway, to show that it should have been proceeded with before, and that there was good reason to believe that the line would be remunerative when completed. The Hon E. Bichardson deprecated the terms in which the resolution was couched. The Government never had any other intention than to construct the linp, but there had been considerable unavoidable delay in consequence of a proposed deviation and the consequent acquisition of information. The results had justified the delay, as a great saving had been made by the altered plans. I'here was every desire to go on with the construction of the line, but it would be very impolitic for them to give any very short time. They must first ascertain how much it would cost to acquire the land on the one route or the other. The Uae would have

been commenced long ago, but for the high price asked for land. A good deal of discussion ensued, Sir G. Grey urging that the Government should give a definite answer and say within three months when they would commence the line. Mr J. Evans Brown said it was judicious not to be hasty in these matters. Government had been absolutely robbed of an immense amount of money in regard to acquiring lands for railways in the South Island, especially in Canterbury. After a good deal of discussion the motion was ultimately withdrawn. ROADS AND WORKS NORTH OF AUCKLAND, Mr Sheehan moved— *• That the House considers that the provision proposed to be made for roads and works in the districts North of Auckland is entirely inadequate to meet the requirements and necessities of those districts, and very much smaller than the share to which the districts are fairly entitled, regard being had to the area, population, and contributions to Customs revenue.” The district had been so grossly overlooked that he could only account for it by the fact that Government were unaware of its existence. The Premier thought the resolution was one addressed rather to the constituency than to the House. If such a resolution was passed, every member would be justified in bringing forward a similar one. It was the more surprising, too, that such a resolution should be moved by one who was an ardent provincialist. If the district had been neglected, it had been by the Auckland Provincial Government, and the first expenditure known in that district had been by the General Government. Even the present expenditure proposed was an exceptional one, and he did not think it was wise to ask the House for too much under the circumstances. He believed if there was one thing more than another for which the House would reproach itself in the past, it would be that they had not several years before given effect to that resolution which was to come into force this session. The discussion being kept up till 5.30, no result was obtained. On the House resuming at 7.30, The adjourned debate on the central penal establishment at Taranaki was resumed by Mr Whitaker, who said that as the present financial condition of the colony did not justify their going into such a large expenditure as would be involved in proceeding with the erection of a central prison at New Plymouth, he would move an amendment—- “ That the further consideration of the question be postponed till next session.” This causedla long discussion. The Government opposed both resolution and amendment on the grounds that the present state of the prisons throughout the colony were a reproach to it, and |had been, for several years ; that the action of the Government in the matter had only been caused by a sense of duty; that it was absolutely necessary to do one of two things—either to build a prison, or increase the accommodation of the principal prisons of the colony, and that the latter was likely to be as expensive as the other; that the question of where the prison was erected had nothing to do with the matter, as, in any case, Taranaki must have its breakwater; that the financial condition of the colony had nothing to do with the matter, as it is perfectly able to bear all reasonable expense of providing for carrying on its administration. It was contended on the other side that this was merely an experiment, and that it would be for various reasons wiser and more economical to wait at least a year before moving further in the matter. The result was that the amendment was carried by 38 against 25, there being nine members who usually vote with Government voting for the amendment. Mr Woodcock's motion to relieve the gold mining industry of exceptional taxation now imposed on it, was formally agreed to. The question will be more fully gone into when the Gold Mining Bill comes on. Other business was unimportant. The House adjourned at 12.45. POLITICAL NEWS. (From a corespondent of the Press.) The question ot county boundaries vexed the House for several hours last night. The proposed Select Committee does not please all parties, and Mr Burns sought to have a committee for each province, but his motion was not in order. Mr Sheehan and others were ironical about the Government themselves not taking the responsibility, and having moved they do so, gave Mr Pyke an opportunity for being ironical, by accepting the motion as a touching expression of confidence in the Ministry, Mr Ormond ended the confusion by moving the adjournment of the debate, on the ground that the Bill might well be proceeded with separately from the schedule, and the Government agreed that it should be so till Friday. Meantime a meeting of Southern members is being arranged, but it is questionable if it will end in an agreement. Its prime proposers are of Messrs Donald Reid’s party, and he has sympathisers out of Otago regtrding his suggestions of large counties; but it is feared he has opponents within Otago, such as Messrs Pyke and Mandors, who object to seaboard boundaries. The West Coast members favor Mr Reid’s idea, and some East Coast members prefer two or three counties for the island. It is history repeating itself—chaos before creation. Very kaleidoscopic statements are current as to the reconstruction of the Ministry. The first view is, that Sir J. Vogel is to be Agent-General, and Mr Stafford his successor, Mr Whitaker Attorney-General, Sir Donald McLean and Hon E. Richardson out, Mr Ormond and Mr Donald Reid respectively in their places. The mxt view is Mr Ormond, is to be Agenl-General, and it is gravely stated ; this view, if given effect to, would of course make the process of re-construction different. The facts are. so far as concerns Messrs Whitaker and Stafford, that they know nothing of the matter, at least the former plainly states so. and that no overtures to him have enrae from the Government. Has -Sir G. Grey renounced the leadership of the Opposition ? That is one of the subordinate questions. The papers accept it that he has ; tne Auckland members s iy they never heard him say it. The associated question is, is there an Opposition to lead ? The House went into dray horse harness last night on three postponed Bills, and made some progress, notwithstanding Mr Stem’s microscopic discoveries and objections. This afternoon was monopolised by Mr Sheehan in an amicable but purposeless advocacy of the particular wants of the dit-

trict north of Auckland. A summary of the Waste Lands Act, which has been long in coming, 1 have sent. The Native Waste Lands Act is not so immediately interesting, Apropos of this, an ancient petition of the Kaiapoi and other southern natives has been reported on by Judge Fenton, who holds their claims of one in ten acres to be groudlosa, but considers there should be liberal provisio i of inalienable land made. On tha introduction of the Lyttelton Harbor Board Bill, the Speaker explained that such Bills would require to be introduced in committee of the whole House, and this evening the clerk read a legal opinion from Mr Whitaker supporting that view. Fresh notice will therefore have to be given in the majority of cases.