GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1455, 15 October 1878, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[by special wire from press agency.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, October 14. leave of absence refused. In the Council to-day an animated discussion took place on a motion for leave of absence to Mr Reynolds. the previous question was carried by 17 to 16, and leave disallowed. BAY OF ISLANDS ELECTORAL ROLL. Dr. Pollen moved for the production of all correspondence relating to the Bay of Islands electoral roll. After a long reply from Colonel Whitmore, in the course of which he at times spoke with great heat, the discussion was interrupted by the calling of the first order of the day. THE LAND TAX BILL. _ Mr Waterhouse announced his intention of voting for the second reading on the ground of expediency. Ho did not however approve of the Bill, hut contended that the propertied clauses already have more than their fair share of taxation. He illustrated this position by analysing the revenue. The statement that property did not bear its fair share of taxation was disgraceful. It reminded him of words—- “ England is inhabited by thirty millions of people, and the majority of them are fools.” The nonsense talked about the unearned increment astonished him. Ho thought it a mistake to single out any particular class for taxation. Speaking of the Beer Tax Bill and its withdrawal in the other Chamber, he said it was not the first time that beer had triumphed over brains. He thought the action of the Government in withdrawing the Bill had been a mistake. In concluding, he justified his vote for the second reading on the ground that he would not give an opportunity to the demagogic class to incite the passions of the people. Mr Buckley opposed the Bill, speaking at some length. The Council adjourned for dinner. At the evening sitting the debate was continued.

Mr Buckley characterised the tax as class legislation. He was glad that the Beer Tax and Companies Duty Bills had been thrown out. He was opposed to the exemptions under £SOO. He concluded by saying that with prudence in finance the tax might have been avoided, but it was too late now. He should not oppose the second reading. Sir Dillon Bell thought from the state of the chamber but little interest was taken in the question. He deprecated measures of the last importance being rushed through the Council in the last week of the session, turning _ that chamber into a mere vehicle of registration, like the old Parliament of France. He would support the second reading, because be considered it necessary to resort to direct taxation to enable them to pay their way. He went on to criticise the revenue and expenditure. There was a total loss of £100,001) on the working of the departments for the year. B o quoted figures to prove that to meet an expenditure of two and a half millions they really only had a revenue of one million. Speaking of the railways, any surplus revenue ought to be strictly devoted to the extension of the system. The expenditure in any one year should be confined to what could be raised in that year, and this the people had to learn by the presence of the taxgatherer. He did not care one straw for the, rights of the runholders, but the whole theory of this Bill was that the owner of the laud, and not the tenant, should pay. Why then treat the pastoral tenants differently from any other P Sir Dillon Bell spoke at great length on the j whole subject, and resumed his seat amid . cheers. Mr Hall thought ordinary revenue should be; made to meet the ordinary expenditure. The Government were blinding the country by taking large slices of the land fund in aid of j revenue. That supply must soon cease. He did not think the existing taxation on the; working classes was oppressive. While he ap-1 proved of a property tax, he thought Government unwise in sacrificing the tea and sugar duties.: He would approved of a tax on property and also; on incomes, and as for spirits, the more you taxed them the better. He regretted extremely that Government proposed to borrow such vast sums of money. He would not complain of the > wrongs of Canterbury, but he must speak of the condition of the lunatic asylum in his district,. which was a disgrace. The same might be said of the gaol. He disapproved of the exemptions' under £SOO, and of the improvement exemptions. as calculated on an unfair basis. The Maori exemption was calculated to raise up a* feeling against them. Then was it fair to make tenants of the Crown property pay on the very. improvements which tended to dispossess them, j Mr Peacock opposed the second reading. Dr. Grace said that this Bill was a concession to an ignorant public opinion. That opinion; had been fomented by a tall stumping tour. This was essentially a class tax, and as such, would be detrimental to the best interests of the j country. Mr Holmes said property holders were pre- i pared to bear their fair share of taxation, as had, been shown by the speeches of those who had preceded. He thought the negotiation of the late j loan had been most fortunate, and the principle credit belonged to Sir J. Vogel. He disapproved, of the exemptions under £SOO. The tax to bej imposed should have been an income and property j tax with a £SO limit.

Mr Robinson while opposed to the Bill, would,! like other hon. gentlemen in the same predica- j ment, vote for the second reading. He could: find no justification whatever for taxing the: tenants of the Crown. In concluding, he said' he was confident that the working classes would be willing to bear their fair share of taxation. > Colonel Whitmore in reply, said this Government’s was the only honest financial statement which had been made for years. There was a; great deal to be said in favor of the Crown: tenants. Speaking of the Native exemptions,' he knew they could not be justified in principle,| but in practice they were necessary. Speaking, of the Beer Bill, the Government had_ just' thrown over a little cargo to lighten the ship. The second reading was carried on the voices,, and the Council adjourned at 1 a.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. • i Monday, October 14. LOCAL BILLS. The House met at 7.30 p.m. The Waste Lands Committee reported favorably on the Foxton Reserves and Auckland Girls’ High School Bills. MANAGEMENT OF HOSPITALS. Mr Pyke gave notice that ho would ask the Government whether they would give a distinct pledge to bring down a Bill next session dealing with the maintenance and management of hospitals throughout the colony. SPECIAL TRUSTS. Mr Gisborne asked the Government—l Whether they were satisfied that there has not been a fulfilment of the trusts of several educational and other trust estates held directly under grant from the Crown upon special trusts for religious, educational, or charitable purposes. 2. Whether the Government would inform this House what course they propose to t ike with reference to those trust estates so held directly under Crown grant, the special trusts of which! have not been fulfilled ? Sir George Grey said that the Government were not altogether satisfied in all cases. They believed that reserves had been diverted from their original purposes. He instanced a case in Wellington, where seventy-five acres abutting on the town belt were in the early days of settlement set apart by him ns an endowment for an Industrial Home for destitute children ; but the House had consented to alienate this reserve, and the other endowments produced little or no results, although of considerable value. As to the second question, he could only say that these cases must be dealt with separately, each on its own merits, but the Government had the question under consideration. ENTRANCE TO WAIROA. Mr Russell asked the Minister for Public Works what steps he bad taken to give effect to the following telegram, sent on the 7th September, 1878, by the Premier to the Native chiefs, Tokei and Hamaua, at Wairoa: —“Sir George Grey has consented that the Government sh >ll make an entrance to the Wairoa river, so that vessels can go in and out, as applied for in your telegram of 28th August. —G. Grey.” Mr Macandrew said somebody had evidently imposed upon Captain Russell. No such telegram had ever beeujsent. Two, which ho read, passed between the natives and Sir G. Grey. Turner asked for permission to remove some earth at the entrance to the river, and the desired permission was given. tauranga’s land revenue. In reply to Captain Morris, Mr Ballance said 20 per cent, of the .£SOOO paid on account of the Kati Kati settlement had not been paid to the Tauranga County Council because it was paid before the 31st December, and the Financial Arrangements Act of last year did not come into force until January Ist. brogden’s CLAIM. In reply to the following questions—(l) What is the cause of the delay iu giving to Messrs

Brogdcu the necessary permission to commence legal proceedings against the Crown P (2) Whether fife Government intend to give the permission, and if so, when theywill do ho ? Mr Stout recapitulated the various offers which had been made to the Messrs Brogden to have their claims tried, hut of which they had not availe 1 themselves. Recently two suits had been commenced, hut as the Government thought one would decide the question, they would only give permission for one t) be tried. MU BABTON AND JUDGE KICHMOND. Mr Babton, re 'erring to the letter of Mr Justice Richmond laid upon the table recently, asked Government to afford him an opportunity of answering it. Mr Sheehan said Mr Barton could avail himself of Ins constitutional right to bring on any grievance on motion for going into Committee of Supply, and to meet Mr Barton’s convenience they would take Committee of Supply on Friday evening. He suggested that Mr Barton should give notice of the motion he intended to bring forward, in order that the House might see it befox’elmnd. THE WAIKATO NATIVE MEETING. Mr Eolleston wished to ask a question without notice. It was whether the statements made in the papers presented relating to the Waikato Native meetings were authorised by the Government and authentic. Sir Geo. Grey asked Mr Eolleston to give notice of the question. Mr Eolleston protested against this. Those so-called papers simply consisted of newspaper reports. The Speaker ruled these remarks out of order. Sir Eolleston then gave notice of the question. CHURCH PROPERTY AT LITTLE RIVER. The report of the Joint Committee on Private Bills ruled that the Church Trust Property at Little River Exchange Bill was a public Bill, but the University of Otago Amendment Bill was a private measure. BAT OF ISLANDS ELECTORAL BOLL. Sir E. Douglas introduced a Bill to purge the roll of the electoral district of the Bay of Islands. He wished to make a speech explaining that he believed that the Bill would never he allowed to come on for the second reading. The Speaker, after some discussion, ruled him out of order. Mr Sheehan said the Government did not oppose the introduction of the Bill; but if it dealt with public revenue ho should move that it be struck out on coming on for second reading. NEW BILLS. Mr Sheehan introduced Bills to amend the Fine Arts Copyright Act, and the Government and Native Land Purchases Act, 1877, which were read a first time. HOSPITAL ENDOWMENTS. There was a long and warm debate on the introduction of five hospital endowment Bills for Dnnstan, Cromwell, Westport, Charleston, and Southland, Mr Eolleston moved the previous question, saying that the House had expressed its opinion of these measures sufficiently clearly last Friday. The Speaker remarked that these Bills wore only allowed to occupy first place on the Order Paper on the understanding that they would not be opposed. Mr Eolleston, however, pressed his motion to a division, when it was carried by 61 against 18, thus shelving the bills. PROROGATION. Before proceeding with the Orders of the Day, Sir G. Grey said the Government intended to dispose of business before the House so that it might bo prorogued on Tuesday, next week. If members on both sides of the House would give their assistance it could easily be done. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Ormond moved that the sum proposed as the vote for school buildings is inadequate, and this House is of opinion that a sufficient sum should be provided to ensure due provision for school buildings throughout the colony. He contended that the vote of =£loo,ooo was qnite inadequate for the purpose, especially in districts which were being rapidly settled, and where now schools were continually required. He believed that Boards would find themselves in an intolerable position and would throw their responsibility on the Government. Mr Ballance took exception to Mr Ormond’s last remark. It would be very illadvised. Last year there was only =£60,000 on the Estimates. This year it was doubled. Circulars were sent to each Board, and they estimated their total requirements for buildings at about .£200,000. This sum could not possibly be provided this year, but he proposed to meet the difficulty in this way; In the Appropriation Bill the words “ first moiety ” would be inserted, leaving the other moiety of .£IOO,OOO for next year’s estimates. In the meantime, in cases where it was absolutely necessary, Boards would be allowed to draw this year on their next year’s allowance.

Mr Bastinus said the Otago Boards alone wanted ,£IO,OOO. In many districts the compulsory clauses of the Act could not be enforced because there was insufficient accommodation. If the Boards went to the banks they would have to pay a much higher rate of interest than the Government. After some debate Mr Ormond withdrew his amendment. SUPPLY. The House then went into committee on the Estimates. The Native vote was first taken. Mr Sutton objected to the amounts set down for medical aid to Natives, but found no support. On the item, amounting in the aggregate to ,£3500, for Native schools. Mr Murray objected to money being voted in aid of denominational schools, such as St. Joseph’s and To Aute at Napier, Meaneo in Hawke’s Bay, St. Joseph’s at Wellington.! and others. He referred especially to thelTe Aute trust, which he said had been us.d only for the benefit of the lessee, who was the schoolmaster. This opened up the whole question of the salaries and position of schoolmasters, and conflicting ' opinions were expressed, but all the speakers agreed that it was wise to increase the salaries of teachers to secure a better class of men, and that Native schools should be placed under some inspection. The vote of .£14,5U0 passed without reduction.

The following votes also passed : —Salaries and Contingencies, <£1(5,887; Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act, 1870, ,£320 ; Wairarapa 5 per cent. Land Purchase Account, .£l5O. On class 8, Militia and Volunteers,

Mr Hursthouse objected to commanding officers receiving high salaries for doing nothing, and moved that the item of =£3oo for commanding officer at Auckland be struck out. Mr Sheehan defended the vote, on the ground that it was really necessary to keep the volunteer force in the North Island in a high state of efficiency. This particular officer did a large amount of work. In the course of a very lengthy debate on the defences of the colony, Captain Kenny urged that a weak defence was worse than none at all. As in case of war, at any rate between civilised countries, it was always customary to mulct far more severely an enemy who opposed a weak resistance than one who did not attempt to defend. It was urged that in the event of war between England and Russia, the colonies would be attacked as the most vulnerable portion of the Empire. The vote at last passed without alteration. On the vote of .£137,774 for constabulary and contingent defence, Major Atkinson expressed regret that the Government had demilitarised the Northern police, and hoped they would restore matters to the same footing as when they took office. In reply to Mr Stevens, Mr Sheehan said the report of the Police Pay Committee had not yet been considered in the Cabinet, but he would bring it under the notice of his colleagues to-morrow. The vote passed. On class 11—.£487,203 for railways, Mr Murray-Aynsley called attention to the question of free passe*. Mr Mac Andrew said he had seriously under consideration the advisableness of abolishing all free passes, as he believed they were greatly abused. It would create a great outcry, but he was convinced that it was tie right thing now, and, if he thought the House would support him, he woidd issue an order to that effect. Mr Saunders urged tint season tickets should be greatly cheapened, especially for long distances.

Mr Hobbs urged a reduction of freight charges, especially on coals, &c. Mr Magandkew said these things mmtbo dependent upon the amount of traffic. The railways must be made to pay, hut, if it could bo showm that a reduction in freight charges or season tickets would result in a large increase of traffic, it might be done. The railways and other public works had not been for the benefit of ruuholders. Quite the contrary, but they derived some benefit from the freeholds which they had purchased. Mr Eichakdson said that ho had carefully gone through the estimates of the Public Works Department, and found that considerable improvements had been made, especially in tl,\C locomotive department. The vote was passed unaltered. The House adjourned at 1.55 mm.