GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1465, 26 October 1878, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[special wire from press agency.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Friday, October 25

In the Council to-day, after the transaction of some formal business. Colonel Whitmore said, speaking ot the pioneer railway system, that the system had, after inquiry, been found unsuitable to the C °Hwas agreed to sit to-morrow (Saturday),

On the question, ~ ~ . „ ~ Colonel vVhitmore said, judging trom the obstructive nature of the debates iu another place, it was possible Parliament might sit till Christmas.

In answer to Mr Hall, Colonel Whitmore gave the number of inimio rant i for Canterbury for the current year at —For Canterbury, 1600 ; Timaru direct, 300; also 10j0, chiefly for Canterbury. Several Bills having been brought up from the other Chamber and read a first time, the following Bill was read a third time and passed : Milford Harbor Board.

The District Law Societies and the Lyttelton Water Works Transfer Bills were read a second time.

The Council went into Committee on the Lvt-namfd Bills, which were passed through, read a third time and passed.

The Council adjourned shortly after four o’clock till 2,30 next d y (Saturday).

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, October 24. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION BILL

Mr Carrington continued. _ The Bill would require amendment in committee to give the North Island a fair place.

Captain Bussell opposed the Bill, as it did not give fair play to the North Island. Dedir tino- the problematical lines and those provided for by the Act of last year, there remained only about .£500.000 for expenditure in the North Island, as against .£3,500,000 in the South.

Mr Montgomery considered it proved that the greater portion of the North Island lines were very problem&ticul* and he asked what information the House had before it about the South Island railways to justify _ it in giving power to the Ministry to enter into contracts for their construction. He then criticised the fi n ancial propositions for Public Works. He did not be.ievc the land fund would keep up as last year. There was a grcit deal of speculation, and the greater part of the land was bought with borrowed money. He would vote for the second reading of the Bill, hut, if it were not to bo modified iu committee, and the powers of the Government restricted, he would vote against the third read ng. Mr Saunders strongly opposed the Bill, be" cause it did a great injustice to four-fifths of the colony. The House was asked to cook Us hare before it caught it, to hold put pi onuses to the country which as likely as not would prove delusive, and appropriate money widen they had not got and might never get. But his strongest objection was that the Bill proposed to take away the power of the House and vest it iu the Ministry. But even the House had no right to appropriate money for the next seven years, and pledge itself to contracts which miyht not be completed for ten years to come. If railways were constructed through native I inds, there would not only be great difficulties to contend with, but they would not aid in settling th i country, and would bean expensive failure. He also thought it a great mistake to goonb mowing money. They were already paying more for interest ou loans and sinking I und than they were spending iu the construction ot railways. the districts through which the railways pas-ed should construct them, and find the ways and means, leaving the Home to deal only with purely legislative functions. He was very sorry to hoar Mr Ballanee intimate that be was willing to treat with the Nelson members lor their votes,

as he intended to support the Government in the noble stand he thought they were making against political railways. iNclson members we<e equally to blame for coming down to the House and saying that wdiile they objected strongly to such an unconstitutional Bid they would vote for it if the Government paid their price, and promised the Nelson railway. He could not conceive how anyone who knew the country could advocate such a lino He thought the duty of the Government was to construct railways where they would pay. Mr J. E. Brown pointed out that a special Bill for the construction of railways must be brought in according to t art seven of the Public Works Act of 1876. While adopting part six of of that Act this Bill gave no extraordinary powers to the Government, but their hfiims were strictly tied. He thought it was a verv wise proposal of the Government to spend £L()0,0UO on railway materials, as iron was never before at so Ijw a price. He was very glad to hear Mr B.illance’s promise to the Nelson members, and if necessary was prepared to give up some of the Canterbury works to provide the ways and means. Ho heartily supported the principle of the Bill, that the lines should be constructed from specially reserved lands, and pointed to Queensland as a proof of the success of the was glad to hear Mr Ballance’s promise. He defended the Nelson members from the strictures of Mr Saunders and at great length described the country in glowing terms, saying that the only chance of ever making the Nelson and Foxhillliue pay was to extend it. Mr Wakefield said he was grievously disappointed at the shape in which the Bill came down. The reservation of land for the construction of railways was a sound principle. He was strongly in favor of the Government proposals, as contained in the Public Works statement. But if the Bill were pissed in its present form, it simply meant financial ruin to the colony. He was certain on the faco of tho Bill that the Government could not possibly have had any engineering information resp ctmg some of the lines. For the first time they heard from the Colonial Treasurer that the Gove nment mainly relied upon loan for ttie construction of the railways ; but not one hint of this was conveyed in Mr Macandrow’s public works statement. Mr Wakefield then at length attacked Mr Ballance for some remarks he made about the continuous Ministry. He stated that within a few hours of his apostacy last session, Mr Ballance was in confidential conference with the late Government advising them. He also read extracts from articles written by Mr Ballance two or three years ago, strongly attacking Sir Geo. Grey as a demagogic leader, &c. Mr Ballance said that not one word Mr Wakefield nad been saying was true. Major Atkinson hotly declared that he could bear out every word Mr Wakefield had uttered. , , Mr Wakefield said he would rather accept Major Atkinson’s word than that of Mr BalItnce. , Mr Montgomery rose to a point or order, and a scene.appeared likely to ensue, but it passed Mr Moss supported the Bill, and defended the Government from the remarks of Mr Fox and others. He urged members not to oppose the Bill for political purposes, but to consider those country settlers who were s ruggling on in the hope that railways to open up their land would be constructed. Captain Kenny said he was sure that if Mr Macandrew had considered the northern portion of the Middle Island as much as he had the southern, the Nelson and Marlborough members would not have been compelled to combine as they had d->neti compel justice. Notwithstanding that Mr Ballanci had yielded, he was going to vote against the Bill, because it proposed to give the Ministry unprecedented power. Marlborough had been as unfairly treated by the late Government as by the present one. There was a splendid back country, but the province had suffered from ignorance and misrepresentaDr. Henry also opposed the Bill. He strongly advocated tlie construction of the line line from Westport and Eeefton and across to Canterbury. Mr Reeves supported the Bill. He argued in favor of borrowing more money that the main trunk line might be pushed on. He said that since Mr Saunders was in Nelson there had been a great change, especially in the Grey Valley. Nearly 10,000 tons of coals traversed the Westport road in a week. Carriage for _a distance of fifty miles was £l2 per ton. Within a few miles of Nelson there were immense beds of coal as good as any in the colony. Mr Rolleston criticised the Bill at considerable length, taking it clause by clause, to show that it was an absolute Appropriation Act, and that the House wouli have no control whatever over the Executive of the day. If the Bill passed into law in its present shape the Governmenfc would not be bound by appropriation for the year. He objected to the House thus losing its control over the public funds, but in doing so he spoke on the matter as one of principle only, and did not wish his remarks to be understood as applying specially to the present Government. He was not a supporterof thelate Government, but he did think that Mr Richardson had not received full justice, for the mass of the proposals of the late Minister for Public Works were, more or less, taken from him. He entirely concurred with the remarks in the Public Works statement ; but he was surprised that such an apology should have been deemed necessary. In his opinion, Canterbury had received far less than its share of public works, considering its revenue, population, and resources. He compared the amount spent in Canterbury, Otago, and Wellington. Otago had nearly twice as much spent in it as Canterbury, and left a debt of one million as a colonial liability, while between Canterbury and the colony there was only an indebtedness of £7O, . Mr Macandrew said be had a largo bundle of notes, but at that hour in tbe morning he would not reply at length. Pew real objections had been urged against the Bill. He regretted the attitude taken up by the Nelson and Marlborough members. It was with great regret that he omitted them from any participation in his scheme ; but he could not see bis way clear to do anything in those provinces. It was his intention to get through the survey of the proposed lines in those provinces, and next year he hoped to be able to submit some proposal to the House. Various hon. gentlemen had spoken as if his view was bounded on the north by Otago, on tbe south by Otago, on the east by Otago, and tbe west by Otago. He had honestly tried to put all provincial or local feeling on one side, and to act with a single eye for tbe good ot the colony. In reply to_ Mr Bowen, Mr Macandrew added that he intended to ask for annual appropriations, and would, of course, be bound by them. . A division was then taken, resulting in the second reading of the Bill being carried by 45 to 11.

SECOND READINGS. The Native Licensing Bill, Public Works Act, 1876, Amendment Bill, Borough of Christchurch Reserves Bill, Temporary Powers Bui, Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill, and Christchurch Rancour e Reserve Bill, all passed their second readings without opposition.

BILLS PASSED. The House went into committee on the Public Reserves Act Amendment Bill, Native Licensing Bill, Borough of Christchurch Reserves Bill, Christchurch Racecourse Reserve Bill, Oreti Bridge and Ferry Reserve Bill, and Otago University bill, all of which were report .d, read a third time, and passed.

SATURDAY SITTING. Standing Orders were suspended, and the House resolved to sit on Saturday from 2.30 until 10 p m. The House adjourned at 4.30 a m.

Friday, October 25. DISQUALIFICATION BILL. _ The report of the managers appointed to confer with the Council on the Disqualification Bill was brought up and the report agreed to. SPECIAL wire arrangement.

Mr Fox gave notice of motion for to-morrow that the arrangement entered into between the Government, “Otago D ily Times,” Lyttelton Times,” and “ Auckland Herald, be suspended until the Government are in a position to extend the same facilities to all papers.

RAILWAY WAGGON CONTRACT. Mr Bichardson asked the Minister for Public "Works —(I) Whether, before committing; the Government to the acceptance of the offer of the representative of the proposed Eailway Wa CT "on Company for the hire of waggon stock, opportunity was offered to other waggon builders in the colony to compete (2) Whether, if the terms agreed upon are so remunerative as is represented by the prospectus of the company, it would not have paid the Government minutely better to build their own stock t He had heard since notice of the question was given that the Government had invited competition. Mr Macandrew said he would have preferred that this should have been put in tlm shape of a notice of motion, which would have given an opportunity for discussion. The G ivernment were not committed to the acceptance of any tender which would prevent other companies from supplying in similar terms. The Government had only given effect to the wishes of the House last session by encouraging local industry . (2.) Not being a shareholder in the company, and having no connection with it, ho was unable to say what were the terms agreed upon. The Government would be glad to see a dozen other companies start,

TOWNS ON PRIVATE LANDS. Mr HoduKINSON asked the Government if Hey will at an early period next session introduce a Bill for the proper laying out of towns on private lands. The Premier replied that the subject should receive the consideration of the Government. the national anthem. Mr Fitzroy asked the Government under what authority they propose to alter the National Anthem of British colonists? Also, whether they do not think the proposed new national anthem might bo looked upon as an in frmgement of the present secular system of education. He thought by recognition amongst schools of the anthem, the Government would give official recognition to it. Ho had rec ived a copy of ibis so-called national anthem. [Loud cries of 1 read it ” and “ sing it. I '] 'J he Premier—l do not intend to answer the question. Mr Fitzroy appealed to the Speaker whether the question should not be answered. 'J lie Speaker said the Government had a right to answer or withhold answers. Mr Fox asked the Speaker’s ruling whether he would not be in order in moving that a copy of the anthem as laid on the table be read? Whether it wore read or sung ho did not care. Mr Bowen asked the Speaker’s ruling whether questions put by members should not be courteously answered? The Speaker said courtesy was desirable at all times between members. POLICE PAT. Mr Pyke asked the Government what course they intend to adopt in regard to the recommendation of the Police Pay Committee. Mr Ballance said the G wernment intended to raise the pay sixpence in the lower ranks, and a sbilli gin tbe higher from the Ist January to 30tb June. The Government next session would bring down an Armed Constabulary Bill, providing for ordinary p ay, long service pay, and travelling allowance. UNIVERSITY' COMMISSION. Mr Gisborne asked the Minister of Education whether the proposed Royal Commission on the operations of the New Zealand University and its relations to secondary schools in_ the colony, will embrace also the following subjects of inquiry : —l. The best and most economical mode of improving the secondary and higher systems of education in the colony respectively, and bringing both into relat on to each_ other and to primary education, with the view of facilitating as mnch as possible the encouragement and development of the mental abilities of the youth of both sexes and of all classes. 2. The formation of training institutes, technilogicaland night schools. Mr Ballance said it was intended to deal with the subject of higher education generally. PRINTING AND ADVERTISING. Mr McLean asked the Government if they will lay before tbe House a statement showing the amount paid to each newspa; er in the colony for advertisi-g and printing (separately) from the Ist January to tne 30th September, 1878 ; also the amount due to each at the latter date, for which accounts had not been passed for payment, showing (separately) amount p id and due under contract. He said he would rather have put the question in the shape of a resolution, but he was aware in that case it would not come on. Mr Ballance said the Government will lay the return on the table. RAILWAY ADVERTISEMENT. _ Mr McLe an asked tbe M inister of Public Works by whose Ministerial authority tbe change was made from the daily insertion of the railway table adver isementinthe“OtagoD ily 'l imes”at_£Bo per annum to £l2O per annum, with the privilege of inserting it irregularly to suit the coimnience of the paper ; also if the exclusive privilege is to continued to papers. He caid tbe Minister of Works had said it was mt done by bis authority, and therefore, he (Mr McLean) was anxious to know by whose authority it was done. Mr Macandrew s.id be was informed no such authority bad been given for tbe payment of £l2O, nor could he find that any such increase had been made. The £BO was authorised by Mr I.arnuch before be left office, to continue to the end of this year only. Mr McLean said be could state that such a sum was paid. Mr Macandrew said that with regard to the last question the arrangement would be continued to the end of the year. Sufficient for the day was the evil thereof. MORE SPECIAL WIRE. Mr McLean asked the Commissioner of Telegraphs:—l. Why letters from several newspapers, asking concessions of a special wire were not laid before the House with the other correspondence ? 2. Why no reply was sent to Ho.t and M’Carthy’s letter of the 14th October? 3. Arc Government prepared to grant Messrs Holt and M’Carthy, on behalf of themselves and all new’spapers, a special wire on the same terms as that granted to the “ Otago Daily Times,” “Lyttelton Times,” and “ New Zealand Herald? ’ 4 What arrangements do Government propose to make to place all evening papers on an equally favorable position as morning papers ? Mr Fisher replied—l. Certain correspondence was omitted through an oversight. 2. This was a purely departmental question, and had been dealt with. 3. The Government will grant all persons a special wire on the same terms. 4. The evening papers have already large advantages over toe morning papers, and are dealt with in a more liberal spirit than in England. Special wires could not be granted in the day time. A thousand words were now allowed to the evening papers in the morning at evening rates, which would be continued during the recess, and which he hoped would meet their requirements. LIGHTHOUSES. Mr Beetham asked the Government if they will during the recess cause inquiry to be made as to the advisability of ere ting some beacon or lighthouse on either Stephen’s Island or the Island of Kapiti The Premier said the Government were anxious to deal with the bettor lighting of Cook's Straits some time ago, but wore stepped by the removal of the lighthouse from Mana. The Government were in doubt whether they should move the Mana light to some other place. Nautical men were of opinion that the best site would be at St. Stephen’s Island and Cape Farewell. Mr Hunter asked the Minister for Public Works if Government will cause enquiry to be made in order to ascertain whether it would be advisable to erect a lighthouse near Otaki. He pointed out that there hail been three wrecks recently since the lighthouse was removed from Kapiti. The Premier said he was advised that the ere tion of a lighthouse on _ the lee side of Kapiti would be out of the ships’ course. MR barton’s correspondence. Mr Rolleston asked tbe Attorney-General if he will lay before the House copies of all correspondence between the Government and Mr Barton in reference to proceedings in tne Supreme Court or any of its officers ; also, any correspondence which has taken place between the Government and Judges in reference to comiilaints made by Mr Barton. Mr Sheehan understood the correspondence referred to had been laid on the table. If any omitted could be mentioned, it would be produced.

GiVOLS COMMITTER’S REPORT. Mr Murray-a ynsley give notice to ask the Government what steps they intend to take with reference to the recommendation of the Gaols committee with reference to the pay of officers of gaols in the colony. NATIONAL aNTHEM AGAIN. Mr Fitzroy gave notice of motion that it is not necessary to distribute the so-called National Anthem. WORKING men’s TRAIN. Mr O’Korke gave notice to a-k the Government whether they will try the experiment of a working men’s train between Auckland and Onehunga. RAILWAY APPROPRIATIONS. Mr Kolleston gave notice to move a new clause in the Railways Construction Bill—“ That no sum sh ill be paid without special appropriation by the House, and any contracts entered into without such authority shall be null and void.”

NEW BILLS. The Seal Fisheries Protection Bill and a Bill to prohibit the use of dynamite or other explosives for the purpose of catching or destroying fi»h in public fisheries were read a first time,

council’s amendments

Amendments by the Legislative Council m the following Bills were agreed to : —Timaru Harbor Board Endowment, Christchurch Boys’ and Girls’ High School, Oamaru Harbor Board Ordinance Amendment.

evening sitting. bouse committee. The House went into Committee to consider the report of the Joint House Committee, recommending that members resident in Wellington during the recess be appointed a House Committee, to have charge of the building and grounds. Sir W. Fitzherbert entered into a long explanation of the items iu the account of jBIOOO expended during the last recess on the Parliamentary buddings. Ho said that there were eleven members who had vouched for the various items of the account Major Atkinson moved as an amendment to the motion that the report be adopted —“ That in the opinion of this Committee the Exocuti.o Government should be directly responsible' to

this House for Ml expenditure incurred on Parliamentary buildings and grounds.” Ihe House divided, when the ayes wore 23 and the uoes 23. The Chairman said he would give his casting vote with the uoes, as the (Speaker bad spoken strongly in favor of existing arrangements, and he (Mr O’Porky) thought his opinion was entitled to some weight. Air Kelly immd as an amendment that the report of the committee be adopted, provided that no iability shall be incurred by the committee without the consent of the Government. This was agreed to on the voices. PUBLIC RESERVES Sa LE. The Hoiho disagreed with certain amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Pu' lic Reserves Sales Bill, and appointed a committee to draw up reasons. PRIVILEGES ACT AMENDMENT. The Privileges Act 1836 Amendment Bill sent down from the LegislativeJCouucil, to prevent the Clerk of the Council being summoned to give evidence at Wanganui, passed through all its stages. RAILWAYS CONSTRUCTION BILL. Mr Stout moved that the House go into comraiteee on the Railways Construction Bill. Mr Rolleston hoped the Government would state the amendments which they proposed to make in the Bill. He desired to insert a clause providing that each railway in the schedule should only have a certain sum expended upon it, and that the amount should be subject to annual appropriation. If no such assurance were given he would oppose the Bill at every stage. He viewed the Bill merely as a great appropriation measure. The Minister of Public Works said ho proposed to amend section three as follows 44 The Governor may from time to time, in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty, construct and enter into arrangements, to the extent of money which may bo provided or specilied from tine to time by the General Assembly, with any person for the construction, extension, or maintenance of all or any of the rai ways mentioned in the schedule, and for that purpose_ may do or cause to be done, any of the following things, &c.” The Government also proposed to strike out snh-section 3, and to str kc out section 5 altogether, and substitute the _ following 44 The cost of construction, extension, or maintenance of any lines of railway mentioned in the schedule hereto, or the purchase or acquisition of any lands for the same, shall be defrayed out of money or m ineys in the Public Works fund, as shall be from time to time appropriated by the Gceral Assembly.” The Government further proposed to strike out the sums mentioned in the schedule to the Bill. The amount proposed to ho expended on each railway would appear in the Appropriation Act. Mr Murray said he found from the statement of accounts for the year ending 30th June, 1878, that the ordinary recurrent revenue amounted to .£2,474.491 Ids 7d, ami the expenditure to £3,695,046 11s 4d, leaving a deficiency of .£220,555 3s 9d. T he estimates for 1878 showed that the o-din ry recurrent revenue amounted to £2,7d9 822, and the expenditure to .£3.010 775 6s 2d, leaving a deficit of ,£3OO 953 6s 2d. The expenditure under Permanent Act amounted to .£554 888, under clatue 12 to £231,249, making £786,137 to be charged against land sales. Under temporary nnd special, class 13, for loans repaid, barber defences, <fcc., the amount was £254 036, and with tire above amount of £786,137, and the deficit of 1878-9 of £300,953, the total to be met out r-f l aid sales and loans wou’d be to add additional yearly taxation of £1,087,090 He found from the Public Works statement that the amount to complete the lines authorised in the North Island would be £958,000, and in the Middle Island £1 077,000, making a total of £2,045,0d0. For other purposes and works th n railways £ ,025.067, making a total of £3,070,067. The funds available on the 30th June, 1878, amounted to £2,056.940, so that the additional funds required would be £1,013,127. Mr Mnrray then adduced a mass of figures, and contended that the Government showed a recklessness as to the future. _ It was entirely owing to the speculative mania in lands in the province of Canterbury that the Government had not been call' d upon to supply a deficiency in revenue, considering the loss sustained. Mr Bastings said the public works policy had enriched hundreds of people, and the question now was whether the country could stop in the career of development uuou which it had entered. The fault in the past was that private individuals h (1 reaped the advantage of the enhanced value of property caused by railways. He conte' ded that tlmra was ample capital in the country to cm struct these lines without apply ing to the London market. The House resolved itself into committee on the Bill.

In clause 3 an amendment was agreed to, limiting contracts entered into from lime to time to the extent of the money which may from time to time be appropriated by the General Assembly of New Zealand. .An amendment as follows was lost on division —“ Provided that no contract shall be entered into for the construction of any of the railways except by public tender.”