GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1445, 3 October 1878, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PER PRESS AGENCY,] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, October 2, MB BOBINSON’S CONTEMPT. In the Legislative Council to-day, Mr Robinson repeated his defence of his absence as caused by urgent private business only, and that no slight was intended. Colonel Whitmore defended Mr Robinson. Colonel Beett received the permission of the Council to bring forward a motion declaring Mr Robinson guilty of contempt. Mr Waterhouse supported the motion. Mr Hail asked the Speaker to express an opinion as to whether Mr Robinson’s excuse was satisfactory or not. A division was taken that the previous question be now put, and the motion was lost by 13 to 22. Mr Robinson was then adjudged guilty of contempt on the voices. Colonel Whitmobe said that Mr Robinson would rather pay a fifty pounds fine than that the Council should lose time in discussion on the subject. Mr Scotland moved that Mr Robinson bo censured by the Council, After discussion a fine of £SO was inflicted by 18 to 13. BILLS ADVANCED. The Rating Act Amendment Bill, Public Reserves Act Amendment Bill, Clyde (Vincent County) Athemcum and Public Library Bill, Oamaru Waterworks Act, 1875, Amendment Bill, and Waitaki High School Bill were read a third time. The Otago School Commission Empowering Bill read a second time. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [pee press agency.] Wednesday, Octobbb 2. The House met at 2,30. TESTING CHAIN CABLES. Mr Driver gave notice to move for placing a sum on the supplementary estimates, not exceeding £4OOO, for providing a chain cable testing apparatus for every harbor in the colony. LAND TAX BILB. Mr Wakefield gave notice to move for the recommittal of the Land Tax Bill. LAND REVENUE ACCOUNTS, Mr Whitaker gave notice to move that ordinary and territorial revenue be kept separate in the public accounts of the colony, with a view to the proper regulation of Immigration and Public Works charges. THE KAIAPOJ NATIVE MEETING, On the motion of Mr Taiaeoa, the Government agreed that the report of the meeting between the Native Minister and Ngatihu tribe at Kaiapoi, in May and June, 1878, be laid before the House and printed. THE WAIKATO MAGISTRATE. Mr Fox moved for a committee to inquire into the circumstances attending the removal from office of Major Mair, Messrs G. Mair and Serancke. In referring to the previous action he had taken in this matter, Mr Fox said the Premier had expressed willingness on behalf of the Government to submit to any inquiry, while a few days afterwards the Native Minister refused to recognise the right of the House to inquire into any of his acts of that kind, and at the same time, asked the House to rally round him, and endorse that view. He might say that as compared with Major Mair,the person who succeeded him might be called an inexperienced boy. Major Mair, who hud been fifteen years in the Government service, had rendered invaluable services to the Government in Native matters, besides the excellent effect his influence had on the Maoris. The hon. gentleman also referred in complimentary terms to the services of Messrs Gilbert, Mair, and Serancke to the colony, Mr Sheehan saw no reason to alter his views when he asked the House to assist him in resisting the motion just made. He hoped the time would come when the position of the Government and Civil Service would be just the same as that of a private employer and those he employed, but at present anyone who had the control of the Native department should have the power of dispensing with the services of any of its servants, it found wanting in the qualities requisite, because it sometimes happened that, although an officer might be all that was necessary as far as mere observance of red tapeism, at the same time ho might be utterly deficient in zeal and those qualities by which success could only be achieved. Ho denied that Mr Grace had been appointed to Major Muir’s place, but ho had been appointed to assist Mr Northcroft, who was to do the work of two magistrates, Messrs Mair and Serancke. As for Mr Serancke, ho had been very fairly treated in the way of compensation, and had nothing to complain of. He denied that Tawhiao or Rewi evinced any sympathy for the dismissal of Major Mair. Ho referred to

the noticeable fact that previous to the meetings with Rewi and Tawhiao, by the Premier and himself, all communications received from Major Mair threw cold water upon all their negotiations, and predicted gloomily as to the results. On the other hand they had received the most encouraging accounts and anticipations from Major Te Wlieoro, and in every instance his predictions had been verified. As regarded the removal of these officers, ho had not been actuated by any personal feelings whatever. If these gentlemen felt aggrieved, let them come to the House themselves. The Government regarded the motion as practically one of censure, and ho asked the House to help them. He had no fear, however, if any inquiry were to be held, as he would inform them that the executive action taken had been taken solely in the public interest. Mr Kelly said any Government with selfrespect must resist such a motion, and the hon. member for Wanganui acted very similarly when he was in office, and was supported in it by the House. Mr Sutton protested against the extraordinary degree of personal governing in regard to Natives. These mysteries surrounding Native matters should have been dissipated years ago. Officers in one department should be treated in the same way as officers in another, and when they were removed from office some reason ought to be given. Mr Eox deprecated this constantly treating everything as a vote of want of confidence. He expressed surprise that the Government refused to take the sense of the House on the matter. At this rate things looked as if they were going to drift into the secret tribunal system. He denied that there was any necessity for secrecy. That idea had been long ago exploded. The hon. member ridiculed all this mystery about negotiations, <1 which, so far as known, had resulted in nil, j and he said that there was a telegram then on the table which showed that the Waimato plains would have been surveyed months ago had they not been stopped by the present Native Minister on his accession to office. The House then divided, and the motion was negatived by 47 against 22. MIDDLE ISLAND AFFAIES. Mr Taiboa moved—“ That £SOO bo placed on the supplementary estimates for printing Mr A. Mackay’s work on Middle Island affairs, in the Maori language.” Mr Sheehan said the request was reasonable, and he would ascertain what the probable cost would be. The debate was adjourned in the meantime. public works and inaccessible distbicts. Mr Saundees moved—“ That in the opinion of this House no system of public works can be satisfactory that proposes to exclude large tax paying areas from all participation in its benefits, and common justice demands that those large districts in the colony, which can be clearly defined as not presenting such physical and political features as would justify the construction of railways that would enhance their value, take the heavy traffic off their common roads, and to to a great extent obviate the necessity for common bridges, should be exempted from all contributions to public works by which they are not benefittod, and should be assisted from the colonial revenue in the construction of their ordinary roads, bridges, or wharves.” Mr Saunders argued at considerable length in support of his motion. He considered that for the past eight years the colony had been intoxicated with borrowing, which culminated in an attack of delirium tremens at the late banquet in Dunedin, and ho thought now that the colony was about to feel that depression which usually followed excess. He reminded the House that this year they were going to pay as interest and sinking fund more than they proposed to spend on public works, and he thought the time had arrived when the House should face the question of promoting the prosperity of the country on a different basis to that which they had been going on. He criticised the way public works had been carried out, to show to what a largo extent there had been waste and extravagance, especially in making railways where there was neither traffic nor land to bo opened up. There were parts of the colony which did not want railways, but merely roads, and other parts again merely wanted bridges. He thought the time had arrived when the people in certain parts of the colony would object to being taxed for public works which conferred no benefit whatever upon them. The position taken up in this matter by the present Government intensified the (evils which had been complained of as such in the past. There were in his district two rivers which needed bridging as much as any rivers of the colony, but because the district only sent one member to the House it was unable to put pressure upon Government, and consequently the rivers remained unbridged. Mr Htjesthouse, who seconded the motion, argued at considerable length against the selfish and unwise course of compelling districts isolated from the benefits of the public works scheme to pay in the same proportion as those favored districts in the South which were abundantly provided with the means of conveying their produce to market. Such a mode of procedure could only load to the creation of a strong feeling of antagonism between the neglected districts and their more fortunate neighbors. Mr Mandebs opposed the motion. Mr Stout denied that there was any large tax paying area in the colony which was not bonefitted by public works. The meaning of the motion was that all parts of the colony should progress at an equal pace, but that was an impossibility. The soil, the climate, the people, and position all exercised an influence in determining the progress of a locality or district. It was impossible that the Government could carry out all necessary public works at once. Besides the Public Works scheme was not yet finished. The debate was interrupted at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. HOAD SURVEYS. Mr Beetham’s motion for the organisation of an engineering department to act in conjunction with the Survey Department to lay off roads through Crown lands, was withdrawn on the assurance of the Attorney-General that instructions had been issued to take special care in laying off roads through Crown lands. bill passed. Incorporation of Campbelltown Bill passed. second headings. The following Bills were read a second time :—North 01 ago Benevolent Institution Bill, New Plymouth High School Bill (referred to waste lands comaittee), Hamilton Public Hall Site Bill, Wellington Corporation Land Grant Bill, Riverton Harbor Land Endowment Bill, Riverton School Bill (referred to waste lands committee.